Why are you a Christian?

[supernova]

I am not a Christian or a Hindu or a Muslim or Buddhist. I am not a Christian does not mean that I hate Jesus. I love Jesus as much as any Christians do or love the Buddha as any Buddhist does or yet I hate to be a particular adherent. I am not a fanatic. Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism are bigotries and I simply want to rise over and above these extremist ideas. They have fought a lot among one another. In Europe there is a great amount of hatred between Christians and Jews and of course in the east between Muslims and Hindus. I love to go to even the mosque and I can feel solace there and listen to the Quran. I have the Holy Bible, the Gita, and read all and will remain unbigoted for good.

Christmas is nearing and let us celebrate it without preoccupying our minds with the thought of Christianity but with the ideas of Christ. Jesus was not a Christian and the prophet Mohammad was not a Muslim.

We have witnesses millions and millions of people have been slaughtered and gassed in the name of religions. Some of you might have even witnessed the holocaust by Hitler. In India so many Hindus and Muslims are massacred in the name of religion.

Still do you want to side with Christianity.

Les us be a spiritualist and equate with all. You are wasting your time, energy and resources in the name of religions. So many Christian missionaries are disrupting the age-old systems by donating a few bucks in the name of charity. There are grains of self-interest in Charity.


I request the Moderator: if you find the thread offensive, I apologize........

[Zenith]

Christmas is nearing and let us celebrate it without preoccupying our minds with the thought of Christianity but with the ideas of Christ. Jesus was not a Christian and the prophet Mohammad was not a Muslim.

Hey there,

On Christmas day, Christians celebrate the birth of Messiah into the world, for "he shall save people from their sin".

Whilst Jesus was not a Christian, those who follow his path are rightly called "Christians" in an act of taking on his name. "Take up your cross and follow me." Jesus isn't a Christian, since he himself is the object of Christianity, but Muhammed was certainly a Muslim ("one who submits [to Allah]").

Still do you want to side with Christianity.

Yes, I will. The Christian tradition is the path in which I find the most spiritual nourishment, a way of life in which I can fully express my worship to the Godhead, a set of teachings which I believe are worthy of emulation. My experience of Christ, however, does not belittle others' experience of God in their own respective paradigms.


Les us be a spiritualist and equate with all. You are wasting your time, energy and resources in the name of religions. So many Christian missionaries are disrupting the age-old systems by donating a few bucks in the name of charity. There are grains of self-interest in Charity.

My life is built around the Christian [esoteric/mystical] tradition. I do not feel 'comfortable' (to put it brutely) in all manifestations of religion, I cannot "equate with all", but I can certainly strive to respect all.

God bless

[Silver]

I've chosen Christianity PARTLY because of my upbringing, went to Sunday School every Sunday, etc.
One can only blame the negative PR that any organized religion has had on those who give it a bad name, namely politicians, for the most part. They stand, no cower behind the name of Jesus or any other religious figure or any convenient ideology while they operate under excessive greed for power & money, etc.

[supernova]

Hey there,

On Christmas day, Christians celebrate the birth of Messiah into the world, for "he shall save people from their sin".

Whilst Jesus was not a Christian, those who follow his path are rightly called "Christians" in an act of taking on his name. "Take up your cross and follow me." Jesus isn't a Christian, since he himself is the object of Christianity, but Muhammed was certainly a Muslim ("one who submits [to Allah]").




Yes, I will. The Christian tradition is the path in which I find the most spiritual nourishment, a way of life in which I can fully express my worship to the Godhead, a set of teachings which I believe are worthy of emulation. My experience of Christ, however, does not belittle others' experience of God in their own respective paradigms.



My life is built around the Christian [esoteric/mystical] tradition. I do not feel 'comfortable' (to put it brutely) in all manifestations of religion, I cannot "equate with all", but I can certainly strive to respect all.

God bless

I respect your faith and do not oppose it and the fact that you honor others faiths delight me!

[Lightspirit]

Supernova I am a Christian and do you know what i dont really care about churches that much. Why i am is because i had/have avery real experience in a supernatural eway with god/holy spirit. Yeah it is all real and is there. when you enter into christianity in the spiritual area and dont worry about all the other stuff it can be fantastic. I really enjoy it. It can be avery good thing. If you want an amazing experience the holy spirit is it! its sorta addictive.

When people understand this it is better:
When jesus walked on the earth he didn't condemn sinners not even once!
he hung out with sinful people in an effort to improve their lives and offer salvation. healing teaching etc- showing love.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

romans 2
1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

see we are all the same none of us are any better.

There can be a real peace and harmony with others if you realize you are not above anyone else because you are a christian. how can we condemn others? Jesus set us a good example how to show impartial love

[supernova]

I've chosen Christianity PARTLY because of my upbringing, went to Sunday School every Sunday, etc.
One can only blame the negative PR that any organized religion has had on those who give it a bad name, namely politicians, for the most part. They stand, no cower behind the name of Jesus or any other religious figure or any convenient ideology while they operate under excessive greed for power & money, etc.

My argument is against organized religion

[psychoslice]

Christianity can be a good stepping stone but i certainly wouldn't want to stay there, it doesn't allow one to grow spiritually into the Realization that they are the Christ, when this is Realized then we move onto more mature things, and the greatest of these is the Realization that we are ONE with GOD.

[Lightspirit]

My argument is against organized religion not many of us really love it however a lot of good things have been done by the Christian church as wel as bad no one remembers the good deeds. Like inventing hospitals and creating orphanages where none ever existed before try looking up what the world was like before christianity come into the world, in terms of how peoples lives were valued. Particularly women's rights.

http://www.papillonsartpalace.com/islams.htm

the other thing too organized religion has helped keep the gospel story alive for future generations. if it wasn't for the church existing i would have never known about it.

It is an interesting study to look at what the world would be like f the positive things chrisatianity helped create were removed.

[Silver]

My argument is against organized religion

and...?

I haven't stepped foot inside a church in a couple of decades.
I still consider myself Christian.
So?

[James2612]

not many of us really love it however a lot of good things have been done by the Christian church as wel as bad no one remembers the good deeds. Like inventing hospitals and creating orphanages where none ever existed before try looking up what the world was like before christianity come into the world, in terms of how peoples lives were valued. Particularly women's rights.

http://www.papillonsartpalace.com/islams.htm (http://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/redir.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.papillonsartpalace .com%2Fislams.htm)

the other thing too organized religion has helped keep the gospel story alive for future generations. if it wasn't for the church existing i would have never known about it.

It is an interesting study to look at what the world would be like f the positive things christianity helped create were removed.

All these good things you talk about, i would imagine would happen with or without the church... Hospitals and orphanages did not come about because of Christianity.

I would also say that Christianity also did NOTHING for women's rights.. in fact it did the very opposite. Christianity has oppressed more than any thing else. (and i talk about the organised Christianity)

I know quite a few people who call themselves Christians, that never go to church and do not follow the core beliefs of the church. They believe in Jesus and God and take what they like form the bible. Christianity is the base of there morals and they take what they need.
The original post, i imagine is talking more about the hard core Christians that take every word as gospel and condemn any one that do not think the same way.

I agree, Christianity is a great stepping stone, but for some it works to stay with christianity and not move on.

[glenos]

I am a Christian but I don't worship The Christ. I try to follow to where his finger was pointing, which is what I think he wanted for all of us.

G

[Lightspirit]

All these good things you talk about, i would imagine would happen with or without the church... Hospitals and orphanages did not come about because of Christianity.

I would also say that Christianity also did NOTHING for women's rights.. in fact it did the very opposite. Christianity has oppressed more than any thing else. (and i talk about the organised Christianity)

I know quite a few people who call themselves Christians, that never go to church and do not follow the core beliefs of the church. They believe in Jesus and God and take what they like form the bible. Christianity is the base of there morals and they take what they need.
The original post, i imagine is talking more about the hard core Christians that take every word as gospel and condemn any one that do not think the same way.

I agree, Christianity is a great stepping stone, but for some it works to stay with christianity and not move on. I dont mind an answer like that as long as it is a researched one based on referenced learning from reliable accurate sources.

Please could you show me how it disadvantaged the world and how women are more oppressed. as around euroupe and the middle east before christ.
evidence of how womens rights have deteriorated would be nice too.

[Lightspirit]

It is common today for the church to be on the receiving end of much criticism. The church is blamed for many of the ills in the world, but is seldom given credit for any good it has done. Indeed, many argue that it is the church that is blocking progress to a more enlightened and peaceable world.

One gets the impression from these secular critics that Christianity has been a negative force in the world, while non-Christian and non-religious alternatives are somehow superior. However, those conversant with the historical record know better. While Christendom has had its dark moments in history, over all, it can be credibly argued that it has been a force for good in the world.

In Kenneth Scott Latourette’s massive 7-volume history of the expansion of the Christian Church, the Yale historian concluded by noting just how much good this expansion had contributed to the world. More recently D. James Kennedy wrote a brief volume entitled What if Jesus Had Never Been Born? The world would be much worse off, he argued, if it weren’t for this man Jesus.

The most recent and perhaps most thorough examination of the historical record is that of Alvin Schmidt. The American professor of sociology has assembled evidence from various quarters to demonstrate what a powerful influence Christianity has had on Western Civilization. In every area, be it law, government, economics, the fine arts, science, education or health care, the Christian faith has contributed enormously to the overall well-being of mankind.

In this well-documented volume of over 400 pages, Schmidt marshals the evidence for the transforming power of the Christian faith. He shows how Jesus has the power to transform men, who in turn are able to transform society. And on every level, that is exactly what has happened. Several specific examples can be mentioned.

In spite the claims of some today that Christianity oppresses women, the historical record shows just the opposite. Women were oppressed in almost every culture prior to the coming of Christianity. By elevating sexual morality, and by conferring upon women a much higher status, the Christian religion revolutionised the place and prestige of women.

For example, the great importance given to marriage meant that women were spared much of the abuse and mistreatment that they were accustomed to. By rejecting polygyny, prostitution, homosexuality and bestiality – all common during the time – the early Christians not only sheltered women but protected children and family.

The way Jesus treated women was in stark contrast to the surrounding culture. In Roman law a man’s wife and children were little more than slaves, often treated like animals. Women had no property rights and faced severe social restrictions. Jesus of course changed all that. The way he treated the Samaritan woman was one remarkable example. And this was not lost on the early disciples. We know from the New Testament documents that many women exercised various leadership roles in the early church. Indeed, during this period Christian women actually outnumbered Christian men.

Admittedly there were some anomalies later in the church’s history, when chauvinistic and anti-feminine views were allowed to re-enter parts of the church. But such aberrations must not detract from the truly revolutionary elevation of the status of women achieved by Christianity.

Consider also the issue of health care. Prior to Christianity, the Greeks and Romans had little or no interest in the poor, the sick and the dying. But the early Christians, following the example of their master, ministered to the needs of the whole person. During the first three centuries of the church they could only care for the sick where they found them, as believers were then a persecuted people. Once the persecutions subsided, however, the institutonalisation of health care began in earnest.

For example, the first ecumenical council at Nicea in 325 directed bishops to establish hospices in every city that had a cathedral. The first hospital was built by St Basil in Caesarea in 369. By the Middle Ages hospitals covered all of Europe and even beyond. In fact, “Christian hospitals were the world’s first voluntary charitable institutions”.

Care for the mentally ill was also a Christian initiative. Nursing also sprang from Christian concerns for the sick, and many Christians have given their lives to such tasks. One thinks of Florence Nightingale, for example, and the formation of the Red Cross.

Education, while important in Greek and Roman culture, really took off institutionally under the influence of Christianity. The early Greeks and Romans had no public libraries or educational institutions – it was Christianity that established these. As discipleship was important for the first believers (and those to follow), early formal education arose from Christian catechetical schools. Unique to Christian education was the teaching of both sexes.

Also a Christian distinctive, individuals from all social and ethnic groups were included. There was no bias based on ethnicity or class. And the concept of public education first came from the Protestant Reformers. Moreover, the rise of the modern university is largely the result of Christian educational endeavours.

As another example of the Christian influence, consider the issue of work and economic life. The Greeks and Romans had a very low view of manual labour, and so it was mainly the slaves and lower classes that were forced to toil with their hands. The non-slave population lived chiefly for personal pleasure. In these early cultures slaves usually greatly outnumbered freemen.

Thus there was no such thing as the dignity of labour in these cultures, and economic freedom was only for a select few. The early church changed all this. Jesus of course was a carpenter’s son. Paul was a tentmaker. And the early admonition, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” was taken seriously by the early believers. Thus work was seen as an honorable and God-given calling. Laziness and idleness were seen as sinful.

The idea of labor as a calling, and the idea spoken by Jesus that the laborer is worthy of his wages, revolutionised the workplace. The dignity of labor, the value of hard work, and the sense of vocation, soon changed the surrounding society; the development of a middle class being one of the outcomes. The development of unions is another result. Indeed, the works of Weber and Tawney, among others, records the profound effect the Protestant Reformation has had on work and modern capitalism.

More impacts can be noted. The commandment against stealing of course redefined the concept of private property and property rights. And the protection of workers and workers’ rights also flows directly from the biblical worldview. The early unionists were Christians, and concerns for social justice in the workplace and beyond derive from the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Other great achievements might be mentioned. The Western political experience, including genuine democracy at all levels of society, equality, human rights and various freedoms, all stem from the Christian religion, along with its Hebrew forebear. The rise of modern science has been directly linked with the biblical understanding of the world. The many great achievements in art, literature and music also deserve mention. For example, how much poorer would the world be without the Christian artistry of da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Bach, Handel, Brahms, Dante, Milton, Bunyan, and countless others?

The bottom line, as Schmidt notes, is that if Jesus Christ had never been born, to speak of Western civilisation would be incomprehensible. Indeed, there may never have been such a civilisation. The freedoms and benefits we enjoy in many modern cultures are directly due to the influence of this one man. And besides all the institutional, cultural, social, political and artistic benefits, there is one last benefit: the countless millions of changed lives due a liberating encounter with the risen Christ. It is this benefit, first and foremost, which of course accounts for all the institutional benefits.

One could argue that changed lives alone are a sufficient testimony to this unique man. But of course changed lives result in changed families, changed neighborhoods, changed societies. The transformation of individuals and nations for the better can all be attributed to this one man, born in a manger but soon to return as ruler of the universe.

In sum, Alvin Schmidt deserves an enormous amount of gratitude for this sterling collection of information and inspiration. Christians have made many mistakes. But they have also achieved many great things, all because of the one whom they follow.

reference-
http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2005/09/07/a-review-of-how-christianity-changed-the-world-by-alvin-schmidt/

like that james

[DivineLove]

Hey there,

On Christmas day, Christians celebrate the birth of Messiah into the world, for "he shall save people from their sin".

Whilst Jesus was not a Christian, those who follow his path are rightly called "Christians" in an act of taking on his name. "Take up your cross and follow me." Jesus isn't a Christian, since he himself is the object of Christianity, but Muhammed was certainly a Muslim ("one who submits [to Allah]").



Yes, I will. The Christian tradition is the path in which I find the most spiritual nourishment, a way of life in which I can fully express my worship to the Godhead, a set of teachings which I believe are worthy of emulation. My experience of Christ, however, does not belittle others' experience of God in their own respective paradigms.



My life is built around the Christian [esoteric/mystical] tradition. I do not feel 'comfortable' (to put it brutely) in all manifestations of religion, I cannot "equate with all", but I can certainly strive to respect all.

God bless

Zenith,

Beautifully written.

I feel much the same.:hug3:

[james108]

I believe Jesus is working behind the scenes, and is there equally for people of all religions and non-believers. God is love and Jesus is also love. So Jesus is God, the same as we are God. But we just do not know it yet.

[innerlight]

Les us be a spiritualist and equate with all. You are wasting your time, energy and resources in the name of religions. So many Christian missionaries are disrupting the age-old systems by donating a few bucks in the name of charity. There are grains of self-interest in Charity.




Religion is not and has never been the "problem." How people react and what they do in their lives should never be the mass label for an entire belief, or following. Just like what an extremist does should never be a verdict for all that believe such a belief.

You are saying that you accept and equate the all, but in the same paragraph you are insulting Christianity. Which is going against what you said prior about equating them all. Eventually that will lead down to the same path that you are condemning of being limited.

If we march down a new exclusive path of Spirituality and say that is better then the rest. We are making the same mistakes as those "other religions" that said they were the best.

[james108]

When you look at the stars and the sky and see infinity- isn't God beyond this tiny small planet, including religions, people and beliefs?

[innerlight]

When you look at the stars and the sky and see infinity- isn't God beyond this tiny small planet, including religions, people and beliefs?

If you say God is beyond anything then you are excluding God from anything. If you were to say God is infinite then you would see then that God is within the small planets, religions, people, and beliefs.

[james108]

Okay, he is ALSO within AND beyond religion, this tiny small planet, our beliefs and discussion. So when we talk about religion we trying to limit God to that- when God is infinite AND in everything :)

[Cletus VanDamme]

I'm a Christian because I love Jesus Christ.
And I believe in His death on the cross, and His resurrection. I believe that He is the only Son of God, and He is my Savior. He is one in being with His Father. So, He is God in the flesh, completely Divine, and completely human.

[nephesh]

I guess part of the reason it is what I was "raised". Growing up I didnt go to church a lot, though mom went every Sunday, didnt really read the bible much, I only have really started reading it semi regularly in 2009. Yet I always believed in God and Jesus just because it just felt right, still does. Though I seem more opened minded then many Christians seem to be. I do believe some things that some Christians dont like UFO's, reincarnation , ghosts. :smile: I considered myself a Spiritual Christian

[inspirit]

I believe that Jesus was God incarnate as man for first and only time since, and I believe in the truth that he left behind especially his teachings about love and faith.

[james108]

Loving Jesus is good and beneficial for you. But do you see that Jesus still loves you anyway, whether you believe in him, love him or not?

Jesus's love for you is not based on what you believe or think.

God is love
Jesus is love
You are love also
The only difference is that Jesus knows he is love, and never fell away from God like we did- so he is the number one person to bring us home to God again.

[Saint Seraphim]

supernova,
The Mystical Traditions of all of the Spiritual disciplines you mentioned, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity have much in common. And in some instances the one faith flows from the other. All of these religions encompass millions of people in this world. You are focusing on the negative aspects of those who have used a particuliar religion/faith in order to control, manipulate, coerce and polarize a populace into causing suffering to others different from them. A us and they scenario. Yes, throughout the years many groups and individual despots have twisted and warped the original teachings of many faiths into something of their own. Creating their own image and selling it to all to gain power and maintain control. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of all of the beautiful faiths you mentioned, how about focusing on the teachings of Wisdom, Love, discipline, and compassion that each path embodies. I am a Mystical Christian, but I have not abandoned the gifts I have received from Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism. All beautiful faiths/religions. Different paths up the one mountain. And there is not a better way to understand one's own faith than to learn about others. That is why I come to this forum. To share and learn, then my brothers and sisters are no longer so different from myself for I find much common ground with many different faiths/ways. So that I more clearly understand my own faith. What about a world without any of these religions? No Spiritual disciplines to guide one's choices in this life? Without the religions you mentioned there would be no Spirituality. Most all Spirituality flows from all of the faiths you mentioned. The very ideals of Love and Compassion would not exist. So, where would that leave this world? Religion is the well spring and starting place from which Spirituality flows. The world would be a much more brutal place without the religions you mentioned.
Much Love to All,
Saint Seraphim

[Royalite]

You've probably heard all that I have to say through out your thread but I'll say it anyways.:D

I use to say I am a Christian. Now I guess I'd say I'm more of a "Christian mystic". Truth is, I just really love the teachings and the exampleof Jesus! I have no problem saying he is "The Christ". I think he had an amazing message that if people would've just been open to learning instead of clinging to fear more people would've walked towards the light and been free of their heavy burdens!

I believe that the teachings of Christ are often very different from the religion. People have this way of taking what they read or hear and trying to find a bunch of loopholes to it. His messages are so simple. But of course we have to really get deep into the analysis of everything and just take the information and run with it. "Judge not and you won't be judged" and we hear so many people condemning people to "hell???" for not going to church or giving tithes. Where's the love? Love can't be forced on a person or imposed or shoved down a person's throat. In any case, such is life and maybe one day that'll change if it isn't changing already.

Oh yeah...if I went way off topic with this post please ignore me and keep on posting. I have a tendency to veer off. It's all good though. :)