What if christianity never existed ?

[vorlon13]

well . . .

there is a shared collective belief in Christ, but can we say that 'Christianity' actually exists ??

For instance, if I look in my garage and see my car there, I know my car is there and that I have a car, and my car exists.

If I instead have a windowless locked garage in my backyard, and a family tradition that states grandpa's 1933 Duesenberg is in there, do I really have an actual car??

Is it possible grandpa never owned one ?

Or if it there it's totaled ?

Or grandpa sold it for beer money in 1937 and didn't tell grandma ?

See where I'm at here?? The christians just have their belief, I cannot touch taste or smell it, it is presented not as a material fact but instead as something requiring a state of mind to substitute for reality.

[abaris]

Since the Romans did not force religion on most of their conquests until the xtian virus took hold, then something probably would have sprung up to do the job in its place.

The Romans didn't enforce religion, they assimilated religions. More a political than a spiritual move, since they left the conquered ethnicities with what they knew and added it to their Pantheon. In that sense the christian persecution before it became state religion is to be seen on the same lines. They refused to adapt to the political system by offering to the emperor, which was considered treasonous. Nevertheless they weren't persecuted on a daily basis. Only among the first ones to turn to when a scapegoat was needed. Since we're playing what if - if christianity hadn't had it's claim of exclusiveness it would have been just another assimilated believe in the Roman system.

[RobertE]

well . . .

there is a shared collective belief in Christ, but can we say that 'Christianity' actually exists ??

For instance, if I look in my garage and see my car there, I know my car is there and that I have a car, and my car exists.

If I instead have a windowless locked garage in my backyard, and a family tradition that states grandpa's 1933 Duesenberg is in there, do I really have an actual car??

Is it possible grandpa never owned one ?

Or if it there it's totaled ?

Or grandpa sold it for beer money in 1937 and didn't tell grandma ?

See where I'm at here??  The christians just have their belief, I cannot touch taste or smell it, it is presented not as a material fact but instead as something requiring a state of mind to substitute for reality.

Schrodingers cat rings a bell. Is it alive or is it dead, or can it be both at the same time?

[Minimalist]

Abs, you remind of a fuck up by Justin Martyr in which he claims that the Roman Senate erected a statue to Simon Magus for his supposed magic tricks in Rome.  IN the 16th century the statue was found and showed that Justin either carelessly or deliberately fucked up the Latin reading:

http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2010/2010-10-65.html

Justin tells us that the notorious Simon Magus, his fellow Samaritan and bête noire, had been honored “as a god” by the Roman senate in the time of Claudius, and was awarded his own statue and inscription. In fact, Justin says, the statue was erected on the Isola Tiberina, “between the two bridges,” and the inscription on its base read in Latin: “To Simon the holy god” (SIMONI DEO SANCTO [1 Apol. 26.2]).

Except:

Then in 1574 an inscription was found on the Tiber Island which read: SEMONI SANCO DEO FIDIO SACRUM (“Dedicated to Semo Sancus Dius Fidius” [CILVI.567]). The dedication refers to the old Sabine god Semo Sancus (aka Dius Fidius). Justin must have “misread” the inscription, or, what is more likely, never seen it at all: he was simply repeating what he had read in a book about or by Simon’s followers. The anecdote should serve as a reminder of just how contrived, fabricated, and above all bookish was the world imagined by the Christian apologists.

As usual, jesus freaks see what they want to see.

[Edwardo Piet]

What if? If only!

[Arkilogue]

Hello guys and girls

I want to ask your opinion on the following question: ,,What if christianity never existed?" please give arguments for your opinion.

I believe that even if islam and other religions existed, i think that humanity would be much more advanced in science and in other areas.The scientific discoveries and new ideas would't been surppressed, the term ,,The Dark ages" would never have existed.I don't want to offend christian folk ,but your religion in the past done some bad stuff, and it isn't your fault, but please be open minded, and try to answer this question sincerely.

Everyone have a nice day

You do know that the invasion/destruction of the classical world and beginning of the dark ages was by Islam right?

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If christianity didn't exist, some other bs would take it's place. As there is ignorance, religion will exist in one form or another.

If Christianity didn't exist, there wouldn't have been a classical world to destroy.

[mlmooney89]

I want to ask your opinion on the following question: ,,What if christianity never existed?" please give arguments for your opinion.

[The Grand Nudger]

The classical world was pagan Ark...........christianity wasn't a thing until post-classical history.  Muslims didn't cause or contribute to the fall of Rome, islam did not yet exist.

WTF are you talking about...where do you get your information......?

[abaris]

You do know that the invasion/destruction of the classical world and beginning of the dark ages was by Islam right?

You really that ignorant or are you just having us on? A few history lessons might be on order, if serious. Serious ones based on serious sources.

[Minimalist]

I'll take "Ignorant" for $500, Alex!