What do Christians get from Christianity?

Question

I understand what pagans, Buddhists, Hindus, get from their religions. Some of what they glean is the same, and some of it different for each religion. I have never really understood what Christians get from their belief in Christ or, in fact, any of the Abrahamic religions. The Abrahamc religions are based on the threat of punishment, I don't understand what positivity they could get from it. I do understand that many folks are indoctrinated early and never have any hope of actually choosing their religion, I'm talking about those that are educated and have experience that would allow them to see the world differently. How does it improve heir lives and bring something positive into it?

So far the answers can be summed up with: they get nothing positive, just the hope that they will be free from the promised punishment.

Answer 1

Hope for an afterlife, hope of salvation.

For many people, this hope is all that allows them to go on. Without it, they would have nothing.

Answer 2

ETERNAL LIFE...

Did not bother to read the rest of your 'question' I just decided to answer the question on the headline.

Now that I have read it I will clarify. The divine creator of the universe does not change because I choose this religion or that religion as more compatible to my tastes. If you think the PROMISE of eternal life is a threat of punishment you have missed the entire point.
The punishment is not doled out by an angry god but rather it is the result of your choices as a human. If you choose to turn your back on God the result is the absence of God.
If you think eternal life at the place of the divine as nothing then I am sorry for you. Your preconceived notions are obvious by your attitude and your mind and heart has walls and barriers in place.
Until you deal with these issues you will never see Abrahamaic god...The One Most High or his worship without bias.

Answer 3

I suppose they feel that they will live forever according to their beliefs. Sort of like what Ponce de Leon was looking for, but he never did find that fountain. Add to that a bit of Schadenfreude at the thought of all those other heathens suffering for eternity. The Jews set the example with their "chosen ones" bit (worked for them). Makes you feel kinda special.

The nice thing about religion, for the propagators anyway, is that nobody ever asks for their money back after they die.

I am also puzzled how people that are educated can believe in this stuff. I guess the helpless desperation of the fact of mortality makes it attractive for otherwise intelligent people to willingly suspend disbelief.

Answer 4

Truth, peace and love... just because you haven't experienced it yet doesn't mean it isn't true.

Abrahamic religions are not based on threat and punishment. If you actually understood the truth about real Christians you wouldn't ask a question like this.

Have you met many Mormons? Aren't they happier than the average Joe... You think this is coincidence?

Answer 5

I know very few Christians who were indoctrinated from childhood. most chose Christ of their own free will in adulthood despite the misinformation that leads to such statements as yours. There is a thing called Salvation ie the redemption from one's sins. Saved once and forever and made a new person who has the power from God to change themselves and their world for good. It also has the advantage of being the real thing instead of a half-truth or copy cat like the other religions you mentioned. They will keep you feeling good about yourself right until you spend eternity separated from God in a place called hell.

Answer 6

Reading the Bible and following the example of Jesus Christ both helps us spiritually and morally. His teachings bring out the best in people to love one another. So I believe the word of God enriches my life as a Christian. It also opens a pipeline to talk to God through prayer. I truely believe that by reading the Bible and being in pray with our Lord, He will bless this life and the life after death. By being a Christian I also gain the peace of knowing what will happen after death. If relieves me of the fear of death, not looking forward to the pain associated with it, but I look forward to the life after death. Because God has told me, through His word in the Bible that I will be in heaven. So, I'm a better person now because of what I am learning. And, because of what I've learned I will be much better off after death in heaven.

Answer 7

Christianity is based on love, not threats, even though it's not always portrayed that way. That's what I get from it, along with peace, patience that I never had before and salvation. I was not brainwashed as a child. I didn't become a Christian until I was 28.

May God bless you.

Answer 8

I believe Christians connect to the divine like Hindus , pagans, and and many other religions do. I think it's just clouded by dogma. But that connection brings a lot of peace and clarity. That's why it's so frustrating to them that we won't believe they are right. But they don't realize that we are all right, we just worship different ways.

Answer 9

...1. How would you like to know God in a personal way?
...2. How would you like to know for certain that you are going to Heaven, and lose the fear of death?
...3. How would like to enjoy a whole life-support system (rather than a worldly crutch like drugs, alcohol, food), based on God's unchanging word?
...4. How would like to enjoy God's promises, i.e., (I will never leave you nor forsake you; Heaven when you die)?
...5. How would like to have God the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, empowering you to live for Christ and helping you understand His word?
...These are just a few things we enjoy as Christians.

Answer 10

Actually, true Christianity is NOT based on the threat of punishment. It's based on love. Love that our Heavenly Father has for us, and love we have for Him. Christianity's core teachings deal with improving ourselves and spreading joy to others around us. It deals with gaining inner peace as our faith grows stronger. Ultimately it deals with eternal glory in God's presence.

Answer 11

It's not about punishment, it's about rewards. The point of our belief is that we will spend eternity in Heaven. Hell is reserved for non-believers. The punishment serves only to drive us toward reaching out to non-believers.