Basic Christian beliefs

[Don S]

I was going to post this in the Christian forum, but felt that it might upset folks there who are seeking comfort and might find any ensuing discussion unsettling. So it goes here!

What basic beliefs define a Christian?

Do you believe that….
Man does not earn his way into heaven by good works?
Jesus Christ was without sin?
Satan is real?
The Bible is totally accurate in all that it teaches?

If so, you disagree with a majority of American Christians, according to surveys. Keep in mind that about 57% of Americans identify themselves as Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, or Episcopalians (Catholics are the largest group at 24.5%). And about 15% of Americans aren't Christians.

Only 21 percent of America's Lutherans, 20 percent of the Episcopalians, 18 percent of Methodists, and 22 percent of Presbyterians believe that man does not earn his way to heaven by good works. (By contrast -- Assemblies of God, Pentecostal/Foursquare and non-denominational groups: 60 %)

Christ was without sin? Of Catholics, Lutherans, and Methodists, only 33% agree. Episcopalians: 28%.
(Among Baptists, the nondenominational, the Assemblies of God, and the Pentecostal/Foursquare churches, 55, 63, 70 and 73 percent believe that Christ is sinless.)

Is Satan real? The main Protestant church members disagreed by 78 - 83%.
Only one-quarter of Christians overall (27%) strongly believes that Satan is real while a majority argues that he is merely a symbol of evil.

Mormons, whose church's theology differs from that of Protestants and Catholics, aligned themselves with evangelicals and Pentecostals on most issues, especially Christ's sinless being (70 percent). On the other hand, only 15 percent of the Mormons agreed that man was not saved by good work...

Less than half of all Christians (41%) believe the Bible is totally accurate in all it teaches.
Less than one-third of all Christians (32%) believe they have an obligation to share their religious faith, ranging from a high of 73% among Pentecostals to a low of 12% among Episcopalians (Catholics: 17%).

All Barna Research studies define "evangelicals" as individuals who
-- meet the born again criteria;
-- say their faith is very important in their life today;
-- believe they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs about Christ with non-Christians;
-- acknowledge the existence of Satan;
-- contend that eternal salvation is possible only through God's grace, not through good deeds; believe that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth;
-- and describe God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today.

In this approach, being classified as an evangelical has no relationship to church affiliation or attendance, nor does it rely upon people describing themselves as "evangelical."

This classification model indicates that only 8% of adults are evangelicals. Barna Research data show that 12% of adults were evangelicals a decade ago, but the number has dropped by a third as Americans continue to reshape their theological views.

About 57% of Americans identify themselves as Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, or Episcopalians (Catholics are the largest group at 24.5%).
Baptists (both types) are about 16%. Other Protestant groups are about 10%.
8.2 % identify themselves as non-religious or agnostic (0.7%).
Just under 2% are Jewish, 2% are Mormon, and 0.8% are Jehovah's Witnesses.
Eastern Orthodox are at about 1%.
Islam and Buddhist are estimated at about 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively.
2 - 5% in any survey are undesignated.

For more information:
http://www.adherents.com/misc/BarnaPoll.html

http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html#gallup

[clancy!]

Hey Don'

Hmm well I dont believe ANY of those things.But Im suprised that More americans dont.I thought that most americans were pretty strong christians.Intersting. In the Uk I would imagine an even smaller proportion of people believe those things.

I believe that people build their own 'heaven' and 'hell' with their actions. As for Satan, hmm I feel he is a 'thought form' by believing in 'satan' (i believe) that folk give energy to the idea.And energy is EVERYTHING (dats a fact!) WE are energy. So by fearing (or otherwise) satan we give power to the idea, and that makes it stronger , feeding it, so it grows. Kind of like Father Christmas, (dont laugh) at first he was a mythical creature.But then,over the years the thoughts and beliefs of thosands of kids, brought him to life. Now there REALLY is a guy who lives at the north pole doing the job of father christmas!! Do you see? There is a name for this school of thought, it eludes me...(dont say bullshit!!...)

Everything lives or dies on the amount of energy allocated to it.

How and why certain beliefs come about and the psychology of belief absolute facinates me, Id love to study it at a much deeper level....hmm when i got money for grad school i will.

[Live]

I find those statistics quite interesting, I wish you would post it in the other forum, I think there would be alot to be learned and gained there from this. There are some very good thinkers over there. It´s a mix of maturity as are all forums, which is a representative of humanity.

[Chy]

I'm with you Clancy, fascinating stuff!

Don, very interesting, I need some time to process it.

[Don S]

One of the interesting statistics that I see here is that the most and the least religious people in our society are small minorities, and have about equal numbers: approx. 8% are evangelical Christians, and approx. 8% are non-religious. Yet they are the ones framing most debates on social and moral issues.

Americans have a much higher rate of religious affiliation than do Europeans. But in theology they aren't nearly as conservative as you might think. Given the views shown in the survey, a majority in my opinion could be described as deists--much like many of the founding fathers.

Don

[ahcb]

DON,

Even with those statistics the basic question is "do I believe in (insert your belief) and will being in the majority or minority in any of the above sway those beliefs. If In 1964 in Alabama, my believing every adult had a right to vote and every child had a right to an equal education,would have put me square in the minority. However the minority was right.

So while the numbers are interesting they are in the end, just numbers.

[Freewolfman]

Although we have the best form of government on the planet , it has a very large flaw....... that flaw is majority rule....... because the majority is FREQUENTLY...WRONG !!!! Peace& Love ; Mark .

[Blessed]

I Believe...We are saved by Grace, Jesus is sinless,Satan is real,but has no real power over you when you understand your power in Christ...our spiritual armour. I have found a personal relationship with GOD based on my personal life experience. I have been to most organized religions,but I am not my religion. I seek him everywhere I go...I see his presence in the beauty of others,in children, in the beautiful world of Nature all around us. The ocean symbolizes for me his strength and depth...yet also so calming and beautiful, serene...I have layed hands on a dying friend in the name of jesus in prayer and she miraculously recovered...Praise GOD! The most profound experience I have had was in a jewish synagogue, a man who was jewish saiid he had a personal experience with Jesus... he was sharing his testimony and then they began singing about Adonai and dancing an old jewish dance in their beautiful costumes praising the Lord... I felt the presence of the Lord so strong in the room my skin felt electrified,my hair was standing up,I had tears rolling down my face...the Love I felt was so powerful! I watch a lot of christian telivision stations and am searching for a church for me where i can feel his essence, his love. Everyday i experience his Blessings...Praise GOD for He Is...A Mighty,Glorious GOD!!!