RE: What has Christianity truly contributed to humanity
July 28, 2023 at 11:14 pm
(This post was last modified: July 28, 2023 at 11:16 pm by Nishant Xavier.)
Well, yes, if this or that Christian believed that or lived like that, and failed in loving his neighbor, the Lord God would bring that up at the Divine Judgment, and thus that Christian would probably would have to spend at least a little time in Purgatory. God is holy and each and every sin a Christian commits will either have to be repented off and washed away by faith and contrition and in the Sacraments, or will have to be penalized at least in Purgatory if venial etc. That's what Catholic Christians believe and imo anyone can see it's a Holy Doctrine that leads those who really believe and practice it to a Good Life of avoiding evil/sin and doing many Good Works here on Earth. The greater Good Works one does, the less time in Purgatory. Not to mention a Higher Reward in Heaven, hence the Lord Jesus Christ also taught to store up Treasures in Heaven by Alms-giving etc. Now, that Teaching of Christ greatly advances the Good of the Present World also, as is obvious. Hence, the Teaching of Christ is Good, even from a Secular Perspective.
At any rate, St. John the Apostle says, virtually every one of us will fall into some sin or the other. It's important to confess or repent of those sins and then strive to love God and one another again, from the Christian perspective. But Christ's Teaching itself is absolutely clear: Love of Neighbor with no exceptions beyond the boundaries of Race and Religion, as He made also amply clear in His Good Samaritan Parable. Love for all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether pagans or Tax Collectors, whether prostitutes or Pharisees, as He amply demonstrated by Word and example in His Life. He also not only taught to love and forgive one's enemies - which no one else ever has IIRC - but also did the same on the Cross Himself.
1 Jn 1:"Fellowship with Him and One Another
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
If a Christian makes no effort to walk in righteousness according to Christ's Light, then he is living in darkness according to the above. If however he or she does make such efforts, but falls from time to time into this or that sin, the Blood of Christ washes those sins away when they are confessed, either in Baptism, or in Confession, or indeed in Holy Communion (which takes away venial sins), which is the Blood of Christ Himself.
While non-Christians don't agree with Christian claims, they can see, I believe, that the doctrine of Christ is a holy Doctrine vastly different from that of, say, Mohammed. Some think Christ and Mohammed taught the same because both taught Religion. That's like saying, Adam Smith and Marx taught the same because both taught Economics imo. Clearly off. Yes, both Christ and Mohammed taught about Religion. But very differently.
At any rate, St. John the Apostle says, virtually every one of us will fall into some sin or the other. It's important to confess or repent of those sins and then strive to love God and one another again, from the Christian perspective. But Christ's Teaching itself is absolutely clear: Love of Neighbor with no exceptions beyond the boundaries of Race and Religion, as He made also amply clear in His Good Samaritan Parable. Love for all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether pagans or Tax Collectors, whether prostitutes or Pharisees, as He amply demonstrated by Word and example in His Life. He also not only taught to love and forgive one's enemies - which no one else ever has IIRC - but also did the same on the Cross Himself.
1 Jn 1:"Fellowship with Him and One Another
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
If a Christian makes no effort to walk in righteousness according to Christ's Light, then he is living in darkness according to the above. If however he or she does make such efforts, but falls from time to time into this or that sin, the Blood of Christ washes those sins away when they are confessed, either in Baptism, or in Confession, or indeed in Holy Communion (which takes away venial sins), which is the Blood of Christ Himself.
While non-Christians don't agree with Christian claims, they can see, I believe, that the doctrine of Christ is a holy Doctrine vastly different from that of, say, Mohammed. Some think Christ and Mohammed taught the same because both taught Religion. That's like saying, Adam Smith and Marx taught the same because both taught Economics imo. Clearly off. Yes, both Christ and Mohammed taught about Religion. But very differently.
