This is for a paper I'm writing.
Was wondering if I could get some insight.
You know, if you don't mind reading/bearing with me a minute.
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Definitions:

"Cult" Has 9 meanings, 1 positive, 4 neutral, 3 negative and 1 really negative.

"Witch" Has roughly 17 meanings, most unrelated but none are all that good.

"Christians" Includes, but not limited to: Fundamentalist and other Evangelical Protestants, Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox believers, Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, United Church members, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists, etc. Using this definition, Christians total about 75% of the North American adult population (or so was such last I checked).

Some of these Fundamentalists only define a "true Christian" as one that is "Born Again". As we know.

Some Protestant Christian denominations, para-church groups, and individuals have assembled their own lists of cardinal Christian doctrines. Many would regard anyone who denies even one of their cardinal doctrines to be a non-Christian. Unfortunately, there is a wide diversity of belief concerning which historical Christian beliefs should be included in the list.

Other denominations regard their own members to be the only true Christians in the world. Some are quite small, numbering only a few thousand followers. One combination Baptist denomination and homophobic hate group -- the Westboro Baptist Church -- believes that their total membership of slightly under 100 believers will go to Heaven to be with God after they die; they believe that the other 6.7 billion humans in the world are all destined to go to Hell.

So, let us pretend for a moment, that without ANY shadow of a doubt; the Bible is 100% proven truth. No one on Earth is left with ANY possible way, means, or otherwise to declare the Bible to be a 'bunch of hypocrisy and lies'; would this actually settle the debate?

The answer is no. In fact, I think the actual diversity found in beliefs to be far more positive then negative. (Unless, of course you force your beliefs on others.)

I mean it's not like we can use the "Bible's" definition of a Christian now can we? The text of the Bible is ambiguous. I've assessed that there is at least nearly 40 different denominations of "Christians" over my short years.

So in retrospect.

What is a Christian?

"A Christian is any individual or group who devoutly, thoughtfully, seriously, and prayerfully regards themselves to be Christian. That is, they honestly believe themselves to be attempting to follow the teachings of Yeshua of Nazareth (a.k.a. Jesus Christ) as they interpret those teachings to be."

So, after reading this...

What is your opinion on diversity?

Positive, negative?

What do you think this world would have been like and be now if we ALL believed in the same exact interpretation?

Atheists, Agnostics, and Humanists; work with me for a second and just "pretend" that the Bible is such an easily proven fact (like jumping in the ocean will make you wet).

I'm curious as to how the world would be..

It's for a paper I'm writing. -.- (I think I mentioned that.)

A Christian is a follower of Christ. Whether or not they are doing it "right" is between them and the Holy Spirit.

Diversity is good. As perfect and wonderful as I am, I would not like it if everyone thought exactly as I do.

I hear this phrase all the time. How exactly does someone "force" their beliefs on another? Is it just talking about them? Because other than that, you can't really force beliefs on someone. And, I don't think sharing your beliefs or expressing your opinion is force.

A "Christ"ian is one whom obey Jesus "Christ"

Titles such as roman catholic, baptists, ect, those are just titles. They are meaningless. Jesus won't come to judge who's a catholic, Christian, ect. He will come to judge on whom followed or didn't follow the laws he has given us.

Us being separated with the different beliefs again such as "Catholic, Christian, ect" gives Satan more power. It keeps us divided amongst one another. Not saying I'm not at fault with this particular statement here, but we are separated because of our ego's and pride. When one finds a belief they feel comfortable with, they reduce the rest to being false. But who's to say that "YOU" have figured out exactly how the scriptures are to be interpretated.

I believe each and every different "denomination" or whatever you wish to call it are wrong in their own individual ways. But have it right in there own individual ways.

Example -

Baptists teach big time of Jesus being the father. Jesus is the father on Earth.

It was either 7th day adventists or pentecostals celebrate their sabbath on Saturday.

Now the Baptists have it right to a degree. Jesus is OUR father, for he is the one whom created us eg., "These are the days when the LORD God made Earth and Heaven". But Jesus' father and Jesus are still two separate "persons", which the baptists don't believe. This is shown in many verses even all the way back to genesis. For if they weren't separate "persons" there would be no reason to separate the two eg., God the father, God the son, God, LORD God, ect.

And the 7th day adventists/pentecostals have it right I do believe on Saturday being the sabbath. For if you look at the calender, Saturday is the last day of the week eg., God made the Earth in 6 days and rested on the 7th blessing it. But then that comes into play if our calender is set up as God's lol >.<.

Christians are as different as the laws in America. While basics are the same, (10 commandments) the interpretation is all different. These rules were made to protect people from themselves. Similar to laws in the USA. Today's society has become so oblivious of consequences that more laws are made today for common sense things. However, they can be lead back to the route of all (the 10 commandments.) Every religions follows "set guidelines", not just followers of Christ. So one can conclude that many laws in many countries are set upon a pretense to the common religion of that country. Interpreting of past beliefs as history has shown leads to religious wars. "Rights" of all people are over looked.
The bible is a guide... take what you need and move on. It is to be used as a guide for life. Those that need more guidance use it everyday while others get the basic message and use it in the life always. It is a guide to life. Much like other religions use there religion to walk the "right" life. It can be used to extremes.
Resulting in Religious wars. Right vs wrong. Civil wars. And the undoing of humans as a collective diverse group. It is all in how you look at is.

Exactly.

"A Christian is any individual or group who devoutly, thoughtfully, seriously, and prayerfully regards themselves to be Christian. That is, they honestly believe themselves to be attempting to follow the teachings of Yeshua of Nazareth (a.k.a. Jesus Christ) as they interpret those teachings to be."


If that is your definition, then I have met perhaps 8-10 Xians in my whole life.

What I mean by this, is "persecution".

The ultimatum. "Believe (this) or suffer the (consequences)."

Like, for example the Crusades once engaged in.

Presently, forcing your children or children in general to "belief" in something/one against their will.

Not sure if I'll proclaim it is "proper definition" but it's the best one I can derive without upsetting the devout.

Obviously, such was not nor is it my intention to do so.

But I didn't get a consensus on my actual question...

I'm writing more specifically on the questions at the end.

Diversity, good bad?

If everyone believed the same thing, no differences, how would you picture/envision this world being? Better? Worse?

I mean, if you think about it.

Outside of the Bible's validity:

Which for the sake of my paper I am stating this one thing as a fact:
"The Bible is 100% truth."

That means, it cannot be argued, because you cannot disprove it.

I mean, let's say there was no bible at all.
Or, at best, that wasn't an atheists main issue with religion.

One other major "issue" then lies in such enormous variances between members of the same "religion". Like how I gave the ideal that it appears there is over "40 Christians" of different beliefs.

That idea alone could create a hailstorm for atheists, agnostics, etc who wish to disprove the Bible..

..so if there wasn't any of this.
A. Bible True.
B. Only one type of "Christian".

..how would this world be, in your opinion?

Spider, digging the new look. :P

Oops, I misread the second half of this.

I wholeheartedly agree.
However, outside of religion, we'd think/act differently.

I am just curious what the variant opinions would be IF everyone was a Christian that followed Christ, etc, all with the same "belief" in the entire world.

outside religion you should still and act the same as in church..... there is no difference.... That is what being a christian is. you carry the cross all the time not just on sundays or service days but every day. If everyone acted as there religion atests... Life would be wonderful Sadly they don't.

Thanks, man.

Me too.

Yeah, not digging it in THAT way though, haha. :)

..so you two, ya know.. an e-"couple"?

No, we are just a standard couple.

Awe, congrats. :D

I'm happy for you both. <3

Careful now, I'm like a stray cat: If you feed me, you'll never get rid of me.