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

I agree about Christianity. And that Islam is not any better, either. Only that it hasn't had the chance to show us all it can do. But if tables reversed, and Islam became THE greatest religion worldwide, it would do the same kind of things.

Answer 2

I think you're putting a bit of spin on this.

I don't deny that Christianity has spread so widely because it happened to be the religion of the victorious Europeans, but you seem to imply that it was Christianity that was responsible for these invasions.

It was economics (or greed) that was the main driver for all the invasions that you mention and therefore if Europeans had belonged to any other religion (eg. if they had all worshipped slugs) then this would have been the religion that would have been imposed on those unfortunates who had been conquered. This is no different from any other period, other than the Romans, who tended to absorb other religions rather than convert.

Maybe the spread of Christianity is associated with a great deal of upheaval, war and bloodshed - but in most places in the world, it is now a free choice of the individual whether to be Christian or otherwise.

When Western civilisation eventually collapses (as surely it must at some stage in history) then it could be that we shall see another change in the dominant religion in these areas.

Answer 3

That's just silly. Constantine made concessions to Christianity because it had already grown so much.

If you want to actually read a book about the spread of Christianity instead of just invent things, I suggest Rodney Stark's Rise of Christianity. He is a sociologist of religion.

Answer 4

Hey, you left out the colonisation parts...

Most of southeast asia was colonised by the Western powers and they brought along their religion.

Yes, I would have to go with the power that was available to the Christian countries.. It wasn't because it was the true word of God or wadeva, it was merely because christianity fell into the "right" hands.

And now US is a supernation and basically hits out through the mass media





"First they had the Bible and we had our land. Now they have the land and we have the Bible"

Answer 5

Um ya,
Its called sin.
AND......IF it wasnt for Christ, than the answer to sin would still not be resolved. HISTORICALLY SPEAKING.
FUTURE SPEAKING ALSO. ETERNITY IS MORE THAN JUST A LONGGGGGGGGGGG TIME.
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