Evolution of Religion

[Henriksson]

One argument christians may use is that Christianity is somehow "better" than the more primitive "pagan" religions. But I'd say that's just because Christianity "evolves", to appeal to the masses more so to speak. This is evident in all sorts of theisms. Egyptian Mythology for example, was a bit of a big argument. Different "sects" fought each other. That's why Egyptian Mythology paints Set as a bad guy; that sect lost the struggle, and the winning sects made up a story where Set was killed.

At the end of the Viking Age, a revision of Norse Mythology reformed it so that it could perhaps make sense to people in modern times. They said that after the "Ragnarök" (what christians may recognize as "The Apocalypse") the great tree Yggdrasil died, but left a piece of it's root. The root was made like a ball by the galactic forces and eventually became... Earth.

The Evolution of Christianity continues today. People ignore the parts of the Bible they don't like. For example, divorce. In past times you couldn't get divorced if you didn't have a very very good reason for doing so. As time progressed, people simply ignored that by saying that "The Church needs to conform to modern times". The best thing the church could do right now is to simply... disappear. Because Logic and Reason has pushed religion back so much so belief can only exist (rationally) as a form of deism. But that sort of deism is so vague that it could not matter either way.

Another example is that Jesus commanded that any who want to follow him need to give up their possessions.

This message is reinforced and repeated several different places. Also Jesus lived the example and commented on his own lack of possessions. In Acts there are descriptions of early Christians living in a community where all is shared in an attempt to live out command.

Today these explicit passages concerning possessions are overlooked and de-emphasized. If they are mentioned today they have since evolved to mean "willing to give up".

In light of supposed prize - eternal life of bliss - selling all your possessions in the here and now really would be small and minimal request.

This is what Bonhoeffer referred to as "cheap grace" and many Christians today have counted the cost and evidently found the cost to high so they instead they cleave to the faith is all mantra....


Evolution of Religion is because people are afraid of being incorrect.

[WillPhanto1]

You know, You're just like TheRealFolkBlues (the user), who was banned for posting topics like this, through he was on the right while you're on the left.

[killshot]

When did atheism become a leftist ideal?

[WillPhanto1]

It's not just his atheism, he's comes off as an leftist from most off his posts. Not that there anything wrong with a person having left-wing opinions. It's just that he's doing the same thing as TheRealFolksBlues was doing up till he was banned.
Also your post Henriksson isn't very coherent. What does the Egyptian sects fighting have to do with Christianity? Are you comparing them to the different Denominations in Christianity? Then again, they all have the same source material, and what with freedom of religion and speech, religious wars are no more.
I can't even tell what Ragnarok has to do with anything your talking about.
The Church still does disapproves of divorce, no one says that it's okay within the church. But people have their freewill, the best they can do is hold out their hand and ask them to come back and turn away from sin.
We're taught not to hold on to superfluous (for lack of a better word) things, but to focus on important and meaningful things in life. They are not overlooked or de-emphasized within the Church, if someone who clams to be a Christian does anything un-Christian-like, it's them doing it, not the Church.

And why are you targeting Christianity in your post. Why not Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, or Sikhism?

[FullMetalRevive]

Jesus loves you all. <img src='/images/emoticons/smiley2.png'>

[Henriksson]

You say I'm automatically wrong because of my political agenda.

Incidentally, do you christians follow any of the? It's in the bible.

GOD ON GIVING - Leviticus 27:30
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD;

JESUS ON GIVING - Matthew 5:40-41
"And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well."

JESUS ON GIVING - Matthew 5:41
"If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."

JESUS ON GIVING - Matthew 5:42
"Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

JESUS ON GIVING - Matthew 19:21
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

JESUS ON GIVING - Mark 10:21
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

JESUS ON GIVING - Luke 6:29
"If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic."

JESUS ON GIVING - Luke 6:30
"Give to everyone that asketh thee; and from him that taketh away thy goods ask not again."

JESUS ON GIVING - Luke 6:35
"But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be Sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil."

JESUS ON GIVING - Luke 12:33
"Sell your possessions and give to the poor."

JESUS ON GIVING - Luke 14:33
"Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

JESUS ON THE RICH - Matthew 13:12 (NIV)
"Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."

JESUS ON THE RICH - Mark 10:25
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

JESUS ON THE RICH - Luke 6:24-25
"But woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep."

JESUS ON SAVING AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE - Matthew 6:19,20 (NIV)
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal."

JESUS ON SAVING AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE - Matthew 6:26,27 (NIV)
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

JESUS ON SAVING AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE - Matthew 6:28-31 (NIV)
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'"

JESUS ON SAVING AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE - Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

JESUS ON SAVING AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE - Luke 14:33 (CEV)
"So then, you cannot be my disciple unless you give away everything you own."

JOHN THE BAPTIST, ON ASKING FOR A RAISE - Luke 3:13-14
"Exact no more than that which is appointed you." And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, "And what shall we do?" and he said unto them, "Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages."

GOD ON WORKING - Exodus 20:9-10
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.

Since it's mentioned so many times I would think it'd be a critical part of your belief, and still no one does it. Hmm...

[WillPhanto1]

Yes we follow those, Who says no one we don't. How many Christians to you actually know? How does the un-christian actions of a so-called Christians make everyone an hypocrite. Those people are blasphemer, and if you see one, call them out on it, it'll make them think twice about their believes. But any real Christian doesn't overlook anything, nothing de-emphasized. And if you try to challenge their believes, they will hold strong. It's fine that if you hate God, but leave the people that do believe it Him alone, it's doesn't hurt you if others have a different believe then you (unless they're violent extremist, then you have a problem).
You say I'm automatically wrong because of my political agenda.
And I'm not saying you're wrong because of your political opinions, it's that you're really starting to push your agenda, and remember what happened when others pushed their agendas too far? Man I wish one of the mods would show up.

And why are only focusing on Christianity, why not any other Religion.

[killshot]

And why are only focusing on Christianity, why not any other Religion.
Because Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, and Sikhism have no impact on the life of an atheist. Only christianity (and possibly islam) has any influence in public policy. In America, it is impossible for someone to become president if they do not at least appear to be a person of faith. Christianity is everywhere and it invades the lives of everyone. Christianity is by far the worlds most prominent religion and yet it constantly feels like it is under attack. Christians need to realize that they are the ones doing the repressing and they are not the ones being oppressed.

[WillPhanto1]

If there's any repressing it's unintentional, and when you look at other religions they're also trying to spread their teachings as well, they're doing nothing different then us. Yes we're the biggest religion, but just because your next door neighbor a is big and strong bodybuilder, doesn't mean you can hit them in the face with a baseball bat.

Anyway, I'm tired of threads like this. I wash my hands of this.

[killshot]

What reason would I have to hit my neighbor with a bat? Historically speaking, religious groups are the ones who turn to violence.I wash my hands of this.
You're no fun.

[DarkWarrior]

This topic is bullshit.
WillPhanto1 has pretty much been right this entire time.

This forum is for discussion/debate, not pushing an agenda. Don't like it? Tough luck.