Christianity
Christianity questions and answers
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Q: Christianity began in Judaea and became the dominant religion in Europe. What were the key steps in making and?
Christianity began in Judaea and became the dominant religion in Europe. What were the key steps in making and consolidating that geographical move?
A: one is the expansion of the roman empire. it was so big, that while christianity was "occupying" europe, the romans, ruled over all of europe. so chrisitianity and the roman empire was somehow connected to another. when the empire collapsed, another empire empire came in from a different part of the world, occupying them, spreading more and more christians out... and you have today...
this world would be so much better if chrisitans weren't around
Q: Is it time for Christianity to redefine itself as a philosophy and move away from its mystical roots?
Rather than maintaining that one adheres to the beliefs of traditional Christianity, should people begin to move away from that religion's requirement for belief in the supernatural and instead describe themselves as being agreeable to secular ideals of christianity - the ideas which are grounded in reality?
Would you like to see a change of this sort for all god-based beliefs?
.
A: Well that would make it a philosophy and not a religion at that point. I think that would be a change for the better, but philosophies can be just as dangerous.
Nazism is a good example of a philosophy (backed by religion as it stands "gott mit eins"=god with us) that ended in disaster. So people need to be careful what they follow, no matter what it is.
Q: What makes you feel that Christianity is not a believable religion?
If you believe in a god but are not Christian, what makes Christianity difficult to believe, or what about Christianity don't you like?
A: Christianity is as believable or unbelievable as any other religion in this world!
Q: What percentage of Christianity is taken from other religions?
A lot of people claim Christianity is made up of bits and bats of other religions like paganism etc, how much of it is and how much is originally Christian?
A: Thats hard to tell since many of the religions that Christianity destroyed are not here today. I would have to say at least 80%
Q: Why do so many African Americans continue to practice Christianity when it was a forced relgion?
Okay, so I am african american and I want to know why so many of us are out there practicing christianity as though it wasn't a forced religion back during times of slavery. I dunno, maybe I have the facts wrong, so hopefully someone can enlighten me. I'm not a Christian- but the reason that I'm not is for the simple fact that evolution makes too much sense to me- however, what I want to know is why so many african americans continue to practice Christianity, while all the other have been abolished (or at least are seeming to be) in this century.
A: The vast majority of the the Christian world is made up of peopel whose ancestors had Christanity imposed upon them, be it by direct or indirect coercion. Most Europeans did not take to Christianity voluntarily per se. They were for the most part pagans and then their emperor, or king would say, "We are all Christians." Old beliefs lost official sanction and were forgotten.
Part of that is because the old pagan religions, as well as the African religions were community based religions. They depended on the village or state to have the festivals, participate in the customs and retell the old stories. In the case of slaves, families and towns were ripped apart and what was left bore no resmblance to what they used to practice. Christianity became the defacto religion, the main religion the new slave communities knew. After three hundred years of it, there is no going back. They key is that African is the adjective. Blacks are Americans and their history is American. To say otherwise is disingenous.
Q: What's the difference between Catholicism and Christianity?
Hi guys. How is everyone doing? Anyway i am having serious thoughts of practicing the Catholic faith but i was also thinking about Christianity. Are there are differences because it is the same God and Jesus Christ? Thank you in advance for feedback.
A: Catholicism is a branch of Christianity. I think you mean protestant, there only a few petty differences. One being the lord's prayer is slightly different, Catholics believe that the bread and wine become Christ rather than just symbolizing him.
Q: What do you think would happen if the USA abolished Christianity and all of the rules of christianity?
Do you think rape, murder, theft and all of the other crimes would be punished or would they be left go? It seems a lot of people have problems with Christianity. Since our forefathers set this country into action using the Bible what rules would you suggest we use?
A: Secular rules. There are plenty of non-xian countries inthe world and most of them have laws against murder and theft! isn't that amazing? How did they ever figure out that murder might be harmful to society without the bible telling them so? It's like they must be GENIUSES or something!!
Notice out forefathers kept god out of the constitution and banned religious test for public office. They were smarter than u think.
What sense would it make to have xian laws for hindus here? Or jews? Or *gasp* atheists?!?! Why would I follow a xian law?
Q: How did Christianity really first spread? Historically, was it the disciples or was it threw violence?
I want to know the actual truth on how Christianity was first spread. Some people I ask say it was through word of mouth and the disciples and then others say it was violence and crusades. Whats the really truth man.
A: Christianity was illegal during the first 3 centuries C. E. (AD). It spread by word of mouth through the Byzantine to the point where it was an underground phenomenon.
Constantine the Great was dealing with a prospective civil war from the unrest within his own holdings, and found that the best way to consolidate his kingdom and continue his ambitions to advance territory was to consolidate this new post-hebrew cult following of Joshua Ben Joseph and the existing pagan beleifs systems into one unified religion that everyone could agree on.
Hence, it was advertised to the world as Constantine's dream...He saw a cross, the crucifix that Jesus (Zeus aka Mithras, Aka Joshua Ben Joseph) was impaled upon, and heard (or saw) the words "With this Sign, Conquer".
Although he was not the first ruler to issue tolerance of Christianity, he was the first to consolidate the Churches, and set the standards to what afterward became Roman Catholicism, and established the power grid of Emperors and Bishops known as the Holy Roman Empire.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea
Arian Christianity existed as a separate clan of belief systems by the Teutonic peoples (The early Germanics, Anglos and Germans), and they warred with Roman Catholicism until they were finally conquered within 150 years prior to the existence of Islam. (Islam held a similar beleif to Arian Christianity regarding the idea that Jesus was a prophet, and not God).
I think that the Greek Bible (NT) has a lot of accurate history regarding how the gospels of Jesus were taught to the individual splinter congregations in the first Century C. E., but after that, it needs to be addressed that the Scythians and Teutons (Celts of Northern Europe and Asia Minor) maintained one view after the Apostals died, while the mediterrainian region maintained another interpretation of the teachings of Christ.
It's quite possible (but only speculative at this point) That Islam was a splinter from facets of Arian Christianity with facets ancient Hebrew and Hindi inspirations as well.
The Crusades were simply the Catholic territories trying to spead and reclaim previously lost lands. They were 700+ years after the legitimisation of Christianity, and a direct result of the Islamic annexation of Persia, Eastern Europe, North Africa and Spain.
The Spanish Inquisition could be called "The Last Crusade" in Europe, but while Spanish Catholicism settled in the America's, it converted millions of Indians (and killed millions as well). Hence, Latin America is unquestionably dominated by Spanish Catholicism.
Just as well, When the French and English annexed territories from the 17th to the 19th Centuries, such as the Phillipines, North America, Australia, Africa, India, and Southern parts of Eastern Asia, they left their mark with many entire communities of the indigenous populations speaking English, French, or Spanish, and being Catholic, and in some cases, Protestant.
Q: How exactly is Christianity based on the Roman structure?
In other words what did Christianity adopt from the Romans?
A: Mainly Catholicism.
the pope's authority (although less now than it once was)
beauty/structure of their churches
church hierarchy (pope,bishop,deacon,priests)
veneration of saints
established holidays
those are some i think.
Q: What are the two biggest questions about Christianity?
(1) How come Jesus never says anything.
(2) How come church folks don't wonder why Jesus never talks.
Question: Those are two big ones for me, but perhaps there are other Christianity questions more important.
Can you tell me what really are the two biggest questions about Christianity?
.
What?
Yes, since they think he's a god, surely he would be able to talk.
Also, everybody who claims they heard Jesus talk, how come he never talks to more than one person at a time? Never to a church group for example?
A: I don't know. I always liked:
How come after a few hundred false religions, Christianity is better?
Q: How do unitarians view christianity and what is their take on gay people?
I know a lot of christians out there do not support gay people, but Unitarians seem to be liberal in their own way.
I was wondering what their view christianity is and what do they think of gay people?
I would prefer to hear from unitarians....
A: unitarians let anyone believe or behave anyway they want to believe or behave. they have no structure - the word "mushy" comes to mind
Unitarianism
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For other uses, see Unitarianism (disambiguation).
Unitarianism as a theology is the belief in the single personality of God, in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity (three persons in one God).[1] It is the philosophy upon which the modern Unitarian movement was based, and, according to its proponents, is the original form of Christianity. Unitarian Christians believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, as found in the New Testament and other early Christian writings, and hold him up as an exemplar. Adhering to strict monotheism, they maintain that Jesus was a great man and a prophet of God, perhaps even a supernatural being, but not God himself. Unitarians believe in the moral authority, but not necessarily the divinity, of Jesus. Their theology is thus distinguishable from the theology of Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, mainline Protestant, and other Christian denominations which hold the Trinity doctrine as a core belief.
Some Christians hold a unitarian theology in that they see God as a single person, and are thus antitrinitarian, but because they perceive Jesus to be God himself do not fall into the general theology discussed here, which sees Jesus as subordinate to God and a finite being. Instead see: Sabellianism, Oneness theology, Oneness Pentecostalism, Monarchianism, Binitarianism.
The term "Unitarian" (with an upper case "U") usually refers to the liberal branch of this theology, but the term "unitarian" (lower case "u") is sometimes used descriptively to refer to anyone adhering to the teaching of the single personhood of God. In the United States, "Unitarian" is sometimes used, somewhat incorrectly, as a shortened way of referring to present-day adherents of Unitarian Universalism.
Conservative (Biblical or Evangelical) unitarians strictly adhere to the principle of sola scriptura and their belief that the Bible is both inspired and inerrant and uphold "fundamentals" of belief. This version of unitarianism is more commonly called Nontrinitarianism, rather than Unitarianism.
Liberal Unitarians sum up their faith as "the religion of Jesus, not a religion about Jesus." Historically, they have encouraged unorthodox views of God, Jesus, the world and purpose of life as revealed through reason, scholarship, science, philosophy, scripture and other prophets and religions. They believe that reason and belief are complementary and that religion and science can co-exist and guide them in their understanding of nature and God. They also do not enforce belief in creeds or dogmatic formulas. Although there is flexibility in the nuances of belief or basic truths for the individual Unitarian Christian, general principles of faith have been recognized as a way to bind the group in some commonality. Adherents generally accept religious pluralism and find value in all teachings, but remain committed to their core belief in Christ's teachings. Liberal Unitarians value a secular society in which government stays out of religious affairs.
Unitarians are not to be confused with members of the United Church of Christ, the Unity Church, the Universal Life Church, the Unification Church, the United Church of Canada, or the Uniting Church in Australia. Furthermore, not all members of a Unitarian Church or the Unitarian Universalist Association are theological Unitarians (explanation below.)
Q: Why are there so many sects of Christianity?
I have my own answer to this question but I'd like to see what other people think.
The word Christian (Christianity) is used so much, yet there are so many denominations under that one title. One bible, yet so many different beliefs that then were turned into different denominations under one word called Christianity. Why do you think this is so?
A: Different ways of worship. Islam has many too.(.Shia, Sunni Wahabi Islam and Sufi Islam and apparently over 73).
Christians no matter the different 'sect' all believe in God the Father Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Q: What are some minor differences amongst the major denominations of Christianity?
Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism and Anglicism. I'm working on a project exploring Christianity and, as such, I'd like to now some of the minor variations of these churches. Like, I know the Orthodox church burns incense, but I don't think any of the other major churches do. I'm just wondering of what specific things these churches do that no other major church does. Thanks.
A: The principal differences between the two branches of original Christianity, Catholicism and Orthodoxy, and the Protestant organizations are faith alone and scripture alone theology. There is nothing minor about these differences.
Faith alone theology denies all responsibility for obeying God and changing our actions and character. Our Protestant friends assume that when we accept Jesus' sacrifice, all changes occur automatically. The extreme version says we cannot forfeit salvation even through gross sin.
In contrast, Jesus taught that we must also be baptized (Mark 16:16; John 3:5), renounce our own lives (e.g., Matt 5:3, 10), repent (Matt 3:2; 4:17; 18:8-9; Mark 9:42-48), obey God and do what is just and charitable (e.g., Luke 10:25-28; Matt 19:17; Matt 25), adopt the humility of a child (Matt 18:3-4; 19:14), eat the bread of life (John 6:51, 53-54), and endure to the end (Matt 10:22, 24:13; Mark 13:13, Luke 21:16-18).
The error of scripture alone says that the church Jesus established to safeguard his teachings has no special authority in determining Jesus' meaning. In the extreme version, everyone has the authority to believe whatever he wants and justify it with scripture. Thus, today some claim to be Christian while celebrating prenatal infanticide and homosexual sodomy.
Minor differences are not the problem. It is the trivialization of the gospel that is at stake.
Cheers,
Bruce
Q: What caused the schism in Christianity in eleventh century? Could the split have been prevented?
What caused the schism in Christianity in eleventh century? Could the split have been prevented?
I really need a good grade in my world history class. Links to sites would help or maybe even hand written information would be great also.
A: Sure it could have ben prevented if the different sides agreed with each other. But they disagreed too strongly and that's why they split.