Did you know this.......?

[goodlife]

The early Christians were persecuted, even as Jesus had been. (John 15:20; 17:14) Historian John L. von Mosheim called first-century Christians “a set of men of the most harmless inoffensive character, who never harboured in their minds a wish or thought inimical to the welfare of the state.” Dr. Mosheim stated that what “irritated the Romans against the Christians, was the simplicity of their worship, which resembled in nothing the sacred rites of any other people.” He added: “They had no sacrifices, temples, images, oracles, or sacerdotal orders; and this was sufficient to bring upon them the reproaches of an ignorant multitude, who imagined that there could be no religion without these. Thus they were looked upon as a sort of atheists; and, by the Roman laws, those who were chargeable with atheism were declared the pests of human society.”

[rojash]

yawn...

[jackthehat]

Yes.

[ummmm]

No.

[Ankou]

maybe

[andrew1707]

Is that why some Christians nowadays feel it is okay to mock, ridicule and be-little what atheists believe.

[jno]

the ignorant multitudes were right, though. Christianity developed sacrifices (though only harvest festivals), temples, images, sacerdotal orders, the lot. That suggests how far they have changed from their beginnings.

[Ankou]

....and then regressed to barbarian acts in the middle ages......

[goodlife]

So you can see it was the Christian tradition that produced atheism as its fruit; it led to the murder of God in the consciences of men because it presented them with an unbelievable God.” Be that as it may, we can take in the words of the apostle Paul: “What, then, is the case? If some did not express faith, will their lack of faith perhaps make the faithfulness of God without effect? Never may that happen! But let God be found true, though every man be found a liar.” (Romans 3:3, 4) Yes, there is every reason to continue the search for the true God.

[bondgirl007]

there is no god (well except for me ) LOL

[andrew1707]

Hail BondGirl, the new messiah.

"She's not the messiah, she's a very naughty....etc"

[jackthehat]

Soooooo............remind me again.....

Which version of God, in which version of which holy book are you promoting?

[bondgirl007]

:D LOL

[pa___ul3]

whaaaat? I'm confused! So early Christians didn't have temples and idols and stuff.. so why do they now? And why place such a huge amount of importance on them so as to be made out of gold and take money from people who can't afford it to maintain them!?

How can atheism be a fruit of Christianity!? Can you really make a Christian believe anything you say, no matter how contradictory!?!

[goodlife]

The evidence shows that man is religious by nature.
All civilizations throughout history have featured some system of worship.
And what happens when people resist what has been described as their “need to believe, They may turn to the worship of money, power, science, political dogmas or self. Even atheism can become a religion. Psychiatrist Stafford-Clark says of those who argue in favor of atheism: “The passion with which they will defend this . . . is yet further vivid evidence of the emotional necessity of belief

[jake-the-peg]

//The evidence shows that man is religious by nature.//

the evidence also shows that man is violent and selfish by nature

Not to mention irrational and superstitious

what's your point?

Oh sorry you don't have one do you?

You're just rehashing oterpeople's ideas

[goodlife]

Well yes and No you but you trust in man.

[bondgirl007]

what is the point in this post really??

[goodlife]

My point is that man is religious by nature and needs to worship something.

[jackthehat]

He's not......and he doesn't.

[MarkRae]

> My point is that man is religious by nature and needs to worship something.

Not quite. Man is curious by nature and needs to know how things work and where they came from. In ancient times when science was not sufficiently advanced to provide rational answers to these questions, man "filled in the gaps" with mythological beings with superpowers.