Every forum has a handful or more, so-called "former Christians." People who claim they were faithful believers (usually during childhood while they lived under their parents' roof). The Reformed Christian doctrine (which I adhere to) explicitly denies this possibility.
As objectively as possible I tried to analyze the claim and see if I could come up with a viable reason why it is said to happen. Generally speaking, the typical self-proclaimed "former Christian" will say they aren't Christian anymore because they grew up, started thinking for themselves, and realized the ridiculousness of it all.
FMF claims to be former Christian. I have pressed him on the matter, suggesting that he might THOUGHT he was Christian at some point... but being a Christian involves true heartfelt faith, repentence, etc.... not just going to church every Sunday. FMF's response was that yes indeed, he used to be a true, faithful, heartfelt, passionate Christian.
Ok. Well I have a question for anyone that fits this specific category. For those Atheists who simply used to sleep through church every Sunday, let's admit it, that doesn't qualify as being Christian so you aren't a former Christian.
Are there any bona fide former Chrisitans out there other than FMF? Once I get a consensus, I have a question for you all. It's a sincere question and this is not a "trap" thread.
Thank you!
Originally posted by sumydidYou use the term "bona fide." In bold type. So this is a variation on the "no true Scotsman" argument? If someone ever loses their self-claimed Christian faith, the were never really Christians?
Every forum has a handful or more, so-called "former Christians." People who claim they were faithful believers (usually during childhood while they lived under their parents' roof). The Reformed Christian doctrine (which I adhere to) explicitly denies this possibility.
As objectively as possible I tried to analyze the claim and see if I could come up w ...[text shortened]... or you all. It's a sincere question and this is not a "trap" thread.
Thank you!
Is that what you are saying?
I am not making a counterargument, I just want to understand what you are saying. IOW like you I am not making a "trap" comment. The no true Scotsman argument isn't in itself a fallacy; it just clarifies the definitions. It seems that in your usage, bona fide Christian is a person who, amongst their other Christian attributes, has the attribute of never becoming otherwise.
Question: Is there such a person as a Christian who is not "bona fide?"
Originally posted by JS357All very relevant.
You use the term "bona fide." In bold type. So this is a variation on the "no true Scotsman" argument? If someone ever loses their self-claimed Christian faith, the were never really Christians?
Is that what you are saying?
I am not making a counterargument, I just want to understand what you are saying. IOW like you I am not making a "trap" comment. The g otherwise.
Question: Is there such a person as a Christian who is not "bona fide?"
I guess I can clarify, since I've already admitted from the outset that I do not believe anyone who isn't Christian was ever Christian.
No--and I think this is obvious--there is no such thing as a Christian who isn't a bona fide Christian. As we all are acutely aware, there are a host of people who CLAIM to be Christian but aren't. We see evidence of it everyday. And that is mostly where I'm going with this. My question, once the consensus is reached, I believe will help clarify the issue and provide support for my stance.
To be honest, I'm not all that familiar with the "no true Scotsman" argument though I've heard it mentioned in passing a lot. I just never bothered to look it up. Perhaps my argument fits the bill and if so, it's purely coincidental.
In February I started a thread titled 'Have you converted/deconverted anybody?' in which I said I lost my faith in my teens. There I listed some of the questions that I could not get good answers to from believers. One of our members sent me a PM saying he is working out the answers to those questions, and asked me to be patient. He promises he will get back to me on this.
Meanwhile, I remain a skeptic.
Originally posted by sumydidMore importantly, are there any bona fide current Christians out there?
Are there any [b]bona fide former Chrisitans out there other than FMF? [/b]
You believe that a bona fide Christian has certain properties that exceed simply calling themselves Christian, so why don't you list them. If one of those is that they will never be converted to another religion or atheism, then clearly your initial question is faulty, and in addition you can never prove someone is a bona fide Christian until after their death.
Just to throw a spanner in the works. If someone is a bona fide Christian and suffers brain damage then takes on a near total new personality, would they still be incapable of loosing their faith? If they could loose their faith, then how is the changes to brain and personality due to ageing different?
Originally posted by Paul Dirac II... almost.
In February I started a thread titled 'Have you converted/deconverted anybody?' in which I said I lost my faith in my teens. There I listed some of the questions that I could not get good answers to from believers. One of our members sent me a PM saying he is working out the answers to those questions, and asked me to be patient. He promises he will get back to me on this.
Meanwhile, I remain a skeptic.
Originally posted by sumydidOK thanks for that response. Another question is, are there signs that we humans can see, by which Christians can tell who is, and who is not, a Christian?
All very relevant.
I guess I can clarify, since I've already admitted from the outset that I do not believe anyone who isn't Christian was ever Christian.
No--and I think this is obvious--there is no such thing as a Christian who isn't a bona fide Christian. As we all are acutely aware, there are a host of people who CLAIM to be Christian but aren't. ...[text shortened]... to look it up. Perhaps my argument fits the bill and if so, it's purely coincidental.
Actually, a question prior to this is, is it at all important, that Christians be able to tell them apart?
Finally, do you really know you are a Christian? If so, how?
Originally posted by sumydidDoesn't this mean that we do not know for sure that you are a "bona fide" Christian because we don't know if you're going stop being one at some point in the future?
I guess I can clarify, since I've already admitted from the outset that I do not believe anyone who isn't Christian was ever Christian.
edit: oops, I see that twhitehead has already raised this issue a few posts up the page.
edit (again): oops, I see that JS357 has, more or less, raised the same issue too, a couple of posts above this one.
Originally posted by sumydidIt's just you and the other 144,000 "bona fide" Christians out there.
Every forum has a handful or more, so-called "former Christians." People who claim they were faithful believers (usually during childhood while they lived under their parents' roof). The Reformed Christian doctrine (which I adhere to) explicitly denies this possibility.
As objectively as possible I tried to analyze the claim and see if I could come up w ...[text shortened]... or you all. It's a sincere question and this is not a "trap" thread.
Thank you!
Originally posted by sumydidAll I will say is, when you switch the ligh on for the first time its rather hard living life in the dark again. 😛
Every forum has a handful or more, so-called "former Christians." People who claim they were faithful believers (usually during childhood while they lived under their parents' roof). The Reformed Christian doctrine (which I adhere to) explicitly denies this possibility.
As objectively as possible I tried to analyze the claim and see if I could come up w ...[text shortened]... or you all. It's a sincere question and this is not a "trap" thread.
Thank you!
