(June 12, 2014 at 12:05 pm)dreenbmp Wrote: So I had a dumb question.
What do modern Christians believe happened before the bible existed and before christ was born....I say this because, when I think of christianity, obviously it was a religion based on Christ, and there were so many religions existing before christianity.
So how do we expect other areas of the world to know of this christian god before his time, and before the time of his holy book?
I've honestly never heard this been brought up or talked about. Was just curious and wanted some others thoughts!
Varies entirely on the denomination in question.
Most of them will concede that prior to Christ the one true faith was Judaism, everyone else was either worshiping Satan or thin air. To many of them the Jews are still worshiping Christ through the "Old Covanent" (the Mosaic Laws), but that has been superseded by Christianity. Both can get you to God, but Christianity is the best and now the intended way.
The Catholic Church is a little bit different, they believe (since Vatican II) all religions have "a portion" of the truth, some more than others (i,e: The Sikhs are closer to God than the Hindus because they belive in one deity). The CC is the "Fullness of truth" and the only guaranteed way into heaven. I think the Orthodox and most liberal Protestant groups retain a vaugley similar position. The only religions clearly labelled as "totally and irredeemably evil" are Paganism, some forms of Buddhism and the new age movement because they promote "the worship of self" .
