I'm gonna miss you Topaz. You added some really interesting topics on here theology-wise. You often didn't hold back the punches while still holding true to the basic fundamentals. I don't remember if you're in school, but you definitely qualify as a Biblical scholar. I hope you will continue with your own studies and find new and interesting things all the time in your studies of the Bible. Seeing your user-name alone bought a small smile to my face.
Don't let others define the term "Christian" for you. Many people still grab onto that term even though their spiritual life is about as dead as space. It's simply not socially proper in their family to let go of the title. You're certainly not that and if anyone tries to take it away from you, then you should ask if they're a 'true Scotsman' as well as a 'true Christian' in their opinion. They probably won't get it though
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A lot of Christians prefer the Bible they get from the pulpit so they can avoid the unpleasant situation of ever having to experience a conflict between their beliefs and those of their church. "Saved" then simply becomes another way of saying "socially accepted". In this, I fear that many Christians, though deeply well-meaning, build a faith that is rigid, but also fragile and easily shattered by logic when tested by people outside of their 'cliche'. Many even say they believe the whole Bible word for word... when they haven't even read it.
Challenging traditional beliefs and institutions always ends up with one being labeled as an iconoclast... almost by definition. So consequently, being labeled as 'different' or even harassed is to be expected. Some may prefer theological discussion where everything falls neatly between the traditional lines and never radically challenges their views. Today though, it seems that people are more concerned about keeping their faith protected in a bubble, simply to avoid the possibility of having it cracked or broken. They would rather have a rigid faith that lasted them for years but was wrong, over a flexible faith that was built and rebuilt, but ultimately stood closer to the truth with each iteration so far as they could see.
It's funny though, I remember a time not too long ago when Christianity labeled a certain type of animation as evil and the traditional believers and institutions would have outright banned it if they could have. Then, even though it doesn't talk about that animation style much any more and even though it always was more of a place for 'nontraditional' Christians to hang out, there was this awesome webpage. If they start to leave here, I wonder where they'll go next. I rather like them, so I hope they drop me a line when they get there. However, it's sad when you see one go away - especially when you thought she was cool.