tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post8457941527218803096..comments2024-03-22T06:31:42.929-05:00Comments on Wry Thoughts About Religion: Wearing a Christian LabelUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-63457891373643071202015-10-24T08:34:58.272-05:002015-10-24T08:34:58.272-05:00During my short term as a United Methodist Pastor ...During my short term as a United Methodist Pastor in the 1960's, I once asked each one in the congregation to reflect on why they were in church. One person said that he was in church to stand up for the ten commandments. In other words, he self-identified with the ten commandments as the heart of the religious experience. Nothing particularly Christian about it, and the real reason he was probably there was because his wife grew up attending Methodist congregations. If I'd the chance to speak with each person in attendance, I suppose there would have been an equal number of unique theological and sociological stories. <br /><br />Gene Stecher<br />Chambersburg, Pa.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-86558770349065451722015-10-20T20:19:22.336-05:002015-10-20T20:19:22.336-05:00I have one more question for the group- if anyone ...I have one more question for the group- if anyone is interested. Charlie used an interesting word that I don't hear often. He said he "self-identify" with none of them. It leads me to wonder- does your religious institution allow to you self-identify with a certain label or are you required to have the same one as everyone else? I have always seen label (particularly a religious one) as something that is assigned to us from another party or a higher power. It takes courage to give yourself your own label- or none at all. What does your institution say- if anything?<br /><br />Many thanks,<br /><br />Elizabeth Holmes<br />St. Louis, MOElizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07407263133805266418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-78641664731684423672015-10-20T09:11:06.718-05:002015-10-20T09:11:06.718-05:00Good Morning, Elizabeth,
I find the categories you...Good Morning, Elizabeth,<br />I find the categories your pastor listed to identify protestants critically inadequate to describe the numerous and very different groups to be found under the heading "protestant." It appears to me that the good pastor likes to "pigeonhole" people on the basis of the idea that if you can "hang a label on 'em" you can simply disregard them. Truth be told: I see a little of myself in all of the labels, even though I self-identify with none of them. At one time or another, however, I have been labeled by others with each of the labels used by the pastor. I have good friends, many of whom are willing to identify themselves by one of these labels or another. I don't. What you see is what you get and it may be different tomorrow. <br />Incidentally he omitted the category "conservative," which is another popular label that many either use of themselves or use to demonize others.<br />Cordially,<br />CharlieCharles Hedrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11285420936166236724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-419419303477442032015-10-19T20:13:17.703-05:002015-10-19T20:13:17.703-05:00Good evening Charlie,
It is very wise to carefully...Good evening Charlie,<br />It is very wise to carefully define the terms one uses with regard to religious affiliations. I'm not sure this helps define the term "Christian" or not- but a pastor once used these three words to describe the Christians who belong to Protestant denominations: Fundamentalist, Evangelical, and Liberal. Speaking in general terms, fundamentalists tend to emphasize legalism and believe every word in the King James version was inspired by God. Evangelicals emphasize the gospel, believe in salvation by grace, and believe in winning souls to Jesus. Liberals tend to take most of the Bible metaphorically, do not emphasize rules, and usually don't believe there's a hell.<br /><br />Those are very broad, general descriptions of Christians found within each of the denominations... I personally identify with the liberal slant (religion-wise) and I was wondering if anyone had ever asked you if you are a liberal Christian and what you thought about those labels helping define "Christian?" Do they clarify that term at all?<br /><br />Yours truly, ElizabethElizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07407263133805266418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-17617909277475309462015-10-18T17:11:19.389-05:002015-10-18T17:11:19.389-05:00Charlie,
I appreciated your learned & thought...Charlie,<br /><br />I appreciated your learned & thoughtful comments on this subject as well as both Gene's & Elizabeth's opinions. I might add since man continually creates and recreates Gods and religions, one may feel justified in defining both his God and religion however he wishes or is persuaded. <br /><br />JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-69564520057973526932015-10-18T14:29:13.526-05:002015-10-18T14:29:13.526-05:00Good afternoon Elizabeth,
I suppose the reaction w...Good afternoon Elizabeth,<br />I suppose the reaction would be In proportion to how publically and loudly one made the announcement that one was no longer Christian. I have for many years thought of myself as a somewhat unorthodox Baptist, and if asked describe myself as post-Christian because the term "Christian" is too broad. Nevertheless, I have tried to inculcate into my life and philosophy of religion the best of the Christian tradition (I get to pick what those are). I regularly attend Bible study every Sunday at a Baptist church where my wife and I have been members for over 35 years. One needs a religious community, I think, to provoke thinking about existential issues. It has not yet become a problem for me. If someone asks me the direct question about my religious affiliations, I can always ask for definitions about the terms they are using and then answer honestly. If I use a term, then I carefully define it, <br />Cordially,<br />CharlieCharles Hedrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11285420936166236724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-90010177255523152712015-10-17T14:00:53.089-05:002015-10-17T14:00:53.089-05:00Good afternoon Charlie,
I wonder what has more of...Good afternoon Charlie,<br /><br />I wonder what has more of an effect on one's life- removing the Christian label or donning it? I can't even begin to imagine the reaction of friends and family if I were to decide to remove that label. The repercussions would be quite noticeable and immediate.<br /><br />It has become a very highly charged term and people use it for their own purposes. Discovering the origins of its meaning and use shows us how differently it is used today- and interpreted today.<br /><br />Is one's life more drastically affected by removing that label- or by taking it on? It's interesting to think about the reaction people have to it either way.<br /><br />Respectfully, Elizabeth HolmesElizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07407263133805266418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2828101829504518203.post-67272959899862518142015-10-14T19:54:07.001-05:002015-10-14T19:54:07.001-05:00Hi Charlie,
The term Christian seems to mean alle...Hi Charlie,<br /><br />The term Christian seems to mean allegiance to Christ. The problem is finding an agreed upon definition of Christ - there seems to be none.<br /><br />Would the label Jesusian, meaning allegiance to Jesus, provide any more certainty? If someone asks me I say that I'm a follower of the JS red/pink Jesus, but that rules out the second coming Jesus.<br /><br />Traveling through the W. Virginia mountains this week to see the leaves!<br /><br />Gene Stecher<br />Chambersburg, PaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com