(April 7, 2017 at 11:58 am)Neo-Scholastic Wrote:

(April 7, 2017 at 11:43 am)Harry Nevis Wrote: Since nobody can agree on what is an accurate representation of christians (esp. christians themselves), who are we to say that anyone claiming to be one is wrong?

That's just an excuse for not using discernment. It's the same flawed thinking as postmodern cultural equivalency.

I'd have to have some sort of benchmark to decern who was a true christian and who wasn't.

(April 7, 2017 at 12:02 pm)Harry Nevis Wrote:

(April 7, 2017 at 11:58 am)Neo-Scholastic Wrote: That's just an excuse for not using discernment. It's the same flawed thinking as postmodern cultural equivalency.

I'd have to have some sort of benchmark to decern who was a true christian and who wasn't.

I'd say believing that Jesus is who He says He is, and striving to live by the teachings of Christ as depicted in the bible. 

I think that's as basic and fundamental as you can get. If someone says they are a Christian but then they say they don't believe that Jesus was the Son of God, I'd say that person's beliefs are not in line with Christian beliefs. If someone says they are Christian but they live a life of greed and hatred, I'd say that person is not living the Christian lifestyle.

(April 7, 2017 at 12:09 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote:

(April 7, 2017 at 12:02 pm)Harry Nevis Wrote: I'd have to have some sort of benchmark to decern who was a true christian and who wasn't.

I'd say believing that Jesus is who He says He is, and striving to live by the teachings of Christ as depicted in the bible. 

I think that's as basic and fundamental as you can get. If someone says they are a Christian but then they say they don't believe that Jesus was the Son of God, I'd say that person's beliefs are not in line with Christian beliefs. If someone says they are Christian but they live a life of greed and hatred, I'd say that person is not living the Christian lifestyle.

Sounds like "I am Harry Potter because I claimed to be in a book".

Sounds like "I am Captain Kirk because I claimed to be on a TV show".

Sounds like, "I am Yoda because I claimed to be in a movie".

A book claiming Jesus existed does not make babies with magic super powers true. 

It is still circular reasoning when you use your own book to prove your own book, and even then it would not make the fantastic claims true regardless.

"Mo said who he was because the Koran said so"........ Funny how that suddenly does not work for you when someone with another book uses circular reasoning.

To be technical, I believe baptism seals the person as a Christian forever.

So, if someone was baptized as a Christian, that person is technically "a Christian," in that sense. That's why I'm careful to use wording like "living the Christian life style" and "beliefs not being in line with Christian beliefs."

(April 7, 2017 at 12:21 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: To be technical, I believe baptism seals the person as a Christian forever.

So, if someone was baptized as a Christian, that person is technically "a Christian," in that sense. That's why I'm careful to use wording like "living the Christian life style" and "beliefs not being in line with Christian beliefs."

Do you think baptism is an original superstition? Hate to burst your bubble but replacing animal blood with water is all Christianity did. The idea of "washing" the bad out of a person was done in prior polytheism.

Same with the Eucharist, it simply was an attempt to get rid of animal sacrifice.

(April 7, 2017 at 11:30 am)Brian37 Wrote:

(April 7, 2017 at 11:23 am)RoadRunner79 Wrote: I don't have a problem with "bluntness", I am probably a little overly straight forward in my approach than perhaps is required.  

So how does this post tie into anything about what I said?   Or are you just making "naked assertions" looking to attack the person, rather than the argument.
Bad Logic bothers me as well, and if you think I am thinking incorrectly, I'm going to ask you why specifically.   From what I have seen, you don't normally support your self, and most of what you post (at least as of late), doesn't pertain to what was stated.   Let's focus on the reasons, and the logic, rather the people.

You are the one who buys into a book that has fantastic claims that are scientifically absurd including the two most important stories, the birth and death myths.

Now, you can believe that crap all you want, but sorry, that was then this is now. I see that as no different than trying to peddle vampires or big foot.

Off topic - and at the moment, your argument from incredulity doesn't concern me, in regards to this discussion.
This also has nothing to do with what I said, or against anything I was putting forth.

(April 7, 2017 at 12:09 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote:

(April 7, 2017 at 12:02 pm)Harry Nevis Wrote: I'd have to have some sort of benchmark to decern who was a true christian and who wasn't.

I'd say believing that Jesus is who He says He is, and striving to live by the teachings of Christ as depicted in the bible. 

I think that's as basic and fundamental as you can get. If someone says they are a Christian but then they say they don't believe that Jesus was the Son of God, I'd say that person's beliefs are not in line with Christian beliefs. If someone says they are Christian but they live a life of greed and hatred, I'd say that person is not living the Christian lifestyle.

This is basically how I always saw Christianity too. Even though this applied to me at one time, some Christians today still give me the "you weren't a TRUE Christian" response anyway. It's like nobody can make up their minds about this.

(April 7, 2017 at 12:27 pm)RoadRunner79 Wrote:

(April 7, 2017 at 11:30 am)Brian37 Wrote: You are the one who buys into a book that has fantastic claims that are scientifically absurd including the two most important stories, the birth and death myths.

Now, you can believe that crap all you want, but sorry, that was then this is now. I see that as no different than trying to peddle vampires or big foot.

Off topic - and at the moment, your argument from incredulity doesn't concern me, in regards to this discussion.
This also has nothing to do with what I said, or against anything I was putting forth.

The only one gullible here is you. I agree it doesn't concern you that you fell for a bad claim. It should, but no, not surprised in the least that you stupidly think you are more than a mere apologist. 

FACTS matter, and the book you claim to be true is not backed up by facts.

(April 7, 2017 at 12:02 pm)Harry Nevis Wrote:

(April 7, 2017 at 11:58 am)Neo-Scholastic Wrote: That's just an excuse for not using discernment. It's the same flawed thinking as postmodern cultural equivalency.

I'd have to have some sort of benchmark to decern who was a true christian and who wasn't.

That would be the NT. Your inability or unwillingness to refer to it has no bearing.

(April 7, 2017 at 12:33 pm)Neo-Scholastic Wrote:

(April 7, 2017 at 12:02 pm)Harry Nevis Wrote: I'd have to have some sort of benchmark to decern who was a true christian and who wasn't.

That would be the NT. Your inability or unwillingness to refer to it has no bearing.

BULLSHIT, your mythological Jesus writers in the NT clearly contradict each other as to OT law applying. You don't get to blame us for something we didn't write.

Your character as the NT writers claimed DID say he came to uphold old OT laws. Stop being intellectually dishonest.