Fluther: If you describe someone as "born-again," do you need the word ...

If you describe someone as "born-again," do you need the word "Christian," or is that implied?

Asked by 6rant6 (13700

) July 23rd, 2012
17 responses
“Great Question” (1

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If I describe a character as “born again” do I need to add “Christian” to be clear?

Here’s the sentence:

“Trudy’s born-again daughter, Genevieve, appears willing to do everything possible to…”

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Answers

I would, if just to clarify for people who dont know what you are talking about.

Mr_Paradox (3049

)“Great Answer” (2

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@Mr_Paradox Yes, well, that’s kind of the point of the question. Are there literate, well-read people who won’t know what I’m talking about?

6rant6 (13700

)“Great Answer” (0

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Yes, me for instance.

Mr_Paradox (3049

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It’s entirely possible that someone may not have heard the term “born-again Christian” and might think you were saying Genevieve had been reincarnated or something. Just throwing that out there…

WillWorkForChocolate (23163

)“Great Answer” (1

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I don’t think it needs clarification.

stardust (10562

)“Great Answer” (1

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Yes. One could mean it in the Buddhist sense. In fact, that is what I will from now on assume.
“Oh, so you were born again? Tell me more about your former life as a tree.”

ragingloli (51969

)“Great Answer” (3

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I think it is redundant to say Christian when you say born-again, at least in the United States. It’s been a common term since at least the late 70s when we had the first “born again” President (Jimmy Carter).

zenvelo (39430

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It depends on the audience. Evangelical Christians don’t need more than “born again.”

MollyMcGuire (7740

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I would say in educated American society, it wouldn’t be necessary.

wundayatta (58722

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The two are largely interchangeable, but it never hurts to be more specific. The term “born-again Christian” is useful for distinguishing between us and Sunday Christians and Chreasters.

Nullo (22009

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What about “born again virgin”?

lukiarobecheck (1526

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@lukiarobecheck What about it?

Nullo (22009

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@Nullo: Born again virgin is another type of born again. So I was thinking that specificity was needed when talking about “born again” whatevers.

lukiarobecheck (1526

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@lukiarobecheck I think you’d need to include “virgin” since that is a much lesson common use. Similarly, you need to include “Irish” in the statement, “He’s black Irish,” in order to be clear.

6rant6 (13700

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@lukiarobecheck Sounds more like a subset rather than a parallel set.

Nullo (22009

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