One of the false assumptions of Pascal’s Wager is that at its worst Christianity is harmless.
“If Christianity is right you gain everything and ***if Christianity is wrong, you have lost nothing.***
So in what ways does Christianity harm the individual and society at large? What is lost in adopting a Christian view of the world?
Please be respectful
2007-02-15 03:01:54 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Individually, it causes a lack of responsibility toward ones decisions and actions (the devil made me do it, or my sin-nature is taking over). It also causes a lack of social responsibility (I'm in this world not of this world)
It teaches one that they are nothing and lowly and that God is everything and has to supply all their needs, so why bother working for anything or enjoying one's accomplishments?
The christian view of the world is that it is an ugly, sinful place and that they are going to escape all responsibility for it with a rapture.. that they don't have to fix anything in it.. God will do that when Jesus comes back and makes everything right.
The effects on society at large .. historically, the Inquisition, The Crusades, the Witch Trials, et al were the result of Christianity's convert or die mandate. Hundreds of thousands of people were slaughtered and tortured because of this.
Modern day- political agendas such as anti-abortion legislation (regardless of issues of health to the mother or rape), anti-gay legislation which discriminates against them and legislates what I (as a heterosexual) can do in the privacy of my own home and with whom I can spend the rest of my life, if I so choose.. as a wiccan, if I serve in the military I cannot have my religious symbol on my tombstone... just to name a few.
This is as respectful as I can be, Grimmy.
2007-02-15 03:11:01 · answer #1 · answered by Kallan 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Homosexuality doesn't have a negative effect on society, because GOD gave men the will strong regardless of what. Christian which only means Christ-like or being like Christ. A Christians' job is to enlighten the wrong doers of what they are doing wrong according to scriptures (Bible), but not to criticize or judge. Should be done in an unbiased way. They person doing wrong might not know it, if no one ever tells them.
2016-05-24 03:27:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
one Christianity is vary bad for the world and all those that say its about love bull and for the few that really truly live by the word of god in life and in heart I feel so sorry for you. god is not real he is a nice way to tell u how to think and the grate part about that is u let in control you. I have been told over and over that im going to hell. im not a bad kid no legal records. I do have a big mouth but I pic my words carefully. and I say Christianity is one of the worst things to have ever hit this world. now there are religions that are worse don't get me wrong but the world would be a better and more truthful world if there were no gods. then we could over come are differences but are faiths are to soled and every one that dose not think like you is wrong. sorry I have to tip this fast but all in all Christianity should be erased form the world
2014-10-22 07:58:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
True Christianity does not intend to harm anyone or any group. Society at large persecutes the Christian faith for merely speaking the truth. The truth of God's Word is like a double edged sword.....it's sharp edges pierces the soul, and it hurts!!.........The harm that it causes comes only from societies inability to overcome the veil of deceit that Satan has on the world. The truth is not in them. Darkness cannot understand the light. The lie despises the truth. Satan is the god of this world; Lust, greed, envy, pride of life, are all sins against God and are the traits of Satan. These are the traits of which the world lives by until the veil of deceit is removed from their eyes. The darkness of evil is lost and the light of the truth is found through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
2007-02-15 03:58:03 · answer #4 · answered by SLEDGE 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's not just Christianity. It is any and all religions that profess to be the "ultimate truth" that can and often does harm, or negatively impacts society at large.
Being told that your beliefs are "the word of god" or "ultimate truth" immediately ends all questioning and potential growth. Anything, that by its very nature, stops intellectual curiosity cold, is its own evil. This is what has created the battle fields surrounding issues like stem cell research. Then you have the "fatalism" of the alleged coming of the end of the world. Why bother under these circumstances? Why attempt to make a better world if you believe it's all going to go up in smoke the moment the mythological "final battle' happens between god and satan?
In my humble opinion, this is anything but "harmless!" It causes insurmountable harm that we have not as yet been able to quantify.
2007-02-15 03:13:58 · answer #5 · answered by gjstoryteller 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
When the great Billy Sunday left baseball to preach, you could say he was responsible for effecting society. During that time he drew over 1 1/2 mil listeners in a 10 1/2 wk campain. The RESULTS; many stores decided to close for an hour a day to pray which practice spread to the Brits, judges were idle as they had so few cases, the police had little to do because the crime rate went unbelievingly low, illegitimate births decreased, drunken brawls disappeared, and people were more couteous.
Xtians are the ones who would have the right to be angry when allowed sin ruins the world.
2007-02-15 03:28:30 · answer #6 · answered by spareo1 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The problem of the wager is that it assumed Christianity is the religion that worship the real god. Under that assumption, the wager seems to make sense. However, if religion X is the religion of the real god who does not punish non-believer but punishes the wrong believer, then it may be better to believe no god than the wrong god.
2007-02-21 07:01:55 · answer #7 · answered by ShanShui 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The irony of that last statement is amazing. You ask a question that attacks people's religious beliefs and then ask that replies be respectful? That's something like asking a lion to be respectful of the gazelle that he's planning on tearing into pieces.
But to answer your question, Christianity has made its share of mistakes -- no doubt of that at all. But to those who live according to the teaching of Christ, Christianity means loving and caring for others, the way Jesus did.
In practical terms, that means giving of one's time, money, and talents to benefit the community and the world. Christians have built hospitals, hospices, soup kitchens, food and clothing pantries, homeless shelters, and schools. They donate money and work to relieve suffering during times of emergency and disaster.
I don't think those things exactly qualify as harmful -- just the opposite, as a matter of fact.
2007-02-15 03:14:33 · answer #8 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Christianity is based on a personal relationship with God. There is no "harm" to anyone.
Individuals who call themselves Chrisitan (or anything else, like atheist, Jew, Muslim) may do harm. It's very popular currently to paint the entire faith from the acts of individuals.
Wolf's point about being respectful is one you should consider.
Triun's point about science is bandwagon stuff. Top scientists have wildly divergent points of view on these questions. The group of Christians with whom I am associated read it all. Too many posters at Y/A will not.
2007-02-15 03:20:18 · answer #9 · answered by cmw 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Excellent question. I can't think of a negative affect. Its up to the individual to believe in Christianity. If you choose not to believe, ok, christians are not going to kill you or harm you for your decision unlike some other religions.
2007-02-15 03:10:06 · answer #10 · answered by Gummy 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋