Do you think Christianity would survive if it became illegal?

Question

I have in mind the burning times... the inquisition, where witchcraft became a crime punishable by death.
Do you think it would last?
Use percentages in your answer please...eg 80% of christians would stand firm... or 10% would keep it secret, or 99% would turn away etc...

Answer 1

Not a chance!!!
Because they survive by being spoon fed, what to believe, and how to act, what to say etc...
They have not the mental & spiritual strength to survive as the pagans did.
Percentages
give up on their faith(renounce)......80%
hide....................................................10%
stand firm..........................................-10%

Answer 2

It would if were the true christianity. False Christians have a belief on the lips not in the heart.

I heard a talk on Korean brainwashing. It told of the 5 steps. 1-Disassociation. Not knowing day from night, week from week. 2-Deprevation. Of food and water. 3-Little things becoming more important than big things. Always handing meal plate with fork on one side, then changing to left. Subjects could not eat with changes. 4-You've got a friend. An enemy befriends you. 5-Right becomes wrong. Wrong becomes right. Subject is fully turned from former loyalties.

That is the basic technique used forever boiled down. It is effective on almost every group except Jehovah's Witnesses. In WWII, thousands of JWs were put in the death camps. All they had to do was salute Hitler, sign a piece of paper and they could have gotten out. None did. At the end of the war 5 times as many JWs came out as went in.

JWs were illegal in Malawai, and many other African countries, USSR, for the past 5 years in France, even for a time in the US.

The difference was true Christianity is in the heart of reason and understanding of each true Christian. It is a part of life not something done for show one day a week.

Answer 3

You are confused. It was the Christians who carried out the Inquisition and who burned witches. History shows that the surest way to make a religion grow is by persecuting its followers and making them martyrs. It arouses curiosity, interest, and compassion. Christianity may evolve, but it will never die out. What use are statistics when they're just guesses that cannot be ascertained until such events as you describe transpire? Even Islam is duty-bound to protect Christians and Jews as long as they do no harm to Muslims or Islam, and that doesn't mean merely disagree with it. It means behave treacherously. There are fanatics in all three religions that place personal agendas before the teachings of their respective faiths. Fanatics in power could drive another religion underground, but nowhere has any of the world's great religions been entirely snuffed out.

Answer 4

I think it would, actually. In Morocco, where converting from Islam (apostasy) is technically forbidden (although the penalty is not like that in Afghanistan or Iran - I think it may not even be criminalized), there are all sorts of underground Christian communities. And in countries where it is extremely forbidden (Afghanistan comes to mind), people still choose to convert!

That said, I don't think Westerners are as firm in their beliefs. I would say that worldwide, 60-70% of Christians would stand firm.

Answer 5

Hang around for the next U.S. Election. You may know the answer 100% beginning late January early February 2009.

I also agree with those we answered, Christianity like all religions flourishes through the bad times, and languishes during the good.

Answer 6

I'm not sure what you are implying with your reference to "the inquisition" (which one?). But certainly Christianity was illegal in the Roman world for quite some time, and it was strong under the persecution. So if it happened today, based on my observation of peoples' lack of faith, I would venture that easily 80% would "drop out" and the 20% would go underground, whatever it would take to keep the faith alive.

Answer 7

No it would thrive! At my college after 9/11 the amount of people who converted to Islam was unreal. It's like a whole rebellion thing. Now it's cool to be a muslim when it wasn';t seen as such before. When you look back the only thing that has changed is the terrorist attacks.

*That's my personal opnion on the matter and those who don't like it can shove it.*

Answer 8

Christianity has been illegal in the past (Rev. 2:10) & survived. Christianity is illegal in some countries today (just read the news) & is yet surviving. Christianity will be illegal in the future (Rev. 2:13) & will continue to survive (Rev. 20:4).

Answer 9

I think they would be some who would still stand by Christ.

The belief is in the heart. If someone wants to know the one true God under those circumstances, they would witness till the death.

In any event, it is a good way to find out who is really, truly for God and who isn't. Good question.

Answer 10

History has consistently proven that Christianity flourishes in times of persecution and oppression (i.e. Roman Empire, Dark Ages, and Communism).

Make it illegal in America and Christianity will only grow... 100%!

Answer 11

Its the true test of what you believe. Those who have had a genuine experience of Jesus would stand. I often wonder the same question if everything was taken away from you and you had to put your entire trust in God (like Job, who in all fairness did complain a bit!!). We live in such a material society that in some corners of the world, it would be a real test.