No Robots

The main idea in Christianity is Christ himself. It is the misunderstanding of Christ that causes all the problems. We need an accurate understanding of Christ, and it is this that Brunner provides. As he states:

Until now there has never been a real picture of the character of Christ because the necessary and indispensable means were never applied. What can we say about Christ if we are not really acquainted with Judaism, if we have not made the distinction between prophetic and pharisaic Judaism, if we are not aware of the part played by the oral Torah, of the relation of the ammé haaretz to educated society? And above all, what can we say about Christ unless we are aware of mysticism and genius and the Doctrine of the Spiritual Elite and the Multitude (which alone can explain how the historical Christ has become the dogmatic Christ), unless we ourselves are free from superstition?

Clouseau

That, and the understanding of Christ.

Clouseau

Islam deliberately misinterpreted the word 'Son' in a biological rather than metaphorical sense. It is much too puerile for intelligent, adult conversation. Islam did a sight worse than criticize Jews- it slaughtered them, along with many Christians. The probable reason imv is that Christians gave intense irritation with their gospel, and the very existence of the nearby Jews validated Christian claims, so their extermination was a desired aim (and still is, of course).

Islam is empty- it is 'Not Christianity'.

torquemada

Christians hate Islam because they cannot admit they hate their own religion. We unbelievers should be more honest.

Weltall

Just so. Thanks for the links.

enoch007

Here, here. The similiarities between Islam and Christianity outweigh any differences. They are both systems of Judiasm for non-Jews, Islam reflects a more ritualized version of non-Jewish Judiasm owing to it's founding amoung peoples of the East. As Christianity owes its free wheeling interpretive style to it's founding amoung barbarians who liked to play fast and loose with what causes thunder this week.

Unbelievers should be wary of the latent Christian propaganda of destruction aimed at Islam (even if we are defending ourselves against the not so latent threat of Islamic Fundamentalism). The Christian schizophrenia vis a vis the other too monotheistic mafias has to be seen as such. Like Jerry Falwell, who was a strong supporter of Israel but convinced the Anti-Christ would be of Jewish birth.

Clouseau

What do you perceive as the central teaching of Christianity?

enoch007

Well that's the question, isn't it?

The central teaching of a figure known to history as "Jesus of Nazareth" or the central teachings of the Christian Church which established itself in Rome eventually due to the ministry of Paul? Or somewhere in between, whether they be gnostics or other hereticized elements.

The Central Dogma of the Romans was resurrection and salvation possible with belief in the Divinity of the Christos with some other less clear teachings about love and forgiveness thrown in as ornaments.

(Of course, the central practice of the Romans was strict adhearance without debate to the Holy Mother Church up to and including complete trust in interpetation of scripture without the nuisance of reading any of it yourself, oh what a bother-reading.)

The idea of any centrality of message among the Christians must reside in whoever is presuming the lesson-plan. And it's endless adapatability, a definite advantage it has institutionally, guarentees there is no clear answer to this question if posed amoung many of the differing sects of practicing christians- including the crack-pot christians (Jim Jones, David Koresh etc, they count too)

Clouseau

[QUOTE=enoch007;4494208]What about that cross thing?

enoch007

[QUOTE=Clouseau;4494227]
Is not the cross the vehicle which sets the stage for the resurrection, which was the central point. Being crucified in First Century Judea does not, in and of itself, point to anything new or unique.