Christianity the biggest scam ever!!!
I originally decided not to respond to this post, but, upon further consideration, here goes:
First, we need to define ?scam?:
noun : a fraudulent business scheme; a swindle. [syn: cozenage] (Source: American Heritage Dictionary)
Second, we need to define ?Christian?
adjective.
- Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
- Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus's teachings.
- Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christ-like.
- Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
- Showing a loving concern for others; humane.
noun.
- One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
- One who lives according to the teachings of Jesus.
(Source: American Heritage Dictionary)
So now, lets see if the title of the thread holds up to scrutiny. Can ?Christianity? be a scam?
Premise #1:
According to adjective definitions 1 (questionable), 2 (questionable), 4 (questionable), and noun definition 1, and based on, for instance, the Catholic Church?s wealth, adding to that other ?Christian? religions, one could certainly be of the opinion that this qualifies as a ?scam?.
Premise #2
: However, using the other definitions of ?Christian?, 1 (questionable), 2 (questionable), 3 (questionable), 4, 5, and noun definition 2, this would clearly not meet the requirements for the definition of a ?scam?.
So, let?s assume (for the sake of argument), that some undefined percentage of ?Christianity? is really all about making money, swindling, and scamming the members of that segment of ?Christianity?. Further, lets assume (for the sake of argument), that an established Religion, sect, cult, division, etc (or a collection thereof), can be called a ?business?.
We now would have to take that percentage of ?Christianity?s? material holdings, wealth, income, and compare that to other businesses, to determine what is ?bigger?. I?m not sure anyone could prove that, so based on Premise #1, your assertion that ?
Christianity is the biggest scam ever?
, has no factual basis. Unless, of course you can prove irrefutably that is the case, the title of this thread is a lie.
Now, having stated that, upon examining the evidence, using the other definitions of Christianity, in Premise #2, we come to the same conclusion, the title of this thread is a lie.
So, then, on to the statement you made within the post itself:
Reading a number of posts here it seems like a fair amount of posters are still into and pushing the Christian philosophy. I would like to start a discussion here that objectively examines the evidence and not base a belief on "blind faith".
Let me stop you there. Whatever your philosophy, whether atheist, agnostic, religious, etc, all philosophies are based on ?faith? in something. As to whether that faith is ?blind?, is, and always will be, an opinion, not an irrefutable fact.
After leaving the Jdubs, I have read a number of books over the past few years. I wanted to see if there was ever any actual historical evidence to support the existence of a fellow by the name of Jesus existing. Out side of the bible and Christian writers, there is no evidence that a man by the name of Jesus even existed. What is others view about this topic?
Here?s my view-
You read a number books, and put your faith in those. Elsewhere, had you examined the evidence, you would have found evidence to support the belief that Jesus Christ literally came to Earth and existed, just as recorded in Scripture.
(1)- Just a few of the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus Christ can be found here: http://www.comfortfortoday.com/prophecy/700pro.htm
And elsewhere, in numerous sources.
(2)- Was Jesus just a myth?
http://www.carm.org/evidence/Jesus_myth.htm
http://www.carm.org/evidence/1Cor15_3-4.htm
http://www.carm.org/evidence/Josephus_Jesus.htm
(3)- Archaeological evidence of Jesus? existence?
http://www.probe.org/docs/ossuary.html
(4)- His legacy- he left behind contemporaries of his, Apostles and Disciples who wrote about him, about his teachings, and the fact that that he has a had a greater influence on humanity than arguably any other, would lead to the conclusion that this recent trend to discredit the historicity of Jesus Christ, which was accepted for thousands of years, has ulterior motives.
There are numerous other sources for information on the historicity of Jesus Christ. What is the bottom line? No one can prove, nor disprove, that Jesus Christ walked the Earth, although there is much more evidence that he did.
So, in summary, it appears that the post met it?s intent, to draw replies, rather well.
Incidentally, for those of us who do consider ourselves Christian, and have faith in Jesus Christ, the following scriptures apply to those who deny that Christ came in the flesh:
Warning Against Antichrists
1 John 2:18: Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
1 John 2:21-23: I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
1 John 4:2,3: This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
2 John 1:6-8: And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
Bottom line, it all comes down to putting faith in something. What we put our faith in leads to our belief system, or philosophy. And there is inadequate evidence for any belief system, to irrefutably prove a factual conclusion, other than the factual conclusion that there is inadequate evidence for any belief system, to irrefutably prove a factual conclusion, ad nauseum. What you put your faith in is up to you, of your own free will. Choose wisely.
Cheers,
Love_Truth
