Defining Christianity

Q. What defines someone as a Christian? Do they need to be Trinitists? If so, why? Would you consider Mormons to be Christian? Why or why not?

A. The first part of this question is very broad and there is no set aspect that defines a Christian in our contemporary world. The range is enormous, and probably always has been which is why the concept of heresy was used by 'authorities.' Many call themselves Christian who think of Jesus more like a guru, one of many wise beings who have come to help us, rather than as the exclusive, one and only revelation sent by God that is essential to other Christians.

If you don't already know them you might find interesting the series of books by John Hick, Paul Knitter and others that have explored these issues: The Myth of Christian Uniqueness etc.

Here is a response to the question from Peggy Morgan, Senior Lecturer at Mansfield College, Oxford:

"The answer to these questions depends on who you ask. One of the interesting aspects of my work is collecting answers and any person can do that by talking with people. There are no 'set' answers.

One response to the question of what makes a person a Christian is that they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

Unitarians are counted as Christians by many other Christians, though not all, and they are not trinitarian, but unitarian.

Again the answer to question 3 would vary according to who you asked. A Mormon is quite likely to see him / herself as Christian, but other Christians might say not. The authority of the book of Mormon as an alternative revelation is the stumbling block here."

Here is another response from Rev Dr Robert Traer, lecturer at Dominican University (CA), former Gen Sec of the International Association for Religious Freedom, and author:

"Christians define themselves by their faith as followers of Jesus. Churches have different ways of defining membership, but usually it begins with baptism involving a confession of faith either by the person being baptized or, in a church that allows infant baptism, by the parent of a child being baptized. Generally, baptism is in the name of "the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," an affirmation of the trinitarian (sometimes called the triune) nature of God. Most Christians do not consider Mormons to be Christians because Mormons read the Book of Mormon, as well as the Bible, as scripture."