Canuckus Deploracus wrote:
As per my word, given to a fellow member of the OPP, on my last 'Definitions' post, this week's definition will be the term 'anti-christian'...
I will admit that this term is exceedingly difficult for me to define... I have spent some time this past week to reflect on it and find myself stumped as to a definitive definition...
I invite all members of the OPP to share their wisdom and understanding with each other and myself...
How do you (personally) define the term 'anti-christian'?
And what signs would there be that an individual was engaging in the act?
As per my word, given to a fellow member of the OP... (
show quote)
Interesting topic, one I never really contemplated. I am trying what may be a different approach. Perhaps a better question would be to ask what is true Christianity. Can people be anti-Christian if they do not precisely know what it means to be an authentic Christian? What are those tenets and beliefs, traditions and practices, rites and doctrines that are genuine to the faith in Christ?
There are about 41,000 (estimates vary greatly but always in the tens of thousands) different Christian denominations in five major 'families' of churches/communion. The percentages in brackets indicate the percent of the Christian population affiliated with each 'family' or group of denominations:
1. The Catholic Church [50%]
2. Historic Protestant and Anglican churches [18%]
3. The Eastern Churches (Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Church of the East) [12%]
4. Pentecostal churches [12%]
5. Evangelical (non-Pentecostal) [8%]
These later two categories include a number of "non-denominational" or independent congregations. All five, however, have a various number of 'sects' within them. (Notice that Mormons, who considered themselves Christians, are not mentioned.)
So, to find out what constitutes an actual or proper anti-Christian attitude, we just ask...who? A Baptist or a Catholic? Pentecostal churches or Eastern Churches?
We cannot say that an anti-Christian is one who opposes Christianity because many devout Christians see other sects and denominations different than their own Christian tenets and beliefs, traditions and practices, rites and doctrines as anti-Christian.
Atheists are not necessarily anti-Christian per se but simply do not believe in God, which means any number of other religions that believe in God. However, most Christians would see this non-belief in God as being anti-Christian, and see agnostics the same way.
Most Christians down through the millennia saw the Jews, the root of Christianity, as Christ-killers, which would definitely qualify as anti-Christian.
The definition of anti-Christian is complex.