Christianity it the worlds number one religion,beating out one of the oldest religions(Hinduism). Why is that if it's not the most credible?

this is an honest question and I'm generally curious.

I am sensing an argumentum ad populum.

Honestly, I thought Islam was the world's most popular religion.

(January 22, 2014 at 12:43 pm)k2490 Wrote: Christianity it the worlds number one religion,beating out one of the oldest religions(Hinduism). Why is that if it's not the most credible?

this is an honest question and I'm generally curious.

Its certainly one of the most coercive, given that, credibility doesn't really come into it.

(January 22, 2014 at 12:43 pm)k2490 Wrote: Christianity it the worlds number one religion,beating out one of the oldest religions(Hinduism). Why is that if it's not the most credible?

this is an honest question and I'm generally curious.

Think of it this way: how many people are born into a religion, and stay with it as opposed to how many are raised agnostic and then allowed to personally examine the evidence for themselves before making a choice (or remaining agnostic)? Most people are born into their religions; lots of people passing on their (often unexamined) beliefs doesn't make those beliefs credible.

Now, if we were talking about scientists, they come to conclusions based on empirical evidence, rather than personal feelings, giving scientific consensus much more weight.

If you want to worship a guy that was born of a virgin, became a wandering teacher at around 30, then rose from the dead three days after he was killed, then feel free to take a look at the various religions that present people like that, and make a choice. That's probably the best thing to do if you want to be religious.

(January 22, 2014 at 12:43 pm)k2490 Wrote: Christianity it the worlds number one religion,beating out one of the oldest religions(Hinduism). Why is that if it's not the most credible?

this is an honest question and I'm generally curious.

Christianity/judaism is based in this realm this world (for the most part.) the stories and events that shape these two religions are based here with direct links to one's physical life. (The history of Man, the fact that we can point back to a time period where Jesus the son of God walked this earth.)

Hinduism is more a metaphysical ideology, based in realms and philosphies that unless you are apart of that religion mean nothing.
One has to prebelieve in hinduism on some level, (because no one expression of hinduism is correct.) to even get a particular brand of hindusim.
Where as Christianity/Judism is based in events that can be proved or disproved that occoured in our history. Making the leap from fact to faith more doable.

Yeah, the idea that there are historical events around Jesus and such are highly debatable. Like that there were no contemporary writings of Jesus. No one wrote about him when he was alive. There's no evidence of the exodus of the old testament. You can't say the events are grounded in the physical, because there's precious little physical evidence to be found.

It has nothing to do with the contents. two words: European colonialism.

Well, maybe there's an important aspect re content: it has proselytism built in, which is memetically very important.