keiran

ok. I'm back for two days and so far I've really seen nothing much develop except this overwhelming statement from posters:Christianity Sucks And I've also realized that some people have never heard the whole story of Christianity except that "Jesus came to Earth who was sent by the Father (God), died for mankind's sins in order for man to have access to the Father and Heaven if you accept the forgiveness he has offered you". That is Christianity in the smallest nut-shell you can ever find. And seeing these posts I know that those few sentences leave to many questions concerning the character/ethics of God, Creation, why Christians were different back in the Historical time period (i.e.-Roman Empire, Constantine's Rule, Crusades,Catholic Perseuction of Protestants), and of course the more broad question: Is God Real? Therefore, I am going to make a post in two weeks about Christianity and what it is. I'm posting it in two weeks because i'm going to be out of town in Colorado for 10 days and I have to get ready for it. So later everyone and throw out some more questionns about Christianity. Because this topic has "evolved" into a post arguing that the God of the Bible is nothing but a child's bed-time story like Santa Clause. Peace. Sam

Ok so Usara's point was that because Christianity didn't die out was because of the Bible. Who was stopping the Bible from being destroyed? Jerusalem was sacked and destroyed, so there goes the Old Testament. The Disciples were imprisoned, stoned, persecuted, crucified, and still people held on to the letters that Paul wrote. Why? Because they wanted to feel good about being able to have an answer to the scientific questions in life? Somehow, the authors of the Gospels accuaretly wrote an account after Jesus's death,ressurection, and asscension. Just a few men could've been found in those days under the Caesar's rule. And I'm just throwing in this next question out here in this thread so here goes. How can you explain Paul's drastic conversion (if you will) in his life. Paul was a guy who persecuted Christians when he was known as Saul. Saul persecuted and imprisoned his own people because he zealoutly believed that it was blasphemy against God to preach Jesus as his Son and believing that Jesus was the Messiah. But Saul suddenly converted to Christianity and could defend the Christian Doctrine with sound proofs that are found in his letters. (most of the New Testament) So, if anyone could seriously explain how a person could change from one drastic end of the spectrum of religion to the other without mentioning a supernatural being taking role in his huge change, I would like to hear it. Thanks. And in no way shape or form am I sarcastic in this post, everything I've said is with sincerity. Sam.

Zim. If you do look in the History books you will come to realize one thing. The Romans persecuted the Christians but the Christian faith spred. Why? Martyrs were being fed to the lions in the Colosseum for the mere pleasure of other humans who believed their god (Caesar) was more powerful than the Christian God. Christians suffered under Nero, who captured Christians, put them on stakes, and lit them on fire to light his garden at night. How could such extreme public (and humiliating) torture cause growth for a new-found religion? ("New found religion" meaning that it was culturally thought of as a new found religion in that time period) So here's my question to you Zim. Why didn't Christianity burn out way back in the beginning of it's birth? Why didn't Christianity burn out when Jesus died on the Cross? Why didn't Christianity die when the leaders of their churches were sought out and publicly executed? Why didn't Christianity die when, to be a Christian, was a crime against the most powerful Empire to rule the world since the Babylonians and Assyrians, and to worship the God of the Bible and Jesus as His Son was to negate Caesar as god and thus be punished? Why? I'm seriously asking these questions and am not saying this post in any form of sarcasm or "flame". And I don't see how "Belief is nothing more than hope with arrogance" If you could maybe discuss more on that one-liner to clarify yourself it'd be most appreciative. :) Ok. Well I'm going to be gone for a couple weeks so when I get back from my vacations I'll be looking forward to see how this thread has developed over the next couple weeks. With a Historical view, Samuel

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