Ship of Fools: If you ticked the box

Thread: If you ticked the box - Christian Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by GeorgeNZ (# 18672) on :

If you ticked the box or filled in the form identifying yourself as Christian - how would you then go about defining what you meant when you claimed that 'title'?

[ 16. October 2016, 04:37: Message edited by: GeorgeNZ ]

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

I do my best to follow Jesus and his example.

His example is the epitome of kindness, consideration and inclusivity. He didn't go with the crowd, always thought for himself and spoke up for those who had no voice.

Posted by Russ (# 120) on :

Maybe

that to the extent that I affirm tradition, this is the tradition that I affirm

&

that to the extent that I criticize tradition, this is the tradition that I criticize

?

Posted by Schroedinger's cat (# 64) on :

I take the Bible as my sacred book and guide.
I take Jesus - as revealed there - as the example to live by.
I believe that a relationship with a divine and good God is possible, despite my failings.
I seek the good of others - all others - as my way of showing the presence of God in the world.

And I don't believe that God wants the poor, the sick, the foreign, the destitute, the "other" dead. Just to separate myself from a massive swathe of those who claim this.

Posted by Martin60 (# 368) on :

I believe the trajectory of His claims.

But it doesn't feel like it [Smile]

Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on :

It means that when a list of boxes asks me which religion I belong to, I tick 'Christian'.

Also, I go to church frequently. All else being equal (and a liberal attitude to sexuality and a left-wing attitude to economics are included in that all else) I like to hear voices from the churches or that otherwise identify as Christian included in public space, in the media, in art and literature. Anything beyond that is not the business of forms with tick boxes.

Posted by Twilight (# 2832) on :

For me it means, I believe Jesus is the son of God and through his sacrifice I have a hope of everlasting life.

If someday I find that all to be untrue, I would still be glad I had followed Christ as the best example I know of how to live life. Actually "follow," is nothing I've ever done. I have yet to give up my family and comfy lifestyle to give full time help the poor and sick, so I'll just say "admire," instead.

Of course as Dafyd says none of that is any form collectors business. I only tell you guys because you're on the internet and not real.

Posted by Galilit (# 16470) on :

I tick Christian because Christianity is such a tiny minority here.
I actually don't think it's anyone's business and if I was in a country where you could say "object to state" I would.

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :

I object to state on the census form, which is about the only place I'm ever asked, because it doesn't feel as straightforward as that.

Huia

Posted by Humble Servant (# 18391) on :

I believe in One God, the Father Almighty... etc.

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :

I'm a member in good standing of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Posted by Jengie jon (# 273) on :

It depends on context.

In other words it depends on what I think the pollster is asking.

Jengie

[ 17. October 2016, 10:13: Message edited by: Jengie jon ]

Posted by Erroneous Monk (# 10858) on :

I'm a baptised, believing Roman Catholic. That doesn't mean I think everyone else who ticks the box is or should be, necessarily.

Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :

I worship Jesus Christ as the one God of all creation.

Posted by Anyuta (# 14692) on :

I was baptized into a Christian denomination. I am also a (semi) active member of that denomination.

That doesn't necessarily make me a GOOD Christian, but it's what I think determines whether I "check the box" or not.

Posted by no prophet's flag is set so... (# 15560) on :

I check the box because the alternative is not checking the box. I have no complete idea of why others might check the box, but I am certain I disagree with a good number of them.

Posted by Albertus (# 13356) on :

I'd go with Anyuta on that. But it can mean so many things- from a strong and active personal faith to the vaguest of senses of cultural allegiance- and I'd say any of those meanings is a valid one for this purpose. But then, speaking now sociologically and culturally rather than theologically, I think I'd rather live in a society where people belonged without believing than one where people believed without belonging.

[ 17. October 2016, 18:05: Message edited by: Albertus ]

Posted by SvitlanaV2 (# 16967) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Galilit:
I tick Christian because Christianity is such a tiny minority here.
I actually don't think it's anyone's business and if I was in a country where you could say "object to state" I would.

However, it's only because of censuses and polls of various kinds that you'd know for certain that Christianity represents 'a tiny minority' where you live. IMO it's useful for both the state and the general public to have this kind of information. If nothing else, religion is often bound up in national identity, and it seems useful for us to know if and how our national religious identity is changing.

I tick the 'Christian' box because that's the box that best represents my religious beliefs, practices and identity.

[ 17. October 2016, 23:10: Message edited by: SvitlanaV2 ]

Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :

My life is centred around being a follower/disciple of Jesus Christ. That is where I find life's meaning and what sustains me.
My religion or faith tradition is where I can find some kind of communal expression of shared spirituality, though really I always feel a bit of a square peg.

Posted by GeorgeNZ (# 18672) on :

Quite a range of answers. Its fair to say that others have viewed my questions in ways I had not envisaged. That is I did not think of a questioning pollster. I was really just thinking about the 'inner' dialogue, "i am a Christian" - why Is that?

Posted by Leorning Cniht (# 17564) on :

What I think I mean when I think "I am a Christian" is more or less the Nicene creed.

Posted by simontoad (# 18096) on :

I also define my belief through the Nicene Creed. I am a Christian because I was born into the Roman Catholic Church and left as a teen, I had a transformational experience of being saved during my most troubling time to date and now I can't deny God any more.

Posted by Raptor Eye (# 16649) on :

To define what I meant when ticking the box 'Christian' I would say that it means that I have faith in the living God and do my best to follow the example and teaching of Jesus.

Posted by PaulTH* (# 320) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Boogie:
I do my best to follow Jesus and his example.

There may be other aspects to being a Christian, but I don't believe that any come even close in importance to this.

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