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Post by CtraK on Feb 20, 2011 14:46:13 GMT -5
So, I guess you could say that all religions were once cults. Technically, Christianity started off as a sect, and quite possibly, given some of Jesus' and Paul's pronouncements, a world-rejecting one. What makes it interesting to sociologists is that most world-rejecting sects these days tend to hole up in a ranch and stock up on guns, and then kick off by collectively committing suicide or getting into a shootout with the FBI, for example, but Christianity back then didn't end up doing that. Instead it sold out went mainsteam. |
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Post by RavynousHunter on Feb 23, 2011 17:25:43 GMT -5
Christianity just started from some bad OT fanfic. It has since spawned even more fanfic, like the Book of Moron Mormon and many Catholic tracts and whatnot.
Basically, the original Christers were people who couldn't get into the Official Yahweh Fan Club.
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Post by Dragon Zachski on Feb 23, 2011 22:41:51 GMT -5
Christianity just started from some bad OT fanfic. It has since spawned even more fanfic, like the Book of Moron Mormon and many Catholic tracts and whatnot. Basically, the original Christers were people who couldn't get into the Official Yahweh Fan Club. To add to that, the Christian Yahweh resembles Zeus more than he does the Jewish Yahweh. And I mean that in the worst possible way. |
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Post by Radiation on Feb 24, 2011 1:26:36 GMT -5
So, I guess you could say that all religions were once cults. Technically, Christianity started off as a sect, and quite possibly, given some of Jesus' and Paul's pronouncements, a world-rejecting one. What makes it interesting to sociologists is that most world-rejecting sects these days tend to hole up in a ranch and stock up on guns, and then kick off by collectively committing suicide or getting into a shootout with the FBI, for example, but Christianity back then didn't end up doing that. Instead it sold out went mainsteam. Christianity was illegal during the Roman times, it wasn't until Constantine wrote the Edict of Milan that legalized Christianity and allowed churches to be built that Christianity became a widespread religion. Also, it helped that he made it the official state religion of the Roman Empire. |
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Post by Caitshidhe on Feb 24, 2011 6:43:35 GMT -5
Yet he himself didn't actually officially convert to Christianity until he was on his deathbed. He was a pagan his whole life.
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Post by scotsgit on Feb 24, 2011 12:01:01 GMT -5
Yet he himself didn't actually officially convert to Christianity until he was on his deathbed. He was a pagan his whole life. Really? As I understand it, he converted after Milvian Bridge and spent many years as a Christian. |
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Post by The_L on Feb 24, 2011 12:15:16 GMT -5
It was common in those early days for Christians to be baptized on their deathbeds, simply because they wanted to make sure ALL their sins were forgiven. You could be Christian for years before you got baptized.
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Post by scotsgit on Feb 24, 2011 12:20:03 GMT -5
Speaking of Sceintologists:
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