Xianity did not kick off until the reign of Constantine. Althought he did not actually forbids other religions, he showed special favour to it & proclaim it as the official religion.
Due to its special status, people flocked to it inorder to be with those who are in power & of course as a manner of society behaviour - to be where the powerful & most people are.
With its gain in status, plus it being view as in "vogue", Xianity quickly leaves the rest of the religions behind.
As the Romans spread their empire thru out the west, they bring Xianity along & either asimilated the local religions into Xianity or killed it off.
With Xianity as the only available religion & world view, people did not have much choice but to embrace it as it is not only official but viewed by society as the norm (to be a xian).
So given the above, most people did not choose to be a xian but more likely due to the fact of a lack of religions & world views.
A state which the east (China) went thru but broken during the Spring/Autumn/Warring States period.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

PS Could an abundance in western thinkers/philosophers be due to the west having too few religions/world-views as compare to the east, whom are floating in them ?

xian but more likely due to the fact of a lack of religions & world views.
A state which the east (China) went thru but broken during the Spring/Autumn/Warring States period.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

PS Could an abundance in western thinkers/philosophers be due to the west having too few religions/world-views as compare to the east, whom are floating in them ?[/B]

KCTan, there were piles of religions in the ancient world in both West and East. The difference is mainly that the East never produced a religion that thought it ought to proclaim itself the sole truth, suppress all other religions and harass and murder adherents of other religions.

The East has produced a long a formidable list of religious and ethical philosophers, thinkers and writers, IMHO, fully comparable to the West. Where do you put the Arabs and Indians? Are you thinking primarily of China?

Michael

No. Facts. I'll present more on the "Jews" thread...

Ok. I'll address why your one or two points are invalid on the other thread. Ehrman's translation is poorly supported by the ancient MSS...FACT.

Arrggghhhh.... I have not been very cautious with my wording on this thread. Sorry. I didn't mean 1000s of early MSS, just 1000s of MSS some of which are ealier and more pure than Codex Bezae (FACT by Metzger and Aland among others). Good job keepin' me honest, Rodahi, I don't mind admitting when I'm wrong...

In closing, I think we should take this conversation back over to the "Jews" thread. Funny that I'm having to say this seeing that you're the moderator.

I'll see you back over there.

Ish

Actually there did exist a religion that is proclaimed as the absolute truth (China). It can only be practiced by the emperor himself ! The most different between East (China) & West would be this. The absolute truth belongs to the emperor alone & none else can practice it. Whereas in the West, the power is held by both the king & the official religion with everyone being free to practice it.
The chinese term is called "Feng Tian Cheng Yu" or "By decree of Heavenly Will" - instilling the power of rule unto one person by the almighty god.
It is first composed by the earlist dynasty (Xia & Shang) by having a religious revolution whereby heaven & earth is severed.
It is know as "Severing communications between earth & heaven." leaving religions as state control & priests & priestesses are appointed officials by the emperor.

The Arabs have their Islam (much like Xianity) while the Indians have alot (much like China).

As to thinkers/philosophers I think you got a point there.

Are you agreeing with me that why most Westerners are Xians is not because they have a choice but rather a lack of choices ?

BTW Do you think population might play a part in having divest religions & them not dying out ? (India & China have alot of primitive religions surviving even right to the present.) Did you also notice a pattern that China & India are both united as one for a long time while the Arabs & Western states never did get united into one big country for long.

PS Do you know that of the major religions (Buddhism, Xianty, Judaism) in the world only Taoism teaches that life on Earth is not a form of suffering/sin ?

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quote:
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Rodahi:
You are entitled to your opinion.
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Ish: No. Facts. I'll present more on the "Jews" thread...

So far, you have presented opinion.


quote:
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Rodahi:
I have explained why I think Ehrman is correct.
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Ish: Ok. I'll address why your one or two points are invalid on the other thread.

No, Ish, you will give your opinion why you believe Ehrman is incorrect.

Ish: Ehrman's translation is poorly supported by the ancient MSS...FACT.

Erhman's argument and the attestation of the "angry" Jesus variant in the EARLY Codex Bezae are persuasive factors.


quote:
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Rodahi:
You have committed a major blunder (or two) here, Ish.
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Ish: Arrggghhhh.... I have not been very cautious with my wording on this thread. Sorry. I didn't mean 1000s of early MSS, just 1000s of MSS some of which are ealier and more pure than Codex Bezae (FACT by Metzger and Aland among others).

You originally said 100s if not 1000s, Ish. Precisely how many can you name? Also, not everyone agrees with Aland and Metzger. See what the Catholic Encyclopedia says about Codex Bezae.

Ish: Good job keepin' me honest, Rodahi,

That's what I am here for.

Ish: I don't mind admitting when I'm wrong...

Great.

Ish: In closing, I think we should take this conversation back over to the "Jews" thread.

Since virtually all the treads turn into "stream of consciousness" postings, it is not a problem.

Ish: Funny that I'm having to say this seeing that you're the moderator.

It's not really all that "funny," Ish. You were the one who brought up the issue when you stated, "like I said in the other thread." I have merely responded.

rodahi



[This message has been edited by rodahi (edited June 10, 2001).]