Why I am still a Christian.

[CaseyTheAthie]

No matter how true it is that, he still has to realize it on his own.

[greneknight]

If you don't believe the Bible, what are your beliefs based on?

As culture, religion is based on tradition. Truth is not the issue.

Also, do you believe that God exists? Cause I can't seem to tell.

God exists but not as a being. He's a personified metaphor for goodness and truth.

Also I am slightly disturbed by the fact that you call yourself a Christian on the grounds that you serve as an altar boy and sing in the choir. Are these things really the most important? I think it more important for your heart to be in it, rather than just doing it, and I see no indication of this in your posts.

So you go to Church for the culture? You're missing the whole point, that not what Christianity is for. You say you are a Christian, but how? You don't seem to think God exists, then what is the point? To fit in? That doesn't count as Christian. An atheist could very well go to a church and perform the rituals and sing in the choir, but he would still be an atheist because he knows doing it is meaningless and there is no God. You see, just doing the acts doesn't cut it, religion is a set of beliefs.

I think my vicar and bishop are more suited to answering questions like who is or is not a Christian. They know my position and they have no problem with me as a Christian. My vicar warns me to be careful of fundamentalists and atheists who will say I'm not a Christian. Only my church has the right to declare if I'm a communicant of the church. Atheists, non-conformists and even other Anglicans have no right or jurisdiction over my diocese.

[CaseyTheAthie]

I think my vicar and bishop are more suited to answering questions like who is or is not a Christian. They know my position and they have no problem with me as a Christian. My vicar warns me to be careful of fundamentalists and atheists who will say I'm not a Christian. Only my church has the right to declare if I'm a communicant of the church. Atheists, non-conformists and even other Anglicans have no right or jurisdiction over my diocese.

I find this part really interesting. Do you not have a right to declare yourself any of these?

[Jeffonthenet]

God exists but not as a being. He's a personified metaphor for goodness and truth.

If God is just a metaphor he cannot think as metaphors cannot think. If he is a metaphor then he is no more real than an allusion, a plot-line of a fictional story, a simile or a myth.

[greneknight]

I think my vicar and bishop are more suited to answering questions like who is or is not a Christian. They know my position and they have no problem with me as a Christian. My vicar warns me to be careful of fundamentalists and atheists who will say I'm not a Christian. Only my church has the right to declare if I'm a communicant of the church. Atheists, non-conformists and even other Anglicans have no right or jurisdiction over my diocese.

I find this part really interesting. Do you not have a right to declare yourself any of these?

Of course I do. I know I am a Christian and a pretty devout one too considering my service to the church since I was 5. But some people think I'm not. So, I'm saying, faced with such a dispute, the Church is the best arbiter of these things. Of course ultimately, it's still for the CHurch to decide who is a Christian. Someone can call himself a Christian but the Church doesn't accept it, he's NOT.

[CaseyTheAthie]

I find this part really interesting. Do you not have a right to declare yourself any of these?

Of course I do. I know I am a Christian and a pretty devout one too considering my service to the church since I was 5. But some people think I'm not. So, I'm saying, faced with such a dispute, the Church is the best arbiter of these things. Of course ultimately, it's still for the CHurch to decide who is a Christian. Someone can call himself a Christian but the Church doesn't accept it, he's NOT.

That last part doesn't sound fair though, especially when you say religion is a personal matter....

[greneknight]

Of course I do. I know I am a Christian and a pretty devout one too considering my service to the church since I was 5. But some people think I'm not. So, I'm saying, faced with such a dispute, the Church is the best arbiter of these things. Of course ultimately, it's still for the CHurch to decide who is a Christian. Someone can call himself a Christian but the Church doesn't accept it, he's NOT.

That last part doesn't sound fair though, especially when you say religion is a personal matter....

It's personal but the church is an institution and there are rules. Of course anyone can call himself a Christian. The church can't stop you. But practically, we know that someone who isn't accepted by the church probably isn't someone we'd call a Christian. That's just by convention.

[CaseyTheAthie]

Hmmm Several churches exclude each other... that creates a who is right and who is wrong issue...

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

So you go to Church for the culture?

Oh for fuck sake.

Religion is an ASPECT of culture

Other aspects include:

Cuisine

Fashion and all constructed modes of appearance.

Language

Writing

Law

Politics

Commerce

Fine arts; music,dance,painting,films culture etc.

Medicine

Science and technology.

Get the idea?

Ignorance and stupidity are not usually seen as cultural. However,going by most of the Christians here, I'm convinced that closed mindedness and bloody minded pig ignorance can be at least nurtured.

[CBA222]

God exists but not as a being. He's a personified metaphor for goodness and truth.

He therefore exists as a concept or conception of your mind, he does not exist in reality. You are an atheist.

As culture, religion is based on tradition. Truth is not the issue.

Then what is the point of religion? It is a very personal matter and a serious commitment, it's not something you just do because everything around you does it.

Also from your own church.

"Of the doctrine of the Church of England" (Canon A5): "The doctrine of the Church of England is grounded in the Holy Scriptures, and in such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church as are agreeable to the said Scriptures. In particular such doctrine is to be found in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, The Book of Common Prayer, and the Ordinal."

This proves your Church believes in at least some parts of the Bible and therefore God, but you don't.

My vicar warns me to be careful of fundamentalists and atheists who will say I'm not a Christian.

Does your church actually teach that God is not a being and the Bible is not to read or relied on?

Religion is an ASPECT of culture

As said, Religion is a personal thing and involves serious commitment, it is not something you do to fit in.

Of course I do. I know I am a Christian and a pretty devout one too considering my service to the church since I was 5.

I would consider a devout Christian one who serves God(DO NOT GIVE ME ANYTHING ABOUT WHETHER GOD EXISTS OR NOT), not necessarily the Church.