The reason why Christianity is so popular.

[Elessar]

This was much later on, during and after the Council of Nicea by Roman emporer Constantine.

"Later on"? The 300s are pretty early on, I'd say.

 

[Reverend Rick]

Yet again you miss my point.
The crusades were a boost for the religion and made it wide spread because they were taking over countries and forcing the religion onto them.

I get your point, you do realize that we Christians do what we do just to annoy you right? Our whole religions goal past and present was designed to make you miserable.

 

[rockondon]

Because of this thing called the crusades where christians went around killing hundreds of thousands of people in the name of "god".
Agree or Disagree?

I disagree.
I think its popular because it preaches to the choir telling you what you want to hear, while also being a fear-based religion and the threat of eternal hellfire scares people into believing anything else.

 

[ChristineES]

I disagree.
I think its popular because it preaches to the choir telling you what you want to hear, while also being a fear-based religion and the threat of eternal hellfire scares people into believing anything else.

And what about those Christians who don't believe in hellfire? Not all of us do. Some of believe that what they call hell is either "the grave" or a state of mind. In other words, not all people are Christians because they are afraid not to be.

 

[Luminous]

And what about those Christians who don't believe in hellfire? Not all of us do. Some of believe that what they call hell is either "the grave" or a state of mind. In other words, not all people are Christians because they are afraid not to be.

: But, if you weren't Christian you would be missing something; wouldn't you?

 

[gnomon]

Yet again you miss my point.
The crusades were a boost for the religion and made it wide spread because they were taking over countries and forcing the religion onto them.

Try again.

 

[Mister Emu]

Back in ther early days of Christianity it certainly was the literalists againsts the Gnotists, many despised the fact that the literalists were insisting that Jesus was a real person instead of a spiritual being.

Define "early days" and "many"...

do you accept the authority of the Roman Emperor... to decide doctrine for the Faith.

That was never a question, no one, to my knowledge, has ever taught that the Roman Emperor had the authority to decide doctrine...

 

[Smoke]

Well, that's the reason many of us are Christians.

Every time I go to church, the preacher says, "Hey losers, remember in the Dark Ages when they had those dad-burned Crusades? That was fun!"

When I was a Christian, I actually did hear people mention the Crusades fairly often. But then, my church was on the receiving end of the Crusades, and people in the Balkans have long, long memories.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

When I was a Christian, I actually did hear people mention the Crusades fairly often. But then, my church was on the receiving end of the Crusades, and people in the Balkans have long, long memories.

Yeah, that's a different experience.

In Amerika, that pastor I reference is Cumacho.

YouTube - Idiocracy - House of Representin'

 

[darkendless]

Define "early days" and "many"...


That was never a question, no one, to my knowledge, has ever taught that the Roman Emperor had the authority to decide doctrine...

Look up Eusebius - Church History (on Constantine I) and you might be able to find something there.

 

[emiliano]

Because of this thing called the crusades where christians went around killing hundreds of thousands of people in the name of "god".
Agree or Disagree?

I disagree, I don't believe that anybody can force someone to believe, war of any type created resented people, not converted people, I think that it is the power of the Gospels of Jesus is what does it, its transforming power, the crusades were a war for the possession of a City, religion was used to encourage participation and severely damaged religion’s reputation it did not gain them any faithfuls on the contrary it created a formidable enemy, even to this days this is used to embarrass the Church. So No! The Crusades did not help one little bit, they were a hinder to it spreading

Crusades, military expeditions undertaken by Western European Christians beginning in 1095, usually at the request of the pope, to recover Jerusalem and the other places of pilgrimage in Palestine (now in Israel and Palestine) known to Christians as the Holy Land from Muslim control.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2006. © 1993-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

There was both commercial and religious interests involved, it was an important trade centre and important City, and it was a Christian City.

Little is known of the city from the time of Hadrian until that of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great, when Christianity became the religion of the empire. The population of Jerusalem was gradually supplemented by Christians, and pilgrims flocked to the city. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built at the order of Constantine.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2006. © 1993-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

So we have that the Christians controlled this important City, that ended in 637 from that time to 969 the Christian population was not persecuted by their Muslim conquerors, then it was the Turks turn to rule and this is where the situation became untenable for Christians, they could not continue their business, the great trade that the pilgrims brought, but this was not a powerful enough reason for Western Europe to go to war and religion and it leaders were brought into the equation.

 

[darkendless]

I disagree, I don't believe that anybody can force someone to believe, war of any type created resented people, not converted people, I think that it is the power of the Gospels of Jesus is what does it, its transforming power, the crusades were a war for the possession of a City, religion was used to encourage participation and severely damaged religion’s reputation it did not gain them any faithfuls on the contrary it created a formidable enemy, even to this days this is used to embarrass the Church. So No! The Crusades did not help one little bit, they were a hinder to it spreading

There was both commercial and religious interests involved, it was an important trade centre and important City, and it was a Christian City.

So we have that the Christians controlled this important City, that ended in 637 from that time to 969 the Christian population was not persecuted by their Muslim conquerors, then it was the Turks turn to rule and this is where the situation became untenable for Christians, they could not continue their business, the great trade that the pilgrims brought, but this was not a powerful enough reason for Western Europe to go to war and religion and it leaders were brought into the equation.

Emiliano there is little doubt Christianity spread its religion through the sword, well attempted to. It was believed (for a short time at least) that an army bearing the cross of christ could not be defeated. There is nothing to "believe" about the crusades. Simply look at the evidence there is.

Religious interests can be discounted as the Muslims allowed Christians to worship in the city. The Christians took the city and begun to tax the muslims, hardly fair. It was a city of multiple faiths, not just a christian city.

 

[Father Heathen]

The reason Christianity is "popular" is because people were born into and brought up in it.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I disagree.
I think its popular because it preaches to the choir telling you what you want to hear, while also being a fear-based religion and the threat of eternal hellfire scares people into believing anything else.

People stick with Christianity for better reasons than that.

For one, the human existence is littered with feelings of self-loathing, guilt, and suffering. Christianity offers hope in the form of a loving force in the universe. The mythology is deep and rich, and offers much hope and guidance to those who need it.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

The reason Christianity is "popular" is because people were born into and brought up in it.

That's why anything is popular, my friend.

 

[Mister Emu]

The reason Christianity is "popular" is because people were born into and brought up in it.

This fails to explain why it got popular in the first place...

 

[science_is_my_god]

This is pure speculation, but look at history close enough, and you'll see that Christianity became popular during the Roman Empire. Rome was such a large empire, that it was difficult to prevent rebellion, sucession, anarchy, etc. from breaking out. The best way to unify a people is to get them to believe in a common purpose, or common goal. At that time, Christianity was very young, but a very plausable way to unify an empire, primarily because Abrahamic religions such as Judaism and Islam were in popular practice. So I think it is reasonable to assume that Rome "spread the word of god" around because it keeps people looking up at the sky and not the world around them.

 

[emiliano]

Emiliano there is little doubt Christianity spread its religion through the sword, well attempted to.

I hate ambivalence, what is it, did they or didn’t they? If you do any of these thing you will never get a converted soul for your efforts, on the contrary you will have a dangerous enemy.
So you are telling us that by cutting pieces of people, humiliating, starving them, one can convert people to Christianity? Are you OK? Killing them? Come on mate, you didn’t think this one through, did you? Killing their family members?

It was believed (for a short time at least) that an army bearing the cross of christ could not be defeated. There is nothing to "believe" about the crusades. Simply look at the evidence there is.

Look at Encarta and you’ll see that they won only the first of them.

Religious interests can be discounted as the Muslims allowed Christians to worship in the city. The Christians took the city and begun to tax the muslims, hardly fair. It was a city of multiple faiths, not just a christian city.
Here we go again, they began to tax people because they were in control, they conquered the City, that was their political aim, to collect taxes, to own the City, and by the way as soon as they gain control of the City t became a one faith City. Do you take this as “everybody became Christian?

 

[Mister Emu]

primarily because Abrahamic religions such as Judaism and Islam were in popular practice.

Islam didn't exist, and I'm unsure of the popularity of Judaism, or that the Empire would choose a Judaic based religion, considering the rebellions and dissent from the area...

 

[darkendless]

I hate ambivalence, what is it, did they or didn’t they? If you do any of these thing you will never get a converted soul for your efforts, on the contrary you will have a dangerous enemy.
So you are telling us that by cutting pieces of people, humiliating, starving them, one can convert people to Christianity? Are you OK? Killing them? Come on mate, you didn’t think this one through, did you? Killing their family members?
Look at Encarta and you’ll see that they won only the first of them.

Religious interests can be discounted as the Muslims allowed Christians to worship in the city. The Christians took the city and begun to tax the muslims, hardly fair. It was a city of multiple faiths, not just a christian city.
Here we go again, they began to tax people because they were in control, they conquered the City, that was their political aim, to collect taxes, to own the City, and by the way as soon as they gain control of the City t became a one faith City. Do you take this as “everybody became Christian?

They did, i thought it was common knowledge. However, some people do like to ignore it since it puts a black mark against christianity. What are you preaching to me for, i didn't do any crusading. Im not telling you anything other than that the crusades were christianity spread via a sword. Is it that hard to grasp?

My point was there is nothing to believe. They were driven back many times by Saladin. They should have quit while they were ahead, its just embarrassing as much as its embarrassing when people try and dodge some simple facts about the crusades.

So its about politics is it? What amuses me is how people can say how tolerant and loving christians are. Just look at this. They were given free passage at all times. But that wasn't good enough so they conquered the city and put taxes on everyone else. Not very friendly if you ask me.