Formalizing religious categorizations

[ragarth]

I've always been under the impression that the name of a given religion is normally not copyrighted or trademarked, that the term 'Christian' 'Buddhist' etc fall into the public domain for anyone's use. I keep running into people, however, who claim that the term 'Christian' has very specific criteria for use, and that someone cannot claim to be Christian, and at the same time believe Jesus was a space alien, or a nice concept.

So I ask, is there a body of people, or a formalized method for establishing if someone is a valid Christian, Buddhist, or Muslim, or can these terms be applied in any way an individual chooses to apply them within a religious context?

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Note that this is different from a religious Sect such as Catholics or Baptists. In this case, a formal body decides on the use of said names, and use of that name is tied to membership with a given group, who excludes the individual if their beliefs do not mesh.

 

[jayem]

So I ask, is there a body of people, or a formalized method for establishing if someone is a valid Christian, Buddhist, or Muslim,

Not that I know of.

or can these terms be applied in any way an individual chooses to apply them within a religious context?

Generally, yes. But there are certain attributes associated with various religious faiths in the popular understanding. If you don't demonstrate at least some of the characteristics specific to Christianity, Buddhism, or Islam, you won't be considered as such by others. That's the key point. If you label yourself as something, the conventional wisdom would expect you to have a certain set of beliefs. Of course, if you don't give a rip about what others think, you can call yourself anything you choose.

 

[ragarth]

That's what I thought, but ya never know- Surprises crop up in reality sometimes. Thank you for you response, jayem.

 

[Chesterton]

I think A Christian is determined by what he believes - his creed. One was settled upon by a council representing all of unified Christendom: Nicene Creed.

It's funny you asked, 'cause I've sometimes wished at least the symbol of the Cross was trademarked or something, so people like Scientologists and the KKK couldn't use it.

 

[The Nihilist]

Well, for a while, the body determining what was christian and what wasn't was called the Catholic Church. This worked pretty well until the Lutherans came along, who had about as many guns and swords as the Catholics.

 

[ragarth]

I think A Christian is determined by what he believes - his creed. One was settled upon by a council representing all of unified Christendom: Nicene Creed.

It's funny you asked, 'cause I've sometimes wished at least the symbol of the Cross was trademarked or something, so people like Scientologists and the KKK couldn't use it.

But what enforces the Nicene Creed? What mechanism would serve to expel someone from Christendom who believes that Jesus is a space alien, and that God is the name we give to a trans-galactic federation of alien species? Such a belief is compatible with the bible if you interpret it loosely, and since it shows a belief in Jesus, it fits within the definition of a Christian.

 

[Chesterton]

But what enforces the Nicene Creed?

The Church enforces it, although I'd rather say the Church upholds or preserves the beliefs, rather than "enforces" them. For the first 1,000 years, there was only the one Church which Christ founded. If you claimed to be a Christian, but did not believe the creed accepted by the Church, you were a heretic.

What mechanism would serve to expel someone from Christendom who believes that Jesus is a space alien, and that God is the name we give to a trans-galactic federation of alien species? Such a belief is compatible with the bible if you interpret it loosely, and since it shows a belief in Jesus, it fits within the definition of a Christian.

That's why Christians held councils such as the one at Nicea. From the very beginning, people were saying many different things about Christ and his message. But Christ originally appointed 12 men to start things rolling, to be Apostles, to found churches and to teach and preach. An idea being compatible with the bible isn't determinative because, as you note, interpretations can vary. And as the creed says, God is maker of everything. So if there are space aliens, God made them, so He can't be one of them.

 

[ragarth]

The Church enforces it, although I'd rather say the Church upholds or preserves the beliefs, rather than "enforces" them. For the first 1,000 years, there was only the one Church which Christ founded. If you claimed to be a Christian, but did not believe the creed accepted by the Church, you were a heretic.

That doesn't really answer my question. There is no single 'church' anymore, unless your saying that Catholocism has veto power to decide which churches are real and which are fake. Somehow I think that wouldn't go over too well.

That's why Christians held councils such as the one at Nicea. From the very beginning, people were saying many different things about Christ and his message. But Christ originally appointed 12 men to start things rolling, to be Apostles, to found churches and to teach and preach. An idea being compatible with the bible isn't determinative because, as you note, interpretations can vary. And as the creed says, God is maker of everything. So if there are space aliens, God made them, so He can't be one of them.

Not quite the history I know, but still, the nicene creed doesn't seem very enforcible to me, not these days, anyway. That seems more like a definition for Catholic Christianity than Christianity as a whole.

 

[Blackmarch]

I've always been under the impression that the name of a given religion is normally not copyrighted or trademarked, that the term 'Christian' 'Buddhist' etc fall into the public domain for anyone's use. I keep running into people, however, who claim that the term 'Christian' has very specific criteria for use, and that someone cannot claim to be Christian, and at the same time believe Jesus was a space alien, or a nice concept.

technically no its not... however by the way many within their sects act would make it appear otherwise.

So I ask, is there a body of people, or a formalized method for establishing if someone is a valid Christian, Buddhist, or Muslim, or can these terms be applied in any way an individual chooses to apply them within a religious context?

each sect appears to have their own (or groups of sects). Which can be frustrating or confusing at times.

Generally I think what is used is what a majority believe on defining thats used as general rule of thumb... altho this can lead to some rather counterintuitive situations.

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Note that this is different from a religious Sect such as Catholics or Baptists. In this case, a formal body decides on the use of said names, and use of that name is tied to membership with a given group, who excludes the individual if their beliefs do not mesh.

However sometimes said groups claim that their teachings or etc is what constitutes the definition for christian, muslim, etc...

 

[Chesterton]

That doesn't really answer my question. There is no single 'church' anymore, unless your saying that Catholocism has veto power to decide which churches are real and which are fake. Somehow I think that wouldn't go over too well.

Not quite the history I know, but still, the nicene creed doesn't seem very enforcible to me, not these days, anyway. That seems more like a definition for Catholic Christianity than Christianity as a whole.

Again, I'd refer back to the creed: a Christian is supposed to believe that there is "one Church". I think almost all Protestants accept the Nicene creed, but they get around that line by interpreting that the "one Church" is invisible, rather than visible; that is to say that any one who believes the rest of the creed is part of The Church, regardless of the name on the outside of the building he worships in.

Old schoolers like me, OTOH, think they're wrong to an extent. We think the Church is visible, and that we are supposed to be one together, but we don't go so far as to say they're not Christian, because God's salvation is not limited by our silly human squabbling.

So Christians do believe there is one single Church, but we interpret the word "Church" differently. But you're right really, nothing is ultimately enforceable. Someone can start a religion in their living room and believe anything they want and call it Christian, and people like me will tell them they're not Christian and, uh, you're also right that it won't go over too well. But, c'est la vie.

 

[Dark_Lite]

There isn't any one formal body for controlling who and what is "Christian" in this day and age. But, there's only so far you can go with religious beliefs and call it Christian. It's the same thing as redefining a word in the dictionary. You very well can redefine "car" to mean the same thing as "dog," but no one is going to accept it or understand you when you attempt to communicate that way.