what do you think are the social benefits of being christian?

Question

i'm not seeking. i already know what i think. i just want to hear what people come up with.

Answer 1

I've said many times that I'd go to church, any church, just to have the social benefits. I love to sing so I'd be in the choir. I love going to potlucks, craft nights, women's retreats, vacation bible school in the summer for the kid, meetings, bazaars, and more.

But I just can't force myself to smile and nod when it comes to the religion itself... the worshipping, the long sermons about things I just don't believe, the bible reading, the pious people who believe they are the only people with the "truth" in the world. Because I don't believe there is any one "truth", then we should all just allow each other the right to believe what we feel is our personal truth.

I dont' care about "fitting in" per se. I've always been a social person. I love hanging out, talking to people with whom I have things in common. As an atheist, I don't really have the social opportunities that I had before, especially once Christians and others find out I'm an Atheist... I instantly become persona non grata. I do miss those social opportunities, just not enough to be a hypocrite.

Answer 2

It seems like your having some question on weather you want to participate in a certain faith or not. I am not one to try to sway you from one side or another but just try to keep this in mind while making your decision. Christianity like any other religion is like having a Spiritual bank account. Every body has one unless your atheist or something. there are also different sizes in religion just like there are in banks. Just like banks religions also have social benefits. Such as if you need a loan for a car or are just plain broke, its easier to go to a bank that you belong to as oppose to one that you don't belong to because you ll get better rates and stuff. Or if you need financial advise they would most likely be able to point you in the right direction. Just like a certain Church Faith. That's all it is. So examine what ever faith you are thinking about joining like you would a bank you would trust your money with. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Depends on your age, and the "flavor" of Christian group you're in. For me, at an on-campus college Christian group, it became like a "club," but often with deeper emotional ties. It was the all-important connection to others, that is hard to find in college. Opportunities for volunteerism, focus on other people, focus on growth and learning. Also if you are a young person it can offer you some opportunities because you are in a "smaller pond." These could include contests, scholarships, publications, etc. that are targeted to Christians. Don't feel guilty for exploiting your faith - if you are already a person of faith, these are opportunities that are available for you and designed just for you. It's been almost 20 years and I'm no longer active in a church, but 90 percent of my close friends are still from this group I met in college, and we are all still very close.

Answer 4

Christianity seems to convey some sort of tacit exemption from being declared insane. Just look at some of the 'beliefs'... the 'inerrant truths' from the bible:

*  a universe in which all that exists are the earth and heaven
*  solid 'firmament' structure (the sky) seperating the earth from heaven (terrarium earth)
*  talking snakes and donkeys
*  demons chased out of people and into pigs
*  friendly spirits
*  evil spirits
*  walking on water
*  multiplying loaves and fishes
*  people raising from the dead
*  stopping the sun in its tracks
*  parting seas
*  people being bodily sucked up into heaven (which, by the way, lies on the 'other side' of the sky)
*  world-wide flood that drowned the earth to a depth of 40 feet above the tallest mountain
*  creating people from dust bunnies and ribs
*  magical tree of knowledge
*  god speaking from a burning bush
*  ritual cannibalism, by eating god in the form of a cracker.

It is quite evident that in a sane world, if someone were to go around asserting that ANY of those things represented an innate 'truth' pertaining to the nature of existence and reality, that person would end up being locked up in the 'State Farm for the Funny'. Oddly, though, MASS insanity seems to convey some sort of automatic immunity along with it, since hundreds of millions of people assert ALL of these things to be true, and nobody thinks anything of it (well... SOME of us do). Not only are these people NOT locked up, but it is considered to be bad manners... politically incorrect... 'intolerant'... to even call attention to the obvious insanity of these ideas. Yet approximately 87% of the adult population of the USA is INFECTED by what seems to be some sort of insidious brain virus, that is transmitted in the form of information.

How can this NOT be seen as a major problem... considering that this insane belief system has been DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE for such historical aberrations as the Dark Ages and such atrocities as the Inquisition, the Salem Witch trials, the Crusades...? (the list goes on, and on, and on.)

So, how is it that the myths, superstitions, fairy tales and fantastical delusions of an ignorant bunch of Bronze Age fishermen and wandering goat herders have come to represent some kind of cosmic 'TRUTH'... without the least bit of credible evidence?

Answer 5

I don't know what the social benefits may be and I hope no one is a Christian to get ahead socially. I can only tell you that being a Christian or Jew or having a faith in God is the greatest help and comfort and the only true path to peace and tranquility.

Answer 6

Generosity: The needs of the unfortunate are eased.

Forgiveness: Easier to get along with neighbors.

Chastity: No out-of-wedlock births, which tend to be a drain on resources.

Monogamy: Fewer broken marriages and parentless children.

Kindness and Patience: Rush hour traffic would flow more smoothly.

All of these are of course only when people ACT like Christians, and not just say they are.

Answer 7

Benefits... Hmm you get to be slammed on Yahoo more than any other group ... The most martyred group on the planet... (http://www.persecution.com.au) the only group of people who everyone holds up to a certain standard that they are not willing to hold themselfs up to....
Nope no real social benefits good thing we have a GREAT eternal Life insurance Policy LOL

Answer 8

The social benefits of being Christian are: spreading the word of Christ, asking questions of other Christians ...learning more

Answer 9

Socially- loving fellowship with other Christians who are believers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Worship together, pray together, share God's word together, share each others' sorrows and joys together. Support and objective counsel on personal matters.
Trust and moral support during hard times.
A way to get the weight of the world off your shoulders.
A holy refreshing of the heart, mind, body, soul, and spirit.

Answer 10

It's not about the social benefits. If your faith ever gets to that point, you need to rethink and check some of your ideals over because you're kinda off.