Dear Paul,

No worries - definitions are neutral, they make no claims.

I still believe that on the balance of probabilities, even while the gospels are unreliable, the Sage Jesus of Nazareth (who was labelled "Christ" by some of his disciples) did exist, taught spiritual truths and values to Judaic disciples and was executed (or perhaps only seemingly executed) without resistance on the Roman cross because the Judaic authorities of his time perceived him as a political threat.

But never mind, suppose none of that happened, then all it would mean is that according to my favourite definition there are no Christians in existence.

In that case, I would relax my definition slightly, omitting the requirement of following Jesus' particular teachings and example - so how about simply:

"A Christian is someone who, should the need arise, is willing to give up their life on the cross or equivalent for the sake of their love to others"?

Hi once more Yuyutsu,

Totally agree with what you have said. I believe the basic Christian values are good, as its says; Loving one another is as important as loving God. In my book, love thy "neighbour", is the most important of all commandments, and that includes oneself. God I see in abstract terms, not as a physical being, but as the sprite within the human psyche. The majority of believers find it easier to understand God as a physical being living in his heaven, doling out his commandments to the humans (that's us) below. For me that is nonsense, convenient but nonsense. I add that Christians don't have exclusivity to what is good and rightest, there are many pathways to what the Buddha called Nirvana.

Dear Paul,

«God I see in abstract terms, not as a physical being, but as the sprite within the human psyche.»

Yes, how beautiful!

God described Himself through the speech of Shri Krishna as follows:

"I am the gambling of the cheats and the splendour of the splendid. I am the victory of the victorious, the resolve of the resolute, and the virtue of the virtuous." [Bhagavad-Gita 10:36]

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1526270738589690

I wonder what Labor Politicians would comment on this ?