Christianity is monotheistic.

No, Christianity is polytheistic. It worships a triune god, Satan, and lesser powers such as angels and saints.

Buddhism is not.

Christianity required its followers to abandon all previous gods. Buddism does not.

True enough. And?

Christianity took over the Roman Empire inside of 300 years against the opposition of the Imperial state system, not because of it. Christianity caused the Roman emperors to renounce their divinity

Oh boy. Is this an argument for something?

and the belief in godkings died in every country in which Christianity took root.

Will you stop repeating this nonsense? It has already been refuted on this thread by several different examples.

Is this the whole of your argument? That Christianity is different from Buddhism and therefore its spread in Europe is really unique and amazing? The reverse is also true. How did a religion without the wonderful qualities of Christianity spread like Buddhism over a much wider area?

When are you going to quit deliberately misreading my posts, and make an actual argument?

Do you actually have a serious argument from history that says that there is something special (i.e. not trivially unique, but related to its special status as the one true religion?) about the spread of Xtianity in Europe from AD 50-800, or are you just going to hint? Pointing out differences between Buddhism and Xtianity and Hinduism isn't going to cut it. I already said that there are general similarities, and sometimes specific ones, between the various missionary religions and their spread. Nor is there anything so wildly different about the spread of Buddhism and Xtianity that we need to think Divine Intervention is called for.

So, is, or is not, Xtianity's rise accounted for by mundane reasons listed throughout this thread, or is there some special divine unnatural thing about it? Make an argument, or bail.

Put up, or shut up.

Michael

Ya know, when I see this kind of ignorance, I think it is about time to call it a day (especially as you have yet again refused to provide sources for your assertions, and I am tired of having to ask multiple times).

When someone thinks that Christianity is polytheistic, well, let's just say good night Gracie.

It's been a slice.

Bye Michael.

Nomad

"No, Christianity is polytheistic. It worships a triune god, Satan, and lesser powers such as angels and saints."

We worship Satan? 28 years of Christianity and I have missed out on this one. So that would make Islam polytheistic! I don't suggest you publish that particular thought.

And I know that some of my Protestant brothers give Catholics a hard time about the prayers to Saints and Angels, but few of them ever suggested that Catholics view the saints and angels as gods.

And speaking of Protestants, do they worship Angels and Saints or do you just consider Catholicism to be polytheistic?

Geeze

Originally posted by Layman:
"No, Christianity is polytheistic. It worships a triune god, Satan, and lesser powers such as angels and saints."


Layman: We worship Satan? 28 years of Christianity and I have missed out on this one.

You ignored the other part of the statement. Do you not worship Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Count them, Layman, there are three things. Also, are you saying that you do not believe in Satan as a supreme being?

Layman: So that would make Islam polytheistic! I don't suggest you publish that particular thought.

Irrelevant!

Layman: And I know that some of my Protestant brothers give Catholics a hard time about the prayers to Saints and Angels, but few of them ever suggested that Catholics view the saints and angels as gods.

Does that mean that you don't believe in angels as supreme beings?

rodahi

"You ignored the other part of the statement. Do you not worship Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Count them, Layman, there are three things. Also, are you saying that you do not believe in Satan as a supreme being?"

The Trinity explicitly affirms the belief in one God. Didn't you take any religious classes in college? How many of your textbooks identified Christianity as polytheistic? You and Turton are just trying to be annoying.

No, Satan is not a "supreme being."

"Layman: So that would make Islam polytheistic! I don't suggest you publish that particular thought.

"Rodahi: Irrelevant!"

Actually no it is very relevant. If belief that Satan exists is enough to convert a previously thought to be monotheistic religion into a polytheistic one, Islam is then polytheistic. This point demonstrates the absurdity of Turtonm's point. Islam is rabbidly monotheistic. This is the first time I've ever heard anyone classify Islam as polytheistic. This whole thread is a classic example of special pleading.

"Does that mean that you don't believe in angels as supreme beings?"

No, I do not believe that angels are supreme beings.

Gee whiz guys. The only thing you have shown is that you will go to absurd lengths to disagree with a Christian.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Layman:
[b]"You ignored the other part of the statement. Do you not worship Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Count them, Layman, there are three things. Also, are you saying that you do not believe in Satan as a supreme being?"

Layman: The Trinity explicitly affirms the belief in one God.

Yes, and it is absurd to think three can be one.

Layman: Didn't you take any religious classes in college?

Religious classes are for future theologians. I am not a theologian. Anyway, this is irrelevant. Things taught in religious classes reflect a particular belief, not reality.

Layman: How many of your textbooks identified Christianity as polytheistic? You and Turton are just trying to be annoying.

How many religious textbooks were written by mathematicians? How many religious textbooks were written by scientists? How many religious textbooks were written by historians? It is you, Layman, who is annoying.

Layman: No, Satan is not a "supreme being."

So, what is he? BTW, I have no belief in Satan, do you?

"Layman: So that would make Islam polytheistic! I don't suggest you publish that particular thought.

"Rodahi: Irrelevant!"

Layman: Actually no it is very relevant. If belief that Satan exists is enough to convert a previously thought to be monotheistic religion into a polytheistic one, Islam is then polytheistic. This point demonstrates the absurdity of Turtonm's point. Islam is rabbidly monotheistic. This is the first time I've ever heard anyone classify Islam as polytheistic. This whole thread is a classic example of special pleading.

Let's stick to Christianity and the JC Bible.

"Does that mean that you don't believe in angels as supreme beings?"

Layman: No, I do not believe that angels are supreme beings.

What are angels, if they are not supreme beings? BTW, I have no belief in them, do you?

Layman: Gee whiz guys. The only thing you have shown is that you will go to absurd lengths to disagree with a Christian.


Yes, guy, and you have shown that your beliefs defy reason, common sense, and natural laws.

rodahi


[This message has been edited by rodahi (edited April 04, 2001).]

Originally posted by Layman:
The Trinity explicitly affirms the belief in one God. Didn't you take any religious classes in college? How many of your textbooks identified Christianity as polytheistic? You and Turton are just trying to be annoying.

If belief that Satan exists is enough to convert a previously thought to be monotheistic religion into a polytheistic one, Islam is then polytheistic. This point demonstrates the absurdity of Turtonm's point. Islam is rabbidly monotheistic. This is the first time I've ever heard anyone classify Islam as polytheistic. This whole thread is a classic example of special pleading.

Funny, I always thought Christianity's claim to be monotheistic was a case of special pleading. Muslims, for example, deny the Trinity because they consider it polytheistic. I guess they are just trying to be annoying.

You've never seen anyone claim Islam is polytheistic? Well, I'm sure I can rely on your vast knowledge to rule the claim out.

But in case your vast knowledge doesn't encompass the Wahhabi/Wahabi Muslims, I'll tell you: they are a Muslim group that considers their beliefs to be "pure" and other Islamic groups to be polytheists....I am glad Layman is here to tell us this belief is absurd. Perhaps he'll fly to Saudi Arabia, where Wahabism is the state religion, and inform the authorities there, so they can change their misguided ways.

Like I always say, you guys do well when you're discussing the 50 books you actually know, and confining the discussion to the first century AD and 150 miles from the Med in any direction....

Michael

http://www.religion-cults.com/Islam/islam.htm

The "Wahhabi":

A small group founded by al-Wahhab in the eighteenth century, but it was the primary force in the creation of the state of Saudi Arabia in 1932, the country of the cities of Mecca and Medina, and from them, the
Wahhabi have influenced Muslims throughout the world who go into the pilgrimage to Mecca.


They are the Puritans of the Muslims, with the most strict, severely enforced moral standard of conduct, and their call for a pure Islam regulated by a literal interpretation of the Koran.

For them, it is a polytheism to visit the graves of the saints, and they are against observance of the feast of the Birth of the Prophet... and they discourage such Western innovations as cinema and dancing.


http://naqshbandi.org/events/press/latime2.htm

Referring to Dagestan....

.."The Sufism practiced here is more like Christianity than Islam, with its cults and saints," said Mohammed Shaffi, a soft-spoken
Wahhabi spokesman. "It's taken on a form which shouldn't exist in Islam."

[This message has been edited by turtonm (edited April 04, 2001).]

Michael: So, is, or is not, Xtianity's rise accounted for by mundane reasons listed throughout this thread, or is there some special divine unnatural thing about it? Make an argument, or bail.

Nomad: When someone thinks that Christianity is polytheistic, well, let's just say good night Gracie.

So I guess it is "bail."

Michael

This is absolutely TOO rich, and too much fun to pass up. Thank you rodahi for the softballs! LOL!

LMAO!!!

Satan is a supreme being??? Where do you get this stuff rodahi?

But wait folks, there's MORE!!

Umm.. rodahi? Like Christians and Jews, Muslims believe that Satan exists. So if you want to call Christians polytheists for believe Satan exists, you must do likewise for Jews and Muslims.

(BTW, were you trying to be serious here, or were ya just funnin with us? I mean... LOL! Sorry, but this is really one of your best posts ever).

STOP! Please! You're killing me!! LOL!!!

(Serious now) When you were a Christian rodahi, did they tell you that angels were supreme beings? If they did, which church was it please?

Nomad

[This message has been edited by Nomad (edited April 04, 2001).]

And now, as if calling Christians polytheists wasn't enough, Michael wants to argue (based on the words of one group of Muslims) that all other Muslimes are polytheists too! Someone remind me to let Baalthazaq know.

You know, the irony is this thread started off talking about how hard it is for some atheists to take history seriously, and has now deteriorated into a couple of atheists demonstrating that they can't really take anything seriously.

Humour like this brings tears to my eyes, and proves once again that I made a good choice in coming to the SecWeb. Reading stuff like this helps make my days go by a bit faster, and reassures me that there really is some funny stuff on the internet.

Thanks guys.

Nomad