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Author Topic:   What is a 'true Christian'?
Archer Opteryx
Member (Idle past 3598 days)
Posts: 1811
From: East Asia
Joined: 08-16-2006


Message 1 of 2 (726314)
05-08-2014 7:41 AM



[A true Christian] takes the Bible as the final authority, believes in salvation by faith in Christ alone through God's grace, nothing added.
We often hear this definition or something like it stated by adherents of today's fundamentalist Protestant sects. This example comes from post 462 of the 'Protestantism through the Ages' thread. The assumption fundies make, based on a Golden Age myth crafted and retold by their leaders, is that early Christians used this formula and that more recent fundamentalist sects have 'restored' it.
Not so. I submit that the definition of 'true Christian' shown above is a doctrinal formula of Reformation origin. To ascribe it to early Christians is an anachronism. In historical terms it is both impractical and incomplete. This can be demonstrated.
We may then consider what additions and modifications the definition requires in order to meet the test of historical plausibility. In doing so, some merits will be seen in the approach that was actually taken by pre-Protestant Christians.
'Comparative Religion' would seem to be a natural fit. Thanks for considering this topic.
___
Edited by Archer Opteryx, : typo
Edited by Archer Opteryx, : typo

Archer O
All species are transitional.

AdminNosy
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Message 2 of 2 (726336)
05-08-2014 10:24 AM


Thread Copied to Comparative Religions Forum
Thread copied to the What is a 'true Christian'? thread in the Comparative Religions forum, this copy of the thread has been closed.

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