Thursday, April 23, 2009
Reading, p. 150-154
Christianity can be considered among the most successful religions in history. Today, Christianity is the most popular religion in the world with more than 2 billion adherents. Yet, it grew from very modest roots from a Jewish sect in a remote area of the civilized Roman world. Your text gives some reasons for the growth of this religion. Consider other factors that led to Christianity's growth and discuss what made this religion so important.
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Christianity offered a new hope for all people with a God that is loving and forgiving. People were open for something to believe in so the strong message of Jesus’ disciples spread the stories of Jesus and his word to people who were accepting of the religion. Jesus’ resurrection, the fact that Christianity was easy for all people to understand and included everyone, all added to attract people to the religion.
I never really had thought about it but I agree with Alex and what he said in class. That people are attracted to christianity because it's easy. Be good and believe in god and your promised everlasting life. I'm christian and I think that's a small part of it, it's got more depth to it than that. But I agree with Alex still. Another reason it spread so much was the idea of a peaceful and loving god. And as Katelyn said Christianity is easy to understand for people. That is a big change for the world as oposed to we are the gods entertainment, or different diety's for the forces of nature and stages of life. Christianity is important because its changed the world so much by becoming the most popular religoun in the world. Life would be very different, all the wars fought for it, people hating people in today's time for practicing christianity.
Christianity, unlike the Jewish religion, offers an everlasting life. If you follow the path acceptable to God, you will be rewarded in the end. Human nature, as Cam always tends to refer to in class, directs people to go for the rewards. So, to those who ask, what's in this religion for me? You've got your answer...an everlasting life. This "reward" sounds pretty good, and only draws people into accepting the religion. Once you become drawn into the religion, it's generally easy to have faith if you know you're headed somewhere in the end. Yet, as Katelyn said, Christianity also did offer a new hope that inspired many individuals. Believing in a higher power brought a motivation for peoples to do good in their lives.
People were so easy to believe in the religion of Christianity because when the early people were being ruled by the Romans, they were being opressed into following a religion in which there was no guarentee of a happy afterlife or future. Once rumors of religions from the hellenistic east that were said promised of people carrying into the next life and to live in peace was attractive to most people. That is why so many people enjoyed the endless boundaries of Christianity. These people were a conqured people that were forced by the romans to live a certain life a certain way. But by following the CHristian religion, there is hope of a better life endless life that you could visit after this one.
christianity grew because it acts as a good pacifier of the populace. it was constanatines velvet hammer. he could a)control the people (they would think; our life may suck here, but we have heaven) and b) he had the power to inspire his army to victory. since rome had nearly infinite recources that it was willing to devote to the budding papacy. after rome fell, the papacy had much of the recources of rome. this allowed it to send missionaries and build elaborate cathedals (see; haga sophia). both of these aspects allowed for rapid expansion into the now barbarian europe. the saxons, goths and (most importantly) the franks. these tribes would spread vasst empires into europe. that, mixed with a pick-up and play ethic allowed it to dominate
says the jew
as sarah said, Christianity offered a hope of everasting life. tht of course would be very intreguing to people. to be rewarded for doing good. Christianity also offered a new hope for people instead of the same old same old. if you were a followerer of the jewish religion and things wernt going to well for you, it would seem if you switched religions maybe you woul have better luck or be in the favor of your new god.
Matt Hoey
As Katelyn has said, Christianity offered hope for the people who never believed in everlasting life. Most of all, the religion is based on the ressurection of Jesus. People believed in him because he was able live, die, and then come back to life almost as if he cheated death. Jesus didn't just spread his word though, people also beliieved in him because he was able to make a blind man see, and walk on water etc. I kind of disagree with John though, how it easy because all you have to do is just be good and believe in God. Many people can say to people that they just"believe in God" but for people to truly believe in God, they need to have faith and say prayers and so on.
Meg
As many of the other bloggers said christianity offers everlasting life. This is an incentive for people to do good. People wanted to follow something great, like Jesus. They saw him as a role model and wanted to do what he portrayed as right. Also, being part of the Christian faith is much more simple then being part of a religion like Judaism where the rituals and traditions are extremely complicated and time consuming.
As almost everyone has said, Christianity was so popular because for one it offered everlasting life. All you basically have to do to achieve this everlasting life is to do good. When you fail to do good, all you have to do is ask for forgiveness. So many people follow this religion. It's apparent that they do too. Every year around Christmas Santa's are displayed, and the Easter Bunny is always at the mall around Ester. That just proves that Christianity is a largly populated religion. Many people like the fact that they will achieve everlasting life, with such simple standards. That is probably the biggest factor on why so many people follow Christianity. That and the fact that god will forgive you not matter what just as long as you ask for forgiveness.
i think that cristianity grew because it offered oppurtunity for redemption. despite the strictness of the policies, many people flocked to the religion because of the concept of heaven. the reason to do good in judaism is because its right. in christianity, you are rewarded later in the after life. the stories of jesus were of great sacrifice and attracted many people because of his "heroics" so to speak.
As mentioned in the book, Christianity was able to gain many followers as it promised salvation and redemption to all by following the requests. It gave those who succeeded immortality, it was easy to relate seeing as Jesus was once a human being too, and that it made the followers feel that they belonged to the religion. But the most important one in my opinion was the fact that Christianity included all; the rich, poor, slaves, etc. Anyone no matter who they were could follow it and with the "easy" rules make it to heaven.
Edward Cummins
I am sorry about my computer being broken down Mr. Yip. I got it fixed. It just has a problem accessing to your website sometimes. The rest is fine but anyway I think that christianity offered up a easy oppurtunity to belive in a religion. Now the huge reason is because this religion had a monotheistic belief in one god and it makes it easier to study his ideals. Now John mentioned a excellent point. I am a Roman Catholic and I believe much more in depth for this religion than I just said but this is a very unique important point about this religion. John identified another point as well when he mentioned that this world would be more different if Catholic didn't evolve in society. Christianity beliefs offer up the ideal that for every person who follows God's laws and believes in him will recieve the gift of everlasting life or heaven. These ideals and much more contribute to the popularity of this religion.
as many people said, the reason Christianity got so popular was because it was easy. it was easy to understand and the rules were fair and reasonable. they offered a lifestyle that was simple and what was so unique is that if you follow the lifestyle then you will live for ever. this religion also didn't apply to a certain group but everyone. this made the belief system more welcoming and united the different groups. it was important because it changed history. it also influenced other religions.
I think more than anything it started with the hope of being free of the Roman control and so they could start a new way of life. Also I like how the book refers to it as a promise of salvation so it like I said a way to rid the Roman Oppression. It was also a way to have a form of immortality or just a peaceful place after death so there is some hope.
I'm doing this late because I was on the band trip.
I agree with Alex when he said that people follow Christianity because its easy. I think that goes along with following any religion, people just do it so they have something to follow or believe in. Going back to the idea that Christianity is easy, it really is compared to other religions. Some other religions are very involved, Christianity is basically just about following rules- if you do that you're all set.
Hey, it’s Thomas Wynne. I know I am handsome so please people stop telling me, it’s getting on my nerves. Christianity is the most successful religion is because I think it is the most rewarding. People can come from every background and every race and still be saved. The concept of forgiveness is what I think draws people you can break the commandments and still be saved.
Tom's such as pantsy. Anyways, as MANY as the bloggers here said that Christianity offers immortality or everlasting life which seems appealing to most people since they probably do not want to die yet and have some exciting things to do. Also, its like hey a new religion and start new for me which means like redemption for that person.
Christianity evolved from people believing in Jesus Christ, it is very simple. If the people listened to his preachings then they could figure out what religion they wanted to follow. Christianity was a religion that needs some time to understand and to follow. As Alex mentioned in class, (and Sarah in her blog), everlasting life was the biggest plus that many people viewed when they looked at Christianity. So this might be why so many people today in our world follow this religion.
Peter, by the way, you spelled pansy wrong, gosh, I rather dislike unsmart Asians like you. MR. YIP DON'T TAKE ANY OFFENSE AT THAT I JUST ALWAYS CALL PETER A DUMB ASIAN BECAUSE HE IS AND HE THINKS THAT IT IS A CONTRADICTION BUT I DON'T CARE BECAUSE HE IS LIVING, BREATHING PROOF THAT THERE ARE SUCH THINGS AS A DUMB ASIAN. I wanted to express my feelings in CAPS. :)
One of the biggest reasons for its growth is I believe the curiosity it brings about. For example how is Tom Wynne so handsome? Or what the f#$%^ is heaven the closest person to telling us would of course be Petter Choa he has escaped death well over 100 times. He also tells tales of the few moments he may have been in heaven. Another question Jesus brings about is….. there must be something really important if this guys willing to die for us. Maybe heaven is millions of puppies that’s worth a life or 2. But anyway like the rest of the class said once again the religion was rewarding blah blah blah yea.
O and I would love to be referred to as NEWANDA
It is a proven fact david because Albert Einstein was asian and hes pretty smart. Dave's just a croation that farts really bad and hes dumb..... oh and hes croation so that counts for something
I take great offense at that. And math, english, computer programming, and a few other classes are going to be very unpleasent for you for the rest of the year. And Einstein was not Asian. Use a better source next time when you research instead of your head, that information is faulty. And Croatians are actually pretty smart, so do not even try that approach, you unsmart Asian.
Christianity offers forgiveness, and at anytime you want. this is a pretty sweet deal. it offers hope for the hopeless, and its a voice for the voiceless. The concept of a heavenly paradise is enough to gain adherents, AND when you add how easy it is to get there, just be a "good person". Thank you Sarah, for that name plug. But you are right Christianity offers an easy afterlife, and people tend to go for that sort of thing.
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