Hello. This is a subtle question, and I know it's not so clear cut, but I am asking anyway: In your perspective, what defines Christian faith? (Not what should define it, but what factors, in your opinion, are defining the faith of Christians today.) Or what defines your own faith, if you're Christian?
No, I do get what you mean, and I think it is a very difficult question. On one hand, I think everyone shoudl be able to agree that the teachings of Chrsit should be what defines Christianity (at the very least) the most. I think what is defining Christian faith in general today is a multitude of things, and the way they interact with previous ideas of the faith affects it in differing ways for differeing people. For example, Christ never said a thing about homosexuality, however Paul is said to have written against it. Now with the homosexual liberation movement over the past 30 some years, it will have an affect on the defnintion of Christianity and what it means. For thsoe who believe that all that Chrsit said (and dind't say) should only be taken, or at least taken above all else, homosexuality in and of itself will often be at the very least morally neutrual (and somtimes the act will not be a sin as well). However, sompone that combines the whole of Bible canon and only what is written, bt not applying it to things not written will he homosexuality as an immoral act and condition to be corrected. Social factors in short. But also the writings and teachings of the apostles and Jesus. Also, with the responses about "higher church authorities" or "the congregation" I think that each feed off each other. On one hand, the church authorities set the "rules" nowadays, however the congregation gives those epopel the power to do so by adhering to them and taking part in the congregation. On the very nature of God, I take an almost deist aproach where I do not believe God to be as day-to-day hands on as displayed in the OT, but then again, I find the OT to be very much an attempt to make God understandable to the people of the time, and I feel that Jesus' purpose was to reveal God to the world as a Father/Mother loving essence, rather than a strict schoolmaster type full of wrath and harsh judgement. But I feel that God will still affect our lives these days giving us comfort, and the love that flows through everyone. So after all of that, I think I am probably gonna vote for the "church authority" and "congragation" options because I feel it is up to them ultimatly what gets taught as doctrine and "truth" based on the teachings of scriptural canon (aka. the Paul and Jesus options) What defines my faith is based on how I perceive God as a essence of love, through the teachings of Christ (both said and unsaid) and the apostles (both said and unsaid)...
I voted other religions & philosophies influencing/mixing with Christianity, but I also voted for Paul because I know like three guys named Paul and they're all wicked smart (well one is, the other two are borderline retarded). I trust Pauls to run the religion (into the ground) On a considerably more serious note, it's somewhat obvious that the church has an immense influance from outside sources (other mythologies etc.) it's easily seen in practically every aspect of Christianity.
I'll throw down my $.02 I voted church leaders AND the congregations. For the most part, there's lip service to Jesus, and the Bible in general, but few actually live it. Or it's a legalistic approach to what's written, following the letter of the law rather than the spirit, and often only when it suits one's purposes. Yeah, there's exceptions, truly spiritual christians, but in all honesty, most christians are one of two things: the legalistic right wing fundies i previously mentioned. I mean, they'll take certain passages incredibly seriously (like the one about Jesus being the way, truth, and light and no one getting to the father but through him), while ignoring much of what Jesus taught and lived: the actual spiritual, mystical life...which includes the idea of (like when he said the kingdom of God is within us, and that what he did, we can do). If one looks at Jesus' attitude, you see one of, like I read in the paper today, "Sabbath for the people, not people for the Sabbath," an idea that has pretty deep implications when applied to all the Law and preachings of the Bible. The other type of christian is apathetic, not much more than "sunday christians" who give little thought to religion period, and thus don't shape the religion in any way other than to push it towards obscurity.
I think Paul's writings and "rules" have shaped modern christianity more than any single biblical author, including Christ's own words and influence in the bible.
I agree Sera. I also think sometimes Paul's words are misconstrued in hideous ways. For some reason a lot of people leave the "Christ" out of Christian. It baffles me.
It's amazing how well the churches are doing in this poll. Obviously they shape the Christian religion, but most hardly foster the Christian spiritual experience.
