> He did not say "real Christian". He said "real Christianist". This is very different in the same way that "Islamist" is different from "Muslim". The "-ist" words mean that the person believes their faith should be used as governmental law over the land. Essentially, theocracy.
Point taken. I haven't heard "Christianist" or "Islamist" as a synonym for "Christian theocrat" or "Islamist theocrat" before. Possibly that part of my brain that does the whole reading thing mistook it for a typo.
> In addition, I really don't agree with you about what your holy book says. [...trimmed...]
I think these two quotations make a nice summary of the heart of Christian doctrine:
[One of the Pharisees asked Jesus: ]"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40 NAB
[Jesus said: "] My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, 'Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:33-35
I make no claim to be an expert on matters theological. Much of what I know comes from discussion with people around me who have much more claim on that title. But these quotations seem quite easily understood. If we are to call ourselves followers of Christ, then we are to be known by one outstanding quality -- our love.
Now, I am as aware as anyone else that scripture can be twisted to support nearly any argument. I think this should be fairly authoritative though -- Christians believe that the teachings of Christ define Christianity. And when Christ himself says this is the most important commandment, and that it is his new commandment to Christians, it ought to trump anything someone digs up from the Mosaic law.
no subject
Point taken. I haven't heard "Christianist" or "Islamist" as a synonym for "Christian theocrat" or "Islamist theocrat" before. Possibly that part of my brain that does the whole reading thing mistook it for a typo.
> In addition, I really don't agree with you about what your holy book says. [...trimmed...]
I think these two quotations make a nice summary of the heart of Christian doctrine:
[One of the Pharisees asked Jesus: ]"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40 NAB
[Jesus said: "] My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, 'Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:33-35
I make no claim to be an expert on matters theological. Much of what I know comes from discussion with people around me who have much more claim on that title. But these quotations seem quite easily understood. If we are to call ourselves followers of Christ, then we are to be known by one outstanding quality -- our love.
Now, I am as aware as anyone else that scripture can be twisted to support nearly any argument. I think this should be fairly authoritative though -- Christians believe that the teachings of Christ define Christianity. And when Christ himself says this is the most important commandment, and that it is his new commandment to Christians, it ought to trump anything someone digs up from the Mosaic law.