If I call myself a Scotsman, despite not meeting the definition of a Scotsman (never been to Scotland, have no Scottish heritage) then it would be fair to call me not a "True Scotsman."

If the definition of "Christian" is "someone who follows the teachings of Jesus" then someone who spreads hate does not meet that definition.

If the definition of "Christian" is "anyone who calls themselves a Christian" then the definition is so broad it is useless as a descriptor. It includes someone who is loving and caring, and someone who abuses and murders anyone they disagree with. It tells you nothing about the individual or how they behave.

[–] BorgDrone@lemmy.one 3 points 6 months ago (2 children)

If the definition of "Christian" is "someone who follows the teachings of Jesus"

If that’s your definition then there are no Christians.

[–] oatscoop@midwest.social 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Dolly Parton

[–] BorgDrone@lemmy.one 1 points 6 months ago

I don’t think Dolly Parton hates her family.

[–] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

If that’s your definition then there are no Christians.

Ok, so you're going with the word is useless as a descriptor.

[–] BorgDrone@lemmy.one 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

No, I’m saying that christians are people who claim to be christian.

[–] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 months ago

No, I’m saying that christians are people who claim to be christian.

As I said, useless as a descriptor. By that definition the word "Christian" includes someone who donates time to charities, as well as someone who spreads hate about immigrants, wants them sent back to their own countries, and wants to bomb those countries.

The word "Christian" could be applied to a person that wants to take away a woman's right to medical care, and to a person that is pro-choice.

Hell, the word "Christian" could apply to someone who has never set foot inside a church, has never seen a Bible, and has no idea what's even in it, as long as they "claim they are a Christian."

By that definition if I tell you someone is a Christian it doesn't tell you if that person loves Trans people or hates them. As I said, a useless descriptor.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 2 points 6 months ago

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition

[–] queue@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Attend Churches where pastors and preachers proselytize about anything "Sinful"
Call themselves Christian proudly
Wears crosses
Says its forbidden by God to do something that the Bible says is bad
Uses the words of Saint Paul to expand on those words

Damn that sounds like they are Christian, but you know, I guess they're "not true Christians" because they happen to do everything on Saturday instead of Sunday, or don't wash the feet of the poor, or something else that caused a schism 200 years ago.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 6 points 6 months ago

Weird. None of that actually mentions Jeeeeeeesus or the things he supposedly said and did.

Weird how all the hate comes from things the apparent Son of God didn't do, but they chose to believe in those things instead.

It's like they're hypocrites. False shepards.

Fake Christians.

[–] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 4 points 6 months ago

Jesus: Love thy neighbour

These people: act in ways that is the opposite of loving their neighbour

Sure as fuck sounds like they aren't following the teaching of Jesus. Going to a church doesn't make someone a Christian any more than going to my garage makes me a mechanic.