Are catholics christians???

Originally posted by lucifershammer
The term 'Christian' has a well-understood (if not well-articulated) meaning that is more than just "anyone who calls himself a Christian".

Wouldn't mind if you articulated it a bit.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Wouldn't mind if you articulated it a bit.

To some extent I did in my previous post.

Just because a perfect verbal definition cannot be provided for something doesn't mean people can't generally identify what it is.

Originally posted by lucifershammer
To some extent I did in my previous post.

Just because a perfect verbal definition cannot be provided for something doesn't mean people can't generally identify what it is.

Like "spiritual growth", eh? OK.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Like "spiritual growth", eh?

Actually, no. See my last post on the other thread.

Originally posted by lucifershammer
Actually, no. See my last post on the other thread.

Have it your way.

Originally posted by lucifershammer
What about the Christians who were around before the Bible?

And all those around before Luther’s doctrine of sola scriptura (16th century), and all those who are not now sola scripturists...

"Christian", to me, means Christ-like. The suffix -ian meaning from, related to, or resembling. A Christian is someone who exhibits the characteristics of Jesus Christ - compassionate, merciful, loving, etc. Are all Catholics Christians? Certainly not, in my opinion. I know Buddhists who are better Christians than some Catholic priests.

Originally posted by darvlay
"Christian", to me, means Christ-like. The suffix -ian meaning from, related to, or resembling. A Christian is someone who exhibits the characteristics of Jesus Christ - compassionate, merciful, loving, etc. Are all Catholics Christians? Certainly not, in my opinion. I know Buddhists who are better Christians than some Catholic priests.

That is one dictionary definition of Christian (e.g. "Christian living" or "Christian virtue" ).

Presumably the discussion here revolves around demographic or sociological definitions.

EDIT: Also, I feel that the image of Christ's compassion, mercy, love, forgiveness etc. is often misunderstood as some kind of infinite tolerance.

catholic church=the church of christ. the roman catholic one is the one which we are discussing and most people assumed this. the christian creed mentions of catholic church. pretty much every church is catholic, by definition. if it's not catholic then it is not "of christ" thus it is not christian...

Originally posted by lucifershammer
That is one dictionary definition of Christian (e.g. "Christian living" or "Christian virtue" ).

Presumably the discussion here revolves around demographic or sociological definitions.

EDIT: Also, I feel that the image of Christ's compassion, mercy, love, forgiveness etc. is often misunderstood.

I think that specific dictionary definition is the closest to the biblical definition of a Christian.

Demographic Christian? 😕

Originally posted by genius
catholic church=the church of christ. the roman catholic one is the one which we are discussing and most people assumed this. the christian creed mentions of catholic church. pretty much every church is catholic, by definition. if it's not catholic then it is not "of christ" thus it is not christian...

Huh?

Originally posted by lucifershammer
Also, I feel that the image of Christ's compassion, mercy, love, forgiveness etc. is often misunderstood as some kind of infinite tolerance.

I agree. Christ wasn't very tolerant of the Pharisees.

Originally posted by lucifershammer
Huh?

I was wondering the same thing...

Originally posted by darvlay
I think that specific dictionary definition is the closest to the biblical definition of a Christian.

Demographic Christian? 😕

Christian for demographic purposes (e.g. census).

The word "Christian" is mentioned in the NT three times (Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16). In all three cases, a demographic/sociological/religiously formal definition is implied. While being Christ-like is exhorted of them, it is not presumed.

Originally posted by darvlay
I agree. Christ wasn't very tolerant of the Pharisees.

More than that. Christ did not simply hand out forgiveness or healing or teaching or grace willy-nilly. There is always an implicit or explicit "challenge" or "hurdle" that the recepient has to address.