[IndieC]

Quote by: SoccerfreakAB2 Ok, so science changes. Each time it becomes more right, since we can look to the past for their scientific viewpoints, make our own observations, etc. Maybe Christianity has endured. But is that because we like its hocus pocus touchy feely teachings? Or maybe because America is the strongest nation in the world and the majority is Christian. Hmm...sure beats me. It can't be the fact that thousands go out to Africa and South America and try to teach others Christianity, or when they controlled Europe with brutality, greed, and gross dogma for a thousand years. Can't be that. It most definitely can't be the fact that nearly every European government, from Spain to England who were Christian to the bone for its profits, invaded Asia, Africa, and America over the course of hundreds of years, not simply converting but forcing the religion on millions. No, definitely not. Well, geez, I wonder why Christianity has endured.

You know, you're making an excellent point there. It's incredible that despite all of these past atrocities Christianity has endured. In fact, most Christian rulers in the middle ages could be described as war criminals in our modern sense, and the Catholic Church repressed so many people, and brainwashed so many as well, so that its reputation should be such as that of Hitler's Germany wouldn't you agree? So, why isn't it? I mean, I'm not a great fan of the Catholic Church, I could despise it for the vision of Christianity it sends to other, non-christian, people, but I can't compare it to Hitler's Germany. Why?

On top of this, why is it that, in the modern world, so many people are still Christian despite the fact that all of this repression has gone away. People are more likely to get beaten up for being Christian nowadays than they are to be praised for it. People talk about religious respect or tolerence, but its' never for Christians is it? It's all for Muslims. I agree, Muslims should not be discriminated against for their religion, but neither should Christians. Muslims should not be attacked or repressed for being Muslims, but neither should Christians. Muslims should be able to grow up, and live in places where they are easily accepted and respected for who they are, but so should Christians and Hindus, and Buddhists, and Shintoists, and Animalists, and other Polytheists, Monotheists, etc. The fact is, they're not. What is the most repressed religion according to law nowadays in the UK? Christianity. In a few years we will see people who are helping drunks home for example after a night out, and handing them a booklet explaining what Christianity is, and even staying and talking with them if they want to, even if it isn't about Christianity, being arrested due to new laws on religious descrimination if the drunk person is a Muslim.

So the big question is, why are people still Christian, if the laws are starting to repress them for being so? Why do they hold on? Why did they hold on to their beliefs during Roman times, when they were thrown to the lions? Is it because their Rectors of Vicars, or Religious leaders are brainwashing them? Is it because of peer pressure from other Christians? Or is it because they think it's true? Is it because they have felt God in their lives? Is it because they live better lives than non-Christians because they are Christian?

If it weren't true, why were people willing to die for it in Roman times, die sometimes very brutal deaths. Why didn't people just stop and refuse to be Christian, why did they continue to openly express their beliefs? Was it just trendy to die painfully on a cross proclaiming your beliefs, or was there something else, something that other people couldn't see?

So many questions, and I believe the answer is that there has to be something else that keeps people Christian, whatever it might be, which simply means that there must be some kind of truth in it somewhere, right? People from all sections of society are Christian. Upper class, middle class, lower class, or whatever you want to call them. Kings, Queens, and your common factory worker. The Liberal 'educated' classes, and the steadfast socialists also have Christians within their ranks.

All the signs are that Chrstianity is going to become a repressed religion soon, so obviously, some people are leaving the Church, because they don't really believe that God will protect them, thus don't really believe in God and Jesus their saviour. Some are leaving because of peer pressure from non-Christians who advocate agnosticism or atheism (some people get confused between the two). There are all sorts of reasons, but the fact is, a lot are remaining. In my university alone, there are several hundred declared Christians of various types (Baptist, Anglican, Methodist, etc.) just out of the students. Some have been brought up that way, but others have been converted, and not forcefully at that. All are helpful, nice people, who are quite willing to be your friend, even if you do 'immoral' things such as sex before marriage or are homosexual. They have a general policy of accepting everyone for who they are, and respecting them despite their beliefs, and i know of some who were frowned upon by the rest simply for judging people based on their sexuality. Why are Christians like this then? Granted, some aren't, but most that i know are, and those who aren't are seen by those i know as intolerent, and people who should be closer to God so they can see how bad their actions are. Basically, intolerence is a sin and therefore bad. So, what's wrong with being Christian if they're always like this? Don't they lead better lives than most others? They don't get stupidly drunk, don't vandalise, don't insult you, don't start fights, so aren't they simple better behaved than most people simply because of their religion?

You might say 'Yes, the moral teachings of Jesus Christ are generally good to live by, and it's a great way to lead your life, but I'm not going to worship him'. Well, yes, they are, and it is, but then, why do all these Christians go to Church every sunday, sometimes twice a sunday, and go to bible studies, and consecrate their time to helping other people so much, and actually generally enjoying it? Well, the only answer I can think of is that they have felt something in their lives that has pushed them to do so. I mean, would you enjoy helping drunks home, or even talking to drunks for that matter? I know that I can get very annoyed with my friends when they're drunk, simply because they're just being stupid all the time, and acting like babies in many cases, just a tad stronger and who could easily do the wrong thing and get killed or beaten up if you're not careful. It's horrible, and I hate doing it, so why do these people actually enjoy doing it? Why sit in a corner for a quarter of an hour every day seemingly talking to yourself about other people and hoping they will get better, or do the right thing, or be comforted, or whatever. Why, if it's all a hoax? Well, maybe it isn't... Maybe they actually feel something others don't. Maybe there is actually a God that they can feel acting in their lives. Are they all just deluded? Well... it would be a pretty big outbreak of delusion, throughout time for that matter, so i think we can rule that one out don't you? There have been more Christians in the last 2000 years than there are people living in the world today. That is to say over 6.5 Billion. Now that's just from records we have, historically. That's not counting all those who aren't in the records (and the records are very incomplete). Sure, so they were forced into believing. Uhhh... wait a minute... The French Revolution happened because the lower classes felt repressed by the King, so why didn't all of Europe rise up and overthrow the Catholic Church? Ohh... yeah, they were Brainwashed... right... peasants in the middle of nowhere were brainwashed... yeah... i can believe that... People who went to Church every Sunday and didn't see the vicar for the rest of the week were brainwashed... right... That makes perfect sense right? Do I look convinced? Well, no, not really I'm afraid.

Better luck next time.