Christianity Question..

Do you have to believe in the Bible to be a Christian?

It may seem like a silly question, but I was just wondering...

You have to believe that Jesus died for your sins.

I'm an atheist but I don't think so. Just like you don't have to go to church to identify with being Christian.

<blockquote><b>Quoting ILOVEWINE:</b>" You have to believe that Jesus died for your sins."</blockquote>

  and believe there's a god.

Quoting ILOVEWINE:" You have to believe that Jesus died for your sins."

That's all?

Quoting Dr. Temperance Brennan:" I'm an atheist but I don't think so. Just like you don't have to go to church to identify with being Christian."

Yeah.. I figured being a follower of the Bible would be more important though. idk..

If you believe in the doctrine of Jesus being the son of God that would make you a Christian even if you do not believe in the rest of the bible. I do believe the bible is contradicting at times. Especially when you compare the God of the Old Testament who demanded sacrifices and was very violent at times to the version Jesus described as being kind and forgiving.

Quoting JessieLeeAnne:" Yeah.. I figured being a follower of the Bible would be more important though. idk.."

I think a lot of the "Christians" have ruined the Bible for people with their use of it as a way to preach hate and bigotry. Perhaps people still love God and Jesus and what the religion represents but because of those types of Christians, the Bible leaves a bad taste in their mouth.

Quoting Lucid Dreamer:" If you believe in the doctrine of Jesus being the son of God that would make you a Christian even if ... [snip!] ... Old Testament who demanded sacrifices and was very violent at times to the version Jesus described as being kind and forgiving."

That makes sense.

Would not believing the Bible be a sin though? Since you are denying "God's word."

Quoting Dr. Temperance Brennan:" I think a lot of the "Christians" have ruined the Bible for people with their use of it as a way to ... [snip!] ... Jesus and what the religion represents but because of those types of Christians, the Bible leaves a bad taste in their mouth."

Yeah...That is the point I am at now.

Quoting JessieLeeAnne:" That makes sense. Would not believing the Bible be a sin though? Since you are denying "God's word.""

But it's not *really* God's word since it was written by fallible man. Even when I was a Christian, I was under the impression that the Bible was just a resource for your faith (like an encyclopedia) but not necessary to have faith.

Quoting JessieLeeAnne:" That makes sense. Would not believing the Bible be a sin though? Since you are denying "God's word.""

It depends on what you believe. I myself am not actually Christian though I was raised as such so what I may not be valid to those who are believers but I do believe that what you believe or not is not nearly as important as what's in your heart. If you love others that is the main thing. I don't think Jesus was interested in people follwing writings but want people to be loving toward others and forgiving.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Dr. Temperance Brennan:</b>" But it's not *really* God's word since it was written by fallible man. Even when I was a Christian, ... [snip!] ... under the impression that the Bible was just a resource for your faith (like an encyclopedia) but not necessary to have faith."</blockquote>


When I went to church religiously (no pun intended) they told us that the bible was the literal word of god. I never took it literally, but was alway told that it was literal. Maybe it was just the church I went to, but that doesn't make sense to me logically.

Quoting Sour Daisy:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Dr. Temperance Brennan:</b>" But it's not *really* God's word ... [snip!] ... but was alway told that it was literal. Maybe it was just the church I went to, but that doesn't make sense to me logically."

Perhaps. I was raised that a firm belief in God and Jesus along with a basic understanding of most of the traditional Bible stories, and good Christian values were all that was needed to be a Christian.

If a person doesn't believe in the Bible, by what measure are they a Christian>

The Bible is the only place where youcan read the claim that Jesus is the son of God, that He came to earth, lived a sinless life and died for our sins. The whole thing is clinched when He rises from the dead.

That's all in the Bible.

I am a firm believer that you believe all of it or none of it.

If you think part of it is made up or just a flat out lie, then that makes the entire thing a lie. There are no 1/2 truths.