Tiltyred
New member
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- Dec 1, 2008
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Fair enough. I know a fair number of people who call themselves Christians, however, that take most of the Bible (in some cases even Christ's physical existence itself) as a metaphor for greater wisdom. In other words, they don't actually believe that Jesus Christ had supernatural powers or rose from the dead or still exists literally outside the minds of followers.
Would these people be Christians?
Honestly, I'm not trying to needle you about this; I'm just genuinely curious as to what is required in order to claim Christianity. The more different, conflicting opinions I hear on this, the more I start to think the term "Christian" is meaningless because it's anything anyone wants it to be.
It does depend on who you ask. The most basic requirement is a confession of faith. As in, for example, the Apostle's Creed.
Personally, I do believe that most of the Bible is a metaphor for greater wisdom; however, I asked to be baptized at age 7 and I have been studying for decades. I think a foundation in text and interaction with other believers in serious inquiry is vital (i.e., Sunday school). I think once you have done some real work, if you can depart from certain widely-held beliefs, whatever they may be, in your particular denomination, that is righteous. I think you should know what you're doing, though, and that does not mean willy-nilly on the basis of nothing up and deciding that whatever you feel like is how it should be.
That is the truth for me. Your truth may be entirely different and whatever it is, I respect it as Holy Spirit instructing you as is appropriate for who you are where you are.