What do non-fundamentalist Christians actually believe?

[fr0d0]

Absolutely not Frompy. I like you.

Take a look here:

http://davidjohnstone.net/blog/2009/12/n...ohn-walton

What's different about Walton's work, and this (book referenced) is only a taster of the complete work due soon I think, is that he completely backs up all of his findings. That differs completely from the sudo literalists that contradict science who don't offer anything in the way of scholarly support for their stance.

[ThePinsir]

Until very recently I considered myself a "liberal Christian". And that was only because I was afraid of hell. So, I strictly believed (or paid lip-service) to that which is "necessary for salvation". I believed in a virgin birth and a ressurection. Everything else I was kinda "meh" on.

I didn't believe in 99% of "faith healings". I didn't believe in a flood. I believed in evolution, but wasn't sure on if it applied to humans or not

I believed in a think looooooooooooove!

[Mudhammam]

I find most Christians to be quite normal/ not totally batshit crazy.

I agree, which is why I'm wondering what they actually believe about the Bible, Jesus, etc. As an atheist, I think they're delusional to believe any of it, but there's a big difference between that and the true nuts who think every word is literal truth.

Is there? What's the difference? That unlike the fundies, most Christians don't behave like they actually believe in any of it?

[ThomM]

Ok, so this is probably the wrong place to ask this. I should probably go to a Christian forum. But I'm already here, and it's something I've wondered for a while, so I figured I'd give it a try.

What do non-fundamentalist Christians actually believe?

Before you answer, let me clarify the question a little. When I say "non-fundamentalist", I'm ruling out those who believe the Bible is literally true from cover to cover. That hopefully rules out the young Earth creationists and science deniers, among others. But according to polls, those literalists are less than half of all Christians, so I'm trying to understand the other half better. I'm also not talking about the "not really religious" types who haven't thought about it at all.

It's the devout Christians who don't believe that the Bible is literal truth who I don't understand. Do they believe that any of the Bible is true? Is there a consensus on which parts are true? For the parts that aren't literal truth, are they all parables that are meant to teach, or do they believe that some of it is outdated and no longer relevant?

And I know they're not all the same - I'm sure there will be different answers for each group. ie Liberal Catholics won't believe the same thing as Protestants, etc. And even within a group, I'm sure there's disagreements. I'm looking for the big picture answers here.

It just seems to me that most arguments against Christianity by atheists are based on shooting down Biblical ideas, but not all Christians really believe the whole thing, anyway. I'm just trying to better understand the majority of Christians

The answer to your question is ANYTHING they WANT TO believe.

The problem with xtianity is that it is NOT a single belief - it is simply a group of over 60,000 different religions unified only by the name of one of their gods.

And that is the basic problem - you get to choose what you want to believe - and what you do not want to believe . AND then - support that based on the "bible" only because SOME of it is in there. But when you attack the bible - they back away from it - like ignoring the old testament - and ignoring the obvious errors and contradictions. So - what is the basis for their "faith"

Again - it is the basis for most religions - the AFTERLIFE and what you must do to get there. People are not content to accept that our life is finite - and begins at birth - and ends at death. So - religion - in order to control the people made up the rules on how to get to the afterlife - rules they rigorously defend as a way to an ETERNAL REWARD.

And that is the threat the brings ALL of the xtians together - they are going to heaven - and if you do not believe - you are not.

EVEN this makes no sense - but that is where they converge.

[fr0d0]

Cut and paste spam

[Mudhammam]

When the intellect fails, obfuscate and equivocate.

[Chas]

Absolutely not Frompy. I like you.

Take a look here:

http://davidjohnstone.net/blog/2009/12/n...ohn-walton

What's different about Walton's work, and this (book referenced) is only a taster of the complete work due soon I think, is that he completely backs up all of his findings. That differs completely from the sudo literalists that contradict science who don't offer anything in the way of scholarly support for their stance.

That reads as a series of loosely connected ad hoc arguments. Those interpretations are so far from a straightforward reading of the text as to be laughable. The only thing different about Walton's book appears to be the direction he's facing as he contorts himself into an interpretive pretzel.

It's "pseudo". And what you think of as pseudo-literalists are actually literalists; it is Walton and you who are not, in fact, reading the Bible literally.

[fr0d0]

That reads as a series of loosely connected ad hoc arguments. Those interpretations are so far from a straightforward reading of the text as to be laughable. The only thing different about Walton's book appears to be the direction he's facing as he contorts himself into an interpretive pretzel.

It's "pseudo". And what you think of as pseudo-literalists are actually literalists; it is Walton and you who are not, in fact, reading the Bible literally.

The difference between your position and Walton's, is that his is thoroughly researched and supported by example after example and cross reference. Just like the YEC & ID positions, your counter argument completely lacks substance.

[Fromper]

Thanks for the responses, all. Not quite what I was hoping for, but kinda reenforces what I already thought about Christianity. Everybody just picks and chooses which parts of the Bible to believe literally and/or focus on.

[fr0d0]

~Or~

People think for themselves and draw their own conclusions.