Have you ever considered the historical reasons for the spread of christianity ?

Question

Let's have a look at some of the christian areas in the world and see why they are christian.

Europe

Christianity becomes entrenched as part of European culture as a result of Constantine's wishes.

Africa

European christians invade Africa, kill hundreds of thousands, enslave others, steal land, destroy local traditions and beliefs and replace them with christianity.

North America / Australia

European christians invade, steal land from the native population, nearly wipe out the native population and then come in such droves as to come to completely dominate the area after several generation.

Central America / South America / Phillipines

European christians invade, kill hundreds of thousands, enslave others, steal land, destroy local traditions and beliefs and replace them with christianity.

The spread of christianity worldwide doesn't quite seem as glorious now does it ?

Islam doesn't fare much better.

Answer 1

You seem to be equating the spread of religion with much of the human suffering that goes on in the world.

Wake up. Human fallibility and the urge for domination, not religion, is the root cause of most wars. However, many people use religion as a reason for inciting war and inflicting their will onto others.

Don't get me wrong. Life on this earth is tough. It's kill or be killed. Conquer or be destroyed. However, these traits are part of the human psyche. I believe that many fanatics use religion as a reason for their baser instincts.

If man hadn't created religion, he'd still be fighting at the same level today. In fact, religion may be the only reason that we have survived on this planet as long as we have.

If the concept of a higher authority watching over us had not been conjured up from the depths of men's souls, other darker and more foreboding traits may have dominated in the early eons of man's evolution.

If not for the concept of religion, we probably would not exist today.

Answer 2

Actually, your information on how Europe was Christianized is inaccurate and incomplete.

1) Constantine did NOT make Christianity the official religion of the Roman empire. He issued an edict of toleration. It is Theodosius who declared Christianity to be the official religion of the Roman Empire.

2) The Romans never ruled the whole of Europe. There was a long process in late antiquity and throughout the Middle Ages of spreading Christianity amongst the Celts, Germans, Slavs etc.

3) If you'd care for a book recommendation, try this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060628529/sr=8-1/qid=1155661412/ref=sr_1_1/102-4601281-6516967?ie=UTF8

You might learn a lot about the process by which the Northern Europeans became Christian.

Answer 3

I have read this carefully and would like to respond. In all these regions and countries Christianity has had an impact. Christianity is the window to salvation and the incorperation of christanity into a place that has not heard of Jesus Christ. Let us not forget it is the people who are the ones corrupt here and not God. God set the rules of salvation and mankind has bent, torn, and abused the rules throughout the history of mankind. The leaders of organizations dedicated to worshiping the teachings of Jesus and the God the creator are responsible for the deaths of millions. Being a priest is a power and in centuries past that power was abused as it still is today. God is the foundation of the church, the priests are the walls, and the people the structure. God nor the Christian faith should not be blamed for the mistakes of sinners and idiolers who have hidden in the wings of religion and decieving people for money and greed.
If you feel hate enough to write such a long letter on how christianity has killed so many then you must have issues within your own soul and are one of the billions who have forsaken this cause.

Answer 4

I'll take your word on the historical accuracy of your statements....specially "Islam doesn't fare much better" which shows you are trying to be fair and impartial.

But you gave no play to the most important aspect of these historical events concerning Christianity. Before Christianity came about, that is to say before Christ brought us his "Message". There were many thousands of Gods thought the planet. Every nation, city, tribe and every person worshiped their own "God". If they could not find a "God" to their liking then they would make one up....or just declare themselves a "God".
What Christianity did was to bring us together at the peak of the information age of the "Roman Empire". Maybe you don't realize it but this was the very first "Information Highway" created on the planet that really encompassed/ reached so many millions of people for the first time. Jesus Christ "Message" and Jesus Christ himself were the very first "Superstars" of religion and "Supreme Being" monotheistic thinking.

Answer 5

Your history is basically correct, but the so-called Christians that perpetrated those acts were not following the principles set down by Christ Jesus. If you were to actually READ your Bible instead of dusting it off from time to time you would have already known about the corruption of Christianity that He and his apostles told us would happen. Our good friend Emperor Constantine of 4th Century Rome in his zeal to have absolute control incorporated so much from paganism into his new state mandated religion that he called "Christianity" that it became just another form of paganism. The part he liked so much was that he elected himself the first "Pope" and pronounced himself infallible, and by doing so he eliminated those pesky people that didn't agree. What followed is what you are referring to, but it is a far far cry from what Christ taught.

Answer 6

Christianity was forced upon people in places like Africa, Asia etc. The tyrannical Europeans who were once the world power naturally wanted the whole world to be under them. So they killed, bribed, raped and plundered in these places to assert their superiority. Considering history and all that the church has kept secret all these centuries makes one wonder if the whole religion is really what it claims to be or is it something they made up?

Answer 7

You can tell the size of a boat even if you never see it. How? By looking at the wake it left behind in the water. The wake Jesus left on this planet is still spreading 2000 years later, you have to wonder just how big the boat really was.

Answer 8

You foget the Hawaiian Islands where Missionaries came, slaped some religion on them, put clothes on them and then gave them measles, small pox, mumps and acne.

But you also forgot about Islam. Three men on horseback see two men walking, draw their swords and say to the walking men: Get down and praise Allah. They hesitate. One of the men on horses lops off the head of one man and the other quickly gets down on the ground, bows to Mecca and praises Allah!

You also forget about the Jews. They don't want you in their relgion unless you were Born to one of the Tribes, otherwise go find a nice Gentile religion to join.

Only the reformist Jews "convert" non Jewish people like Sammy Davis, Jr.

Answer 9

Well, I'm afraid you've got a few things wrong here.

All Constantine did was make Christianity legal and make restitution, in the form of lands, for the damage done to Christians at the hands of Romans.

Constantine called the Council of Nicea together to announce Christianity being made legal. He himself was not a Christian. Some 300 bishops attended. Including the man we now know as Santa Clause. Saint Nicholas of Myra.

Many of them still carrying scars and wounds from their persecution at the hands of the Romans. They learned Christianity from the original apostles. THEY are responsible for the spread of Christianity.

Actually the apostle Mark went to Africa. Some of our greatest church fathers were African. The second council, the Council of Hippo, was in Africa.

The Protestants did begin taking people as slaves. Including Elizabeth I who actually named her slave ship Jesus. Other Protestants, the Quakers - who suffered accusations of witchcraft at the hands of puritans and anglicans - who put an end to slavery.

Cortez took a handful of men to "the new world." He taught one indian tribe who was being used as sacrifice by another indian tribe, to fight for themselves. Ended the senseless slaughter of men, woman and children. Didn't cause it.

God is good.

Answer 10

Thanks, that is my point exactly, funny how Constantine was also a Pagan right up until 3 days before he died too, that he only renounced his faith of paganism, because he felt christianity could rise through him and become popular, most christians im sure though will not be willing to see any of this though.......what a shame Jesus really was nothing but a mortal man.....

Well Just me....if you think you have it correct why dont YOU tell us the way it goes then.....hmmmmm?