Im wondering how the non-christians determine who the Christians are?

I practice witchcraft. How does that make you feel? How you answer will determine what type of "christian" you are...if any at all.

Good question. I personally don't assume a particular faith of anyone. I don't decide a person is Christian until I see, or hear, something to confirm it. ie: a crucifix, a bible, rosary beads, them saying something relating to them being Christian, etc.

However, I agree whole heartedly with what you said about both good and bad Christians. In fact, religion really has nothing to do with it. There are good, and nasty, people in all walks of life.

I think what makes some people here get so hot under the collar, is that the noisy ones tend to be hypocrites and are therefore the most obnoxious.

Most of the "intelligent, compassionate and friendly ones," know enough to not say anything deliberately inflamatory. Hence, they are the intelligent, compassionate and friendly ones.

I like rhiamon's point. She hit the nail on the head! She's got alot of thumbs down, but what she said is exactly the point. How will you treat me if you know I am not of your faith?

Christians can be wonderful to other Christians all day long. The true test of their Christian honor is how they treat Non-christians.

I'm going to have to take a bit of an oblique angle at the question because I personally am not as good at identifying Christians as the kind of people who would lambast them as you describe are. Heck, I'm not completely sure of what I see in the mirror because while I think I am a pretty good Christian, and certainly one of faith, there are a great many church going Christians who would consider me a heathen. My self-doubts arise because I know I could always do better.

So can the people who spew their hate, and I don't know what faith they purport to hold; but no religion encourages such generalizations. I can tell you this: we are very lucky in the United States. Here you cannot even use race to reliably formulate an opinion, even though there is a tendency to attempt to do so. In some places, such as Bosnia, people so similar an American might think were brothers, perhaps even twins, might instantly recognize each other as of different faiths -- and hate each other for that difference.

One of the prime purposes of religions are to allow people to live together with some measure of harmony. Every religion's primary text, however, contains numerous passages that could be read in more than one way, or put in a different context and be used to sway people to some type of belief. Each religion has its fanatic groups that seize upon these passages to fester hatred, and there are a great number of ignorant people that listen to this and adopt many of those opinions without going to extremes of action. The KKK purports to be a Christian group, just as Islamic radicals claim to be following the demands of their religion. As Christians, we have a book that tells us to turn the other cheek while it also says "an eye for an eye." Get someone to preach on either side of that issue for long enough, and they will find people who go to the side they preach from. A lot has to do with who the listeners were before they ever heard them, our environmental educations often prepare us to recognize something as truth or dismiss it as foolishness.

Which brings me to my real point. Before you find any truth in the kind of hate you mention, and certainly before you return hatred in kind, I hope you find the strength to dismiss it as foolishness. One of the best ways to know a true Christian is to learn what they hate. If the list starts with needles and ends with broccoli, and there is nothing much more remarkable in between, that's a Christian.

Regards

I actually don't do that. A person is loosely a christian if they believe in christ/biblegod/thebible etc. I don't really get into the hair splitting dogma of faith vs good works etc. (I know a lot of one sort of christian accuse others of not being true christians.) From the outside looking in, you're all really the same to me.

As far as personality traits, people are people. I know some very lovely people who happen to be christians, most of my family except me are. I know lots of hateful ones as well. I can say the same about my atheist friends too.

Point is...I try not to judge or generalize. I respond to the lindividual

anyone that claims the god of Aberham as their god, and Jesus Christ as their savior.

there are good ones, and bad ones.

and each set have a very large following, enough that it could be 2 sepearte religions if it were not for the beliefs in the same holy text.

when i generalise Christians ( which i try not to do ) i use history as my basis of the attitudes fo the Christian Church, and thes attitudes still hold true today. Destroy anything that we do not agree with. this can be seen in any gay marriage, or abortion debate. and most times when other religions are brought up.

there are a few out there that are tolerant and accept people for who they are, and these i would call the good or true christians. but they are largly mixed in with the extreemist's

I'm sure every group has some REALLY nice persons. But sadly, most religious congregations seem to attract simple, unstable, backwards, bigoted people or a combination of those.

In general, we can identify christians here by

- incoherent rambling about god

- dogmatic thinking

- unwillingness to accept any evidence to the contrary

- a distrust of science

- the annoying persistence in pushing their faith upon others

I would not try just looking at someone or judging them a christian by their actions. "Christian is a inside thing , can/t just look and see and would not judge on their actions. Some of the best acting people are just that acting. So, I don/t try to judge them one way or another. I just try to accept people , with their faults and all . My self I have several great ones faults that is so. I will let God, decide who is a christian . Me I just going to love everyone

The Bible defines the traits of a Christian as:

Galatians 5:22-23

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

I am a Christian and I like to see in others what I like them to see in me. The way that I lead my life. By following the 10 Commandments and worshiping Jesus Christ. Helping others when I can and being a compassionate human being to people and animals.

jw

Sloped forehead, protruding ridges above the eyes, no neck, Stooped shoulders, bow legged, Pot belly. Long arms, Hands hanging below the knees. I'm kidding I really love you guys I couldn't tell a Christian from anyone else unless they tell me. I know some fine Christians.

BB, Boop Oop A Doop!

You determine is someone is a Christian if someone believes in Christ and believes he was their savior and died for there sins. The other "colorful" things you speak about is more about humanity and the ******* that exist everywhere and in every religion. You can find narrow minded people no matter where you look and in every religion, race, color and culture. Nobody is perfect, which is what makes humanity great, but again, ******* are everywhere.