What makes a religion Christian?

[TypesAndShadows]

Sola Scriptura…a latin phrase meaning the Scripture alone…to an English translation of the Nicene Creed. I am having one heck of a time wrapping my head around that…

What would you say are Sola Scriptura techniques?

Sorry for the lack of clarity. They were taking the phrase from the Creed and ‘explaining’ it in exactly the same manner I have heard again and again from (mostly KJV-only) people who were particularly strongly claiming to be Sola Scriptura: as if the only available evidence was this particular English translation of the written work, and modern general English dictionaries that the individual has at home. No non-Creed evidence was to be admitted, no other written record providing context, no tradition: as if the Creed existed in English in a vacuum.

So, they were treating this one English translation of the Latin Nicene Creed as if it was Scripture that interprets itself, as if any context or history or tradition was other people somehow disguising the true obvious meaning. It did not matter what evidence we have of the intent of the authors: that was not included in the Creed itself. If any evidence appeared to contradict what they thought that phrase meant, then it must be corrupt evidence. I never did find out why they thought the Creed was true, if they thought so many other things were corrupt.

At first, I even hoped they were satirising Sola Scriptura, until it became apparent they were serious.

 

[rinnie]

I’m wondering in what sources the official Catholic teaching on what constitutes a Christian religion is laid out.

Like what criteria do we judge by?

Thanks,

J. S. Sebastiano P.

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

 

[billt9]

as a Protestant, i believe it is adherence to the Nicene Creed, which I accept as an accurate summary of biblical teaching

 

[Vladd]

Im still trying to find my way , but I can say out of all the Christian paths that Catholicism has to be the best. It was the first so who is anyone to change it and make another branch of it claiming for theirs to be right over the catholic teachings ? I mean it did start with Catholicism , right?

 

[Cavaradossi]

The Apostle’s Creed is quite frankly a Catholic statement of belief, even if non-Catholic sects have adopted it. Also in my experience those who use it generally consider themselves Catholic (even though their not) such as the Anglicans, or Orthodox.

As far as what makes a religion Christian, I would have to say that it necessarily involves (attempting to) worshiping the Christian God; ie. the Triune God.

As another poster pointed out, we don’t use the Apostle’s Creed (it was simply not widely used in the East, like the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed). We use the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, a creed which you would have a hard time convincing people belongs exclusively to your Church since it was our Eastern Fathers who formulated it (if anything it should belong to us). Of course, since it is part of our shared thousand-year history, the reasonable thing to say would be that both creeds belong to both sides as part of our shared heritage. I suppose some are too triumphalistic to admit such a thing, however.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

According to Merriam-Webster

Definition of RELIGION

1
a : the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion>
b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance

2
: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices

3
archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness

4
: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

From what I can see… a battleground of misunderstanding…

Please reunite us Oh Lord, please reunite us. In your infinite Mercy and Glory end our divisions and let us serve You.

 

[IamStephen]

I’m wondering in what sources the official Catholic teaching on what constitutes a Christian religion is laid out.

Like what criteria do we judge by?

Thanks,

J. S. Sebastiano P.

This is an interesting question. I believe it would be based on two options. One is to follow the Bibles definition of a Christian and the other would be man’s opinions or teachings.I have read most of the other answers and all of them point to creeds and doctrines of faith that may or may not agree with the Bible.However I have found that to be a Christian is to strictly follow the teachings of Christ.

 

[IamStephen]

as a Protestant, i believe it is adherence to the Nicene Creed, which I accept as an accurate summary of biblical teaching

Have you ever read the Nicene Creed and studied the history and development of it’s creation? I found that the early church was indecisive on the formulation of the Creed and the argument which was actually called “The Athenatian Creed” was adopted in fear of the Emperor Constentine. So I would strongly recommend in-depth study of the this very important and belief changing creed.

 

[CharitableFaith]

I’m no Roman Catholic, but I’ll add my two cents anyway.

One way to tell if a group is Christian is whether or not they follow and obey Christ.

That is also a good criterion for separating the false from the true. When you start looking into what mormons, jw, muslims, etc believe about Christ you see their falsehood revealed.

I agree

 

[batman1973]

I’m no Roman Catholic, but I’ll add my two cents anyway.

One way to tell if a group is Christian is whether or not they follow and obey Christ.

That is also a good criterion for separating the false from the true. When you start looking into what mormons, jw, muslims, etc believe about Christ you see their falsehood revealed.

This is very true. A person needs to be aware of the words that cult groups like Mormons and JW’s use to sound Christian. For example, it was said here that a Trinitarian baptism is necessary. But, be careful. This is what Mormons use:“Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” Trinitarian formula. But, Calgar said it best. Investigate beliefs.

 

[Calgar]

Calgar said it best.

Such words have never been said on this site before.

 

[billt9]

Have you ever read the Nicene Creed and studied the history and development of it’s creation? I found that the early church was indecisive on the formulation of the Creed and the argument which was actually called “The Athenatian Creed” was adopted in fear of the Emperor Constentine. So I would strongly recommend in-depth study of the this very important and belief changing creed.

yes, both, extensively.

Note I said I think it is an accurate summary of the Bible. In my belief the Bible alone (sola scriptura) is the authoritative is the word of God; I just think that the council (whatever its history/politics/'failings) got it right. My view (not well studied, I admit) is that most Protestant churches believe what is said in the Nicene creed, even those churches which deny they have any creed except the Bible.

PS. Mormons and JW are not Protestant (at least within what I said in the prior paragraph) and in my opinion are not . . . – well, i had better just say “don’t have orthodox beliefs.”

 

[rinnie]

yes, both, extensively.

Note I said I think it is an accurate summary of the Bible. In my belief the Bible alone (sola scriptura) is the authoritative is the word of God; I just think that the council (whatever its history/politics/'failings) got it right. My view (not well studied, I admit) is that most Protestant churches believe what is said in the Nicene creed, even those churches which deny they have any creed except the Bible.

PS. Mormons and JW are not Protestant (at least within what I said in the prior paragraph) and in my opinion are not . . . – well, i had better just say “don’t have orthodox beliefs.”

Okay now you said the bible alone is the authoritative word of God. Now answer me this. If it is bible ALONE as you say how do you do what the bible tells you to do.

It says to stay true to the teachings of the Early Fathers of the Church either written or Word of mouth. Now if its written alone which is of course the bible, where does the word of mouth come from? Where are your oral teachings you are told to obey? And how are you to hold fast to them, if you can’t read them in the bible?

 

[billt9]

Okay now you said the bible alone is the authoritative word of God. Now answer me this. If it is bible ALONE as you say how do you do what the bible tells you to do.

It says to stay true to the teachings of the Early Fathers of the Church either written or Word of mouth. Now if its written alone which is of course the bible, where does the word of mouth come from? Where are your oral teachings you are told to obey? And how are you to hold fast to them, if you can’t read them in the bible?

I was answering a specific question about the Nicene Creed, not intending to kindle the the interminable debate about the role of scripture/tradition. The original question was: “what makes a religion Christian?” I said adherence to the Nicene Creed. That includes Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, most Protestants – i don’t know what some of the other churches, like some of the ancient separate ones in the Middle East, think about the creed. That’s just my belief, of course; no one speaks “for [all] Protestants” (although I believe that the Nicene Creed is one of the sacred traditions, right?)

Peace

 

[tarboy]

Mad,

Your definition then includes Mormons as Christians.

Your notion of equally saved and equally valid is a judgement. If you recognize that the OHCAC teaches that you and I and anyone else is a Christian by virtue of their Baptism in the trinitarian formula then the responsibility after that is entirely theirs…you would be on track.

The problem stems from most definitions being used to exclude, rather than unite

CC,
I think even your definition failed to exclude Mormons, since they also baptize in the name of the father, son and holy ghost (your formula) answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070905055512AAbyZTl

Maybe you meant to say Christians must believe in the specific Trinitarian definition of God, as defined in the coucil of nicaea? I personally opt for looser definitions since nicaea was long after christ passed. I’d bucket religions as

Abrahamic

• all religions that trace their origin to Abraham
• includes Jews, Muslims, all forms of Christian

Christian

• all religions who trace their origin to Christ (and believe the bible is scripture)
• includes Catholics, Protestants, JW, etc.

Thus, my identity is more with Catholic than Christian.
The term Christian leaves more freedom to interpret the scripture in different ways.

 

[rinnie]

I was answering a specific question about the Nicene Creed, not intending to kindle the the interminable debate about the role of scripture/tradition. The original question was: “what makes a religion Christian?” I said adherence to the Nicene Creed. That includes Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, most Protestants – i don’t know what some of the other churches, like some of the ancient separate ones in the Middle East, think about the creed. That’s just my belief, of course; no one speaks “for [all] Protestants” (although I believe that the Nicene Creed is one of the sacred traditions, right?)

Peace

Oh okay then thats fair enough. I accept that answer