What are the Characteristics of a NT Christian?

[RoadRunner79]

I guess the problem is that a lot of the members here seem to know pretty much only the types of Christian people who are extremely ignorant, deny science, and hate gays (or perhaps those are simply the only ones who stick out in their mind?). I'm not going to deny anyone here that this has been their personal experience with Christian folks, but personally for me, I truly don't see that. For example, only once in my life did I ever talked to a person who said they don't believe in evolution. I have literally only heard that once from one person, lol. I mean, sure, you see and hear about crazy people on TV or whatever, but that's why they are on TV... because they are crazy and not your average person.  

My experience has been that most of us are just completely normal people, who aren't complete morons and who don't hate others for their sexual preference. Especially having been living the military lifestyle for the past 4 years, and being surrounded by a TON of Christians who are totally friendly, intelligent, educated,and normal. So it's hard for me to understand all this talk on the forums about Christians being this and being that. Perhaps a lot of you guys are from the deep south? I've lived in Brazil, Ohio, Florida, and Texas, so I don't know what the culture is like in that part of the country. Maybe therein lies the difference... I dunno.

I also find a number of atheist, who seem to not be able to contemplate a Christianity that is different than what is in their mind. This may be from experience, or perhaps there are other motivations to why they argue what they do. It is quite annoying however being expected to defend something that you don't believe, and where not saying. It seems like often I spend more time trying to get people to let go of there assumptions.

With that being said, there are a number of different views in Christianity. I was on a Christian Forum before, and there where some pretty wacky ideas, that where not normally very well supported. Some of the particularly interesting ones that I found dealt with going back to the Greek, and arguing that the orthodox view was a translation issue. The problem often being, is that the the Greek Orthodox, didn't hold this view, historically, or contemporarily and it only came about late, mostly from people who had minor education in Koine Greek language. These differences can originate by coming from a different worldview, sometimes from ignorance or because they just haven't though about it much, and somethings are debatable. I find these same things occur in atheism too. The difference being, that individualism is often championed concerning atheists, yet belittled when in regards to believers. It's not a consistent principal, and really doesn't have any logical consequence concerning Christianity. When I am in contact, with someone who disagree's, I ask why. I normally, I strive to be able to answer that question when asked of me as well.

By the way, I am one who could say, that I don't believe in evolution, I could also say I'm skeptical; and that I believe in evolution. All depends on what you are talking about when you say evolution. So perhaps you have not met two people. However my thoughts on evolution are not relevant to my theology.