Essential Christianity

[Caleb]

I?ve been reading a little from David Ray Griffin (a Process Theologian).  The question in my mind has been, ?what IS Christianity??  What distinguishes Christianity from other religions in a quantifiable way.  It seems to me that when you focus on these essential ?truths? of Christianity, then doctrine becomes only secondary.

Griffin put it this way:  There are secondary and tertiary doctrines which have been established for the purpose of establishing one of the ?truths? of Christianity.  For instance, the doctrine of the Virgin Birth exists in support of the essential truth that God worked in a unique and complete way through Jesus of Nazareth.

I guess where I am going with this is this:  Christianity has a loooooooooong list of doctrines.  Catholics have their ?catechism? and Protestant and Catholic theologians have long books on systematic theology.  But if you were going to express Christianity to someone who was not familiar with it, how would you express it? 

Griffin?s Explanation:

1)  Our World has been created by a good, loving, wise, purposive God.

2)  God loves each of us and desires that we treat each other with compassion and justice.

3)  Our world is essentially good, despite being currently filled with evil.

4)  God continues to work in the world, especially through human beings, to foster good and overcome evil.

5)  God?s love, concern for justice, and purpose, having already been expressed through a series of prophets and sages, were revealed in a decisive way through Jesus of Nazareth.

6)  The divine purpose, thus revealed, is to overcome evil by bringing about a reign of God on earth, in which the present subjugation of life to demonic values (lies, ugliness, hate, indifference, etc) will be replaced by a mode of life based on divine principles (truth, beauty, goodness, justice, compassion, etc).

7)  Salvation can be enjoyed here and now, at least in a partial way, through direct experience of and empowerment by God as Holy Spirit, and by the faith that, no matter what, our lives have ultimate meaning, because nothing can separate us from the love of God.

  The divine purpose is also to bring about an even more complete salvation in a life beyond bodily death.

To the other Christians out there, does this list of ?truths? seem complete?  (I distinguish ?truth? from ?doctrine?, because obviously the list of doctrine is not complete.)

Caleb

[Russell Kanning]

Pretty complete .... you can also make it simplier.

[Russell Kanning]

Some Christian jokes .... I thought this would be a safe thread.

Flattered Minister
A pastor was leaving his area and was saying farewell to his congregation at the Church doors for the last time. He shook the hand of an elderly lady as she walked out. She said "Your successor won't be as good as you." "Nonsense", said the pastor, in a flattered tone. "No, really", said the old lady, "I've been here under five different ministers, and each new one has been worse than the last."

[AlanM]

Jocularities! 

[Russell Kanning]

How many Calvinists does it take to change a lightbulb? None. God has predestined when the lights will be on.

How many Brethren does it take to change a light bulb? CHANGE?!!!

How many Pentecostals does it take to change a light bulb? 10, one to change it and 9 others to pray against the spirit of darkness.

How many tv evangelists does it take to change a lightbulb? One. But for the message of hope to continue to go forth, send in your donation today.

How many Unitarians does it take to change a lightbulb? We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.

[KBCraig]

A new preacher moved into a rural community, where most of the residents were country music fans. Until the move, he didn't know that he bore a strong resemblance to a certain country star.

He started making rounds to introduce himself and invite people to church. He knocked on the first door, and was greated by a young housewife who screamed, "Conway Twitty!" He said, "No, ma'am... actually, I'm Brother Joe. I'm the pastor of the Community Church, and I'd like to ask you and your family to come visit us this Sunday." The lady was a still a bit shaken, but she smiled and promised they would be at Sunday services.

At the next house, an elderly woman opened the door and exclaimed, "Conway Twitty!" Again, the preacher explained that no, he was Brother Joe, and extended his invitation to church.

This continued through the day, until there was no answer at the last door. He was turning to leave when the door cracked open, the lady of the house having obviously been disturbed from her shower. When she saw him, she threw open the door, threw up her hands, and screamed, "CONWAY TWITTY!" as the towel dropped to the floor.

The preacher took a breath and said, "Hello, Darlin'...."

[Eli]

Brethren change.  Most of us where buttons and jewelry now.  Our women wear makeup and only where prayer covers to Love Feast.  And it only took about fifty years to get here. ;-)

[Russell Kanning]

I bet brethern don't tell conway twitty jokes.

[Eli]

No but I have a good one about a Pastor a Priest and a Rabbi.

[free55]

Ol' Fred had been a faithful Christian and was in the hospital, near death. The family called their pastor to stand with them. As the pastor stood next to the bed, Ol' Fred's condition appeared to deteriorate and he motioned frantically for something to write on. The pastor lovingly handed him a pen and a piece of paper, and Ol' Fred used his last bit of energy to scribble a note, then he died.    The pastor thought it best not to look at the note at that time, so he placed it in his jacket pocket.

At the funeral, as he was finishing the message, he realized that he was wearing the same jacket that he was wearing when Ol' Fred died. He said, "You know, Ol' Fred handed me a note just before he died. I haven't looked at it, but knowing Fred, I'm sure there's a word of inspiration there for us all."

He opened the note, and read, "Asshole, you're standing on my oxygen tube!"