Atheist and Non-Christians

[FirstSunday33ad]

Only those who think that Christianity is an invention can answer this question. In all the readings of opinions and of debates, I have not encountered an answer to the following question (it may be there and I have just missed it), so I am going to ask it point blank...

Why was Christianity invented?

That's it. I don't need to know how it came about or why it succeeded, only why it was invented in the first place.

Your opinions are appreciated.

Thank you.

[DunnySaze]

Today @ 05:21 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=139403#post139403)
FirstSunday33ad:

Only those who think that Christianity is an invention can answer this question. In all the readings of opinions and of debates, I have not encountered an answer to the following question (it may be there and I have just missed it), so I am going to ask it point blank...

Why was Christianity invented?

That's it. I don't need to know how it came about or why it succeeded, only why it was invented in the first place.

Your opinions are appreciated.

Thank you.

I would say on first blush, that it was invented because it was needed. After all, necessity is the mother of invention.

In any society there is going to be a segment of the population who feel disconnected, cut off from the main-stream. When someone offers them a way to belong to something important, they jump at it.

For Christianity, I think the ‘hook’ was personal salvation through personal faith. Other faiths had a notion of salvation, such as Zoroastrianism, but this salvation was accomplished by virtue alone. Easier said than done, as how do you know you’ve been virtuous enough? With Christianity, there’s no such problem. You profess the faith first (perhaps publicly through baptism) and then live a virtuous life. The forgiveness elements allow you to be assured of a secure afterlife. Considering the very much uncertain life on Earth for some, this was an attractive option.

Of course beyond that, it succeeded due to Paul’s salesmanship, bit of luck, etc., etc., but you didn’t ask about that.

[FirstSunday33ad]

Thank you for your reply. If you don't mind could I just restate what I believe you are saying to be sure I understand you correctly? Please correct me if I am wrong.

Basically, you seem to be saying that a person or persons, starting with a belief in the Jewish concept of God, concluded that there was a need for a more accessible, inclusive and realizable faith and developed Christianity to meet this need (I won’t bother commenting on their own level of personal belief as it is unimportant).

Is this more or less correct?

[DunnySaze]

07-04-2003 @ 08:49 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=139549#post139549)
FirstSunday33ad:

Thank you for your reply. If you don't mind could I just restate what I believe you are saying to be sure I understand you correctly? Please correct me if I am wrong.

Basically, you seem to be saying that a person or persons, starting with a belief in the Jewish concept of God, concluded that there was a need for a more accessible, inclusive and realizable faith and developed Christianity to meet this need (I won’t bother commenting on their own level of personal belief as it is unimportant).

Is this more or less correct?

Not Exactly.

I do not think that some person or persons 2000 years ago were out there deliberately manufactured this belief system by modifying an existing one, and then set about to get that belief system accepted so as to manufacture a religion. Perhaps I misunderstood what you were asking. I was not thinking of "invention" in the way one invents a light bulb for example. It was an invention however, in that all ideas are ultimately invented (or composed within) human minds. Of all the ideas in human minds, this one was one that 'won out', modified as it was through time to get the religion we now have today. In this sense, it is as much a discovery as an invention.

I think there were many prophets at that time with many messages. This particular message happened to resonate best with many people, as it's message was one that apparently was much in need. But even then, it was no forgone conclusion the message would survive. That's where the evangelism of Paul kicks in, the martyrdom of the early Christians, etc.

Just my opinion.

[FirstSunday33ad]

Today @ 08:56 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=141852#post141852)
DunnySaze:



Not Exactly.

I do not think that some person or persons 2000 years ago were out there deliberately manufactured this belief system by modifying an existing one, and then set about to get that belief system accepted so as to manufacture a religion. Perhaps I misunderstood what you were asking. I was not thinking of "invention" in the way one invents a light bulb for example. It was an invention however, in that all ideas are ultimately invented (or composed within) human minds. Of all the ideas in human minds, this one was one that 'won out', modified as it was through time to get the religion we now have today. In this sense, it is as much a discovery as an invention.

I think there were many prophets at that time with many messages. This particular message happened to resonate best with many people, as it's message was one that apparently was much in need. But even then, it was no forgone conclusion the message would survive. That's where the evangelism of Paul kicks in, the martyrdom of the early Christians, etc.

Just my opinion.

I understand what you are saying now and thank you for your response.

[alkech]

07-04-2003 @ 05:21 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=139403#post139403)
FirstSunday33ad:

Only those who think that Christianity is an invention can answer this question. In all the readings of opinions and of debates, I have not encountered an answer to the following question (it may be there and I have just missed it), so I am going to ask it point blank...

Why was Christianity invented?

That's it. I don't need to know how it came about or why it succeeded, only why it was invented in the first place.

Your opinions are appreciated.

Thank you.

I don’t think it was a matter of invention; to me it was more an evolving from existing traditions fueled by political urgency to be vindicated from their continuing dilemma.

The OT ends with apocalyptic worldview in Daniel, while some of the most read writings were 1Enoch and Jubilees. That to me lends some insight to the worldview of that time: Someone to save them, vindicate them, and exhort those to repent and prepare for the new kingdom that is prominent in the Gospels, as well as the writings of Paul. The ideal of Jesus being resurrected after death is seen as ushering of the new kingdom where God will rule the righteous and the repented and evil and those of evil will be destroyed.

So it was not “invented” it was more a continuum of an ideal, which, seeing their situation at the time and throughout their plight under foreign rule, sounded like sweet music. The saviour has arrived.

Just my opinion

alkech