Christians: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 05:04, 21 August 2008

The largest sham to ever rear its ugly head in the pages of civilization, Christianity first perpetrated this massive farce in 33 C.E. One Jesus Christ, the son of a carpenter, whose aspiration were very high, Christ hailed from the region in the Middle East known as Judea. The Middle East is renowned for its production of poppies, resulting in opiates, leading to speculation that Jesus Christ was no more than a drug addict. All of the so called "miracles" are proven to be possible through basic science. As well, Christmas was only named the birthdate of Jesus because it coincided with the Winter Solstice after the Roman Emperor Constantine began efforts to unite his empire under one faith. Many other "prophets" and various other figures all share the same alledged birthdate as Christ.

References

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{otheruse|Christian (disambiguation)}}
 {{Christianity}}
-A '''Christian''' {{audio2|En-us-Christian.ogg}} is a person who adheres to [[Christianity]], a [[Monotheism#Christian view|monotheistic]]<ref name="Monotheism"> The [[Catholic Encyclopedia]], Volume IX, [http://www.christianavenue.org ''Monotheism'']; [[William F. Albright]], ''From the Stone Age to Christianity''; [[H. Richard Niebuhr]], ; About.com, [http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/monotheisticreligions/ ''Monotheistic Religion resources'']; Jonathan Kirsch, ''God Against the Gods''; Linda Woodhead, ''An Introduction to Christianity''; [[Columbia Encyclopedia|The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia]] [http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0833762.html ''Monotheism'']; The New Dictionary of [[Cultural literacy|Cultural Literacy]], [http://www.bartleby.com/59/5/monotheism.html ''monotheism'']; New Dictionary of Theology, [http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_NDCT_Paul.htm ''Paul''] pp. 496-99; David Vincent Meconi, "Pagan Monotheism in Late Antiquity" in ''Journal of Early Christian Studies'' pp. 111–12, 2nd London Baptist Confession 1689, 2:1 "1. The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions,  who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty."</ref> [[religion]] centered on the life and teachings of [[Jesus Christ]] as presented in the [[New Testament]]<ref>[[BBC]], [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/ ''BBC - Religion & Ethics - Christianity'']</ref> and interpreted by Christians to have been prophesied in the [[Hebrew Bible]]/[[Old Testament]]<ref> [[Book of Isaiah]] [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=29&chapter=53&version=31 ''Book of Isaiah, Chapter 53.'']</ref>.
-==Etymology==
-The word comes from Old English ''cristen'', from Latin ''Christianus'', from Greek {{polytonic|Χριστιανός}} (''khristianos''), from {{Polytonic|Χριστός}} (''khristos'') meaning "the [[anointing|anointed]]".<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Christ Christ] at Etymology Online </ref> In the ([[Greek Language|Greek]]) [[Septuagint]] version of the [[Hebrew Bible]], ''khristos'' was used to translate the [[Hebrew (language)|Hebrew]] מָשִׁיחַ  (''{{unicode|Mašíaḥ}},'') ([[messiah]]), meaning "[one who is] anointed."<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=messiah Messiah] at Etymology Online </ref>
-The first known usage of the term Χριστιανός ''(khristianos)'' can be found in the [[New Testament]], in {{bibleverse||Acts|11:26|31}}: "the disciples were called Christians first in [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]]." The term was thus first used to denote those known or perceived to be [[Disciple (Christianity)|disciples]] or followers of [[Jesus Christ]]. In the two other New Testament uses of the word ({{bibleverse||Acts|26:28|31}} and {{bibleverse|1|Peter|4:16|31}}), it also refers to the public identity of those who follow [[Jesus]].
-The earliest recorded use of the term outside the Bible was when [[Tacitus on Jesus|Tacitus]] recorded that [[Nero]] blamed the "Christians" for the [[Great Fire of Rome]] in [[64 AD|AD 64]].<ref>[http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/tacitus.html Tacitus (c. 55 -117 CE): Nero's persecution of the Christians], online at Washington State University</ref>
-"Christian" also means a member or adherent of a church or other organized group within Christianity. As an adjective, the term may also describe anything associated with Christianity, or even remotely thought to be consistent with Christianity, as in "the ''Christian'' thing to do."
-In the [[United States]], especially the [[Southern United States|South]] and [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]], the word Christian may also be narrowly used as shorthand for certain denominations or groupings, particularly the [[Disciples of Christ]], [[United Church of Christ]] or [[Churches of Christ]]; for example, "First Christian Church of (name of local town)".
-== Who is a Christian? ==
-{{Unreferencedsection|date=February 2008}}
-The definition of who is a "Christian" varies among people and Christian groups. Some believe that, to be a Christian, an individual must simply attend a [[church]] or participate in baptism. Others teach that instead a belief and acceptance in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is necessary. Some consider a Christian to be simply one who tries to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.
-Some theologians consider a Christian to be anyone who accepts the [[Nicene Creed]]. This ancient text is accepted by Catholics, the Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans and all the remaining mainline Protestant Churches.
-[[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholics]], [[Eastern Orthodox]], and many [[Protestantism|Protestants]] define a Christian as one who has become a member of the church through the sacrament of [[baptism]]. In these denominations, [[Infant baptism|infants]] who are baptized may be considered Christians, although they are expected to make a personal affirmation of faith when old enough to decide for themselves.
-[[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] and [[fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] denominations do not generally practice infant baptism. Some teach that "[[Believer's baptism]]" as a repenting adult is necessary for [[salvation]] — the [[Baptismal regeneration|transition]] from non-Christian to Christian. Others do not believe that baptism is necessary for salvation, but consider it an act of obedience and identification with Jesus. They encourage youth and adults to "become Christians" by personally "accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour". These groups also use the phrase "[[Born again (Christianity)|being born again]]" (referring to {{bibleref2|John|3:3}}) to describe becoming a Christian.
-Others consider themselves Christian just by adhering to the teachings of Jesus Christ, without being a member of a church and thereby not belonging to a subdivision of Christianity.
-Within countries where Christianity is the historical majority religion, the term is also used by some in a casual generic sense to indicate that they are not members of nor affiliated with any other religion – therefore considering themselves Christians by default.<ref name="christianity.com.com">{{cite web|url=http://christianity.com/Christian%20Foundations/The%20Essentials/11541702/|title= Becoming a Christian|accessdate=2007-10-25}}</ref>
-== In other languages ==
-In other European languages the word is similar, e.g. Chrétien in French. The Chinese word is {{linktext|基|督|徒}} ([[pinyin]]: jīdū tú), literally "Christ follower".
-As the identification of "Christ" with Jesus is not accepted within Judaism, in [[Talmud]]ic [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] Christians are called "[[Nazarene (sect)|Nazarenes]]" (''Notzri''), because Jesus is described in the New Testament as being from the city of [[Nazareth]].<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=nazarene Nazarene] at Etymology Online </ref>
-Among [[Arab]]s (whether Christians, Muslims or belonging to other faiths), as well as in other languages influenced by the [[Arabic language]] (i.e. mainly in [[Islam|Muslim]] cultures influenced by Arabic as the [[liturgy|liturgical]] language of Islam), two words are commonly used for Christians: ''[[Nasrani]]'' (stemming from the Arabic ''ansar'', as in the disciples of Jesus), and ''Masihi'' meaning followers of the Messiah.<ref name=KhaledAhmed>Khaled Ahmed, [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C02%5C19%5Cstory_19-2-2006_pg3_4 Pakistan Daily Times].</ref><ref name=SOFIR>Society for Internet Research, [http://www.sofir.org/sarchives/005539.php The Hamas Charter], note 62 (erroneously, "salidi").</ref> Where there is a distinction, ''Nasrani'' refers to people from a Christian culture and ''Masihi'' means those with a religious faith in Jesus.<ref name=Tayler>Jeffrey Tayler, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=98dQ39WOoUUC&pg=RA1-PA41&lpg=RA1-PA41&dq=masihi+nasrani&source=web&ots=LESqWUSy43&sig=ABHlcsuLXyO4iZBR2gMP4dnoux8 Trekking through the Moroccan Sahara].''</ref> In some countries ''Nasrani'' tends to be used generically for non-Muslim white people.<ref name=Tayler>Jeffrey Tayler, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=98dQ39WOoUUC&pg=RA1-PA41&lpg=RA1-PA41&dq=masihi+nasrani&source=web&ots=LESqWUSy43&sig=ABHlcsuLXyO4iZBR2gMP4dnoux8 Trekking through the Moroccan Sahara].''</ref> Another Arabic word sometimes used for Christians, particularly in a political context, is ''Salibi;'' this refers to [[Crusades|Crusaders]] and has negative connotations.<ref name=SOFIR>Society for Internet Research, [http://www.sofir.org/sarchives/005539.php The Hamas Charter], note 62 (erroneously, "salidi").</ref><ref>Akbar S. Ahmed, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=kXY9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA110&lpg=PA110&dq=salibi+crusader&source=web&ots=R_6x5wvD-L&sig=iSIt3GH4P7yJg-OrI39idUrO0AA Islam, Globalization, and Postmodernity],'' p 110.</ref>
+The largest sham to ever rear its ugly head in the pages of civilization, Christianity first perpetrated this massive farce in 33 C.E. One Jesus Christ, the son of a carpenter, whose aspiration were very high, Christ hailed from the region in the Middle East known as Judea. The Middle East is renowned for its production of poppies, resulting in opiates, leading to speculation that Jesus Christ was no more than a drug addict. All of the so called "miracles" are proven to be possible through basic science. As well, Christmas was only named the birthdate of Jesus because it coincided with the Winter Solstice after the Roman Emperor Constantine began efforts to unite his empire under one faith. Many other "prophets" and various other figures all share the same alledged birthdate as Christ.
 == See also ==
 {{portal|Christianity}}