Because Most believers don't actually look up what they believe in. 80% of Christians treat the bible like a software agreement. They scroll down tot he bottom without reading anything and click "I agree". Most don't realize that a lot of Christianity's teaches are influenced by the beliefs that came before. You will find Soo many Norse (viking) references clearly written into the stories.
The main reason people blindly follow the bible is because they seek salvation. They aren't doing it to be a good person or to help mankind. They are brainwashed into believing or they will "Burn forever in hell". Yet NO where in the bible does it even describe a place. Its so sad that this info is really well know and its like 2nd grade knowledge that you will find even on Wikipedia. The Bible translated a handful of words all describing completely different places into 1 word being hell. And none of these being a place of eternal suffering.
The Bible is a great book teaching Man of its sins and a great way to pass down morals from generation to generation. But like all books its not meant to be taken SO literal.In America where people sought out a place to praise any God and believe what they want has become the very thing the people who founded this country tried to escape. Blind ignorance in large numbers. People trying to convert others but they themselves have never read the book. Proof? Look at the childrens bible story of Noah and the ark. It says and shows everywhere that he brought "2 of each animal" into the ark. but It does NOT say that in the bible. The number is far different.And even though this is common knowledge people knowingly accept this as "Fact".
Like the previous comment below said, Christianity is rather new, but once time goes by and a dozen more people tell us the worlds going to end and the rapture is here it will fade away and become a myth like the rest. In today's world Religion is becoming so old fashion. Its this blind believing that's holding the world back.If the great minds and explorers didn't break away from it then the world still might be Flat. the earth might be considered the center of the universe and the electric guitar,TV, electricity and modern medicine would all still be the "devils" work.
anyone else notice How all the guys here Go into deep conversation about this topic? While the females just either don't care or believe because they were told to.
Uhh...it does describe how hell is. Have you actually read the bible? If so which version and how closely did you read it because it does describe Hell. And also it does state in the book of that Noah brought 2 of every living animal within the ark with him: Genesis 6:19 And of EVERY LIVING THING of all flesh, TWO OF EVERY SORT shall thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
Also there are a plethora of descriptions describing hell in the bible. Example: Thesolonians 1:9 "Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power?" Example 2: Luke: 16:12" And in hell he lift up his eyes being in torments." (it continues on to say more but you get my point). And: Mark 9:44" Where their worms dieth not and the fire is not quenched."
Hell is always portrayed as a fiery bottomless pit. A lot of the bible is written symbolically and interpretation of the bible tends to vary because of this but hell is portrayed quite obviously. It is constantly linked with fire, misery, and utter hopelessness.
And I have studied the history of my religion I do not follow it "foolishly" as you say. I know that Easter is not actually apart of the actual religion its self it was adopted so that Pagan's would convert.
I don't get what you mean by the fact about the number of animals taken into the ark not being the Bible. The children's bible is just breaking it down for the kids by saying that God wanted a male and female for every kind of animal, "2 of each animal" . In the adult bible, it says that Noah was to take with 7 pairs of clean animals, male and female, and 2 pairs of of unclean animals, male and female.
Biblical words translated as "Hell"
Abaddon
The Hebrew word Abaddon, meaning "destruction", is sometimes used as a synonym of Hell.[66]
Gehenna
In the New Testament, both early (i.e. the KJV) and modern translations often translate Gehenna as "Hell."[67] Young's Literal Translation is one notable exception, simply using "Gehenna", which was in fact a geographic location just outside Jerusalem (the Valley of Hinnom).
Hades
Hades is the Greek word traditionally used for the Hebrew word Sheol in such works as the Septuagint, the Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible. Like other first-century Jews literate in Greek, Christian writers of the New Testament followed this use. While earlier translations most often translated Hades as "hell", as does the King James Version, modern translations use the transliteration "Hades",[68] or render the word as allusions "to the grave",[69] "among the dead",[70]
Infernus
The Latin word infernus means "being underneath" and is often translated as "Hell".
Sheol
In the King James Bible, the Old Testament term Sheol is translated as "Hell" 31 times.[73] However, Sheol was translated as "the grave" 31 other times.[74] Sheol is also translated as "the pit" three times.[75]Modern translations, however, do not translate Sheol as "Hell" at all, instead rendering it "the grave," "the pit," or "death."
Tartarus ( Also seen In Norse Myth , 1000s of years before christanity)
Appearing only in II Peter 2:4 in the New Testament, both early and modern translations often translate Tartarus as "Hell." Again, Young's Literal Translation is an exception, using "Tartarus".
In Norse the Witch Hel lives inside the planet.
These are all words translated int he bible to the hell we now read.
The story of Noah and the ark says 2 of each animal, while the bible says
Noah knew clean from unclean. His instr
Lastly The story of noah says
His instructions were to take seven (7) pair of clean and (1) one pair of unclean animals.
Gen. 7-2.
The 2 of each animal we now see is because of the artist who rendered paintings of this scene. It was far easier to paint 2 of each animal than 7. 2 also was a stronger image because it represented the bound of a Man and woman. Clearly the bible says otherwise and if we know our bible. Bearing false witness (lieing) is a sin. and telling our children 2 is a lie.
My last comment on this matter is, Pick up a little book called "Things the bible didn't say".It's been around for a long while. Google it I'm sure you will find it. It goes through some very common things that people say about the bible that are completely wrong.
I'm not Christian, but I always believed people gave more credibility to the Christian god over any of those pagan polytheistic ones because of how the pagan gods are perceived to have come to existence within those cultures. It seems like ancient Romans, Greeks, Mesopotamians, or whatever region/religion you look at that does have multiple Gods, seem to arbitrarily designate a god for almost anything that happens. Feel a breeze? There's a god for that. It's warm out today? There's a god for that too. Did your cow disappear during the night? There's a god who's responsible for that too.
It's always been my belief that people lend more credibility to a Christian god over those is that it seems more believable to some that there is just one God who rules over everything, instead of there being 500 that rule over one thing.
But, the believe in either a polytheistic or monotheistic religion depends on faith. It doesn't matter how illogical it may sound to have one god for every little thing that happens, there is no proof one way or the other that one's belief in 500 gods or one god is true.
Nice Question! Please feel free to skim.
For me, Christianity appeals to me because I was raised into it, so God and the Bible were both with me from the beginning. For me, up to a point, it was pressured upon me, by family and church, "believe in God or beware isolation". Now, I really couldn't care more or less of what people think about my beliefs, but yes, I do still believe in God, but for my own reasons. But for a lot of other people, they're not as strong. They're religion, in a way, is what holds them up to the rest of society. Without it, they are just the weirdos, or my favorite, "they're 'lost' ".
For the appealing part of the question, as another guy said, Christianity appealed to the poor people, something no other religion had ever done before. Nearly all religions have a class system and a group of people that was-is always persecuted. Using India as a reference, before the arrival of Christianity, nearly everyone there were Hindus. After the arrival, the majority of the converts were the poor, sick, lying and the destitute. Even the criminals! A lot of people saw Christianity as a second chance, and it seemed more real, and more forgiving.
Christianity is also nicely settled in because it was preached to literally all four corners of the world. Another reason why Islam is gaining followers. The other religioneres just stayed confined to their habitat, mainly because their religion reflected their culture and no one else's. Say tomorrow, you decided to convert to Hinduism, it would be hard, because not only do you have to read the manual for Hinduism, you have to also read the manual for learning how to deal with the culture and the people, who, in which case, might have a hard time accepting you cause your not Indian.
Christianity meanwhile overlooks race, gender, class, money status, sickness, etc... For the most part. I'm just referring to the what the people have done to certain aspects of it.
Wow that was a lot! Sorry
hindu gods and greek gods and egyptian gods came first, they go back 5000 years, hinduism even recites traces of evolution and humans being derived from primates, that's how old it is! I think the abrahamic faiths read into the plural form word "gods" too much and just think the whole religion is wrong because there can only be one god, but really is god someone sitting up in the sky the clouds resting and eating philadelphia cream cheese? no right, there's no evidence, but there is god - the one supreme being in our hearts in our soul in our mind, and that same one supreme being can be manifested into other souls and messengers sent down to us humans and animals, that's why in hinduism you call them dieties, because these idols were once normal living ordinary people at a certain time in history may be 3000 2500 600 years ago, but god-the supreme being sent them down to us to deliver a message, to teach us something, to reveal an oral biblical message that's where these idols, gods (plural), dieties, messengers, angels whatever you wanna call them that's why they exist. because god-the one supreme being can take form in any shape to deliver us a message, whether its through a prophet, a messenger or idol or another 'god'.
because Christian beliefs are excepted and pushed by our society/American culture. Christianity makes our world bearable for most people, if we were another religion, our society would push us away. Just think if you were a native American living in the city in today's day, with people driving hummers and disrespecting the land.. or a buddhist monk, calm and happy in a place as intense as New York. modern society pushes them away, because culture and religion go together, you won't last long if your surrounds are not supportive of your beliefs. Personally I identify with many religions, and use them at different times in my life, I have no concrete beliefs, just whatever I'm feeling at the moment, probably more Buddhist than anything.. I find that my preppy and more materialistic friends are christian and my hippy friends are more Buddhist, the ones that have pain/emo/hardcore, whatever, are more atheist. we are usually the religion that our environment and friends support. Like Robo girl said, there's not many ancient greeks anymore, therefore not many people believe in it (society must support it, a person must have culture and friends that support their beliefs)
why is Christianity excepted by American culture? because Christians are easier to control. Christianity you worship a being outside of yourself, making you feel like you have no control and are powerless to the almighty god. Christians are weaker in that sense, and easier to sway. It may have started off good, but now it has lost most of what was good about it.
Opinion
20Opinion
I'm a Christian, & the true reason I believe in God is because I can feel it in my heart & soul that he is real. When I'm in pain, he comforts me, & when I'm in need, I pray, & he answers my prayers. It's hard for someone who isn't a Christian to understand, but what it really boils down to, is that I can feel he is real.
I also did research for a paper in college about whether or not there is a God, & I found a lot of proof that there is a God. The biggest thing was the fact that so many prophecies in the Bible have come true, & many of which came true because of Jesus. Here are some sites that speak of fulfilled prophecies: link link
But, evidence can be argued with & I'm not hear to argue about those sort of things. When it comes down to it, the real proof is in my heart, & you can't take that away from me.
to someone that really has a reason to believe that, it would take a lot more than a quick response on here to do so. but if you want to know why I believe in christ then check out a book called "more than a carpenter" by josh mcdowell. you can read it in one day and its real cheap (like $5). it does a great job of breaking this all down. it is logic and rational for people who don't like a bunch of "religious" talk. it uses a lot of science and statistical probability and things you don't usually hear when talking about christianity or the bible. it will definitely make you re-think us crazy christians, lol. it doesn't have to tranform you or convert you but at least you will have a solid understanding of why the very few real christians out there believe what they believe. the rest of them don't know why they do it was just passed down from mommy/daddy/grandma/etc., along with a bunch of man made rules that somehow just got infused in with the bible and it is just rediculous. drinking any alcohol at all is a sin and all that b.s. for example. that's what I call "churchianity".
Wars and decay, as time went by the winners would absorb the losers in many ways, one of them being culturally, that's why the Romans have different names for the Greeks gods since they integrated their culture when they "conquered" them, but here's the thing as the roman empire grew so did social differences the rich the poor and so Christianity became popular since Jesus preached in favor of the poor and other humble factors in people, which where not found at the time in the roman society, so Christianity grew and grew until it became the most popular religion. It was not until this specific roman emperor that came in(cant remember the name) and used the cross as a part of his wining strategy in a war that he converted the roman empire into Christianity, from then on the Greek myth's was believed to be false an the Christian true, a cultural paradigm shift and so the biggest empire followed that religion spreading it through out the world at that time, and that's it basically, al though shortened and I missed a few important things to mention since I am in a hurry but that's basically it
Ok I'll try to explain this but I'm sorry if I get off topic. OK well your parents probably raised you to be Christian which is totally fine, you believe in one god and think that he is almighty and you believe he created the heavens, earth and water ect. I was raised in the Greek religion, and I live in America. As you can imagine I am constantly teased about my gods, but off topic. I was raised to believe that Zeus is the almighty, Poseidon is the ruler of the seas and Hades is the ruler of the Underworld which is where we go when we die, we are either punished or we live in sort of what you call heaven, it's separated by sections but I won't explain the technicalities now. Then there are many other gods in which we believe in. Well this is how we were raised it's our reality so when people tell me that they believe that 1 "God" single evenhandedly takes care of the entire world/ universe I think " there's absolutely no way that's even possible!". My religion makes sense to me because everything adds up, my prayers are answered and my faith is strong. But I will say that no religion is more politically correct than the other, it's your choice in what you want to believe in but it is also mine. Hope I answered your question. :)
I think a lot of it has to do with how extravagant Greek Gods seem. They had these magical powers involving lightning and other things. Although there's been stories about the sea parting and things like that, I think God just sounds more realistic to people than Zeus. No one believes in magic anymore because there's no such things as magic. However, I'm not saying there is or isn't a Zeus or there is or isn't a God. Not religious, never have been. I just think it's easier for people to believe in God because he doesn't seem so extreme.
Not to sound like a jerk, but some of the things mentioned in the Old Testament painted God to be a "jerk", for lack of a better word. The Old Testament is less of the love and peace of the New Testament, and more God showing how you should fear him. That part of the Bible includes the Flood which purged the world of evil and brought in a rebirth, as well as the destruction of cities full of sinners (Sodom and Gomorrah). It's also the part of the book that brought us the "eye for an eye" line.
Oh no I know. But that doesn't necessarily mean he isn't less believable. I just think the extravagant(ness) of what is portrayed as the Greek God's ways/living makes them seem less believable because some of the stuff that is said about them appears to really out there and impossible. Almost like magic is the premise of the foundation of Greek Gods. But like I said, I know there are some outrageous things about God too.
Our european culture and that icludes of course the American culture too, is influenced not only from Greece, also from the jewish culture. Jewish religion, also islam and christians are religions of monotheism. Especially the christians stood in opposition to the Antique Rome. It was been the counter.point to the Antique slavery. Christian religion was influenced from Plato by Greece but also from the jewish culture. And there you find only one God, with the name Jahwe.
The grecian Gods were been such of the nature, in contrast of the monotheistic religions. Such are orientated by culture.
If I compare this both kind of religion, I would say not one is better than the other. Both are a kind of illusion, so it doesn`t matter if you beleave in one ore a heap of Gods. You can also beleave on goblins or other ghosts, if you like such.
Give it another thousand years or so and people will be asking "what makes zugabug more believable than jesus christ and mohammed?" If it's out of style, it's mythology. If it's in style, it's religion. People need something to have faith in so they don't feel hopeless and something to deride so they can feel there's something beneath them. It's just human nature.
Look at it this way:
Try to look at this from the perspective of someone who has never been exposed to any kind of religion.
Now show them Lord of the Rings, The Bible, and a pagan religious text. You think they would be able to say one is more realistic than the other? No.
It really all depends on how you were raised.
This question is really hard to answer, because everything I say will spawn another question. I actually have been mulling over how to answer this question the best way I can, and this is it. Its our beliefs. I have read into other religions and I always see valid points, but when it comes down to it, I believe what I believe because I have felt it inside me. There are those that have not felt the presence of God in themselves, and I feel bad. Those that believe other religions, I respect because all religions teach the basics of life. The Golden Rule, do on to others as you would like done to you. So really religion is a blessing to mankind. I pity the Al Qaeda for I have read the Koran, and it teaches you to be good, not to kill.
Well if you ask me, nothing (I'm an atheist agnostic).
However a lot of christian belief is based (or perhaps reinforced) by the following.
1: Being raised in that faith
2: Personal experiences (I prayed to god to get over my cold, and I got better, therefore god exists)
3: Popularity in numbers (IE, a lot of other people believe in Christian god)
4: Some facts (Whilst the bible has a number of historical errors, there are some correct facts, and these reinforce belief in the whole).
hmm.. nice question! I am Greek and, at school, we have something like mythology classes... there we get informed about those gods. if you make a study on them, you will come to the conclusion that they are all evil! they all want people to be afraid of them. still, they were jealous of the human. for example, Hera, Aphrodite and Demeter killed many women for being the girlfriend of the ones they loved!
Christian god is kinder and nicer from the ancient gods.. that's only my opinion! :)
The answer is: idiocy, my friend. Some people worship cows, some people worship the sun, some people worship vagina's, some people worship spiritual stuff, etc... These are all the same thing, only with different names. Nothing is more believable than the other, but if you're driving a Honda, no one can convince you that any other car is better than the one you have. Idiocy, y'know?
so, in your thinking, any faith in any higher power, makes someone an idiot? And someone liking one thing a lot more than the other, because it is what works for them, is idiotic?
yes.
lol this is such an ironic question. I was brought up in a loosely christian household and when I began reading mythological qs I started questioning christianity. At the end of the day I don't know what the f*** is out there, but I can draw parallels between christianity and most mythological stories. I try not to label whatever the hell I am spiritually.
well it's crazy to believe that there are like hundreds of gods ruling our lives,and they're all described in detail,god is a bit less crazy (to crazy people anyways) to believe cause it's less of a stretch to believe. think of it as downsizing,hopefully,one day people will quit on the whole ''god'' thing all together.
There's not exactly many ancient greeks left to argue their case, since they're all a little busy being dead and stuff.
People generally believe whatever Religion they are born into, which is highly dependent on where they live. If you had been born in India, for example, you would most likely be Hindu and would not believe in the Christian god. I personally believe that all religions are equally believable/unbelievable.
This is my god now worship her link
You're awesome ! xD
I would dislike this answer if it wasn't for the fact that you wrote her.
Nothing makes the Christian God more believable. They are both just trying to explain the unexplainable the best they can. The Christian God has a more flexible definition, that is most likely the reason for it to be more believable to a wide variety of people, other than how the Greeks defined God/s in their metaphors.
i guess because greek methology doesn't excist anymore so that might be prove that religion lost its credibility...while the christian religion still excists I guess that makes it more believable, that is the only argument I have to be honest. I am not hardcore catholic but is the only reason that I can think of.
Because people are so vain and want to believe that god is like them - in looks and in behavior... And the Christian God is the most like a man of all of them.
It's because the greeks and romans are gone, the christian religion from judaism and islam is spanned so many people that it could travel around the world
So many people believe it so it's carried on
I don't believe in it though
Well yes I know, I'm just wondering if Christians have ever thought about it and how they keep their faith after thinking about it. If our beliefs just depend on whichever god is popular in the era we happen to be born into, how do we rationalize it?
I'm just getting mindf***ed over here.
My best guess is there aren't charismatic preachers trying to convince you otherwise. Most religions (not all) teach you not to question, so people don't. And it's hard to accept that what you've believed you've felt all your life is really not there.
It's a matter of personal faith. When you believe something you're not going to believe other things. I believe in God, not any other gods, and no matter how people try to convince me otherwise I'm not going to suddenly convert, because my faith is what I feel happy and secure in. People in other religions probably feel the same, I presume.
Absolutely nothing. They all are just fairy tales, yet for some odd reasons (probably for the same reason why kids believe in Santa Claus) there are millions of idiots who believe it.
I've always wondered this! Why are ancient Gods "myths" now, but the Christian god is taken super seriously?
Because the culture that believed in the Greek gods has died out. Once the societies that believe in Christianity die out, the Christian god will be regarded as a myth too.
The Christian God cares about us as individuals, people find that appealing.
But that's counter productive when aimed to be a belief. Knowing there are gods out there who have flaws and don't really care about humans that much, can also explain why all the bad stuff in the world happens. Believing there is only one god who "loves us all", makes a lot less sense then polytheism. =/
Because the "Christian" god has existed for 2 millennia. It's ingrained in the people's minds. I bet someone like you asked this question about the old gods before christianity existed.
well first the "christian" god has been around for more than 2000 years. That would be the Old Testament. And the Greek Gods have been around a lot longer than that... so I don't really understand what you're trying to say
i don't consider christianity to have the same god as judiasm. christanity's god existed for about 2000 years. the jewish god existed for over 5000, to my knowledge.
anyway, what I'm trying to say, is that people believe in the christian god rather than the older polytheistic gods because the monotheistic god is the popular one of recent millenia.
the quality and characteristics of "GOD" changes with time, man's knowledge and society. so now the ancient gods are seen as imagination of barbarians and the recent gods are taken seriously...
A very good point! Wouldn't surprise me if in another 1000, 2000 years there will be other gods on the block, new faiths
nothing. it's just another time. who knows if 10000 years from here, peple would still believe the christian god or someone else.
i think greek gods are more believable...
Lol absolutely nothing that's the crazy part.
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