Question to non-Christians

[The Good]

Which denomination of Christianity do you think is probably closest to what Jesus Christ taught? And please explain why you think it is the closest. Most if not all Christian denominations claim to be the true church of Jesus Christ. The reason I ask non-Christians is because there would obviously be bias to say that the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Coptic, or Baptist churches are the only true forms of Christianity.

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

Which denomination of Christianity do you think is probably closest to what Jesus Christ taught?

The Ebionites. Unfortunately they don't exist any more.

[The Good]

The Ebionites. Unfortunately they don't exist any more.

One more question for you in particular: would any modern Christian denomination come close to their beliefs? If so, which one?

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

One more question for you in particular: would any modern Christian denomination come close to their beliefs?

No. Did you even bother to look them up?

I'd never heard of them!

They got sidelined pretty early. But they believed that Jesus was simply a man chosen as Messiah by God but was in no way divine and that, as Jesus himself is quoted in the gospels as saying, the Jewish law was to be upheld. They were basically Jews who believed Jesus was the Messiah in the original Jewish sense of the word. They also revered Jesus' brother James and the rest of his brothers and cousins, which adds some weight to their claim that they were remnants of the true, original Jerusalem community who had been forced to flee Jerusalem in the Jewish Revolt of AD 66-70.

But since their idea of becoming a Christian required the convert to eat kosher and have the end of their penis cut off ( ) it's not hard to see why they dwindled to nothing while the Pauline, non-Jewish, non-circumcising version of Christianity went on to dominate.

[Ummagumma]

The Ebionites. Unfortunately they don't exist any more.

I'd never heard of them!

I doubt any is particularly close, but I imagine the furthest away would be those that are obsessed with Gold, Incense, Statues.. I could hardly imagine the character appreciating it - or even putting up with it.

What do I know though, eh.

[Captain Blackadder]

Which denomination of Christianity do you think is probably closest to what Jesus Christ taught? And please explain why you think it is the closest. Most if not all Christian denominations claim to be the true church of Jesus Christ. The reason I ask non-Christians is because there would obviously be bias to say that the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Coptic, or Baptist churches are the only true forms of Christianity.

off topic

Lucius can you please stop changing your name it gets rather annoying.

Anyway to answer you question I agree with Tuid the Ebionites. The others agree to various degrees i would say the Catholics are the furthest removed form the "truth" with all the pagan traditions that have become part of it and the overall oppulence of the churches and too many idols.

[The Good]

off topic

Lucius can you please stop changing your name it gets rather annoying.

In reply to your post: I think Donatus is going to be around for more than a week, don't worry. I just hope this name changing doesn't become an obsession, heh.

[Nutsack]

The main differences between the Roman Catholic and Protestant beliefs concerns the Pope and holy matrimony, either of which Jesus most likely didn't know about (unless you consider him all-knowing). I don't know much considering Greek or Russian Orthodox sects, so I say the Ebionites (after reading about it ).

[Irishman]

So thiud, you think that the closest is the "Jews for Jesus" or messianic Judaism? It sounds close to what the Ebionites practiced.

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

So thiud, you think that the closest is the "Jews for Jesus" or messianic Judaism? It sounds close to what the Ebionites practiced.

Not really. Jews for Jesus is basically standard, orthodox Christianity with some heavy emphasis on the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. Other than that, their beliefs don't differ much from those of evangelical Protestantism. In fact, Jewish critics simply regard it as a front organisation for evangelical churches wanting to convert Jews.

The Ebionites, on the other hand, seem to have rejected (or, rather, never developed or adopted) what are now central tenets of Christianity: the Incarnation, the Virgin Birth, the Trinity and the Canon of Scripture. They also only commemorated the Last Supper at Passover, not weekly, practiced regular ritual washing rites and some seem to have been religious vegetarians and ascetics.

[CtrlAltDe1337]

If you are talking modern day, probably a few Protestant groups or Eastern Orthodox.

[MasterAdnin]

Now that I've read about them I too believe that the Ebionites are closest to what Jesus(as) preached.

Salaam,
Adnan

[Spiff]

Well since no one really knows what jesus actually said or did i dont think any christian religion is more valid than another in terms of legitimacy. But then i dont think this lack of authority has ever been a problem for believers.. every religion is supposedly the 'true' religion after all.

[Simetrical]

If I'm not a Christian, why am I expected to be familiar enough with either the various Christian denominations or the teachings of Jesus to say anything intelligent? I don't know the theological difference between a Baptist and an Episcopalian.

But since their idea of becoming a Christian required the convert to eat kosher and have the end of their penis cut off ( ) it's not hard to see why they dwindled to nothing while the Pauline, non-Jewish, non-circumcising version of Christianity went on to dominate.

To be fair, Islam has demonstrated that those requirements are not insurmountable obstacles to widespread acceptance.

[Dayman]

If I'm not a Christian, why am I expected to be familiar enough with either the various Christian denominations or the teachings of Jesus to say anything intelligent?

Many of the atheists here are familiar with Christianity though.



Sort of off topic, but how come circumcision become the norm in the U.S. (at least in the northeast where I've been.)

[mocker]

Let me start of by sayingt this:
THANK YOU LUCIUS FOR REMOVING THAT HORRIBLE SIGNATURE! THANK YOU!!!

...

OK, onto more serious business:
You are all hypocrites.

[Problem Sleuth]

Which denomination of Christianity do you think is probably closest to what Jesus Christ taught? And please explain why you think it is the closest. Most if not all Christian denominations claim to be the true church of Jesus Christ. The reason I ask non-Christians is because there would obviously be bias to say that the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Coptic, or Baptist churches are the only true forms of Christianity.

Since the closest one is dead... You could try reviving it. I'm sure you could gather plenty of support, given the right strategy. If we're going to have crazy fundies trying to convert everyone, they might as well be following something moderately like what was actually taught by Jesus.

[Richard]

The closest to what Jesus taught? I'm not sure if there's a name for it, but someone who follows the teachings of Jesus, as opposed to someone who follows the teachings of the Early Church And Friends As Dictated From 50AD Onwards TM.

Christian is somewhat of a misnomer; 'Biblian' or something would be more appropriate for what is currently called Christian.

Studies have shown a lower transmission rate of aids in circumcised males.

Probably because women are less inclined to want to them.

[The Good]

Christian is somewhat of a misnomer; 'Biblian' or something would be more appropriate for what is currently called Christian.

Christian basically just means "follower of Christ." Why is this a misnomer?

[Irishman]

Christian basically just means "follower of Christ." Why is this a misnomer?

Because believing fundamentally in the Bible is not following Christ, it is following the bible. Granted the bible details Christ's supposed philosophy, but in many fundamentalist sects the Bible takes on a deification all its own.

Most reasonable Christians will tell you that the bible is not inerrant.