Is Christianity a culture?

[Classik]

Is Christianity a culture, can it be regarded as a culture, does it contain some elements of culture in it?

 

[Willie T]

It might be closer to accurate if asked:
"Is Religion a culture, can it be regarded as a culture, does it contain some elements of culture in it?"
Since Christianity is a belief, which is only a segment of a culture.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I dunno....ideally, Christianity should result in beliefs and behaviors that set us apart from others. In that sense, I guess Christianity could be considered a sub-culture.

 

[evenifigoalone]

I wouldn't say so. But I would say it comes with it's own subculture, like pretty much everything.

Culture: the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. (Google search definition.)
Various beliefs, ways of life, or even specific interests, necessarily, directly or indirectly, influence art and what is produced by people of these beliefs, ways of life, and interests.

 

[jasonc]

the Christian right would like our faith to be a culture when its really a sub culture. though I would like to see the American/western church influence the world a lot better then it has been. usually its the reverse.

 

[evenifigoalone]

My opinion, Christians should influence the culture rather than simply sticking to their own subculture. This means contributing to culture in positive ways. (Not politically speaking, I'm referring to the media and arts.)

There are even subcultures within Christianity =P
I grew up independent baptist, and...that was quite a different culture than the one I might consider myself a part of now.

 

[for_his_glory]

Latin root word for religion is bondage, which is different then that of Gods pure religion of James 1:27, but that of following tradition and the doctrine of a mans church, not Gods true Church. The Latin root word is religare as re is a prefix that means return and ligare means to bind. Religion tells you what you can and cannot do and becomes socially acceptable by mans interpretations, traditions and doctrines. Religion is what nailed Christ to the cross because the Bible is not socially acceptable to society, if it were then Christ would have died in vain. God is not about mans religion, nor does he recognize religion. God is about a personal relationship with you and His son Jesus Christ.

 

[jasonc]

Latin root word for religion is bondage, which is different then that of Gods pure religion of James 1:27, but that of following tradition and the doctrine of a mans church, not Gods true Church. The Latin root word is religare as re is a prefix that means return and ligare means to bind. Religion tells you what you can and cannot do and becomes socially acceptable by mans interpretations, traditions and doctrines. Religion is what nailed Christ to the cross because the Bible is not socially acceptable to society, if it were then Christ would have died in vain. God is not about mans religion, nor does he recognize religion. God is about a personal relationship with you and His son Jesus Christ.

I understand what you are saying but still we are a religion. we must be careful about that definition of our faith in all uses.

 

[for_his_glory]

I understand what you are saying but still we are a religion. we must be careful about that definition of our faith in all uses.

Yes, we who have risen with Christ and seek those things from above and not the things here on earth, Colossians 3:1,2, are a religion that is undefiled before God, but many religions are defiled even if they call themselves a Christian as they have no works as described in James 1:27 or even that of Matthew 25:31-46.

 

[jasonc]

Yes, we who have risen with Christ and seek those things from above and not the things here on earth, Colossians 3:1,2, are a religion that is undefiled before God, but many religions are defiled even if they call themselves a Christian as they have no works as described in James 1:27 or even that of Matthew 25:31-46.

I was talking more about the first amendment.

 

[for_his_glory]

Yes, everyone has the freedom of speech, but is what they speak according to man made doctrines of speech or of Gods spoken word.

 

[jasonc]

Yes, everyone has the freedom of speech, but is what they speak according to man made doctrines of speech or of Gods spoken word.

I was thinking that if Christianity is a religion then the first amendment wouldn't apply.

 

[ReginaForbes]

Ya know, a few years ago the atheists tried to proclaim that Christianity was nothing more than a meme. LOL WUT?!
As in nothing more than a "social virus" and to that I say: "pfffffttttt! Hahahahaha!" Christianity is not a meme or a culture. ..however, memes and cultural expressions are based on Christianity and Judaism.
My favorite example: the word "universe" means "a single spoken sentence" and what could that definition be referring to? Genesis 1:1 of course! "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." So try as one might, they will never oust Christianity from the culture because Christianity is not a cultural phenomenon.

 

[jasonc]

Ya know, a few years ago the atheists tried to proclaim that Christianity was nothing more than a meme. LOL WUT?!
As in nothing more than a "social virus" and to that I say: "pfffffttttt! Hahahahaha!" Christianity is not a meme or a culture. ..however, memes and cultural expressions are based on Christianity and Judaism.
My favorite example: the word "universe" means "a single spoken sentence" and what could that definition be referring to? Genesis 1:1 of course! "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." So try as one might, they will never oust Christianity from the culture because Christianity is not a cultural phenomenon.

never thought that the latin word universe was that in definition.

 

[Edward]

I dunno....ideally, Christianity should result in beliefs and behaviors that set us apart from others. In that sense, I guess Christianity could be considered a sub-culture.

You made a joke brother, lol. We're headed that way for sure.

Classik, my short answer is no. But loosely speaking in a generalized way it could be considered an aspect of a culture.

 

[Blake]

My conviction is that Christianity is counter cultural. Holiness is being set apart.

 

[for_his_glory]

I was thinking that if Christianity is a religion then the first amendment wouldn't apply.

I see Christianity as not only being Christlike as we are risen with Him, but also being a personal relationship as the main factor is Christ Jesus. What makes us different from one another is that each of us came to Christ in our own personal way that sets each of us apart from a social culture of religion that dictates how we need to live our life as what one deems something to be sin may not be sin in the eyes of God. Each of us has the freedom to speak on what we believe as being truth, but yet may not always agree with each other and this is where the first amendment applies to all of us.

 

[jasonc]

I see Christianity as not only being Christlike as we are risen with Him, but also being a personal relationship as the main factor is Christ Jesus. What makes us different from one another is that each of us came to Christ in our own personal way that sets each of us apart from a social culture of religion that dictates how we need to live our life as what one deems something to be sin may not be sin in the eyes of God. Each of us has the freedom to speak on what we believe as being truth, but yet may not always agree with each other and this is where the first amendment applies to all of us.

again. missing the point. do you want a theocracy? a state sect of christianity?

 

[for_his_glory]

Guess I'm not picking up what you're throwing down. Could you explain what your point is as now I'm confused, which isn't hard for me at times

 

[jasonc]

the fact is that for legal purposes Christianity is therefore a religion, if its NOT then we can legally have state churches. which branch of our faith do you want? catholic? protestant of the myriad flavors?

Guess I'm not picking up what you're throwing down. Could you explain what your point is as now I'm confused, which isn't hard for me at times [/QUOTE