Christian atheists. (Buddhists, disciple, Satan, beliefs)

[Roxolan]

Originally Posted by Salt & Light

Maybe they could be identified as Religious Atheists.

With that name nobody would know that they follow the teachings of Jesus.

Let's check the Dictionary.com definition of Christian, shall we? Here are three meanings that correctly describe "Christian atheists":

1. of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings: a Christian faith.
4. exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ; Christlike: She displayed true Christian charity.
8. a person who exemplifies in his or her life the teachings of Christ: He died like a true Christian.

So I'm sorry but it is perfectly correct to call them "Christian" atheists.

[ShepsMom]

Ok, I've read through all this and had to comment.

Christian Atheist: Is a contradiction on it's own. You can't be Christian and Atheist at the same time.
Ok, you can argue this:
Well, Christian atheist is one who just follows teachings of JC, but don't believe in it's divine nature.
What is wrong with this picture? If you follow JC, then you accept JC, regardless of his teaching. You accept that he is indeed a son of God, and all that comes with it, you will accept everything that Bible tells you about JC.
Now, let's look at the Atheist part of that Christian Atheist nonsense. In the atheist sense, you would follow JC BUT you will chose only his teaching without acknowledgment of his divine existence.
OK, why would you call yourself Christian Atheist? Why not Buddha Atheist, or Islamic Atheist, or Wiccan Atheist, or any of the other religion, just append Atheist and you'll be all set.

Please explain, what part of "Christian" makes you any better then any other religion? Once you use Atheist, it doesn't matter what religion you use at that point on.
Doesn't every religion has "good" teaching about how to live your life? Is Christianity the ONLY one that teaches goodness?
Gimme a break, this argument is a nonsense. If anything, once you announce yourself as Atheist, don't put any other labels on it, because you as atheist, believe in Goodness of Humanity as it is, you need no religious association with it. Unless you are afraid to call yourself an Atheist, then it's a totally different ball game.

Good grief!

[MysticPhD]

Originally Posted by b. frank

But that doesn't say which religion they like. Christian Atheism seems less vague. Christianity is the religion that they have chosen to emulate or whatever...
The interesting thing about these people is that they are not Universalist Atheists (as Religious Atheist implies), but ones who like to attach themselves to the idea of Jesus specifically.

According to John 6:45, Jesus knew that this would happen,

. . . It is written in the Prophets, 'And they shall all be taught of God.' Everyone who has listened to the Father, and has learned, comes to me.

[coosjoaquin]

Originally Posted by Salt & Light

You are correct; it is no coincidence that they choose the word Christian.

Jesus commands His followers to be Baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, to go to all the nations teaching the people to observe His command. Would “Christian Atheists” follow this command?

This is like you 4th attempt at this, I'll save you from writting the next few lines:

-But they are not really Christians if they don't believe in every dogma that I or my demonination demands.

--They don't call themselves "Christians" but rather "Christian Atheists"

-If they don't follow the Bible 100% then they shouldn't include "Christian" in their title.

--They follow many of the Christian philosophies and Jesus teachings, hence "Christian Atheists"

-But they are not really Christians if they don't believe in every dogma that I or my demonination demands....

As I said this is petty bickering. Make up your own -ism for them and send them a letter to see if they take it.

[MysticPhD]

Originally Posted by ShepsMom

Good grief!

How did you become so certain that YOUR view of this debate is the correct one? What assumptions are you making about what the term Christian mandates? NONE of those assumptions of yours are necessarily true or mandatory. The many religions of Christ require many "beliefs"etc. . . . the philosophy of life represented by Christ does not.

[b. frank]

Originally Posted by MysticPhD

According to John 6:45, Jesus knew that this would happen,

. . . It is written in the Prophets, 'And they shall all be taught of God.' Everyone who has listened to the Father, and has learned, comes to me.

That seems like a presumptuous assessment of the beliefs of the Christian atheists.
You think God led them to Christian atheism?

[b. frank]

Originally Posted by ShepsMom

If you follow JC, then you accept JC, regardless of his teaching. You accept that he is indeed a son of God, and all that comes with it, you will accept everything that Bible tells you about JC.

That's just not logical.
To "follow" JC doesn't necessarily mean that you believe he is the son of God and certainly not that you accept everything that the Bible says about him.
Maybe the Bible is not the truth? There are obviously other interpretations of Jesus than the one(s) you'll find in the Bible. Christian atheism is just one of many of those.

[ShepsMom]

Originally Posted by b. frank

That's just not logical.
To "follow" JC doesn't necessarily mean that you believe he is the son of God and certainly not that you accept everything that the Bible says about him.
Maybe the Bible is not the truth? There are obviously other interpretations of Jesus than the one(s) you'll find in the Bible. Christian atheism is just one of many of those.

Yes, but JC is a Biblical character, is he not?
What is the necessity to follow JC? Can you say that you follow someone whose life to you is an example of a good human? What is the obsession with JC? That's the point i'm trying to make. Would you say you want to be like Superman, or Spiderman, or Robin Hood?

You can say you want to be as good as Mother Theresa, for all i care. When you bring JC as an example, you are then getting into realm of a biblical interpretation, but that's of course, takes believing in the Bible.

[MysticPhD]

Originally Posted by b. frank

That seems like a presumptuous assessment of the beliefs of the Christian atheists.
You think God led them to Christian atheism?

Presumptuous . . . possibly . . . but since I personally know that we have a connection in our inner consciousness . . . it is no big step to assume that as the source for this inner impetus to select the Christ's life and attitudes as role model.

[b. frank]

Originally Posted by ShepsMom

Yes, but JC is a Biblical character, is he not?
What is the necessity to follow JC? Can you say that you follow someone whose life to you is an example of a good human? What is the obsession with JC? That's the point i'm trying to make. Would you say you want to be like Superman, or Spiderman, or Robin Hood?

You can say you want to be as good as Mother Theresa, for all i care. When you bring JC as an example, you are then getting into realm of a biblical interpretation, but that's of course, takes believing in the Bible.

I would love to be known as a Spider Man Atheist.
If I want to be "as good as" Spider Man I don't need to believe in everything that exists in the Marvel comics universe.
Why does the Bible get special status? It's just a book full of characters. Saying that the Bible should always be completely ignored seems more obsessive than saying that one of its characters is worth investigating.

Anyway, this is all besides the point because it appears that the Christian atheists either completely reject the Bible or else believe in some wacky Bible-based mythology. But they're still all free to focus on JC if that's what floats their boat.