ashibaka

I'd like to hear what all us infidels think Christianity is. I've heard responses from "ancient delusion" to "Roman control mechanism", but I haven't seen any good consenses among the population, so here goes. State your answer in any form you want; you don't have to copy my example.

Theists, if you wish to refute any myths you see here, please start a new topic. Threadwandering = not cool!

My example, as provided by my opinion:

philechat

1.Christianity is Skinnerian behaviorism raised to an nth degree using hyperboles.

2.Well, some great classical music works are inspired by Christian materials. Funnily many great composers of religious music are non-religious. And the church hymns still sucks (can they please get off c-major just once ) !

3.An easy religion. No ramadans. No kosher laws. No celibacy except for Catholic priests. No animal or human sacrifices. No need for hard study. No wonder the popularity.

4. Warning: synptoms including, but not limited to, tactile hallucinations, urgent need to speak in tongues, loss of aesthetic taste, mumbling, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and irritability.

[ August 10, 2002: Message edited by: philechat ]</p>

Defiant Heretic

Religion in general is a way of satisfying human curiosity. It "explains" aspects of the universe that are currently beyond our level of comprehension. Christianity was adapted from existing religions in order to satisfy the needs of the era in which it was created. It has now become so deeply engrained in our cultural identity that the dogma refuses to yield to scientific progress, and as a result the religion now exists independently of its original purpose.

Joel

My thoughts exactly. I guess I've always looked at religion as the easy way out when it comes to answering difficult questions. When science can't come up with an answer (yet), people just revert to the 'God must have done it' answer.

[ August 10, 2002: Message edited by: Joel ]</p>

Eudaimonist

The Christian religion defies simple description. It's a way of life, a source of spirituality for some, an emotional balm for the hard edges of life, and a cultural institution.

In origin, it is a melding of Hebrew and Hellenistic mystical and philosophical ideas. It may have some connection to the mystery cults of the day. I lean towards the view that Jesus did not exist as an historical person, but is instead a character from an oral tradition of myth. (See: <a href="http://pages.ca.inter.net/~oblio/puzzle1.htm" target="_blank">The Jesus Puzzle</a>)

[ August 10, 2002: Message edited by: Eudaimonist ]</p>

Waning Moon Conrad

Christianity is paganized Judaism with the opinions of Paul taken to be the word of God.

Over in America, and in north hicksville Australia, Christianity seems to me a least, looking in from the outside, to be institutionalized bigotry and socially sanctioned hatred.

Starboy

Perhaps someone here more knowledgeable can correct any misconceptions I have on the subject but as far as I know there is only one common denominator that you must know, understand and believe to be a Christian.

1. Accept JC as your savoir.

Everything else is just added baggage that distinguishes one variant from another. Anyone can do it. There is nothing distinguishing about it. It doesn’t appear to have any real effect on the behavior of people at all. If it matters at all, you have to wait until you are dead. There are many claims the variants make, such as god wants you to be rich, or he wants you to be humble and so forth. It is a very aggressive religion and all and all doesn’t have much to show for all the trouble it has caused. Why any thinking person would wish to be associated with it is beyond me. The ignorant and stupid on the other hand should feel very comfortable with it. As someone once said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”

Starboy

ybnormal

Indeed... and where is it most aggressive these days?

Politics... from your own local school board right up thru Ashcroft and GW...

What is Christianity? For me anymore, it is little more than a political movement, certainly here in the States anyway(since Roe v Wade), and rapidly becoming little more than just another registered Political Party... where its 'real' power lies... just look at Islam today... and worry...

Mad Kally

A bunch of ancient mythology gone mad. Started by a bunch of goat/sheep herders and based on even older pagan religions. All of it caused by the human species inablity to cope with death.

Little do the sheep know that to be free of the superstitious, mind control cult is the best freedom of all.

Christianity is responsible for the brainwashing of millions of
young children too young to know the difference between reality and the
fantasies of millions.

[ August 10, 2002: Message edited by: Mad Kally ]</p>

Kosh

Wrong.