Could Christianity stand on it's own as a philosophy with no god concept?

Question

I just want to understand if this idea of self-improvement through belief would stand on its own sans god.

If you ask belief in what I will say belief that people should not closely associate with people who think differently from them.
Belief that servants should loyally obey their masters.
Beliefs of this nature.

Answer 1

I surely wouldn't think so. Anytime one of the tenants of the philosophy comes under attack, the only answer is "because God said so."

Why should women have to marry their rapist? God said so.
Why should gays be treated pooly? God said they are bad.
Why are other religions wrong? God said only this one is right.

And so on. Without the appeal to authority, there's nothing holding up the precepts.

Answer 2

Im not sure Im understanding the question but I'll give it a shot. I dont know what I can say of Christianity standing as a whole in the philosphy but it would definitely cause me to be different than I am. I dont know that I would feel guilty about doing things that I feel guilty about now. Probably if what I did involved directly hurting another person I would still feel guilty. But probably not so in the indirect ways.... like right now, if I stole something from work I would feel terribly guilty about it because I believe God thinks its wrong, though I know that really no one is directly hurt by it (Im talking about stealing a pack of printer paper, not like $50,000) and knowing I wouldnt be terribly offended if someone stole a pack of printer paper off me, I dont think Id use any additional morals to prevent me from doing so.

I might be more likely to be very permiscious because I wouldnt think there was any moral value to abstainence. So Id probably be male ho. And heck, if I could even get paid to do so?? Why not?

I think much of the philosphy in Christianity doesnt have a long shelflife if Christ/God was not involved.

Answer 3

Without the concept of God, one's beliefs would only be seen as opinions. The ones you cite do not have the strength of any profound philosophical concepts behind them. If Christ were seen as a mere prophet who advocated kindness as a good idea for it's own sake, people would say "fine, we already knew that," and go on about being kind only when it was to their advantage.

Christianity and Islam are not profound in their understanding of what's best for mankind - their purpose is to control and regulate men, not enhance their understanding in any realistic way.

Buddhism comes a lot closer as an example of a profound philosophy that doesn't depend on a God to give it some authority. If there were no real wisdom there, it wouldn't have lasted as long as it has, and with as many adherents as it has.

It may be flawed, but there is room in it to grow as our knowledge of ourselves grows. The same cannot be said for any God connected philosophies.

Answer 4

Without the concept of God there would be no Christianity. Without the concept of God there would be no need for self-improvement. Without the concept of God there would be no definition of sin, nor would the idea of salvation exist. In the absence of a system of belief that celebrates the existence of one true God, no other religion could survive. Consider the coming of Christianity as a stabilizing institution. Without it Judaism would have totally collapsed, as at the time Judaism was under subjugation by the Romans, who were pagan. Without christian influence Roman probably would have survived as a pagan empire and spread to the east. Hinduism and Buddhism would have been destroyed, and the entire world become pagan. All this is "what If" and doesn't change the facts as they are.

Answer 5

Huh? There are already philosophies regarding self-improvement through belief that have no god concept. Many are older than Christianity.

Since Christianity is totally based upon a belief in a god, obviously, it couldn't exist without the concept of one.

Answer 6

I think that Jesus could stand on his own as a philosopher and as a school of philosophy. Christianity would not exist as a church any more than an Aristotelian church exists. Paul, and his letters, could be perceived as a separate philosophical school or an early commentator on the Jesus school.

To a lesser extent, the OT could be warped into a non-religious philosophy but it would make more sense to compare it to Homer as a story with bits of history and philosophy embedded in it.

Answer 7

it's funny how your questions hardly make sense.
( I should elaborate on the not making sense: You do, your questions are very thought provoking, I think it would just be easier to understand exactly what it is asking if you were to speak instead of reading it) I'm an auditory person, not visual.

Christianity is the belief in Christ
Do you see the correlation CHRISTianity =CHRIST
1+1= ?

Those people talking like that " God said so" can't think for themselves, they are leaving it UP to GOD, and that is their ultimate downfall.
I am Chriti-wiccan.
MAny say that is impossibel, But yet here I am.

That enough for ya.
Everyone thinks Differently, but just because sokme one has another thought, doesn't mean their WRONG, just differant.

Answer 8

Yes. Its something being done by preachers like Joel Osteen. He's become a bizillionaire and his church just bought the old Houston Rockets basketball arena. He preaches mostly about living good lives and is more philosophy than Bible. I'm sure he mentions "God" from time to time, but, from what I've seen, God/Heaven not really specifically part of his "message".

I also know of many younger friends (in thier 20's) who go to these, what are commonly called, "Catholic-lite" churches. They still call themselves Catholic, but it seems like they've thrown the Bible out the window. They only "preach" about living good lives and being good people to their fellow man. They seem to have nothing to do with Catholicism, the Bible, or God...but they are supposedly still Christian.

Answer 9

It's interesting how many people claimto "know" what Christianity is all about and then speak and prove their ignorance.

Gather 'round children, I'll make this easy...

At it's core, Christianity says that mankind is doomed to eternal damnation because of it's unwillingness to seek forgiveness from God for it's sins.
Furthermore, it says that because we were so stubborn, God made a way for us to get "saved" by sending His Son to die in our place.
In essence, humanity owed a huge debt and couldn't pay it so God took it upon Himself to bail us out. That's why this "accepting Jesus and repenting of your sins" is so tantamount to the Christian faith.

Finally, to answer your question, if you took out the "God concept" it wouldn't stand on it's own because God is the very reason FOR Christianity.
All your examples in your questionmiss the whole point of Christianity. They reflect the "strawman's" version of it without going any deeper.

Hope this helps!

Answer 10

I want to be good toward my fellow people regardless of my faith. Jesus asks us to love one another. He does not say that love only those who think the same way as you. He gave us a free will, we need to respect each others choices. He lets us decide if we obey Him or not. I personally want to obey Him but I do not do it all the time. That is why I am so thankful for His mercy. I am thankful that I get much better deal than I deserve.