Post by Dragon*of*Heaven on Oct 29, 2005 22:08:17 GMT -5
Well recently I was faced once again with talking about my religious views to christians. As is usual they brought up the argument of if Christianity is not correct then why has it spread so strongly and quickly over the earth. At the current time I tried my best to answer it but faild to bring a very strong argument. But now I think I may have figured out a strong statement toward this and other points of christians. Feel free to shoot as many holes as you guys can in these its why I post here. (to think better)
Ok so back to the begining, the newly formed Roman Empier has just taken over Jerusalem as well as the neighboring citys and may other countrys as well. The Romans still occupy the citys and have built encampments. Some people the rich and the strong are doing great. The rich have a lot to gain from the new empier in trade and other craft. The strong people have a lot to gain from enlisting into the army and becomeing a full fledged citizen of the roman Empier. Of course the well educated also have alot to gain from the Empier as they did begin from the Roman Republic, who begain from Greece and Macedonia. All of whom were known for philosophy and the great schools and arts. These three groupes are doing splendidly.
Then there are the poor, desiesed, and weak who on the other hand are not doing so well. There is a man by the name of John who would later be known as John the Baptist. This guy has been creating a lot of sencation with his baptisms and his preaching that a savior is comeing and that every one will be able to achive the kingdom of heaven which they all dream of so dearly. Now then a poor carpenter about 20 years of age known to be quite the oritor and all himself visits John, gets baptised and begins his own ministry of teaching. ( I know this is takeing a while but I promice I am going some where with all of this.) Now that the stage has been set lets begin. The Jewish traditions are harsh (for reference read the old testement) and under its teachings a path to heaven is increadably difficult. The romans and other countries all have their Gods or in some few case I belive there may have been some other monotheistic religions around at the same time. (if im wrong please tell me so) Any way the people are oppresed even more over the occupation of an Empier. Along comes some man who preaches that every one has the ability to go to heaven and that every one is loved by God. Also he stands up against the Jewish priests and some of the higher ups on the local political chain. (examples Piolat and Herod) Who under these circumstances wouldnt love the guy. Lets face it the vast heard of sheep we call the populace dose like an underdog charicter riseing through the ranks. Now then we all know the rest of this story Jesus gets betreyed yada yada and gets nailed to a cross.
Ok now the belife stayes alive after some of this mans followers get it in their head that he has gone to heaven and will come again. They begin to spread it through the Empier and of course it travels quickest against the oppresed. Also lets not forget the historical reasons that helped for this spread. Roman law, Roman roads, Safty in travel on sea and land, the persecution of the christians, the martyrdom of many of their key players which sent a signal, and the fact that no matter where you went there was one commen language, Commen Greek. Now the whole problem escelates with the rise of emporer Constentine. Before hand the Christian religion was one of a very few religions that were baned. Of course it has only grown becuase of this and has not been wiped out.( lets face it when one a few out of many religions get out lawed no one really payes too much atention to it and it is easy to skirt.) with the Rise of Constentine Christianity becomes legal. Subsequently through the next few emporers Christianity becomes even stronger. Untill that is emporer tiberious ( i think i have this name right if not please forgive) made all other religions Illegal. This alowed the religion to spread like wild fire. All people had to pay homige to the new one God. Even by thist time the roman empier was quite vast meaning this would be alot of people. When the roots of a tree die it is not long till the entire tree falls, dies, and decays. So was it with the roman religion and many others subsequent. So to do I think it will be with the Cristian religion.
Ok so back to the begining, the newly formed Roman Empier has just taken over Jerusalem as well as the neighboring citys and may other countrys as well. The Romans still occupy the citys and have built encampments. Some people the rich and the strong are doing great. The rich have a lot to gain from the new empier in trade and other craft. The strong people have a lot to gain from enlisting into the army and becomeing a full fledged citizen of the roman Empier. Of course the well educated also have alot to gain from the Empier as they did begin from the Roman Republic, who begain from Greece and Macedonia. All of whom were known for philosophy and the great schools and arts. These three groupes are doing splendidly.
Then there are the poor, desiesed, and weak who on the other hand are not doing so well. There is a man by the name of John who would later be known as John the Baptist. This guy has been creating a lot of sencation with his baptisms and his preaching that a savior is comeing and that every one will be able to achive the kingdom of heaven which they all dream of so dearly. Now then a poor carpenter about 20 years of age known to be quite the oritor and all himself visits John, gets baptised and begins his own ministry of teaching. ( I know this is takeing a while but I promice I am going some where with all of this.) Now that the stage has been set lets begin. The Jewish traditions are harsh (for reference read the old testement) and under its teachings a path to heaven is increadably difficult. The romans and other countries all have their Gods or in some few case I belive there may have been some other monotheistic religions around at the same time. (if im wrong please tell me so) Any way the people are oppresed even more over the occupation of an Empier. Along comes some man who preaches that every one has the ability to go to heaven and that every one is loved by God. Also he stands up against the Jewish priests and some of the higher ups on the local political chain. (examples Piolat and Herod) Who under these circumstances wouldnt love the guy. Lets face it the vast heard of sheep we call the populace dose like an underdog charicter riseing through the ranks. Now then we all know the rest of this story Jesus gets betreyed yada yada and gets nailed to a cross.
Ok now the belife stayes alive after some of this mans followers get it in their head that he has gone to heaven and will come again. They begin to spread it through the Empier and of course it travels quickest against the oppresed. Also lets not forget the historical reasons that helped for this spread. Roman law, Roman roads, Safty in travel on sea and land, the persecution of the christians, the martyrdom of many of their key players which sent a signal, and the fact that no matter where you went there was one commen language, Commen Greek. Now the whole problem escelates with the rise of emporer Constentine. Before hand the Christian religion was one of a very few religions that were baned. Of course it has only grown becuase of this and has not been wiped out.( lets face it when one a few out of many religions get out lawed no one really payes too much atention to it and it is easy to skirt.) with the Rise of Constentine Christianity becomes legal. Subsequently through the next few emporers Christianity becomes even stronger. Untill that is emporer tiberious ( i think i have this name right if not please forgive) made all other religions Illegal. This alowed the religion to spread like wild fire. All people had to pay homige to the new one God. Even by thist time the roman empier was quite vast meaning this would be alot of people. When the roots of a tree die it is not long till the entire tree falls, dies, and decays. So was it with the roman religion and many others subsequent. So to do I think it will be with the Cristian religion.
