6  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Christian  \Chris"tian\,  a. 
 
  {Christian  Endeavor,  Young  People's  Society  of}.  In  various 
  Protestant  churches,  a  society  of  young  people  organized 
  in  each  individual  church  to  do  Christian  work  also  the 
  whole  body  of  such  organizations,  which  are  united  in  a 
  corporation  called  the  United  Society  of  Christian 
  Endeavor,  organized  in  1885.  The  parent  society  was 
  founded  in  1881  at  Portland,  Maine,  by  Rev.  Francis  E. 
  Clark,  a  Congregational  minister.  Christian  Era  \Christian 
  Era\ 
  The  era  in  use  in  all  Christian  countries,  which  was  intended 
  to  commence  with  the  birth  of  Christ.  The  era  as  now 
  established  was  first  used  by  Dionysius  Exiguus  (died  about 
  540),  who  placed  the  birth  of  Christ  on  the  25th  of  December 
  in  the  year  of  Rome  754,  which  year  he  counted  as  1  a.  d. 
  This  date  for  Christ's  birth  is  now  generally  thought  to  be 
  about  four  years  too  late. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Christian  \Chris"tian\,  a. 
  1.  Pertaining  to  Christ  or  his  religion;  as  Christian 
  people. 
 
  3.  Pertaining  to  the  church;  ecclesiastical;  as  a  Christian 
  court.  --Blackstone. 
 
  4.  Characteristic  of  Christian  people;  civilized;  kind 
  kindly;  gentle;  beneficent. 
 
  The  graceful  tact;  the  Christian  art.  --Tennyson. 
 
  {Christian  Commission}.  See  under  {Commission}. 
 
  {Christian  court}.  Same  as  {Ecclesiastical  court}. 
 
  {Christian  era},  the  present  era,  commencing  with  the  birth 
  of  Christ.  It  is  supposed  that  owing  to  an  error  of  a  monk 
  (Dionysius  Exiguus,  d.  about  556)  employed  to  calculate 
  the  era,  its  commencement  was  fixed  three  or  four  years 
  too  late,  so  that  1890  should  be  1893  or  1894. 
 
  {Christian  name},  the  name  given  in  baptism,  as  distinct  from 
  the  family  name  or  surname. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Christian  \Chris"tian\,  n.  [L.  christianus  Gr  ?;  cf  AS 
  cristen.  See  {Christ}.] 
  1.  One  who  believes,  or  professes  or  is  assumed  to  believe, 
  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  truth  as  taught  by  Him 
  especially,  one  whose  inward  and  outward  life  is  conformed 
  to  the  doctrines  of  Christ. 
 
  The  disciples  were  called  Christians  first  in 
  Antioch.  --Acts  xi  26. 
 
  2.  One  born  in  a  Christian  country  or  of  Christian  parents, 
  and  who  has  not  definitely  becomes  an  adherent  of  an 
  opposing  system. 
 
  3.  (Eccl.) 
  a  One  of  a  Christian  denomination  which  rejects  human 
  creeds  as  bases  of  fellowship,  and  sectarian  names 
  They  are  congregational  in  church  government,  and 
  baptize  by  immersion.  They  are  also  called  {Disciples 
  of  Christ},  and  {Campbellites}. 
  b  One  of  a  sect  (called  {Christian  Connection})  of 
  open-communion  immersionists.  The  Bible  is  their  only 
  authoritative  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 
 
  Note:  In  this  sense  often  pronounced,  but  not  by  the  members 
  of  the  sects,  kr[=i]s"chan. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Christian 
  adj  1:  (religion)  relating  to  or  characteristic  of  Christianity; 
  "Christian  rites"  [syn:  {Christian}] 
  2:  following  the  teachings  or  manifesting  the  qualities  or 
  spirit  of  Jesus  Christ  [ant:  {unchristian}] 
  n  :  a  religious  person  who  believes  Jesus  is  the  Christ  and  is  a 
  member  of  a  Christian  denomination  [syn:  {Christian}] 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Christian 
  the  name  given  by  the  Greeks  or  Romans,  probably  in  reproach,  to 
  the  followers  of  Jesus.  It  was  first  used  at  Antioch.  The  names 
  by  which  the  disciples  were  known  among  themselves  were 
  "brethren,"  "the  faithful,"  "elect,"  "saints,"  "believers."  But 
  as  distinguishing  them  from  the  multitude  without  the  name 
  Christian"  came  into  use  and  was  universally  accepted.  This 
  name  occurs  but  three  times  in  the  New  Testament  (Acts  11:26; 
  26:28;  1  Pet.  4:16). 
 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  CHRISTIAN,  n.  One  who  believes  that  the  New  Testament  is  a  divinely 
  inspired  book  admirably  suited  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  his  neighbor. 
  One  who  follows  the  teachings  of  Christ  in  so  far  as  they  are  not 
  inconsistent  with  a  life  of  sin. 
 
  I  dreamed  I  stood  upon  a  hill,  and  lo! 
  The  godly  multitudes  walked  to  and  fro 
  Beneath,  in  Sabbath  garments  fitly  clad, 
  With  pious  mien,  appropriately  sad, 
  While  all  the  church  bells  made  a  solemn  din  -- 
  A  fire-alarm  to  those  who  lived  in  sin. 
  Then  saw  I  gazing  thoughtfully  below, 
  With  tranquil  face,  upon  that  holy  show 
  A  tall,  spare  figure  in  a  robe  of  white, 
  Whose  eyes  diffused  a  melancholy  light. 
  "God  keep  you  strange,"  I  exclaimed.  "You  are 
  No  doubt  (your  habit  shows  it)  from  afar; 
  And  yet  I  entertain  the  hope  that  you 
  Like  these  good  people,  are  a  Christian  too." 
  He  raised  his  eyes  and  with  a  look  so  stern 
  It  made  me  with  a  thousand  blushes  burn 
  Replied  --  his  manner  with  disdain  was  spiced: 
  "What!  I  a  Christian?  No  indeed!  I'm  Christ." 
  G.J. 
 
 

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