Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!lll-crg!nike!sri-spam!sri-unix!hplabs!sdcrdcf!burdvax!devonst From: devonst@burdvax.UUCP (Tom Albrecht) Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc Subject: Re: Re: one more time... Message-ID: <2735@burdvax.UUCP> Date: Wed, 8-Oct-86 12:52:59 EDT Article-I.D.: burdvax.2735 Posted: Wed Oct 8 12:52:59 1986 Date-Received: Thu, 16-Oct-86 04:30:56 EDT References: <2fa71dcd.33cd@apollo.uucp> <2fa77b2f.46@apollo.uucp> <1500@mtx5a.UUCP> <2722@burdvax.UUCP> Sender: devonst@burdvax.UUCP Reply-To: devonst@burdvax.UUCP (Tom Albrecht) Organization: Burroughs Corp. - SDG/Devon Lines: 61 wfi@rti-sel.UUCP (William Ingogly) writes: > >There are two possibilities: either you're saying you CAN be a >Christian and deny the resurrection, or that many 'mainline' >denominations are not truly Christian. The former seems contradictory, >the latter seems arrogant to me. What I said was NOT bold: many >members of Christian churches would agree with me. Check, for example, >the statements of belief in the book "Religion In America" by Leo >Rosten (I think I've got the name and title right). > What I would assert is that one cannot be a Christian and still deny the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is just not an option. The resurrection is CENTRAL to the Christian faith. Those churches that deny the resurrection, the divinity of Christ and a whole host of other core doctrines have no business claiming the label of "Christian". As far as I know, the teaching standards of the PCUSA still hold to the orthodox positions of the Christian faith. However, there is still sufficient "latitude" within that group so that individuals who deny the core truths of Christianity can be ordained ministers. I simply suggested that you might feel comfortable in one of these liberal churches. >>Unitarian Universalists are most certainly not Christians, but I guess >>that's what you are looking for. You appears as if you have made up your >>mind about who Jesus Chrsit is and you don't want any part of it. That's >>OK, just don't tell Christians what Christianity is. > >I spent eight years in Catholic grade school, four years in Catholic >high school, and a year at a Catholic college with religion and >theology courses mandatory every semester. I was raised in a >denomination that claims to be Christian (whether you want to admit >that Catholics are Christians or not is a different matter). My >understanding of what Christ and Christianity are about is based on >knowledge, not ignorance. I do not reject the good things Christ said >and did: I reject the mystery aspects of the Christian religion just >as I reject the mystery aspects of other religions. The Bible is a >set of writings that have been misinterpreted and mistranslated over >the past 4000 years, and I see no reason to assume all of its authors >over that period were directly inspired by a divine principle. There >are many other motives for writing a religious tract: I can think of >politics, for one thing. And why shouldn't I tell Christians or anyone >else what I think Christianity is? I thought talk.religion.misc was a >place for the free exchange of ideas on religion. > > -- Cheers, Bill Ingogly I would suggest that your understanding of Christianity is flawed. If you read the NT, the writings of the church fathers and conservative, contemporary authors such as Charles Hodge or Francis Shaeffer you will get a more accurate perspective on Christianity. If you reject Christianity because you reject supernaturalism, then say so. I appreciate your perspectives on Christianity. My only suggestion was that you not define Christianity according to what YOU THINK it should be, only what its adherents declare it to be. -- Tom Albrecht "Reformata, semper reformanda"