Since Christianity has few answers for the modern age, will more people leave the faith in future generations?

Question

The Old Testament would be a great guide book if you suddenly woke up in the middle of the desert 3,000 years ago surrounded by goat herders, but it doesn't really address people who aren't inclined to stone their own daughters to death for not bleeding on their wedding night. There is no chapter in Deuteronomy with instructions for Soccer Moms.

The New Testament might be useful if you suddenly woke up in the middle of a Jewish rebellion against the Roman Empire circa 67 AD, but does it really have any useful information for dealing with a Global Economy? Aside from telling you that all of those people out there are evil and probably pawns of the Anti-Christ? What will happen to your religion when the earth is still here in 500-1000 years. Won't you look just as ignorant and stupid as the people who thought the world was going to end back in 999 AD?

Answer 1

Christianity is one of the most modern religions, but it still outdated by now. There are not many new big religions forming today out of exactly those reasons: the education rates (luckily) raises in the world and it gets harder to isolate and convince people of a faith.
All religions are outdated and changed by the men in power for centuries. I have nothing against people believing in a god, but religions are clearly man made.

crabby: Hitler was a faithful Christian and Nazi Germany was considered as a Christian country those days!

Answer 2

There are a lot of "ifs" here. A lot of people believe the earth will be destroyed due to WMD's and the next big war. Others believe that Global Warming or other catastrophes will destroy the earth. How about earthquakes or volcanoes?

If the world lasts another 1000 years, which religion are we referring to? The Jewish religion has been around for several thousands of years. What would cause it to evaporate in another thousand years?

The same thing is true about the Catholic church? It's not quite as old as Jewish religion, but it has a long history. Islam has a long history and I understand it's the fastest growing religion. What kind of scientific discovery would cause people to quit believing in God? I don't see anything happening to cause this.

What kind of answers are you looking for in the Bible? Are you wanting to know how to invest in which markets? Are you wanting instructions on how to be a good parent or spouse or how many kids to have. Are you searching for a job, and you need guidance?

If anyone believes there is a book that you can open and find, in a language you can understand, precise answers for every problem or challenge, then I would wonder what planet they are from. No such book exists.

If we view the Bible only as a tool for guidance, then there are some very good suggestions in there. For example, a person is not to over indulge in drinking wine. I understand this to mean one could have a beer or a glass of wine, but should not drink to the point of impairing judgement.

Why would this be important? Why can't a person "party and have a good time?" Statitics I have read are:
85% of domestic violence involves people under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Date rape has about a 88%. People in prison: 98% are there because of a substance abuse problem or breaking the law to support the habit. How about the people that shoot/knife others while in attendance at the bar. Would they have committed the murder if they had not been drinking?

The Bible states there should be no sex outside of marriage. Why can't a person enjoy this "natural act?" Again, let's review some problems that exist in America. Teen pregancy is up. STD's are increasing extremely fast. What kind of problem is this causing with low income people? Would not confining sex to marriage solve a lot of these problems?

I know, most people will say people should be using condoms. But, is this not a band-aid?

How about helping others. (Understand, that I believe the churches are doing a very poor job about assisting people.) Should we not be involved with improving the qualitiy of life for others in need? Where would the world be if their citizens helped others to be a more positive product of society?

With these examples, I have referred to the Bible only as a guidance tool. For Christians, the Bible is more. Besides history, it assists us with understanding our God better. Non-believers need to understand, there is no invention, no new discovery, no new artifact finding that will cause us to give up our God and our beliefs. Do you understand what I'm saying. There is nothing you can do to persuade us to believe otherwise. If a alien arrived here on Earth and claimed to have traveled the universe and did not find God anywhere, it wouldn't change things. So, why worry about it? Live and let live.

Answer 3

It appears like you're at a loss for words through the Roman Catholic Church. they are incorrect of their beliefs about evolution and they are incorrect of their beliefs of transubstantiation. The Bible teaches hostile to both. My faith that Jesus will keep me contained in the destiny, isn't a blind bounce of religion, yet really the outcome of understanding that over 500 human beings directly witnessed that Jesus had risen from the useless. authentic technological expertise has already shown evolution is fake. besides the indisputable fact that Evolution has develop into the biggest state supported faith contained in the u . s . a .. did you comprehend that the continues to be of the military of Egypt has been discovered on the bottom of the pink Sea? it really is at a region the position the water is two hundred feet deep. did you comprehend that the perfect reason behind the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls is the Flood of Noah? Did you ever study bounce seconds?

Answer 4

I agree that in it's present "form," christianity has, will not and/or would not have much by way of "answers" for (whatever you see as) the modern age.

And I agree that unless the 'orthodoxical doctrine'--or the orthodoxical interpretation of the inspired writings of both the OT and NT does not change, then yes people will 'leave'--and believe their 'depature' will not be one of 'from the faith', but 'from the blind faith.'

I believe that anyone who sincerely studies the past application or 'practices and disciplines' of those who were living during the times that these inspired writings were created that you will discover that 'the religion' (interpretations, practices, etc) were and are VERY much different than they are today.

My point is, is that it is my opinion that Christianity (as a whole) has made tremendous evolutionary strides, and is still changing. And from what I can see is actually becoming more and more 'liberal' (as a whole) than becoming more conservative/orthodox.

Yes, progress is slow, and again, if one were to actually study the history of the 'religious evolution', I believe that you would discover that again, we (as Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc., etc.,) are making greater progress towards 'reasonableness' than ever before.

I believe that in 500-1,000 years that people will have woken up to the fact that 'orthodoxy' served it's purpose and it is (or was) time to 'move forward'.

To what, you ask?

That "truth" becomes or is our ONLY 'religion.'

However, I believe that only when the present 'orthdoxies' have failed and fallen will people be directly faced with
this decision.

I agree that just as we look back at 'earlier times' and laugh at their 'silliness', that those that come after us will do the same thing. I do not believe however, that this is an indictment of us, but just an result of an increase in knowledge and light.

It seems to me that the 'gift' (goal, etc.,) would be to be able to accurately discern the truth at this point in time (the present), rather than thinking that by using 'hindsight' one will be able to forecast/predict what others will think, say and believe in the future as it relates to any topic.

I agree that many religions seem to exist simply to identify 'the bad guy,' and that's about it. Again, this leads to my mantra that it is the people who allow this, in that they are not willing/able to do the thinking necessary to figure things out for themselves--so they rely and/or trust what may be termed as "outer authorities' for answers to what is 'right/wrong, good/bad, etc'

And how much different is this from, let's say what goes on with political parties???? Again, I believe that what we are seeing has less to do with 'religion', and more to do with 'human nature/behavior'.

Regards,

Bryan

Answer 5

The Old Testament is a great guide book for those who are in search of wisdom and insight into the human condition. Proverbs still contains some of the best advice ever written about dealing with people, and the Psalms are a source of great comfort to many people in times of stress and difficulty.

And the New Testament is more than useful today because it contains the life and teachings of Christ, the most beautiful Person to ever walk this earth. His love and compassion make Him the perfect role model for those who want to live lives of peace and happiness.

The only people who will look ignorant and stupid to any future generation are apt to be the ones who ranted and raved about those that they hated. You know -- people like Hitler, Bin Laden, etc.

Answer 6

Wrong.It has all the answers with regards to life.It wasn't written as a textbook for computer repair or any other "modern age" issue.More people will leave the faith because it was prophesied so 2,000 years ago.The earth will not be here in 500-1000 years because all the prophetic signs of the Last Days are taking place as we speak.All the signs were not present in 999 A.D..

Answer 7

Christ has the answers for today as well as yesterday. Jesus said that He Is the A & the Z. The First & the Last.

The Old Testament is a covenant between God & Israel. The New Testament is a covenant between God & all people who believe in Him from all Nations.

Answer 8

In agreeing with your statement, I would say that Christians look at the bible too much as the definite answer to all life's problems. Therefore, in order for christianity to still thrive they need to not look at the bible as some historic message sent by God in order to establish his laws, but rather use its fundamental messages that are universal for all humanity. Which would cause for the need for christians to use their brains in interpreting the message, which when faith and thinking come together christians seem to lack the ability for them to coincide.

Answer 9

We can already see the effects of Christians leaving the church for more up to date religions and beliefs. The Catholic Church is having one of the worst attendance records in its history! I think that it may have to do with the fact that people are also starting to see the flaws in the religion, too.

Answer 10

Sorry, bub. People have been trotting out that myth for years.

Christianity isn't about superficial trivia like you talk about. It's about how people are and how they should treat each other. And that doesn't change.

But you'll be happy to know some societies have rid themselves of Christianity. The tw best known are Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.