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MineralMan

(146,336 posts)
Sun Nov 4, 2018, 12:02 PM Nov 2018

There is no universal Christianity. A uniform Islam does not exist.

Buddhism comes in many varieties. Hinduism varies a great deal in different regions.

It is a common error to consider those religions to have common beliefs and practices everywhere. It is a mistake to talk about Christianity in general. Like most major religions, it is made up of an almost endless set of sub-religions, each with its own view of what it is to be a Christian. Denominationalism and Schism is the order of the day in Christianity, as it is in most major religions.

In every city in the United States, one can attend Christian churches of many varieties. In my own metropolitan area, I could attend a different church every Sunday for many years without visiting any of them twice. Over here, there is a church that espouses racism as a fundamental belief. Over there is one that welcomes all people and accepts all variations. Just down the road is one that conducts its liturgy in Old Church Slavonic, a language spoken by nobody. Across town is a Traditionalist Catholic Church that has splintered off from Rome and uses Latin exclusively in its services. There are ELCA Lutheran churches, Missouri Synod Lutheran churches, and Wisconsin Synod Lutheran churches from which to choose, each with its own interpretation of Martin Luther's ideas.

In the Twin Cities, one can attend services conducted in Norwegian, Swedish, German, Vietnamese, French, Spanish and many other languages. There are even several Christian churches with liturgies in Hmong and Somali. One can read or study the Bible in dozens of translations into English alone. Each church decides which translation is really the "word of God."

All purport to be Christian churches. Yet, they have little in common with each other in terms of doctrine, dogma, and attitudes toward just about anything you could name.

There is no one Christianity. There are thousands of Christianities. Humans cannot, apparently, come together with any given set of beliefs and understandings.

It is a mistake to lump all Christians together. It is a serious mistake, one which can lead to utter confusion. The same is true of other faiths. I speak of Christianity because it is the dominant religion in my own country. Still, I know nothing about a person if the only thing I know is that the person calls him or herself a Christian. Nothing.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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There is no universal Christianity. A uniform Islam does not exist. (Original Post) MineralMan Nov 2018 OP
If they just give you a little more specificity, you know a lot more marylandblue Nov 2018 #1
Really, I'm writing about talking or writing about religion, MineralMan Nov 2018 #2
I agree the general name of a religion tells us very little Mariana Nov 2018 #3
Yes, that billboard is one sort of Christian group saying what it thinks. MineralMan Nov 2018 #4
Why can't God be clear about which one is true? edhopper Nov 2018 #5
Which God? There are so many. MineralMan Nov 2018 #6
Any of them edhopper Nov 2018 #7
Psst...none of them exist... MineralMan Nov 2018 #8
I am playing edhopper Nov 2018 #9
I thought Baha'i qazplm135 Nov 2018 #10
That's interesting edhopper Nov 2018 #11

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)
1. If they just give you a little more specificity, you know a lot more
Sun Nov 4, 2018, 12:50 PM
Nov 2018

If they call themselves an "evangelical Christian" that tells you a lot more even if they don't tell you what specific sect they belong to.

MineralMan

(146,336 posts)
2. Really, I'm writing about talking or writing about religion,
Sun Nov 4, 2018, 01:35 PM
Nov 2018

more than anything. Sure, when dealing with an individual, knowing a little more can tell you something more. However, when writing about religion in general, the name of the overall religion really says very little, given the broad variation. Here in the Religion Group, we write a lot about religions in general. That's rarely useful, I think.

Mariana

(14,861 posts)
3. I agree the general name of a religion tells us very little
Sun Nov 4, 2018, 02:39 PM
Nov 2018

about any particular individual or group. However, I think it is important to use it if the people or the group we are talking about self-identify by that name.

For example, the billboard pictured in my post in this group contains a Christian message. I imagine (hope?) most Christians disagree with that particular message, but it is still a Christian message. The individual or group responsible for that billboard certainly self-identify as Christian.

MineralMan

(146,336 posts)
4. Yes, that billboard is one sort of Christian group saying what it thinks.
Sun Nov 4, 2018, 02:55 PM
Nov 2018

They're seriously distorting the quote they use. We don't know the name of that group, though. We will, no doubt, but it's not up there on the billboard.

Will most Christians reject what that billboard represents? I don't know, actually. Many won't even understand the reference it makes, or will misinterpret it in some way. That use of "Word" is exclusive to the Bible, and to some English translations. It's understood differently by different groups of Christians.

Which supports the point I was making. We don't know how "Christians" feel about that billboard, nor are we likely to know. Those who disagree with what it represents will probably not say anything publicly about their disagreement. Those who don't understand the billboard will also remain silent.

All Christian denominations self-identify as Christian. But that can mean a lot of different things. The term "Christian" is really meaningless, except that it has something to do with some guy who may or may not have lived a couple thousand years ago. Beyond that, every denomination interprets it all differently. And individual members of those denominations have their own interpretations.

There is little in common, really, for all Christians. Just some guy named Jesus (not actually what he was called at the time) and some mixed-up stories about what and who that guy was.

When we use the word "Christian" to describe someone or some organization, the meaning of the word is very, very foggy. It means something different to everyone. Again, my point.

edhopper

(33,635 posts)
5. Why can't God be clear about which one is true?
Mon Nov 5, 2018, 06:41 PM
Nov 2018

Last edited Mon Nov 5, 2018, 09:00 PM - Edit history (1)

And nobody say "they are all true". Not a single religion teaches that.

qazplm135

(7,447 posts)
10. I thought Baha'i
Thu Nov 8, 2018, 04:33 PM
Nov 2018

somewhat teaches that all religions are varied paths to God?

Unity of Religion I believe they call it.

edhopper

(33,635 posts)
11. That's interesting
Thu Nov 8, 2018, 04:34 PM
Nov 2018

I guess the exception that proves the rule. I could change my statement to all but one.

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