Bob,
we are commanded to preach the gospel to all creation. That makes christianity a very "in your face" religion.
Don't you feel that this violates the right of others to go about their lives without having people perpetually jumping in their faces to try and convert them? If we respect freedom of religion, shouldn't we also respect freedom from religion for those who desire it?
I would say though that christianity is not the worst religion out there. How about Islam that teaches that to kill an infidel is a good deed?
Islam is a relatively young religion, and is practiced today with a fervor that Christianity lost long ago. When Christianity was at the stage that Islam is at now, it was considered right, just, and eminently desirable to burn unbelievers, heretics, witches, and anybody else the local religious authorities happened to dislike.
What about the benefits of christianity in our culture. Steve the historian should consider this.
He has, as have many others. I particularly recommend Bertrand Russell's writings on the subject. I may, if I can find the time, concoct a separate post on the subject, on which much could be said. Rest assured that you won't like it.
The catholic church turned into a cult and became a tyranny over the people trying to stomp out the true gospel of Jesus Christ, but the gospel prevailed.
From this I conclude that you do not believe that Catholics represent true Christianity. Catholics would surely disagree. Which of the current multiplicity of "Christian" sects would you say DOES represent true Christianity? Episcopalians? Seventh-Day Adventists? Baptists? The lunatics at www.godhatesfags.com? All would claim that they are Christians, and that the others are not. How do we debate the merits of Christianity if even Christians can't agree on what a Christian is?
The country most founded on christian principles, though not perfect, has been the most prosperous in history.
Are you saying that God has made us wealthy as a reward for our adherence to Christian principles? How then do we explain Brunei, or Saudi Arabia?
This is the only country in history that fought a bloody and costly war to end slavery!
Return to school, do not pass go, do not collect $200. The Civil War was not fought over slavery; the common notion that it was is a testament to both our capacity for self-delusion and the execrable quality of our schools. Read a bit, and return. A hint: focus on tariff issues from 1840-1865.
He did get them right. The whole world is in the first grade so God can't start with physics, He has to start with 2+2=4. It was for education.
Please explain the putative educational value of the brutal and altogether despicable laws portrayed in the old testament.
The rest of it involves scripture-slinging, which I am not good at. I will have to leave those points in Sam's hands.
Steve
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