Christianity: Disaster or Catastrophe?

Question

You make the call.

1) Once it took over politically, Christianity set out to eradicate Classical Civilization. So much was lost!

2) In so doing, they started a thousand year Dark Ages. Life was miserable, progress stultified.

3) They killed not only pagans, but even other Christians with non-"orthodox" views.

4) The Crusades-- wrongheaded fiascos.

5) The Inquisition-- tyrannical, torturous.

6) Thirty Years' War-- depopulated Europe.

7) Witch burning

8) The Religious Right-- retrograde, theocracy-craving radicals

Jesus supposedly said, "By their fruits shall you know them. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit." The fruits of Christianity are listed above. It has been so evil so much that, by Jesus's criterion, it cannot be from God.

Answer 1

You have answered your own question.

Answer 2

the dark ages was full of muslim terrorists too, trying to destory and take over the world.... i think the crusades were a good idea.... if we had finished the job correctly. we would not have the middle east crisis today.

Give your bias a rest... you are talking about dead history....there were many good people too, around...and you are right, jesus said by their fruits.... so do not condemn the whole orcherd because 1000 years ago, there were some bad trees......much of that was the catholic church, and there has been reformation since then.....there is another reformation even now, where people are really seeking god in a pure way, and do not go along with everythng you might see on TV.....for example, i cannot stand prosperity teachers....i have my faith in the original teaching of jesus and i stick by that....

you are right... much of the church would have to change... but there is always a remnant of faithful ones who get beat to death because of the others, and then help to bring truth back into the group. I hope my fruit is OK.

Do not give up on God because of what you see is wrong. Use what you see as wrong to find the real god, and find the truth for yourself. Read the bible and stick by it.

Answer 3

People make this same mistake over and over again. and are just as Stupid and Evil as the ones that created the problems you listed. If people followed (in the past and present) what the Bible actually teaches there would be no war or strife. Kings, presidents and other leaders have hijacked religions for their own political purposes this is a reason for contempt for these people, not for contempt of religon.

Now if you would for a min actually believe that there is a God. and there is also a Destroyer (a devil) now think for a moment that you are the Devil and it is your greatest wish to destroy man and destroy christianity. What would you do? One of the things i would do is work to start wars in the name of God that would destroy the foundation of Christian belief. The things that you stated would be a good beginning. The statement from Jesus is correct. the things that these men of the past and present were not a Good tree. An example of a Good tree would be someone like Mother Teresa her good work helped thousands and her work is still continued today threw others like her. That is what Jesus meant (by their fruits you shall know them) It is a message to us so that we would know who is who. we would know by what happens (their fruit) if these people were working for Christ (good Fruit) or Satan (Bad Fruit)

What you are doing is not much better than these people of the past and present that used christianity for their own ends.. as a matter of fact you are doing the same thing (just in a different way)

Answer 4

The examples you gave are undeniable and truly tragic. However, I'd like to submit that they were committed by people that were 1) overly zealous and confused by the works that they were trying to do or 2) attempting to offer their evil works via the disguise of Christianity. Neither are excusable nor justifiable. However, they are, in fact, history . . . a part of our past that is there for us to learn from. We should learn from these mistakes while addressing the issues of our society, nation, and world. The leaders of the events that you listed above preyed upon people that were either unlearned of true Christian teachings or so willing and zealous to follow God that they would follow any opportunity presented before them. That's why the Bible says that we should "study to show ourselves approved" and to beware of "wolves in sheep's clothing" . . . meaning false teachers or those that would attempt to sway us from the teachings of Christ. He left us with a message of love, brotherhood, forgiveness, honesty, trust, and faith. None of the 8 things that you listed reflect those principles. And the verse you listed states exactly that. But it doesn't mean that there aren't Christians out here in this world trying to make a difference and to do what's right. It's referring to those individuals/groups that you mentioned. Those people professed that what they were doing was in the name of God and Christ. Obviously, by their actions, they were doing the exact oppposite thing that God would have us to do. What's truly sad is the fact that there are so many other examples of what you have mentioned throughout history. Not just in Christianity, but in other religions, as well. Christians, Muslims, Atheists . . . they've all been the cause of a lot of pain within humanity. I could list the far more than 8 things that Christians around the world have done on scales both big and small. However, I'll leave you hoping, and praying, that you will just take a moment to look around you in whatever area that you are in and witness actions that are wrought in the name of God and inspired by Him. I also pray that there are people there that are willing to do those actions and emulate God in whatever manner possible.

Answer 5

Jesus never intended that Christianity should be forced on people. The conversions were suppposed to come from the heart. The Catholics were not authorized by God to do the terrible things that happened. Before Catholicism took over there were other forms of Christianity that were voluntary and Christians lived side by side with pagans in peace.

Answer 6

You've forgotten a few:

- the pogroms against the Jews.
- the Holocaust (and yes, a lot of good, christian anti-semites were involved in making that happen, none can plead ignorance considering Hitler wrote Mein Kampff long before he had the power to execute the plans within it.)
- White Man's Burden, originally slavery of non-whites, certainly the primary cause for the destruction of African native culture.
- the Civil War (good Southern christians fighting to protect their 'god-given right' to own slaves).

Answer 7

Jesus did say that "By the fruits shall you know them."

The eight examples you states above are obviously pointing out that those are not the people Jesus spoke of. True Christians are becoming fewer and fewer.

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life".

Obviously again, the people of the The Crusades, Inquisition, etc were distorted and not walking in the Word of God. They were using their own distorted interpretations to gain glory (either personal or Godly).

Answer 8

All that you mention in your above statement is what happens when you try to put some common sense into narrow minds. They all twisted the true meaning of Jesus purpose up to nowadays. Don't you see they even crucified him? His followers did not defend him. They limited themselves to watch him die. The principle of Christianity is to do good, no matter to whom. If we all stopped trying to interpret LITERALLY the bible, we'd do better people. But you shouldn't spotlight Christianity only. Other religious denominations are as horrifying, if not worse. Just look at the eternal conflict between Iran and Iraq. It's mostly religious oriented.

Answer 9

Great question!

God? He or She?

Church? Christianity? Jesus? Dying?

What is the Imacculate Conception supposed to mean?

(NOT A VIRGIN BIRTH! - Google Imacculate Conception. What else do you falsely believe? ) Immaculate Deception?

Jesus, the basis of Christianity? .

If Jesus died, he could NOT have been God.

Gods do not die? Do they?

If Jesus 'died' on Friday and 'undied' on Sunday, what else besides Saturday was sacrificed?

Did Jesus give up Saturday for us? Big deal!

If Jesus died for our sins, there should not be any more sins, else why go through with it?.

If Jesus really DIED, he should be dead, dead, dead!

Life after death is like virginity after childbirth.

If the flesh of Jesus died, what was seen walking and talking on Sunday?

If you swallow this stuff, you are not going to like the folks who don't. You want them to swallow it too.

Christians want everyone to convert to their non-thinking in order to be 'saved'.

Believing and not thinking is like choosing a mental illness and becoming truly lost.

Answer 10

Wow how misguided you are. Christians were burned at the stake accused of being witches. Those were messed up people who committed that act---------not Christians.

Talk about a true Spirit of Antichrist.

Answer 11

If not for Christianity, I imagine humans would have already explored the galaxy. The dark ages were an unpardonable crime against humanity.