Depends on your intentions and tone and willingness to see other participants points of view. This is an interfaith forum, after all.
Am I a Christian?
- Thread starter usernamed
- Start date
Depends on your intentions and tone and willingness to see other participants points of view. This is an interfaith forum, after all.
That is true by virtue of tautology, but everything else is open to debate
Yes. Interfaith is a new faith (because it is defined by its mixture and NOT the individual faiths that preceded the conception of interfaith).
I had the opportunity to observe a debate between some people only a few weeks ago on this very subject and I found it very interesting, the outcome produced (edit: or brought) some interesting truths to light, some people will not give up their individual faiths as they see it as a dilution of such or a division, others purported mixed faith as being no faith at all because it was based upon to strongly dogmatic principles in thought (closed mindedness is what I suspect they meant) while others accepted multiple faiths to include a wider range of truths and that any amalgamation triumphs the initial limitation of being singular of faith.
I enjoyed the debate, it was lively, each individual showing respect for eachother and I learned some things myself in the process.
Last edited:
Not here. Here it is a debate between people of different faiths. We talk to each other across our fences. Instead of shooting bullets, so to speak, lol. We all keep our own individual faiths. 'Interfaith' here does not mean a sort of one new world religion.
Last edited:
Again I haven't joined to fire bullets nor did I ever mention a world religion (but that is the intention of the earthly powers...or so we are told by these very powerful individuals themselves IF we are to believe them). But you offer an interesting perspective all the same. I guess I should ask what is hoped to be achieved by having a interfaith/mixed faith/multi faith platform or speaking over the fence (so to speak) to people that might "already be defined" in their faith upon the difference between eachother? Im asking because I dont want to make presumptions and you obviously know more about this forum (not been here long nor do I want to argue with people either). Jesus said "by their fruits ye shall know them"
Also and sorry if already asked : do you see me as a Christian having explained my faith?
Last edited:
Hi usernamed, welcome aboard.
Paul had to prove himself to the Jews who knew of his reputation prior to his conversion. And he had to defend his reasoning for baptising Gentiles to Peter and the others in Jerusalem, but other than that?
Irenaeus (130-202AD) was the first of the Fathers to develop Salvation Theology, he cites the New Testament about a thousand times, and fully a third of those are references to the epistles of St Paul.
No-one regards Paul as above Jesus, and certainly not Paul himself.
Are you saying that anyone who is said to be a teacher places her/himself above Christ?
"But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:19)
I've never heard Paul spoken of in that way. John, yes, Paul, not so much.
Are you sure?
Paul had to prove himself to the Jews who knew of his reputation prior to his conversion. And he had to defend his reasoning for baptising Gentiles to Peter and the others in Jerusalem, but other than that?
Wherever did you get that from?
Irenaeus (130-202AD) was the first of the Fathers to develop Salvation Theology, he cites the New Testament about a thousand times, and fully a third of those are references to the epistles of St Paul.
By whom?
No, that's not true at all.
Well who would? The first mention we have is of the community in Antioch, composed of refugees from Jerusalem and those added to their number by Barnabas and Paul.
You've lost me here?
Because he founded so many communities, and he wrote so much.
Of the Word of Christ ...
Where does he say that?
No-one regards Paul as above Jesus, and certainly not Paul himself.
Are you saying that anyone who is said to be a teacher places her/himself above Christ?
"But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:19)
Yes I am sure.
I got this from the historic record and that which makes the claims and as widely accepted by the current church system that of all considerations and fell directly upon judgements made by Constantine who was a believer in Sol Invictus (Sun god) hence the Sabbath day was changed and the use of solar calendar, the early Church used solar AND lunar principles to denote time keeping of the Sabbath and festival dates.
Paul was deemed a heretic by the Ebionites and by James. Marcionism which borrowed from Pauls epistles gave pro government elements which would help Rome, Jesus stated the powers that be were under the dominion of Satan, where as Paul gave the opposing viewpoint that the powers who use force (Romans being the clear dominant force on earth) are agents from God.
There is also links to Paul being more than a simple tent maker from Tarsus, a possible Herodian (Idumaean/Edomite) related to Herod who engaged in infanticide, Paul was able to call upon approximately 470 Roman guards which clearly shows the anomaly of loyalties presented in Acts for a simple preacher or zelout.
Yes again...Matt 23:6-11 Jesus said to call no one Rabbi (Jesus is head of his church no one else!) and yes anyone who tries to teach puts themselves above their equals, this is why we were told by Jesus to refer to eachother as brethren and why we have Jesus at the top of our learning. Jesus said anyone who teaches "the LAW" is considered great yes this is encouraged, different than todays curriculum that teaches alien concepts like atheism and other disgustingly unbiblical things, however Paul says the law was abolished, nailed to a tree (greek word wa Anomia?)
Jesus taught obediance to God (Yahweh) through his divine LAWS and by showing repentance, where as Paul taught once saved always saved by uttering words with your lips only (which is at odds to true repentance as this requires drastic lifestyle changes and even cutting off offending body parts to get into heaven maimed or going to hell whole).
Last edited:
Christianity is a very broad church. About 30% of the world's population.
It includes faith healers in Manila, to Russian and Greek orthodox, to Ethiopian churches and African and South American amalgams of Christianity and modern prophecy with tribal ancestor worship.
I'm sure that's just a few, and leaving out the huge mix of churches and sects within traditional western Christianity.
I see them all as Christians, I suppose.
Are you in the mood to explain your own faith a little bit more?
Please don't take offence at anything I say. There's no offence meant. I am genuinely interested in understanding more about your own particular beliefs.
Last edited:
Differences, similarities, cat movies, health issues, politics, society, what we had for dinner...
There is companionship to be found here, despite or because or regardless of our different faiths or lack of faith, and that is something I treasure. Strong whiffs of the heavenly kingdom, as far as this unbeliever is concerned.
Im asking because I dont want to make presumptions and you obviously know more about this forum (not been here long nor do I want to argue with people either). Jesus said "by their fruits ye shall know them"
Well, be fruitful... fruity... erm. Looking forward to the fruits of our discussions here.
Answering for myself, not @RJM Corbet : I'll see you as Christian if that's what you'd like to be seen as.
I don't take offence
I might have different views and opinions but that is healthy and a normal part of life we should expect it and some friendly banter I could sure do with right now. I am a lonely kind of guy, no links to any faith, no friends, unemployed, no wife no children, live in a financially deprived area, my mother is loosely Catholic as was my grandmother and my dads family are all CofE (my dad is indifferent to faiths and tends to keep away from religion as a whole).Where I live (North of England) we have many Jews and many more Muslims amongst us and they are both individually segregated amongst their faiths but the Jews more so are evidently the most affluent, I know of few people I can say I know who are Jewish to speak too, the Muslims keep themselves to themselves however I observe the Muslims and Jews to be the most comfortable in living standards where I am (White UK males are the predominant and almost exclusive demograph needing help with employment and housing or evidence of the homeless and living on the streets show this trend is not some racist slur). Obviously I am simply left trying to figure out why this is and I was left chasing my tale going around in circles until I started to read my bible "in house" so to speak without outside influences or internet TV and Church also....I just read it and after a while things began to make sense, but strangely not to anyone else. Ive also been accused of being a racist when I eventually felt more confident in my beliefs (( Ive also had next to no formal education and have always felt held back somehow never really understanding why until I began to inquire about the racial elements in the bible), that is the sad part really, it led me to researching history (I read social history mainly of Great Britain for 2 years trying to get to grips with the edwardian and victorian era) I then took an interest in the archeology of GB and then had a spell learning about the great wars in Europe (which led me to learning about economics and money) I then researched Judaism, Islam and Christianity, Communism, Marxism/Frankfurt School and Fabian Society.
I took a break, learnt about British Israelism (migration of the 10 tribes) and that was where I learned about CI which I found to be too heavy on the racial elements and because it was contradictory to what I understood from reading my bible (a strange mixture of Odinism bushcraft prepping and Nazism and while reading websites was often being approached or being asked to become a member of these groups so I gave it a wide birth), I then read about secret societies (Freemasonic connections in the UK) and the FMOTL movement etc and eventually settled with Jesus which is where I am at the most reading and more ligher moments of botany and horticulture (Im no theologian or expert in any subject or field of research but I can only assume the inertia of my drive and thirst for knowledge was because I was certainly held back in education without any desire to enter mature learning "academics" so to speak. I dont do politics although its hard to not know/feel the effects of this particular school of thought.
Last edited:
Thanks for that, @usernamed
I also became aware of anti- Pauline videos on YT and this led me to numerous websites that explained in great detail who Paul is, from a different viewpoint that I held previously, I should mention this as my newest area of research and still learning as I go and keep an open mind, but I wont Lie ....Jesus and the OT books have answered more of my difficult questions than any other field of research which is why I have not rejected Christianity outright, Paul I find difficult to understand but Jesus makes it easier and this is why I have doubts about who Paul really is as a biblical charachter.
Last edited:
That's quite the trip you made there. Glad you didn't get drawn into Christian Identity.
If it is any consolation to you, there are plenty of poor, unemployed Jews and Muslims in my city. Among my child's ancestors there were poor, unemployed Jewish drifters... We know how it sucks to live like that.
It always amuses me to see the Frankfurt School being associated with Marxism. I imagine Adorno screeching in his grave every time that happens
If it is any consolation to you, there are plenty of poor, unemployed Jews and Muslims in my city. Among my child's ancestors there were poor, unemployed Jewish drifters... We know how it sucks to live like that.
It always amuses me to see the Frankfurt School being associated with Marxism. I imagine Adorno screeching in his grave every time that happens
Last edited:
Perhaps Paul is explaining The Christ manifest as the bridge between God and Man?
Perhaps Paul was explaining Jesus' authority as The Christ to those he was addressing at the time -- and of course his words are still just as useful today.
But Jesus said it all. The words and actions of Jesus are enough. The mystery of Jesus reaches the homeless guy scavenging bins at the bus station equal to the highest kings and thinkers. From prisoners to potentates.
That is the very nature of Jesus, imo?
Last edited:
Yeah Christian Identity I believe to be an entry level initiation to something that might one day lead many to violent insurections and it preys heavily on the disadvantaged and certainly uneducated types in desperation of induced fear. You only have to look at Tommy Robinson (alleged Stephen Lennon??) of EDL fame etc....when you actually put the Xray specs on and look at it from a simple forensic perspective and peel back the layers you see something totally at odds with whats on display, the EDL led me straight to a pro Zionist think tank and that was with little effort.That's quite the trip you made there. Glad you didn't get drawn into Christian Identity.
If it is any consolation to you, there are plenty of poor, unemployed Jews and Muslims in my city. Among my child's ancestors there were poor, unemployed Jewish drifters... We know how it sucks to live like that.
It always amuses me to see the Frankfurt School being assiciated with Marxism. Adorno is screeching in his grave every time that happens
Blind leading the blind.
@usernamed
Good to have another -- I have to be careful with the word here ... another member of the EU as presently still intact, lol.
It won't be long before we start to outnumber the Americans, who only wake up when it's night for us and then start posting after we are busy trying to get some sleep, lol ...
Good to have another -- I have to be careful with the word here ... another member of the EU as presently still intact, lol.
It won't be long before we start to outnumber the Americans, who only wake up when it's night for us and then start posting after we are busy trying to get some sleep, lol ...
It always amuses me to see the Frankfurt School being associated with Marxism. I imagine Adorno screeching in his grave every time that happens
I guess he would probably feel compelled to write about its modern flavour and be fully commited to the speaker circuit if he was alive today, perhaps a fully loaded YT channel but not doing it for the likes, only for the subscribers.
He said many things about what he was.
I like what was said about him in the song "Suzanne":
Jesus was a sailor
When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching
From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain
Only drowning men could see him
He said "All men will be sailors then
Until the sea shall free them"
But he himself was broken
Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.