Why has Christianity lasted so long?

[jmharris23]

Its kind of a shame that Christianity/Christians couldn't have just left it at that.
It would have eliminated a lot of our (nonbelievers) rebuttal points on alot of these discussions

I guess. It's still the message of the gospel / bible and that's what you deny. If you deny that, it doesn't really matter what else you deny.

 

[ambush80]

I guess. It's still the message of the gospel / bible and that's what you deny. If you deny that, it doesn't really matter what else you deny.

I can believe in all the best parts of the Bible and apply them to my life but I don't have to deal with the bad parts.

 

[welderguy]

I can believe in all the best parts of the Bible and apply them to my life but I don't have to deal with the bad parts.

Antinomianism?

 

[ambush80]

Antinomianism?

Good word but not exactly. Do you know the definition? I had to look it up. I don't see how it relates to what I said. Can you explain what you meant?

 

[WaltL1]

I guess. It's still the message of the gospel / bible and that's what you deny. If you deny that, it doesn't really matter what else you deny.

Sure but wouldn't it be nice if we couldn't continually point out how you don't even agree with each other never mind that you don't agree with us?
It plays a part (albeit a small one) on why we harp on "proving it". Get 10 different answers from 10 different Christians and you tend to throw ALL the answers out and just demand proof.

 

[660griz]

I can believe in all the best parts of the Bible and apply them to my life but I don't have to deal with the bad parts.

That is Christianity and one reason why it has survived.

Christianity can say morals are obtained from the bible. Yea, if you ignore the bad behavior and just use the stuff that won't get you locked up or beat up.

 

[welderguy]

Good word but not exactly. Do you know the definition? I had to look it up. I don't see how it relates to what I said. Can you explain what you meant?

It was said tongue in cheek.
Actually, you are not antinomian because you reject the doctrine of grace, and pick & choose some of the law to govern your morality.(which is directly opposite of an antinomian)

 

[ambush80]

That is Christianity and one reason why it has survived.

Christianity can say morals are obtained from the bible. Yea, if you ignore the bad behavior and just use the stuff that won't get you locked up or beat up.

Except that I consider the belief in the supernatural as one of the "bad parts".

 

[atlashunter]

Sounds like business goals.

As the son of a preacher I can tell you, churches are a business.

 

[atlashunter]

I agree with those who said the Roman Empire. The most successful religions tend to be those that get the backing of the state. It also has an appeal to the poor which constitute the bulk of humanity especially before the industrial revolution. That makes it an easy sell. Then there is the promise of immortality. I think it's tragic that Christianity supplanted the philosophers of antiquity. I find far more wisdom and honesty in the letters of Seneca than in any of the gospels or epistles. But Seneca doesn't make the promises made in the Bible. People want answers even if they aren't truthful. They want hope even if it's false hope.

I think it also worth pointing out that Christianity has been in a state of decline since it lost state backing. We are seeing that decline accelerate in the west and in Europe especially. I hope most will fill that void with something better and not worse.

 

[chainshaw]

Sounds like business goals.

I went to a mega church, this weekend, at the request of my visiting Father-in-law. I used to be very involved in a church (VP of the church council, deacon, etc), but really started seeing a side of religion that I didn't like. Since, I have not really attended church in about 12 years.

My first thought was this place was Marketing 101. Spoon feeding the masses what they wanted to hear, oh and by the way, give us some money (they asked at least 5 times). With the constant background music from the "rock" band and the preacher in his jeans and t-shirt, I couldn't believe the "dumbing down" of Christianity that I was seeing. After that, it will probably be another 12 years, before I go to church again.

 

[WaltL1]

I went to a mega church, this weekend, at the request of my visiting Father-in-law. I used to be very involved in a church (VP of the church council, deacon, etc), but really started seeing a side of religion that I didn't like. Since, I have not really attended church in about 12 years.

My first thought was this place was Marketing 101. Spoon feeding the masses what they wanted to hear, oh and by the way, give us some money (they asked at least 5 times). With the constant background music from the "rock" band and the preacher in his jeans and t-shirt, I couldn't believe the "dumbing down" of Christianity that I was seeing. After that, it will probably be another 12 years, before I go to church again.

A somewhat related factual story that REALLY stuck in my head -
As young teenagers our group was what admittedly could be described as rough/hippie looking. Long hair, jeans/tshirts etc. (early 70s)
However we all believed in God, considered ourselves Christians, attended church, went to Saturday Bible classes etc.
So in the Catholic denomination you could volunteer to "pass the basket" to collect the offerings etc.
So volunteer we did.
Because of our looks (per the members), when we passed the basket, church members started complaining, offerings went down etc.
So I/we started noticing that many of our offers to volunteer were met with "already have enough volunteers this time" etc.
So we finally asked the priests to tell us straight up what the deal was. To the priests credit they were honest with us and told us the real deal.
So this conversation took place in the church with Jesus on the cross hanging everywhere.
So as the priest was explaining the complaints about our long hair etc, I, being the smartbutt of the bunch, pointed to Jesus on the cross and said "you mean the problem is we look like that"?
I will never forget the shades of colors the priests faces turned.

That was the beginning of me thinking "this isn't what its cracked up to be".

 

[TripleXBullies]

As the son of a preacher I can tell you, churches are a business.

The love of money definitely gets in the way of some. Even the most pure-hearted churches still run a business though.

 

[ambush80]

A somewhat related factual story that REALLY stuck in my head -
As young teenagers our group was what admittedly could be described as rough/hippie looking. Long hair, jeans/tshirts etc. (early 70s)
However we all believed in God, considered ourselves Christians, attended church, went to Saturday Bible classes etc.
So in the Catholic denomination you could volunteer to "pass the basket" to collect the offerings etc.
So volunteer we did.
Because of our looks (per the members), when we passed the basket, church members started complaining, offerings went down etc.
So I/we started noticing that many of our offers to volunteer were met with "already have enough volunteers this time" etc.
So we finally asked the priests to tell us straight up what the deal was. To the priests credit they were honest with us and told us the real deal.
So this conversation took place in the church with Jesus on the cross hanging everywhere.
So as the priest was explaining the complaints about our long hair etc, I, being the smartbutt of the bunch, pointed to Jesus on the cross and said "you mean the problem is we look like that"?
I will never forget the shades of colors the priests faces turned.

That was the beginning of me thinking "this isn't what its cracked up to be".

LOLs

 

[centerpin fan]

I agree with those who said the Roman Empire. The most successful religions tend to be those that get the backing of the state. It also has an appeal to the poor which constitute the bulk of humanity especially before the industrial revolution. That makes it an easy sell. Then there is the promise of immortality. I think it's tragic that Christianity supplanted the philosophers of antiquity. I find far more wisdom and honesty in the letters of Seneca than in any of the gospels or epistles. But Seneca doesn't make the promises made in the Bible. People want answers even if they aren't truthful. They want hope even if it's false hope.

I think it also worth pointing out that Christianity has been in a state of decline since it lost state backing. We are seeing that decline accelerate in the west and in Europe especially. I hope most will fill that void with something better and not worse.

I just finished an excellent but depressing book called "The Strange Death of Europe". The author goes into great detail about what is filling the void. I don't want to give it away, but it rhymes with "bislam".

 

[atlashunter]

I just finished an excellent but depressing book called "The Strange Death of Europe". The author goes into great detail about what is filling the void. I don't want to give it away, but it rhymes with "bislam".

Yeah that's scary.

 

[Miguel Cervantes]

Perhaps the more accurate question shouldn't be of the age of Christianity (post Christ) but instead the worship of Christianity's God, both pre and post- Christ.

 

[WaltL1]

LOLs

Yeah I cant remember the exact number but that one cost me 50 or 75 Hail Marys'.

And glad to see you back around, I was wondering where you were at. Everything ok?

 

[SemperFiDawg]

I just finished an excellent but depressing book called "The Strange Death of Europe". The author goes into great detail about what is filling the void. I don't want to give it away, but it rhymes with "bislam".

Yeah. Mark Steyn states the same in his book. Since the death of Christianity in Europe in the late 19th century it has been replaced with Totalitarianism, Socialism, and soon to be Islamism.

 

[WaltL1]

SemperFiDawg;10833571
Yeah. Mark Steyn states the same in his book. Since the death of Christianity in Europe in the late 19th century it has been replaced with Totalitarianism, Socialism, and soon to be Islamism.

Maybe you Christians aren't so bad after all