What did Christianity have to Offer?

[Darth Wong]

Christianity has the same thing to offer that the lottery does: totally unrealistic hope for the poor and downtrodden.

But to be fair, the poor and downtrodden occasionally win the lottery.

True. Unlike God, the lottery verifiably exists. But the basic comparison remains: both of them sell what is an inherently unrealistic promise to those who have nothing else to hope for, and they use it to take away part of what little they have.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, maybe the Nigerian money scam is a better analogy.

[Velthuijsen]

Evidence please.

I don't have evidence for the revelations statement. Just an opinion formed after reading the bible. Concluding it just didn't fit with the rest of the new testament and that it was the stick to the carrot offered by Jezus.

For the other on Augustine.
His writings underpin a majority of the RK church doctrines. He wasn't the first to mention (or teach) original sin but he canonized it.
The short answer is this link. A bit longer is this link (paragraph Influence as a theologian and thinker).
Even longer is this link (paragraph Augustine on Limitations, Sex and Original Sin).
A very long treatise on Augustine and the original sin (link).
Probably the longest article (link) is about how influential Augustine was on the RK church. It is not directly stated as the entire article explores the influence of his work (closest is probably the opening sentence of III. AUGUSTINISM IN HISTORY).

[Rye]

I wonder if the early church focused more on the eschaton or the similar yet distinct issue of the afterlife? The certainty that the world is coming to an end and Jesus/whoever is just around the corner has always been appealing, and it continues to be so, it gives people a reason to give up the struggle of life and more likely to allow themselves to be martyred. On the other hand, I would take the "live according to God's will, you'll get a nice afterlife if you do" idea more likely to have come about after christians got power and it didn't look like the apocalypse was as much at the door.

[Tolya]

There are still polytheistic religions today

I recall one of the chapters in God Delusion arguing specifically that christianity isnt really an entirely monotheistic religion, as it has half-divine creatures that have supernatural powers - the saints (and I don't mean those three wackos from Boston).

[Velthuijsen]

I recall one of the chapters in God Delusion arguing specifically that christianity isnt really an entirely monotheistic religion, as it has half-divine creatures that have supernatural powers - the saints (and I don't mean those three wackos from Boston).

You could also argue that it is a form of ancestor or hero worship.

[Knife]

There are still polytheistic religions today

I recall one of the chapters in God Delusion arguing specifically that christianity isnt really an entirely monotheistic religion, as it has half-divine creatures that have supernatural powers - the saints (and I don't mean those three wackos from Boston).

Isn't one of the biggest arguments for that the trinity? Nobody has ever explained that so it makes sense. And below that, the angles and the virgin mary herself are definately worshiped.

[Darth Wong]

There are still polytheistic religions today

I recall one of the chapters in God Delusion arguing specifically that christianity isnt really an entirely monotheistic religion, as it has half-divine creatures that have supernatural powers - the saints (and I don't mean those three wackos from Boston).

Isn't one of the biggest arguments for that the trinity? Nobody has ever explained that so it makes sense. And below that, the angles and the virgin mary herself are definately worshiped.

Hell, the Pope is worshipped as a minor deity. And they've built monuments and memorials dedicated to their martyrs and "saints". But all of these individuals are supposed to worship the one Galactic Overlord.

[Darth Servo]

Hell, the Pope is worshipped as a minor deity. And they've built monuments and memorials dedicated to their martyrs and "saints". But all of these individuals are supposed to worship the one Galactic Overlord.

I suppose they "justify" it by putting those people in a similar category to angels in that they have "special status" but they still aren't God for which position, they start quoting "Highlander"

[wolveraptor]

Those religions which include repetitive and significant actions required to go to heaven tend to survive. A christian was expected to attend service and pray often. Similarly, Islam requires you to pray several times a day in a fancy ritual. These theologies assert themselves in the minds of the followers. They become important aspects of their daily lives. Contrastingly, paganism, especially Hellenic paganism, never had that kind of strict requirement. Further, these religions promised material goods in return for sacrifice, while Christianity promised an eternity in heaven. The poor were regularly dissapointed by the former guarantee, while the latter was never demonstrably proven wrong, which is enough to satisfy the ignorant.

[Stark]

Heh, when an Islamic leader of some sort says something wacky, everyone cries 'lol teh muslims should sackzor him'... but when the Pope says something retarded or racist or whatever, it's all about 'interpreting' the 'father' with his 'phone to god'.

And I agree with Wolveraptor. Other religious systems are *hard*. Judaism et al is fucking EASY, you don't have to DO jack shit.

I'd add that many religions that we think of as polytheist emerged from prehistory, had strong ties to places or localities, and had a primary function of explaining shit like weather, death, etc. They are based on very primitive needs, rather than modern monotheism, which is more based on retarded circular philosophical arguments about 'the divine'. By the time Judaism started to take off, we were in the middle of the Roman period. All the characteristics Judaism had to make it 'portable' make it easy for people to adopt.

[Darth Wong]

Mind you, the Old Testament promises all sorts of material rewards for faith, and material punishment for misbehaviour. A lot of the perceived benefits of Christianity actually don't apply when you look at the totality of the evidence.

But Christians have done a good job of emphasizing the positive, and suppressing the negative. I would argue that most of the success of Christianity and Islam (Judaism is quite frankly not a rousing success) can be laid at the feet of their government backing. Let's not forget that both of these religions were backed by powerful empires at one time or another. If Christianity had taken root in Tibet instead of Rome, it would not have been the success that it was.

[wolveraptor]

Well the obvious follow-up question would be why were they adopted by the emperors of the time, wouldn't it?

[Velthuijsen]

Well the obvious follow-up question would be why were they adopted by the emperors of the time, wouldn't it?

Going into this very short (it's 3 am and I'm of to bed soonish).

Christianity was taken up by Constantine because it was stabilizing his empire (despite the schisms already occurring) and it allowed him to tap the still growing power of the faith.

[Big Orange]

I would argue that most of the success of Christianity and Islam (Judaism is quite frankly not a rousing success) can be laid at the feet of their government backing.

Judaism was a dismal failure in comparison to Chritianity or Islam mainly due to it's insular arrogance - Judaism seems to be originally built on "us vs. them, forever" while Christianity or Islam seems to be based on the concept of "us vs. potential future members". It is as blunt and as simple as that.

[Darth Wong]

Well the obvious follow-up question would be why were they adopted by the emperors of the time, wouldn't it?

The emperors of one particular empire. That doesn't mean it is necessarily intrinsically superior; it didn't take hold everywhere its people tried to spread it.

[Vehrec]

One thing christianity offered was a convenience of faith. Most of the Gods worshiped by the Greeks and Romans were either Civic, and worshiped as a part of state duty, or more cult like, and worshiped in small private ceremonies. Contrast the civic worship of Jupiter with its massive temples to that one god where new initiates stood under a bull on an iron grate that was then sacrificed as part of their initiation. A christian after Constantine could do away with splitting his priorities, worship one god for both the well being and protection of the city and at the same time achieve a personal relationship.
It's a small benefit, but as a menial laborer, If I want some spiritual opiate for my life, I want one that doesn't require another hour a week in a temple to a god I don't care that much about.