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What religion would you categorize me under?
Since I've converted to my current faith, I've considered myself a Christian. However, I've had a few Christians say my beliefs are more pantheistic or Christo-pagan. What's your opinion? I'll put the basic gist of my beliefs here. Sorry if it's long.
First of all, I do believe in Jesus Christ as messiah. However, I don't believe in the trinity as most Christians describe it. I don't find it to be supported by scripture. I believe there is just God, who IS everything, all matter in the universe, the laws of physics, and the laws of morality that go with them.
When humanity deviated from these laws (they had to, in order for there to be free will), this created a pardox, hence the need for a messiah,
I believe God used evolution. I believe that some parts of the Bible should be interpreted figuratively, and that some parts are inherently flawed. I believe that new truths about God's nature have been revealed since th Bible was compiled and contine to be revealed today. The sacred texts of other religions, while also imperfect, can better emphasize aspects of Gos that Christians tend to gloss over.
The physical universe is the only text we have written in God's own hand, and is such is the best way, aside from a personal relationship to him, to come to know him.
Yeah. ^^ Sorry that was long. Thanks for reading.
EDIT: For clarification on the trinity thing. I am saying that Christ was a personification of the divine. He is the only way we can "interact" with God. And I totally reject the idea of a the Holy Spirit as a serparate entity. So maybe you could define it as more of a...duo?
ONE LAST EDIT: Yes, I believe God is in the unbeliever as well. I don't believe God rejects anyone. Only we can choose to reject God, and when there is no hope of reconciliation will they be eternally "damned."
31 Answers
- Rapunzel XVIIILv 51 decade agoFavorite Answer
Call yourself whatever you like! When asked my religion I just say Occultist, as that's not an actual "religion" and it usually effectively changes the subject. Your idea of God being everywhere at once is very Pagan, while belief in Jesus as Messiah is Christian.
- J.Lv 71 decade ago
Unitarian. A branch of Protestantism that does not believe in the Trinity.
As a Unitarian, you need to explain Matt 28:19 which is the only direct reference to the Trinity in the bible.
There is a revelation which we can believe or not. However, we are not allow to choose what part of revelation we believe and part don't believe. To say that you are a Christian, a follower of Christ, means you follow even if it does not make any sense.
Do not get confuse with science applied to revelation. It just doesn't work. Science is a collections of theories that explain the facts. If there are more facts, then the theory that explains them may change.
There are no scientific god facts. Why? God who existed before He created everything we can observed. This means God is unobservable, and any God fact would have to observed the unobservable. Science will not help you or your beliefs.
Answer: You are a Unitarian in search of an explanation for Matt. 28:19. Good luck.
Source(s): Christian bible - ?Lv 71 decade ago
I think that pantheistic is probably accurate. I also think that you don't spend enough time trying to find out what the Greek and Hebrew have to say in regards to ecripture. English doesn't get into some of the meanings of words that are good to understand from the Greek and Hebrew.
So you would believe that God is the unbeliever and believer alike?
EDIT: You said, "When humanity deviated from these laws (they had to, in order for there to be free will), " Wasn't ti freewill that they took of the tree in the first place? So didn't they have it to begin with?
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Deism seems to fit the bill. It's a semi-Christian faith which holds that the Universe and God are the same, and that God manifests himself through natural laws. some Deists say Jesus was divine, some don't.
You could also consider Unitarian Universalism or, at a stretch, Taoism. I wouldn't say that you're remotely pagan.
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- 1 decade ago
actually, the universe and the divine being 1 is not a new belief. If u consider yourself christian, then u r christian. religion is a very personal experience and no 2 ppl believe or practice the same. don't let anyone try & tell u u must believe a certain thing or practice a certain way to call yourself whatever you call yourself.
- rico3151Lv 61 decade ago
You have a problem with one of the basic tennets of Christianity. Scripture is clear on the subject, perhaps you have not met the right teacher. You say you believe in a God who "is everything". If that is a true statement, how is it you cannot believe he is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
- Anonymous1 decade ago
You are a Christian who follows (almost) true Christianity, actually. Don't let anybody convert you to the Pagan religion of Trinitarianism Christianity.
HOWEVER, you are a Pantheist. God isn't everything, know that. God can't be His creation, for if He is His creation (or "in His creation"), then He wouldn't be God. Pantheism is wrong.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
I don't know how you can claim belief in Jesus as the messiah and not accept the triune god. If you believe in 'just god' as you put it, how can you believe in the divinity of Jesus? It sounds as though you're cherry picking your religion. It's not logically coherent what you believe. But then, christianity isn't logically coherent to begin with, so who is anyone to criticize?
I'm atheist, by the way.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
you already score high on the pantheism scale:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheistic
So christianity with a pantheist flavor.
hey, if god is everything, including this planet and you and me and everyone, why are certain parts of god killing each other?
I don't agree with you on the paradox thing obviously, but your views on evolution and the bible seem reasonable. But it puts you in conflict with most of the mainstream christian churches. Maybe you'd be interested in the call for a new reformation by retired bishop J.S. Spong:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_Spong#New_Refo...
He is the retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark (based in Newark, New Jersey), is a liberal theologian, and he sounds like a very reasonable man.
- 1 decade ago
I thin the trinity is more associated with Catholics. I know other groups believe that but I don't think most Protestants do. I could be wrong.
BTW, Stumpy's a little confused. Jews don't belive that Jesus is the Messiah.