Your Tradition: Orthodox Christian
Define "Christian": One who has made a complete decision to follow the ways of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: The Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...three in persons yet undivided...
Your Concept of Human Nature: One nature corrupted by sin since the fall of Adam
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: When we attain the grace we have lost through sin.
Your Concept of an After-life: Heaven and Hell
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: A preparation for the life to come.
What should everyone know about your Tradition? The Orthodox Church was started by the Apostles themselves in 33 AD. It was the same Church that compiled the books of the Bible and the Religion which the Catholic Church split (Reasons being: the Catholics wanted Papal suppremacy which the Orthodox would not allow). The traditions of the Orthodox Church have not been broken since it was started.
Your Tradition: Romuva
Define "Christian": Someone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the authority of his temporal representatives...be it Pope in the Latern Church, Patriarch or Metropolitan.
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: All of nature is sacred. It feeds us, supports us, heals us and in the end we return to it. It is Mother to us and we owe her respect and reverance.
Your Concept of Human Nature: In today's western society, human nature is to accumulate as much as possible to the detriment of others. The reason being security. Material Wealth is one of the "easiest" ways of ensuring security.
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: Enlightenment is when you have gone past your mortal self and have realized who your true self is. Once this is done, you have come closer to the godhead.
Your Concept of an After-life: Reincarnation
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: To learn, to listen, and teach others and to eventually enter a state of godhood.
What should everyone know about your Tradition? It is a reconstruction of the indigenous pre-christian religion of Lithuania.
Your Tradition: Protestant (Evangelical) Christian
Define "Christian": I am a mediocre follower of a first century Jewish carpenter
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: She is alive and well and working in the universe. She created me and she loves me exactly as I am.
Your Concept of Human Nature: Me awake with my eyes closed thinking
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: Seeing how much God loves the outcast and doing something to assist Her in ending the suffering
Your Concept of an After-life: A bar (not too noisy) with one round table surrounded by my friends talking and laughing and crying without getting sleepy
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: I was created to help my Creator end the suffering of the oppressed. Until I do that, I cannot realize my purpose or my potential
What should everyone know about your Tradition? My tradition is Jesus thru the eyes of Gandhi an King, it is the tradition of militant nonviolent resistance to injustice. Everyone should know about it because it is the world’s one hope.
Your Tradition: Independent Baptist
Define "Christian": Someone who has asked Jesus to come into their heart and is living close to what the Bible teaches.
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: GOD IS HOLY {WITHOUT SIN}. HE LOVES MAN AND WANTS MAN TO LOVE HIM.
Your Concept of Human Nature: SINFUL, MAN IS SEEKING SOMETHING.
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: READ Eph. 2:8-9 and Romans 10:13.
Your Concept of an After-life: Man will either be with God and Jesus or in the lake of Fire.
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: To Worship GOD.
What should everyone know about your Tradition? I would like everyone to KNOW
the truth. The only place to find the truth is in GODs word. The KJV. Man is a sinner by birth. All of mankind will face
Jesus, some at the judgment seat of CHRIST (saved) the rest at the white throne judgment (lost). Each person at some
time will have to make up his or her mind. Do I follow the word of GOD, You will face judgment. Jesus will save all who
ask. Romans 10:13
The Baptist Church is a living work, made up of People who have asked to be saved and are living to give Glory to GOD.
If you want the complete plan of salvation e-mail me.
Your Tradition: The Holy Rosary
Define "Christian": who loves Christ and Mary
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: my Father almighty
Your Concept of Human Nature: beloved child of the Father
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: love Jesus and Mary, only that!
Your Concept of an After-life:no reply
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: no reply
What should everyone know about your Tradition? everyone is looking for the peace.
Your Tradition: Pentecostal Christian
Define "Christian": Anyone who believes that Jesus Christ is God and makes him Lord and Savior of their life
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: Uncreated, perfect being in three Persons
Your Concept of Human Nature: Created by God but ruined by sin at the Fall
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: Receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior so that he might dwell in us
Your Concept of an After-life: Soul is eternal either is permanently ultimately united with God (heaven) or separated from him (Hell)
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: To be united with God eternally
What should everyone know about your Tradition? The question many people ask about Pentecostal Christianity is this: Why do we, as Christians, need Pentecostal, Full Gospel Christianity, with all that comes with it? There are three reasons.
Your Tradition: Quaker
Define "Christian": One who follows the Living Jesus Christ
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: Theistic, firmly within the Judeo-christain understanding
Your Concept of Human Nature: Without the dialogic relationship between God and man fallen
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: Christ not only forgives our sins, but also empowers us to follow his Voice, and live in righteousness.
Your Concept of an After-life: Resurrection into the Presence of God
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: To live in obediance to the Voice of God
What should everyone know about your Tradition? THE GREATNESS OF OUR CAUSE
By Lewis Benson
Your Tradition: Coptic Orthodox
Define "Christian": a follower of the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: God is all-divine the essence of good He is a loving Father to all of us.
Your Concept of Human Nature: Human nature has been flawed with the sin of Adam, but Jesus Christ took this sin away from us and did not allow it to keep us from salvation.
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: Salvation comes through repentance, holy communion, faith, and good deeds
Your Concept of an After-life: There shall be a heaven and a hell.
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: To attain salvation in the afterlife.
What should everyone know about your Tradition? The Coptic Orthodox tradition is an ancient tradition which was handed down from the hands of the Apostles who, in turn, received it from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This monotheistic tradition was preached to Egypt in approx. 70 a.d. by St. Mark the Apostle and the Evangelist.
The Coptic people in Egypt accepted Christianity though they were the direct descendants of ancient Egyptians. In fact, the word "Coptic" itself is a Greek word meaning "Egyptian." Also, the Coptic language which is still used in our services and in some cities of Egypt is the LAST derivative of the Egyptian hieroglyphics.
It is obvious from the preceding that the Coptic Church is very rich in history but the richness does not stop there. In about 321 a.d, when the Christian church was going through a period of division, Saint Athanasius, who was a Copt from Egypt, defended the very root of Christianity- the Divinity of God- in the council of Nicea. He was a mere deacon at the time, yet he fought a successful battle against the Arian heresy and preserved the true faith against those who wished to change it. Saint Athanasius went on to become a Pope of the Coptic Church.
Our church also proves its rich tradition in its pride in martyrs. During the Roman persecutions from 200-300 a.d., the blood of hundreds of thousands of Coptic Christians was spilled for the sake of their faith. Saint Abanoub was a 12 year old boy who was tortured by the governor of his village many times, yet he was always healed by our Lord. Finally, the young boy earned the crown of martyrdom by being beheaded. Saints like this make the Coptic Church holy because its people are ready to defend their faith no matter what trials they might face.
The Coptic tradition is also rich in its monasticism. The very first monk, Saint Antony was a Copt from Egypt. He heard the verse, "If you wish to follow me, go sell all what you have and give them to the poor..." in church, and he left all his riches and traveled to the Red Sea area of Egypt where he founded the very institution of monasticism. All monks of this world are children of our father Saint Antony, who was a Copt. Also, the first monk to make a cenobitic rule was St. Pachomius, who was also a Coptic monk.
Besides the rich history of the Coptic Church, there is a moving reason as to why people should be informed about the Coptic Church. This reason deals with the change of the church. While many churches have changed, and split, and adapted... the Coptic Orthodox Church has remained the same in its beliefs, morals, and faith since it was founded by its first pope, Saint Mark the Apostle. This lack of change allows the congregation to feel how Christianity felt in the early period.
Your Tradition: Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches
Define "Christian": One who believes that that Jesus was/is both fully human and divine, that Jesus lived and died to prove God's concern for all humanity. A Christian who believes this, should stive to conform one life to the teaching of Jesus, and to also "give one's life"
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: God is love, life, and all that is good. God is both female and male, and more.
Your Concept of Human Nature: Humans are basically confused, and lazy. It is human to take the easy way out. Being "good", loving, and free from bigotry takes constant, daily effort!
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: While salvation/grace is free, for it to have any meaning, one must do good: i.e. practice randomn acts acts of kindness, and senseless acts of beauty.
Your Concept of an After-life: When I will at be complete, be reunited with all those who have touched my life with love, and God just as God is.
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: To be a channel of God's love, both recieving and giving.
What should everyone know about your Tradition? It is, rather new, and I think unique. It was founded primarly by a Gay man to proclaim that God loves Gays and Lesbians, but it also goes beyond that. We preach a three pronged Gospel: Christian Salvation, Christian Community, and Christian Social Action.
Your Tradition: reformed evangelical
Define "Christian": One who holds to the essential doctrine of repentance and salvation through Christ alone, in order to bring us back into communion with the Father (God), and who seeks to love the Lord with all his mind, body, and strength.
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: God is a loving, just , Holy, Righteous, God, who is immortal, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent. He is revealed to us in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Same in essence and equal in power and Glory. He loves us and desires for us to be in communion with him once again. God is also in control, nothing happens without God allowing it, he is sovereign.
Your Concept of Human Nature: I believe as the bible says: we are sinful by nature, and without God's grace are capable of doing no good. Through one man, sin entered the world, and through sin, death. We are sinful by nature.
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: Salvation comes through Christ's atonement of our sins through his death on the cross, and our repentance of sins. It is a total dependance on God to save us, being sinful, we are not able to accomplish this. No one may come to the father except through Christ, being drawn by the Spirit
Your Concept of an After-life: I believe after we die, those that have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, go to be with him in Heaven, those that have rejected Christ will go to Hades (Hell). Christ will return one day, and ressurect our physical bodies, and we will be rejoined with it and dwell with God forever (If having accepted Christ) If not, I believe as stated in the book of revalation, that our ressurected bodies will be re-united, and suffer eternally in hell (the second ressurection. rev. 20:1-15
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: To serve and worship the one true God our creator
What should everyone know about your Tradition? We are reformed, meaning that we hold to the basic tenents of the reformation of Martin Luther. We believe salvation comes by God's grace through faith in Christ alone. We believe in baptism as an outward expression of our inward devotion to God, and believe that although it is not necessary for salvation, it is necessary for growth. We believe that Christ was both fully God, and fully man, that he pre-existed with the Father, and the Holy Spirit. that he was and IS God. We believe that he suffered and was crucified under pontious Pilate, was born of the virgin Mary. We believe that he died was buried, and on the third day rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of the father. We also affirm that he will come again for the saints, and establish his reign here on earth. and will judge both the living and the dead. We also affirm the first seven ecumenical councils, and seek to fulfill the great commision as stated in Matthew 28. In addition to this, we hold to a holy apostolic catholic church. (catholic meaning church universal, holding to the basic tenents of the faith, denominations we believe were set by man, not God. We desire all to know Christ, and fulfill His will in thier life.
Your Tradition: Unitarian
Define "Christian": One who believes in salvation through Christ: there are Unitarians who are Christians but do not believe in the Trinity (hence the name) or the divinity of Christ. It's a valid position but not mine.
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: I have difficulty with most concepts of God
Your Concept of Human Nature: human: we are neither innately good nor evil: we have the potential for both (for want of other terms)
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: Salvation implies the fall and original sin - I don't believe in that
Your Concept of an After-life: None
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: We make our own
What should everyone know about your Tradition? Unitarianism is a non-credal religion (or denomination within Christianity - depending on which Unitarian you ask). It's roots are in the denial of the doctrine of the Trinity: worldwide it is known as Unitarian-Universalism reflecting the other historical trend - the denial of the doctrine of the Elect of God.
While honouring roots in the Christian and Jewish heritage, Unitarianism today also seeks insight from other religion and philosophies, the arts, music, and our experiences of life itself in short, from all that human beings have found helpful and meaningful through the generations.
Individual beliefs within Unitarianism are quite diverse. But we share respect for one another, a concern for finding truths worth living by, from whatever source, and a strong sense of community. Our services of worship, discussion groups, etc. aim not to supply prepackaged answers, but rather, through sharing the best that we know, to help us move more deeply into our own lives and into the lives of our community.
Your Tradition: none
Define "Christian": one who believes that Jesus Christ is the saviour who has risen from the dead.
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: God is the trinity, of Father Son and Spirit
Your Concept of Human Nature: humans naturally want to do good, they naturally want to be honest, kind, trustworthy, and all of the other qualities which are considered "good" but in our nature their is a strong inclincation to go against these qualities, and eventually it becomes more natural to sin.
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: Salvation is to accept the idea that we are imperfect and need salvation, the way to this, I believe is to accept that Jesus is the Messiah which the Jews are still waiting for.
Your Concept of an After-life: Heaven is where believers in Christ and innocents (children, people who have never heard of Jesus) go. I dont know what Heaven is like, but I'm certain God is a pretty good host and it wont be boring. Hell is where non-believers go, by this I do not mean "sinners" but people who have not accepted Jesus as saviour. Hell will be extremely unpleasant.
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: The purpose of life is to make your peace with God and do the work he has for you, to rely on him completely, and never rely on your own understanding.
What should everyone know about your Tradition? I'm not exactly clear on what is meant by "tradition" when pertaining to Christianity, when i was a child i never atended church, my family has no fixed concept of God and are, frankly, violently opposed to the mere idea of Christianity, I do not attend Church, so i take me beliefs directly from the Bible, I have no other source.
Your Tradition: Southern Baptist
Define "Christian": One who recognizes, accepts, and trusts Jesus as God manifested in flesh for the purpose of liberating people from the bondage of rebellion against God.
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: "Sovereign, transcendant, personal creator, redeemer, and sustainer of all being" would be my attempt at describing God. But of course, God is ineffable.
Your Concept of Human Nature: Humans seem to be one of God's orneriest inventions. We have a free will (like God), but our knowledge is finite and our compassion flawed. Each of us winds up rebelling against God, mistrusting God's purposes and means. That tends to separate us from fellowship with God and with others. That's why we desperately need Jesus.
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: Salvation comes to one who trusts Jesus as savior. (See "Christian" above.) Salvation brings an awareness of God's loving presence in life's activities as well as moral strength to live up to human potential. After all, that seems to be what God created us for anyway as we "be" what God intended for us we both honor God and enjoy personal fulfillment. Salvation is, however, NOT escape from problems, reality, or this world.
Your Concept of an After-life: The unmitigated presence of God defines for me both heaven and hell. Those who know God as loving sustainer of life rejoice to be in God's presence. Those who rebel against God couldn't be more agonized than to be in that same presence. As for wings and harps, etc., I take the biblical references to be metaphorical.
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: My purpose is to be what God created me to be. That requires that I pay attention to God, be obedient even (or maybe especially) when I do not understand or feel resentful. My purpose is NOT to seek happiness or fulfillment or godhood. Jesus said, "He who would seek his own life will lose it."
What should everyone know about your Tradition? Southern Baptists are a fractious, sometimes noisy bunch. We not infrequently shoot ourselves in the foot, especially in public forums. But the Baptist tradition is that of freedom: freedom for individuals to communicate with God as they wish, freedom to interpret the Bible as they see fit, freedom to establish churches according to their own wisdom. Baptists were largely responsible for the separation of church and state that we enjoy in the US and Baptists continue to fight against religious intolerance. But since we don't believe that we have the right to tell each other what to do as worshiping bodies, we Baptists, especially Southern Baptists, have some pretty vocal and frustrating folks in our ranks. Well, that's the cost of freedom. "Oh, to be with the saints above/ that truly would be glory./ But to dwell with those below/ now that's a different story!"
Your Tradition: Non-denominational Christian
Define "Christian": A Christian is a person who seeks union with God through union with the Christ Spirit. This union can be accomplished through ritual, meditation, contemplative prayer or other ways.
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: The nature of God can only be experienced. Any concept of God will be too limiting. In Exodus, when Moses asked God what his name was, He said I AM. God is not separate from creation, but is the source of Life. God is more than the sum of creation. St. John's Gospel starts out with the words "In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God". This Word creates and sustains the universe. It is through this Word that Christians seek union with God.
Your Concept of Human Nature: Human nature can be categorized in at least two ways. The original nature, which is still latent, was in complete union with God. The fallen nature is consciously separated from God.
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: Salvation is union with God through Christ. This union doesn't have to be only after physical death. It can (and should) be right here, right now.
Your Concept of an After-life: My belief in an afterlife differs from most Christians. I have a tendency to believe in reincarnation. At least until union with God.
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: The purpose of life is for God to know Himself through creation.
What should everyone know about your Tradition? There are many aspects to Christianity. Most denominations share these various aspects, but may emphasis different ones. I think this is marvelous. In this way each Christian can find that denomination which suites his or her needs.
Your Tradition: Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches
Define "Christian": A Christian is one who accepts the love and grace which God offers in the person of Jesus the Christ.
Your Concept of God/Divine Nature: God is utterly beyond our comprehension, yet is as close as our own heart beats. God can be seen in nature as well as in the High Church Traditions and the humble gathering of saints around a small country church alter. While I believe in the Personhood of God, as manifested in Jesus, I also believe in the utterly transcendent nature of the Divine I AM.
Your Concept of Human Nature: Humans are reflections of God's own nature. God Is Love, we have love. God Is Truth we have truth and so on. I do not believe in a "fall" whereby all became "vile sinners" but I do believe that, for reasons which are probably as diverse as people themselves, we have all left the direct presence of God for a while and are roaming about these material spheres. Our nature is to yearn for God. Material nature is to yearn for separation from God.
Your Concept of Salvation/Enlightenment: There are countless ways to God. At-One-Ment with the Godhead is the eternal birthright of all beings. When one comes to understand this, regardless of how this is conceptualized, one has attained salvation. However, as a Universalist, I also believe that our "need" for salvation is a mark of our non-knowing as we are all the causelessly, eternally, unconditionally, beloved children of the Divine Parent.
Your Concept of an After-life: Reincarnation comes closest. I believe that life is but
a series of learning experiences. When the body "dies" the soul enters another body and continues the journey. When the
time is right, the soul returns to God Who gave it. This does not mark the end of growth nor development, but merely the
field of one's experience. Sound complicated? Read Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
I also believe that the use of Jesus
and his followers about Hell was a metaphor by the Master of Metaphors. Gehenna was a garbage dump outside the city of
Jerusalem. The metaphor was: If you do not heed my words it would be just as well if you were tossed in Gehenna. God is
God of Love, not torture.
Your Concept of the Purpose of Life: This is as varied as life itself. Ultimately the purpose of life is to fully and completely Be. God is "I Am" because God is fully Aware. When we are fully aware we also are "I Am" (BUT, I also believe in the eternal distinctness of the individual being. i.e. God's "I Am" is not the same as my "I Am" but my "I Am" is perfectly in harmony with Gods).
What should everyone know about your Tradition? The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is a mainstream Christian denomination. Its doctrines lie well within the breadth of traditional Christian doctrine. Each congregation is independent and there is room with the Fellowship for diversity. My beliefs should not, therefore, be considered those of the UFMCC or its members. We are all where we are. If you want to be somewhere else, go there. If not, then Be Here Now (as Guru Ram Dass used to say. Jesus is still honored 2000 years later because he was fully present in his oneness with the Divine Parent.
Thanks, and enjoy your quest!