Just curious: Are you a Christian or not

[MeanestMomInMidwest]

I always wonder at these polls. there seems to be a reoccurring effort to categorize people (posters) according to religion, and I'm not sure why. To know whom to avoid? To feel more secure if the poll results favor one's own religious proclivity? Is this a phenomena that is present in society (of which I am unaware) and simply reflected by these types of polls in this forum?

[chiguirre]

Granola, hippie-ish, left-leaning ....

 

Well, not necessarily left-leaning. :D

 

Check out this book by Rod Dreher:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Crunchy-Cons-Birkenstocked-evangelical-homeschooling/dp/1400050642/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269867594&sr=8-1

 

A while back this was discussed here, and there are lots of Crunchy Cons on this board.

[Guest Cindie2dds]

Well, not necessarily left-leaning. :D

 

I was clarifying how *I* describe *myself*, not a group of people. I am left-leaning, which I think you can easily be and still be a Christian. It was the easiest way for me to describe who I am. Obviously there are people out there who describe themselves with the same adjective, but believe the definition is totally different. ;)

 

Interesting looking book, though. Thanks.

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

There should be an option that says Christian beliefs as well as other beliefs;)

[HeathenMom]

very conservative, very crunchy, very Germanic Heathen here.

[tabrizia]

Wasn't sure what the difference between option 2 and 3 was? I went with 2, but 3 worked as well. Our household is a happy Hindu Jewish mix.

[mommaduck]

Granola, hippie-ish, left-leaning ....

There are a lot of right leaning crunchy mamas. Lifestyle and politics don't necessarily affect each other.

 

Orthodox Christian, crunchy (but not as crunchy as I used to be) mama.

 

We homeschool for various reasons. Oldest will be going to a private, religious, highschool.

[Mama Lynx]

I don't really get it, either. Some have no problem giving out very specific details that anyone can data-mine here, yet go bonkers if the census asks for their race.

 

 

Are you keeping track? Are the same people giving tons of information in this thread, that decried census information gathering?

[HRAAB]

I'm not sure what these polls are about. Maybe just curiosity. I have seen so much divisiveness over religion since I started homeschooling. Christians against non-Christians. Protestant against Catholic. Conservative Catholic against liberal Catholic. I've seen good women be so hurt; I have felt hurt, and I've hurt others. I wish I could take it back. Sometimes it seems like we're trying to see who we can exclude. My feelings are probably more sensitive right now because of an issue of excluding people over religious interpretations on another board.

 

I'm happy to call myself Christian. It's other Christians who won't let me.

[Lovedtodeath]

:grouphug:, Ishki, :grouphug:

 

 

I always wonder at these polls. there seems to be a reoccurring effort to categorize people (posters) according to religion, and I'm not sure why. To know whom to avoid? To feel more secure if the poll results favor one's own religious proclivity? Is this a phenomena that is present in society (of which I am unaware) and simply reflected by these types of polls in this forum?

I found it very interesting that only 14% of the population on this board voted atheist or agnostic. If I had to guess at that percentage based on posts I would think it were much higher.

[MeanestMomInMidwest]

:grouphug:, Ishki, :grouphug:

 

 

I found it very interesting that only 14% of the population on this board voted atheist or agnostic. If I had to guess at that percentage based on posts I would think it were much higher.

 

well, nonchristian does not necessarily mean atheist or agnostic. I'm not saying you are suggesting that, but sometimes I think a Christian may believe if some person does not profess faith in the Christian god, that person is automatically atheist or agnostic. Other times certain posters have not indicated a stance on matters of faith or religion, but assumptions are made by reading their posts on different issues.

 

ETA: I also do not know what poll you got your 14% figure from. Surely not this one, since it does not address atheism or agnosticism.

[Lovedtodeath]

well, nonchristian does not necessarily mean atheist or agnostic. I'm not saying you are suggesting that, but sometimes I think a Christian may believe if some person does not profess faith in the Christian god, that person is automatically atheist or agnostic. Other times certain posters have not indicated a stance on matters of faith or religion, but assumptions are made by reading their posts on different issues.

Yes, I have seen that occur.

[HRAAB]

well, nonchristian does not necessarily mean atheist or agnostic. I'm not saying you are suggesting that, but sometimes I think a Christian may believe if some person does not profess faith in the Christian god, that person is automatically atheist or agnostic. Other times certain posters have not indicated a stance on matters of faith or religion, but assumptions are made by reading their posts on different issues.

 

ETA: I also do not know what poll you got your 14% figure from. Surely not this one, since it does not address atheism or agnosticism.

 

This is the definition that I've been given for atheist by Christians. If you don't believe in the Biblical/Christian God, you're considered an atheist. Since the Biblical God is the True God, belief in any other god renders you an atheist.

[Parrothead]

This is the definition that I've been given for atheist by Christians. If you don't believe in the Biblical/Christian God, you're considered an atheist. Since the Biblical God is the True God, belief in any other god renders you an atheist.

Huh? Not all Christians believe that.

 

You know it is probably the same type of Christian that does not believe that Catholics are Christian or that their brand of Christianity is the only way to go.

 

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," seems to be forgotten fairly often by these people.

 

I've gotta get out of this thread (and the ones similar) or I'm going to blow a gasket and get myself banned for life.

[MeanestMomInMidwest]

This is the definition that I've been given for atheist by Christians. If you don't believe in the Biblical/Christian God, you're considered an atheist. Since the Biblical God is the True God, belief in any other god renders you an atheist.

Yup. Course, those who hold firmly to other religions would not consider themselves atheists. And I'm pretty sure any atheist would say that they don't just NOT believe in the Christian god, they don't believe in any god. I'm not really sure if Christians believe in lesser gods (my study of the Bible would lead me to believe that this belief has been a historical one for the people of the Bible).

 

I think atheist and agnostic are self-selecting labels. One cannot foist these labels upon another, but they can be embraced by an individual to explain or describe a set of beliefs (or non belief, as the case may be). Now that I type that, I realize that labels should not be foisted upon anyone.

[Wheres Toto]

I'm not sure what these polls are about. Maybe just curiosity. I have seen so much divisiveness over religion since I started homeschooling. Christians against non-Christians. Protestant against Catholic. Conservative Catholic against liberal Catholic. I've seen good women be so hurt; I have felt hurt, and I've hurt others. I wish I could take it back. Sometimes it seems like we're trying to see who we can exclude. My feelings are probably more sensitive right now because of an issue of excluding people over religious interpretations on another board.

 

I'm happy to call myself Christian. It's other Christians who won't let me.[/QUOTE]

 

This is why I don't want to just say I'm Christian, without the but....

I've seen Catholics and LDS told they were not Christians, others told they were "not Christian enough", people told unless they believed exactly a certain way and were willing to say everyone else was wrong, they were not Christians, etc. I don't want to be associated with this type of Christianity. I truly believe that we all should be allowed to follow our own paths.

[MeanestMomInMidwest]

Huh? Not all Christians believe that.

 

You know it is probably the same type of Christian that does not believe that Catholics are Christian or that their brand of Christianity is the only way to go.

 

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," seems to be forgotten fairly often by these people.

 

I've gotta get out of this thread (and the ones similar) or I'm going to blow a gasket and get myself banned for life.

 

Don't blow a gasket! It is always the "bad apples" that give the rest a bad name, regardless of what issue. (ie, bad teachers give all teachers a bad name, irresponsible homeschool parents give the others a bad name, rude nurses give competent, caring nurses a bad name - see where I'm going on this :))

[HRAAB]

Huh? Not all Christians believe that.

 

You know it is probably the same type of Christian that does not believe that Catholics are Christian or that their brand of Christianity is the only way to go.

 

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," seems to be forgotten fairly often by these people.

 

I've gotta get out of this thread (and the ones similar) or I'm going to blow a gasket and get myself banned for life.

 

Of course it's not all Christians. That is a common perception I have encountered among Christians, though. Probably more conservative Christians. And it leaves me :banghead: since I believe in the end it's all the same, one, true God anyhow irregardless of what name we might use. So depending on whom I'm talking with, I'm not a Christian or I'm an atheist or a Pagan or something... I don't know what.

[6packofun]

I dont know if this goes against any rules :confused: I am just wondering if the "statistics" i saw are accurate... I have a hard time believing what i saw for those statistics they listed

 

I'm not sure what stats you're referring to, but I think that many, many people do not believe in the same "requirements" of being a true follower of Jesus Christ and so it's a tough question to really get an answer for. lol Were you asking if the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians? Because most of them believe they are. (Stating a fact, not passing a judgment.)

 

If this wasn't what you were referring to, forgive me and pass my post right on by. LOL

[Parrothead]

Because most of them believe they are. (Stating a fact, not passing a judgment.)

 

 

Why? Why would you put it like that? Their version of Christianity might be different from yours or mine or Joe Bob down the street, but by golly they believe they are Christians so they are.

 

I'm done I'm banning myself for a while.

[Lovedtodeath]

:cheers2:Chucki:hurray:

 

:grouphug::grouphug:Chucki:grouphug::grouphug:

 

I thought that the OP in this thread stated things very well and that if she had been listened to we wouldn't have these comments about whether people are or aren't Christians, including those speaking of themselves.

Edited March 29, 2010 by Lovedtodeath

[mommaduck]

Why? Why would you put it like that? Their version of Christianity might be different from yours or mine or Joe Bob down the street, but by golly they believe they are Christians so they are.

 

I'm done I'm banning myself for a while.

:grouphug: Love ya, Char...please don't ban yourself. Actually, it's Holy Week, I SHOULD take a break myself.

[LauraGB]

Why? Why would you put it like that? Their version of Christianity might be different from yours or mine or Joe Bob down the street, but by golly they believe they are Christians so they are.

 

.

 

:iagree: Even those of us who don't fall into a specific Christian faith can still consider themselves Christians. It's a term about as blanketed as a statement of "I like fruit." Sure, but what kind of fruit? And do you peel it first or eat it whole? Do you dip it in sugar or caramel and eat it raw, or do you prefer yours cooked? My fruit is better than your fruit. Ack! Faith is a tremedously personal thing and I think that's why I wasn't able to vote in the poll - I don't fall into any readily accepted category of Christianity (which is pretty crazy, actually, considering how many variations are available today).

 

I remember a thread a while ago where people were shocked that Catholics were actually Christians. :lol:

[mommyrooch]

I'm not sure what these polls are about. Maybe just curiosity. I have seen so much divisiveness over religion since I started homeschooling. Christians against non-Christians. Protestant against Catholic. Conservative Catholic against liberal Catholic. I've seen good women be so hurt; I have felt hurt, and I've hurt others. I wish I could take it back. Sometimes it seems like we're trying to see who we can exclude. My feelings are probably more sensitive right now because of an issue of excluding people over religious interpretations on another board.

 

I'm happy to call myself Christian. It's other Christians who won't let me.

 

Wow, I could have posted this. This is EXACTLY how I feel.

 

It seems, at least in regards to the homeschoolers I know, that this is exactly what happens.

 

This very thing is quite pronounced within my local homeschool group. It seems as if you can't just be Christian. You have to be "the right kind" of Christian or you might as well not even claim the title.

 

It is most often times Christians attacking other Christians, not other outside sources attacking Christians. Why is this the case? :confused:

 

Like you, I am very happy to call myself a Christain, if only other "Christians" would let me. :(

[asta]

I am not going to list a link to the statistics I am talking about because i posted something from that site before and people tried saying it was "political":confused: but after I get the kiddos to bed I will PM it to whoever would like :)

 

I don't want a PM. I would like a quote of the statistics that you read and the name of the source. I don't need a link - I can find that myself.

 

 

a

[Crimson Wife]

It seems as if you can't just be Christian. You have to be "the right kind" of Christian or you might as well not even claim the title.

 

It is most often times Christians attacking other Christians, not other outside sources attacking Christians. Why is this the case? :confused:

 

This is not a new phenomenon. Just look at how much of the Gospel is devoted to Jesus vs. the Pharisees.

[Audrey]

I always wonder at these polls. there seems to be a reoccurring effort to categorize people (posters) according to religion, and I'm not sure why. To know whom to avoid? To feel more secure if the poll results favor one's own religious proclivity? Is this a phenomena that is present in society (of which I am unaware) and simply reflected by these types of polls in this forum?

 

I hear you! I get pretty tired of the pigeon-holing this board loves so much. I made it easy for people to ignore me by just hanging the whole witch thing right out there in my signature.

[mommyrooch]

This is not a new phenomenon. Just look at how much of the Gospel is devoted to Jesus vs. the Pharisees.

 

:iagree: In fact This very behavior is warned against in Titus 3:9-11

 

"But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self condemned.

 

It seems pretty clear to me that we should not judge or condemn other Christians. It does nothing to strengthen our Christian "family" but rather serves only to divide us.

[mommyrooch]

I hear you! I get pretty tired of the pigeon-holing this board loves so much. I made it easy for people to ignore me by just hanging the whole witch thing right out there in my signature.

 

I don't ignore you Audrey. :D I like witches. they ride on really cool brooms and those black capes really make a fashion statement. :lol:

 

Seriously though, it would take a whole lot more than you've offered to scare me off. ;)

[lynn]

I've become agnostic over the years. However, I did think myself a Christian for many years. I have encountered some very difficult things in my life that have turned me away from the church. However, I am working through it.

[Tree House Academy]

Very unashamed and unapologetically Christian. :)

[Guest Cindie2dds]

There are a lot of right leaning crunchy mamas. Lifestyle and politics don't necessarily affect each other.

 

Of course there are.

 

I was distinguishing myself because I am left-leaning, crunchy, which a lot of Christians believe they cannot co-exist; however, I am also a very strong Jesus-rose-from-the-dead-died-for-my-sins Christian, who happens to be a socialist, Democrat, pro-lifer from birth to death. I don't think they are mutually exclusive either. I was just trying to say what I was, confusing as it is, not trying to pigeon-hole anyone else. Lord knows I have a hard enough time speaking for myself let alone speaking for an entire, fractured religion. :lol:

[rafgaf4]

We are a Christian family. That is not the only reason that we have chosen to homeschool though. However, we do enjoy the freedom of religion that comes with homeschooling.

[Guest Cindie2dds]

I remember a thread a while ago where people were shocked that Catholics were actually Christians. :lol:

 

Okay, now I'm really in trouble! ;)

[Guest Cindie2dds]

I made it easy for people to ignore me by just hanging the whole witch thing right out there in my signature.

 

Now if you could just find some way for those pesky, demanding, stalking newbies to ignore you. :lol:

[Tangerine]

Raised in a Bible-believing-evangelical-home atheist married to a Mormon-baptized-and-raised atheist. Our mommies still love us. :D

[mommaduck]

Of course there are.

 

I was distinguishing myself because I am left-leaning, crunchy, which a lot of Christians believe they cannot co-exist; however, I am also a very strong Jesus-rose-from-the-dead-died-for-my-sins Christian, who happens to be a socialist, Democrat, pro-lifer from birth to death. I don't think they are mutually exclusive either. I was just trying to say what I was, confusing as it is, not trying to pigeon-hole anyone else. Lord knows I have a hard enough time speaking for myself let alone speaking for an entire, fractured religion. :lol:

My apologies, it appeared you were defining "crunchy" as "leftist". Crunchy is more about lifestyle choices, not political. Lifestyle in dealing with things such as food choices, parenting choices, and health choices ;)

[stripe]

I don't really understand this poll.

[Ester Maria]

Secular atheist Jews over here. :p Our decision to homeschool had nothing to do with religion or lack thereof.

[mommaduck]

I don't really understand this poll.

Neither do I. Especially since we've had a myriad of similar polls that were much more precise (right down to denominational breakdowns and faith breakdowns...including those that were atheists and agnostics).

 

I'd really like to know what "statistic" the OP is referring to and if the OP would be willing to pm the link, I'd be appreciative.

[Mrs Mungo]

I don't like statistics that don't tell the whole story.

 

For example, statistics that show most homeschoolers are Christian and imply people therefore homeschool for religious reasons. Or statistics that show the majority of the people in this country are Christian and therefore we should have prayer in school. Or the majority of the country is Christian and therefore anti-Obama (when he is a Christian, himself). That sort of thing annoys me a lot. Is the link in question like that?

[mommaduck]

I don't like statistics that don't tell the whole story.

 

For example, statistics that show most homeschoolers are Christian and imply people therefore homeschool for religious reasons. Or statistics that show the majority of the people in this country are Christian and therefore we should have prayer in school. Or the majority of the country is Christian and therefore anti-Obama (when he is a Christian, himself). That sort of thing annoys me a lot. Is the link in question like that?

I'm with you on that one!

[Slartibartfast]

 

I found it very interesting that only 14% of the population on this board voted atheist or agnostic. If I had to guess at that percentage based on posts I would think it were much higher.

 

I am a Christian. :)

 

I vote "do unto others"

Edited March 29, 2010 by Sis

[asta]

I don't really understand this poll.

 

I not only don't understand this poll (as the information is already out there, as was stated earlier), I am REALLY discomforted by the nature of these posts lately.

 

Why the sudden "Are you a...." "What do you think of this org..." "How do you divy up money..."

 

Ok, I suppose that is being snarky. But all of you know how I am about information gathering.

 

There is a plethora of information on this board with a simple search. Why polls and thinly disguised questions?

 

I will admit it bothers me.

 

 

asta

[EppieJ]

I'm a Christian and a curriculum junkie! No box here! :D

[EppieJ]

Thanks for asking! I was wondering myself!

[akmommy]

I guess I'd call myself a "spiritual seeker" who is fairly disgusted with "religion" and I have no desire or inclination to tell anybody else what they are or aren't.

 

By the way this post fascinated me and has me curious to learn more about Quakers:

 

I don't know...it may be just me! Quakers believe we must make our own minds up! We can only speak for ourselves, so if, for example I think that something in the Bible doesn't work for me (think of some of the early rules in the OT for example) I don't go with what a church says on it, I pray and make my own mind up.

 

Quakers don't have clergy, people think we have abolished the clergy, but actually we have abolished the laity! We all have a relationship with God, so we might as well go direct to the source.

 

No Quaker would say what Quakers do or do not believe, we don't have a creed or a 'party line' A Quaker would pray, and wait on the Lord in silence until the matter became clear...for them. They may then share or not this leading according to how they felt led. This may take some time....

 

Another Quaker may disagree totally with this post and that would be OK too.

 

[fivetails]

 

There is a plethora of information on this board with a simple search. Why polls and thinly disguised questions?

 

 

[i'm not sure what the question is 'disguised' as?]

 

It's not always easy to search on boards like this - I know I've gone searching for specific terms before and had piles of unrelated hits come up. Plus, people often like to have a *current* conversation -- a thread with a poll attached from a year ago isn't current, and if the individual goes and BUMPS that thread to actually have some conversation, they get growled at about bumping old topics. Sorta can't win there eh? ;)

 

People are curious about stuff.. I don't think there's any hidden motivation.

[lionfamily1999]

I don't like statistics that don't tell the whole story.

 

For example, statistics that show most homeschoolers are Christian and imply people therefore homeschool for religious reasons. Or statistics that show the majority of the people in this country are Christian and therefore we should have prayer in school. Or the majority of the country is Christian and therefore anti-Obama (when he is a Christian, himself). That sort of thing annoys me a lot. Is the link in question like that?

What if all someone wants to know is how many self-identify as Christian (without a ton of caveats)? I know those stats could be used to say something they don't (hsing for religious reasons), but if that's all the person with the poll is looking for, then why bother to include the other information?

:cheers2:Chucki:hurray:

 

:grouphug::grouphug:Chucki:grouphug::grouphug:

 

I thought that the OP in this thread stated things very well and that if she had been listened to we wouldn't have these comments about whether people are or aren't Christians, including those speaking of themselves.

:iagree:

This is the definition that I've been given for atheist by Christians. If you don't believe in the Biblical/Christian God, you're considered an atheist. Since the Biblical God is the True God, belief in any other god renders you an atheist.

I can see the idea behind it, but I would be surprised if a Christian would accuse a Muslim (for instance) of being athiest. Is this why you qualified your post earlier (I'm a Christian, even if other Christians don't think so)?

[StaceyinLA]

I like that reference! I absolutely believe that Jesus died for me, and I have conservative political and family values. I think there are certainly areas where I'd be considered a little more liberal (environment, food, animal rights, etc.), but it is really out of compassion and a personal belief that, though God gave us dominion over the earth and animals, He ordered us to protect and care for them. I'm just doing my part.