cult survivor

Hi,

I cannot say I am an atheist (yet) but enjoy reading this forum and the points raised on it.

From what I have read in the past few days there are many websites linking Christianity back to pagan religions, i.e. half men/half gods being born of virgins, etc. and as far as I can see those pagan religions never lasted very long, at least not 2000 years. So why has Christianity lasted so long? And although it might be obvious that it was enforced by certain empires and governments, right now it isn't, yet doesn't seem to be close to disappearing at all.
So if it is all based on other religions/developed from myths etc. why does it last?

Thanks for any insights.

CS

Columbo

Hi.

Because it all makes sense. The theology isn't half-baked. Sure, atheists try and say it's got holes all over the place, but if you seriously believe it has truth you start to see that the whole bible makes a lot more sense.

Without Christ, it's like Yahweh has just dissapeared. With Christ, why would he have a particular people when Christ is about adoption of all peoples.

If it was just the OT, then I'd either be a very dis-satisfied Jew, or a pantheist.

Also, logically I can't say "it's still going because it's the truth" yet it is a possibility. Although I have no argument to back it up, so then it's just my conviction really.

Roland

I think the thing that separates Judaism and Christianity from many other lost religions is that the Bible at least APPEARS to be a work somwhat rooted in history. Whoever put the Hebrew scriptures together did a brilliant job making it seem as if it were a record of mankind's time on the planet all the way back to the beginning of time. Greek mythology, on the other hand, is really nothing more than a collection of largely unconnected stories and they aren't all found in a single tome like the Bible.

In addition, I believe a monotheistic religion is inherently more credible than a polytheistic one, especially when the god is kept fairly amorphous (unlike, say, Zeus, who is a little too anthropomorphic in his nature). The creation story, in which a god calls things into existence, is easier to accept than one in which the universe comes into existence as the result of a war between a giant turtle and aardvark or something on that order.

Whatever the reason, this is a very interesting question.

Roland

Well, not exactly. The same Jesus who told his followers to turn the other cheek and love their enemies also told them to slaughter every man, woman and child who lived in Canaan.

That's a pretty big gaping hole from where I sit.

graymouser

My theory when I was doing a lot of study of the Roman Empire is that in the development of the Roman Empire, Christian theology came to resemble the ruling elite of the empire much better than the old paganism did, and that because of this Christianity (the brand selected by Constantine, anyway) was far better as a driving moral force for the Empire than paganism was - it had a universal monarch and an imperative to expand, and this served to unify a fragmenting empire. Out of the variety of cults it was the pragmatic choice.

Christianity has not survived in any form vaguely resembling what it was in Constantine's day, much less earlier (which we know comparatively little about, especially since much of the "history" of early Christianity was the invention of Eusebius and the rest of the victorious sect). It has changed pretty drastically in all corners; the basics are still there, but the religion has been very good at reinventing itself to appeal to the sentiment of the times, whether we're talking about the changing face of Catholicism, Protestantism, or Orthodoxy. I think this is much more the key to its longevity than anything to do with its theology, which has never made sense (as evidenced by the early Christological controversies).

-Wayne

Wallener

Is it accurate to say it has? Christianity of today may share the same name, but it has very little in common with the Christianity of 100 CE or 1000 CE.

French Prometheus

False. Both Egyptian and Sumero-Akkadian religions lasted at least 3500 years (and probably more). Islam is merely 1400 years old and Christianity is 2000 years old. As for Judaism, it's more difficult to pinpoint a date of birth. It's certainly less than 3000 years old and probably only took a recognizable form in the century prior to the Babylonian exile (2700-2600 years ago). Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Shintoism are older than Christianity and they're all still very alive.

Anyway, argumentum ad antiquatem is not a valid argument. The belief that the Earth is flat lasted thousands of years too.

French Prometheus

No, in fact the only point of Christian theology is to try and explain away the numerous absurdities and inconsistencies of that religion. It developed as an intellectual necessity to try and justify what is so painfully absurd. Augustine said it best : "credo quia absurdum".

There is no Christ because Jesus was a false prophet as is clearly stated in the Old Testament. That's why he died and that's why the vast vast majority of the Jews have rejected him.

The NT is worse than the OT in many respects.

The problem is that Hinduism, Shintoism and Buddhism are far older than Christianity and are still going on. What's more, the percentage of Christians worldwide is stable while that of Muslims is increasing.

Maybe you should re-assess the truth value of your religion...

Amaleq13

It offers a wonderful continuation of one's existence after death and a supportive community of allegedly like-minded individuals during life. The latter reinforces faith in the former and there is really not much chance of being disabused of the former while living.

It also appeals most to the hopeless and downtrodden. Last time I checked, there has never been a shortage of those on our planet.

The bottom line is, once you buy into the premises, it "works". You feel better about yourself and your future. You have an instant collection of new friends. You are assured that your loved ones have not disappeared forever and that you, too, will exist forever.

Contrary to Columbo's claim, the theology is "half-baked" (three separate entities that are, in some ultimately inexplicable way, also one entity? a man/god who can somehow be offered as an atoning sacrifice though never really dying?) and only "makes sense" if you consciously set aside any desire to critically examine it. But, if you are willing to make that choice, faith-based circular reasoning eliminates any perception of flaws and provides the illusion that it all makes sense.

Roland

The better question might be why Christianity and Judaism still exist TODAY in a world that is supposedly far more enlightened in terms of both science and technology, and why those other religions do not. I still believe it's because the Bible conveys at least a sense that it is recording factual history even if much of it (i.e. the extraordinary ages of the patriarchs) clearly strains credulity.