I'm a cultural Christian. I'm also anti-Christianity. I follow the holidays, because we always did as a family, we just never assigned any religious significance to them. Christianity didn't even invent the celebration dates of Christmas and Easter, so I don't feel too bad using the days to get together with family.
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I am pondering your post, Kay.

The Christian religion has shaped our culture; we all are cultural Christians.

Without judging it, I would say most of what passes for 'Christian' is cultural.

 

The cultural stuff gets added on, but its not anything more than cultural. Sometimes, long after the "horses have left the barn" and the 'Christian core' is no longer present in the barn, the cultural stuff survives, it even thrives and takes on a life of its own... these days some call it advancement or progressive.

 

As for decling populations in mainline churches, I expect most of the decline is a cultural declining.

 

While culture changes, God does not and those who pursue Godliness may be involved in churches, but I do not think, in the end, that they primarily look to churches or church attendance to drive their pursuit.

I rarely go to church, and I consider myself to be Christian.  I don't think I've ever had fish on Good Friday, but maybe I did when I was young.  I've had pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, but there were many years growing up I didn't.  I eat hot cross buns before Good Friday and remember my parents buying them 'early' for us as well.  I follow some Christian traditions that other Christians do not, like having a celebration on Jan 6.

 

Chemguy was raised Catholic.  He does not consider himself to be Catholic.  His parents and my mom (it's a little weird IMO) do.

 

If we volunteer at a food bank I don't think that makes either of us more or less Christian.

I serve fish EVERY Friday - as did my mother and her mother. I did say that tiswa weird - I think the 'fish on Friday' rule was initiated by a Pope of the RC church.

My parents are cultural Christians. My mom probably wouldn't identify as Christian, but she buys hot cross buns around Easter (don't remember it being specifically Good Friday) and a few of the other cultural traditions. My step dad would identify as Christian. He was raised Anglican and volunteers now for a Catholic soup kitchen- because it's one of the busiest and they needed help- but doesn't go to church anywhere. He's actually probably one of the best Christians I know, and has been as long as I've known him. A truly good neighbour who puts others first. My dad would identify as Christian but he doesn't bother with any of it, and my step mom who was raised Catholic would probably identify as a cultural Christian/ nominally Buddhist. Everyone celebrates Christmas, sometimes Easter depending on peoples' plans for the weekend. That may sound strange to many of you but that's how my immediate family's always been. Some of my relatives, who don't live in BC, are more religious. My grandparents, both sides, raised my parents in the United Church.

carry water, take care of the children, cut wood, bake hot cross buns, laugh

 

such beautiful kaythecurler satori :3

 

(yes, we do have behaviours, most of which are unconscious, all of which we can call 'culture'...culture is like the supernatural g_d; its there, but fades away if you scrutinize it too long/deeply/analytically...)

There are two ends or sweetbreads in satire ... allegorically those primitives that consume brains and those that observe nice bunns ... ascended fallout (fallacy) as those that Luce their thoughts early as young progressive genres? The mare spirits rite ...

 

Sometime the malleable genre bursts out at middle age ... red cars and all that crap ... all during the mental crisis with those that deny mental-ism exists! I believe that has even bin telvised and people still don't know!

 

If it is too haute in the ova ... 'n get out before the crisis! Some call it the critical point in isolated sects! Anon-thinkers about the topic of allegory won't get it ... such remains one-trac'ð in absence of the primary deeps and formless states when you're out of it ... sex-yous-all OBI? Causes alternate perspectives about whether this is abba'dore not ... MamaMia ... developes into men talus-IHX, or Wahltons on the mountain ... brain teezers?

 

Advertizers use these all the time why they don't like common people to understand the pathes of such psycho-pathology ... then the Pagans would know what to avoid ... innocence rules ... sometimes called ignorance by some subtle powers! Such talents tho' remain mostly buried in the population of lyres ... people of the lie? Thats' eM!

I heard of Atheist Christians the other day.  It was described as someone who follows the teachings but does not believe in Christ.   (My wonderment is this is a snarky description of a Progressive Christian; however, haven't looked up the definition yet)

Perhaps it is just an conception of an abstract Christian ... those out there as eliminated by lack of faith in physical exegetes!

 

There appears to be Moor to this than meets the physical eye ... perhaps the eye of the conscience?

 

Oh, excuse me I was told by church men there is no such thing as conscience and one is only to follow the law as struck down 'ere ... kind a'hard hearted thing when you consider it doesn't apply to the haute-ntotts ... crazi in another dimension!

 

Thus one is led to believe in 2-citiis ... or the Hebrew version of twin Gyres ... so close to Mark Twain it would dizzy those tooned in ...

During my childhood and early youth, I was very much a cultural Christian. It wasn't until later on in my life that God actually saved me. What I was missing during my early years was that I was a sinner desperately in need of a Savior. I would go to church every Sunday, and sometimes pray and read the Bible on my own, but I was not born again. Thankfully in time God gave me the gift of authentic faith in his Son, Jesus Christ.

 

What did you need to be saved from?

Christianity is part of my life.  I can't separate it from my culture or either from who I am. 

I follow a Christian calendar that is dated from the time of Jesus - 2014 years ago.  That calendar is divided into weeks, months, seasons, and some have the phases of the moon.  And the one I keep in a prominent place, refer to most often, and write my appointments on, is colour coded for the liturgical year - yesterday and today in black, tomorrow and following is white for Easter.  It also marks dates for my religion  (ie Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost).  

Much of what I do is connected with my church and my religion - worship, study, volunteering and helping others.  I also look to my church for my two favourite passtimes - reading and writing.  Although my book club, that meets at my church, does not intentionally choose religious books (we will be reading Joseph Boyden's "The Orenda" next month) we frequently find ourselves interpreting the characters and the story in light of our Christian background and spiritual beliefs.  And while I didn't set out to write a religious novel, I found spiritual themes entering into my book about The Northwest Passage.   Even the way I relate to people in my bowling league is influenced by my religion as well as my culture.  So is how I will be voting in the next election.

Yes, today I hid Easter eggs for my Grandchildren to hunt for after church tomorrow.  That is part of our family tradition; and our culture.  But so is the sunrise service, the communal breakfast, the joyous worship service.  

I find it impossble to separate my religion from my culture from who I am.

 

I needed to be saved from God's wrath. It was upon me because of my sin.

Sounds serious.

What would be the result of God's wrath ?

What was your sin, Jae? Being born?

 

What was God's wrath? Hating you = for what?

Well, I was born under the curse of original sin, passed on to me from our first ancestors. As a result, I had committed many individual sins in my life. For these, I was under God's just condemnation. God didn't hate me, though. God's essential character is love.

And people wonder why some oppose Christianity? The reasons keep coming up. Even here.
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There really is a lot of evil/stupid Christian crap out there. And it's not obscure, rare stuff. It's common, promoted, and a real obstacle to Christianity being taken seriously.

 

if they weren't christian i'd categorize these people as BDSM lifestylers...

 

but we're sooooo conservative in canada compared to some other countries

 

like the people who self-crucify like in the philippines during easter

 

that's hard core stuff

 

EDIT:  anyhew, i think where we're goin globally is a vast spiritual marketplace, where we'll be able to experience, visit, partake of lots of different people's quirks, bizarre thoughts, imaginations, lifestyles...but as the ruling cocks of the roost (the big organized religions) lose numbers, they will be lashing out, trying to hold on to the sand that is going through their fingers...

I am not really a "cultural Christian" which, to me, implies keeping the holidays and practices and such because that's just the way it is done (see chansen's post at the beginning of the thread).Christmas and Easter are still meaningful to me as spiritual/religious events/stories. At the same time, I am not a traditional, practicing Christian since they don't mean the things to me that they do to (most) Christians and are part of a bigger spiritual picture encompassing many of what we UUs call "sources" rather than a "one, true faith". A "spiritual Christian" maybe? One who incorporates the Christ story and teachings into one's own spirituality without actually being part of, or a believer in, the faith that has been built around those stories and teaching?

 

Mendalla

 

Depends on what you cultivate ...

 

Now creation is a sin to Romans where destruction of the other is the only way in realpolitic'n ...

 

When Jae was created it was a sin according to something deep inside him ... a fixated passion about hammering down alien things?

 

Nothing scares authorities more that things they don't know ... which considering what's out there is substantial... this being an inner or kahn'd pure spect of de "v" however ... sometime know in Classic Wisdom as Nus ... comes with a certain para Noia, and para Moor ... and the larger usually beats up on the ethereal or essence bunch ... deflowering is popular ... after all the tres have been removed as too close to LOGOS ... that pops up as hammadryad ... as pseud nymph

 

That's a kind a Shadow personality .... kinda out there ...! For real people fear shadowy perspectives about where there is no surety thus the fear of the tome ... dead linguistics in many a case ... that's the word! People fight it ever step of the way ...

-Good Morning Chansen . I'm wondering Chansen  why do you see so much evil in a woman or a man . Kneeling  to A GOD they believe in. Is it because they believe after this life , There is much more to look forward to?  When GOD looked on the first man Adam. He noted Adam was lonely and He made man a help mate and they became one. Your married so I believe you can understand that. Now my wife is the one one person here on earth , that if her her life is in danger, then my life is forfeit for her. This is what our GOD said, is the greatest  thing  one could do for another.. Is to lay there life down for another.This is the best way to show your Love for another. Thats why we Christains  believe Of God  and In Him.For in Christ Jesus He layed down His life for US.Because of His great Love for us.(Yes I underderstand you think this is crap). Think about  though Chansen, would you give up your life for your Wife? Are God used that thought to explain how much He cares for us. Then He come an showed us that it was true. WHAT IS TRUTH?  Have a good day. --airclean33

You don't care about truth, airclean. You value a myth that no one has ever been able to demonstrate as being true, above any discovery that is true. You're in no position to lecture anyone on truth.

Hi Chansen..This is really what I wanted you to answer.

Good Morning Chansen . I'm wondering Chansen  why do you see so much evil in a woman or a man . Kneeling  to A GOD they believe in.

 

"Why do we see so much evil in mankind?"

 

Jesus AC33 you said yourself we were born with original sin ... can one escape that guilt?

 

There are some that feel we're born in naivete ... innocent because of ignorance ... or is ignorance a sin to a god of wisdom?

 

Sort of raises a dilemma to those that think God is a one-track thing ... can't be duplicate or superflous ... like LOGOS!

 

Then if god is everything ... all-inclusive ... this would be differing to exclusive Christianity .. and you couldn't argue with that wall! It is a hard place to go on a journey ... could one wander around it? This could explain the curves and natural spirals when a person looses ID ... sort of like stardust ... heavenly fallout? Some of the fallout isn't that bright by belief ... they feel thoughtlessness is best ... then you wouldn't have to fret over knowledge ...

 

I've tried that for years butthis wee unconscious spark inside keeps telling me exclusion of anything is abba'd ... a separated case! Ecclesiastess 3:11?

Hi kaythecurler,

 

 

Well, yes.  It is the empty shell of Christendom where surface appearance is mistaken for substance.

 

Why is it "Christian" to eat fish on Friday?

 

It isn't.

 

It is Roman Catholic and a solution to the problem facing Portugese fisherman.  It is Christendom writ large.  To be a good Roman Catholic one has to support the Roman Catholic fisherman in Portugal.  As a good Protestant I can have fish as often as I want or as little as I want.

 

What is "Christian" about hot-cross buns?

 

Is it the ingredients that make it Christian?  The shape?  The image?  The bakery?

 

Grace and peace to you.

John

 

Grace and peace to you.

John

What is "Christian" about hot-cross buns?

 

Is it the ingredients that make it Christian?  The shape?  The image?  The bakery?

 

 

The image = the empty cross across the top of the bun. It is similar to me as hanging banners etc.

 

Rev John - I was already aware that my personal traditions were 'weird', and definitely not based on anything of importance.  General knowledge introduced me to the origins of my traditions, which were passed down (and accepted by me.  Actual learning about the possible origins and symbolism of hot cross buns was part of my childhood, as was the origin of the 'fish on Friday' rule.  My willinglness to pass those traditions on to my children was as successful as the flight of a lead balloon.

 

From conversations with people who self identify as Christians it seems they too have traditions with no basis in anything useful or educational. Maybe they too mistake the surface appearance with substance.  Maybe that is why the mainline churches aren't thriving and gathering new members?

 

I don't know that it is the biggest factor, but it is likely an issue. If you cannot explain why you do something or why you do it a particular way, that is not conducive to getting others interested in it. In fact, it suggests you should learn and understand why or just drop it. There is no point to symbols and rituals that no one feels strongly enough about to try to understand.

 

Mendalla

 

It is the doppleganger effect or what is sometimes called the fetch or fe'sh in the going out into strange dimensions ... in return from this conception some interference patterns are run due to those that don't wish you to investigate the past ... their cognizance of their original sins might come to light ...

 

This is a worry even though original sin is nothing more than a pain in the Don khe ... or Key to that large space of the denied lazy soul!

 

People just hate to know anything if you consider:

1. intercourse,
2. discourse
3. and discoursity

When they involve lectures and talks that ... the bulk of people hate to hear because so much of it is misleading lies by authorities in things they know little about for they haven't experienced such images in alien space. It involves fear of logos and fear of knowledge because it might destroy their desires, if they knew consequences.

 

Thus in extremes (polity) people would rather not know anything ... a stage they must go thro' like purgatory where as these tendacies must be purged by experience. Sometimes it doesn't help ... if those targeted are really hard shelled! And the Wahlrus then steps in ... with this iconic image you know time has come ... albeit facesously, or in a subtle way ... at this point you disover the hidden factors that in reallife are denied! I may be mistaken but this could be the world of thought ... I really don't know as I'm not allowed due to strnage laws about speech, unbound reading and restritions on putting to print things that were said before ... this covers everything so silence, blindness an mute ants are best ... as you might have gathered as damn thought! Such things are cussed by the bride eld bode of the kirk ...

 

This is prescient or preternatural in the church as if it were natural to tell people to shut up ... and not follow that rule yourself in twinned effect ... I L'uv flouting laws ... or is that flute'n ... like Dan while working inde ova'n ... making ... like chickens ...while grinding away inde old henna ... form of ochre that may be azure resting and chi'z waiting for the old Roué's terre to rise up ... if the chance was missed it'd be sad as it was only quanta in the wayward wind ... Mariah ... pool of darkness?

 

However only go there with care and knowing what potentially comes of that chance crisis ... drives some men crazi in medi life ... sort of ironic right, considering we weren't supposed to learn these things, except outside sects?

Could be another farce ID story ... if you ever get to face the ID of It when it falls shattered ... like star dust, protonaic substance, with some shocking electra attached ... protons and hy-dryads (pseudo nymph in the tree). This could be exposed as "ij" instead of why ... the DCN of Jae ... perhaps deuce'n?

 

In infinite go round would the components get bored and ogre-like? They must be entertained with the conception of thought ... which from out there they couldn't see! This is proof of Heiseinberg-A'Paulling Effect in binary Kohl'd form ... very abstract ... or just imaginary thinking compared to fixed effects ...