Christian, but don't believe? Is that possible?

[turtle]

Since the thread over on the paranormal forum got 'derailed' as some put it, I was told to come over here. Here I am. Anyway, someone who is a Christian (I am not) insisted one can be a Christian yet not accept the divinity of JC/God, or that God and JC are not one and the same.

Seems to me that if you accept the above, you're a Christian. If you don't, you're not. How can you not, yet still say you're a Christian?

[H'ethetheth]

Originally posted by turtle
Since the thread over on the paranormal forum got 'derailed' as some put it, I was told to come over here. Here I am. Anyway, someone who is a Christian (I am not) insisted one can be a Christian yet not accept the divinity of JC/God, or that God and JC are not one and the same.

Seems to me that if you accept the above, you're a Christian. If you don't, you're not. How can you not, yet still say you're a Christian? I'm not sure if being a christian and rejecting the divinity of God is a common thing.
Rejecting the divinity of Jesus is a different matter entirely, and something that some christians do.
Also I have un uncle who I think doesn't believe in any kind of God, but goes to church every sunday and actively participates in periferal activities, both because of his wife and the fact that he sees benifits in the social aspects of the church.

[turtle]

Originally posted by H'ethetheth
I'm not sure if being a christian and rejecting the divinity of God is a common thing.
Rejecting the divinity of Jesus is a different matter entirely, and something that some christians do.
Also I have un uncle who I think doesn't believe in any kind of God, but goes to church every sunday and actively participates in periferal activities, both because of his wife and the fact that he sees benifits in the social aspects of the church.

I don't mean people who go to church or other religious things for the social aspect. I mean more speficially, those who call themselves Christians, yet don't accept the basic "isms" of what Christianity is.

Since I'm not a Christian, I don't know all the ins and outs, but I've had enough interaction and personal experience to know that it's a given that Jesus is God, and God is Jesus, it's the same thing. (which boggles my mind.) So, if that's true, then JC has to be divine too, right?

Do you know if those Christians who reject the divinity of JC believe that JC is NOT also God? It would have to be that way, it seems. Doesn't make sense otherwise.

[H'ethetheth]

Originally posted by turtle
I don't mean people who go to church or other religious things for the social aspect. I mean more speficially, those who call themselves Christians, yet don't accept the basic "isms" of what Christianity is.

Since I'm not a Christian, I don't know all the ins and outs, but I've had enough interaction and personal experience to know that it's a given that Jesus is God, and God is Jesus, it's the same thing. (which boggles my mind.) So, if that's true, then JC has to be divine too, right?

Do you know if those Christians who reject the divinity of JC believe that JC is NOT also God? It would have to be that way, it seems. Doesn't make sense otherwise. Not that I'm an expert, having been raised a total atheist, but I see around me that rejecting the divinity of Christ is fairly common in Holland. Many christians here just view the bible as a moral guide. These people usually do believe in God, but not in a literal interpretation of the God in the bible, the holy trinity etc.
Edit:
So the answer would be: "No, that would indeed not make sense."

[turtle]

Originally posted by H'ethetheth
Not that I'm an expert, having been raised a total atheist, but I see around me that rejecting the divinity of Christ is fairly common in Holland. Many christians here just view the bible as a moral guide. These people usually do believe in God, but not in a literal interpretation of the God in the bible, the holy trinity etc.
Edit:
So the answer would be: "No, that would indeed not make sense."

Now that's very interesting! Very different than the U.S. Seems we have a whole lot of religious types -- literalists, etc.

[Lisa Simpson]

The minister of my mom and dad's church (Congregational United Church of Christ) does not believe in the divinity of Jesus. Not the virgin birth, not the miracles, not the resurrection. He regards Jesus the same way Buddhists regard the Buddha. Merely a man who had some cool things to say.

This did cause a brouhaha in the church and caused some people to leave. Not many, since it's a liberal church anyway.

[The GM]

Originally posted by turtle
Now that's very interesting! Very different than the U.S. Seems we have a whole lot of religious types -- literalists, etc.

Keep in mind that groups like the JWs reject the Trinity and typically Christian holidays like Easter and Christmas.

[MLynn]

The link below may or may not answer your question. I know that some who say they are Christians believe in the philosophical teachings of Jesus but do not necessarily believe in his divinity.

http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/history/creed.nicene.txt

[turtle]

Originally posted by The GM
Keep in mind that groups like the JWs reject the Trinity and typically Christian holidays like Easter and Christmas.

That's true.

So, seems some Christian denominations do reject the divinity of Christ. But that confuses me, since my understanding is that, within Christianity, Jesus is God, God is Jesus, no difference, one and the same. If that's true, then Jesus would have to be "divine" -- just wondering about those Christians who reject the idea of Christ's divinity, -- do they then not believe Christ is the same as God?

[crimresearch]

Strictly speaking, Christianity could be literally trying to live one's life according to examples set forth in Scripture.

I don't think that very many Christians actually do that, but there is certainly room to stake out one's identity as a Christian, and accept or reject any particular tenet of another Christian sect, including questions of divinity.

[Bruce]

I was raised Lutheran. I was a memeber of the church and called myself a Christian until about the age of 19. When you are raised in a religious atmosphere, it is very difficult to break free from it, especially if you are worried about offending your family. The older I became, the more I began rejecting certain aspects of the faith, and I eventually rejected all of them. I'm sure there are many who are in the middle of this process, and some who never fully reject all of it.

I know many MANY brilliant people who are Christians. All of these people seem to have a separate compartment in their brains when it comes to their faith. Reason and Religion are forbidden to intermingle inside their heads. You can discuss science and technology with them, but when discussing their faith, it's as if you are talking to a completely different person.

I've heard that serial killers do the same thing. :(

[LW]

Originally posted by turtle
Since the thread over on the paranormal forum got 'derailed' as some put it, I was told to come over here. Here I am. Anyway, someone who is a Christian (I am not) insisted one can be a Christian yet not accept the divinity of JC/God, or that God and JC are not one and the same.

Well, the Christians who don't accept the divinity of Jesus have traditionally been assigned the name "heretic" and the larger established churches have taken a rather damning view on them. So, if you let the "major players" decide what Christianity is, then no one can be a Christian without believing the divinity of Jesus. On the other hand, there are groups such as Nestorians who have already existed for roughly 1500 years and who consider themselves Christians while refusing the divinity of Jesus.

The main dividing point was the Council of Nicea (AD 325) where it was offcially decreed that Jesus and God are one and the same. However, not all accepted this view and the emperor could force it only for his subjects so the newly-branded heretics took refuge out of Rome. Some of the heretic groups were later "reconciled" with the Catholic church. For example, the Germanic tribes were originally babtized by Arianist schismatic priests but several hundreds years later we find them being the most loyal supporters of Catholic orthodoxy.

A quick googling found this site (http://www.sundayschoolcourses.com/heresy/) that contains a lot of stuff about the early differences in church teachings. Note that it is written from the viewpoint of a Christian who believes that the Nicean Creed is the one and the only true form of Christianity.