What's the need for christianity*?

[nobspeople]

Most of us have seen christians (some on here) that don't prescribe to the (popular definition of) practicing the christian religion as a function of worship: they don't go to any physical church, don't think the bible is the word or (or inspired word of) god as a whole, the bible can be wrong and still be, well, worthy (I guess?), they don't believe in hell as it's taught, and on an on.
These people seem to believe they will get to heaven without partaking in the popular practice of christianity and all that entails. Maybe they will, who knows?

For discussion:
What's the point of christianity as a religion in today's world? Is there a need for it to exist at all?
Do you need christianity and the practice of it to get your reward?
Or can you simply read the bible, believe in what you want, and still get to heaven?

*This assumes heaven and god is real, of course.

[TRANSPONDER]

I get the idea that while (arguably, if not obviously) while one might have an innate desire for mayhem and malice they actually do the right thing, because of practical reasons, it would be more 'Righteous' to want to do the right. However, Religion even beside the stick and carrot and trying to do the right because it pleases God (whether or not you get anything by that (1) is training wheels and we have to move onto the next stage of doing the Right because it pleases God. But even that I see as the training -wheels, because doing the Right for the wrong reasons (mythology) is only a makeshift solution and has its' own very real problems, when the 'Right' (will of God) is interpreted to be a wrong, and we needn't go too far for examples of that. We can do better, and the way to do that is take off the training -wheels of religion and understand what human morality is actually made of and what makes it tick And I reckon we already know, but religion or at least a misplaced human pride, is preventing us from accepting what we are and why we do what we do. We are primate mammals and are driven by primate animal instincts.

((1) one for noobsperson to star a thread, God -believers will often protest that they aren't trying to please God to get into heaven let alone avoid Hell, but because they want to do God's will. Indeed I have even had those who protested that there is no guarantee that Right Belief and being a regular Christian and decent person will get you into heaven because God gives no guarantees.

[1213]

...we already know, but religion or at least a misplaced human pride, is preventing us from accepting what we are and why we do what we do. We are primate mammals and are driven by primate animal instincts....

Can that be proven?

[JehovahsWitness]

For discussion:
What's the point of christianity as a religion in today's world? Is there a need for it to exist at all?

*This assumes heaven and god is real, of course.

FIRSTLY PLEASE NOTE I make no claims here, I am simply expressing my opinion on what the bible contains ...

Well assuming God and heaven are real, I believe that the world needs Christianity for the following biblical reasons [*]...

1) For those those God judges as meek, it teaches them how to please Him and how they can gain everlasting life

2) It is the means by which the wicked are forewarned of their coming destruction

.









JW

[ * ] I am ONLY mentioning the bible to show what Christianity says in line with subforum guidelines, not to prove that a statement or story therein is true. ​I am not presenting the bible as authorative or proof of truth and have no intention to add an argument to that end in this subforum See LINKS for details: viewtopic.php?p=213491#p213491

[JehovahsWitness]

.. why punish us---send us to Hell---for the failure of god and his representatives? [/indent]

FIRSTLY PLEASE NOTE I make no claims here, I am simply expressing what I believe based on the bible. Please take all sentences to be preceeded by the premise "I believe ..."

Biblically [*]God will only condemn those that are incorrigibly wicked; try and imagine a child abuser that enjoys making children suffer and does not WANT to live any other way. I don't think anyone on this forum would thus clarify themselves.

I believe (and this is no claims simply a statement of belief based on scripture) God is just does not eternally condemn those that act out of ignorance or are so damage they cannot intellectually grasp what they are being told.





JW

[ * ] I am ONLY mentioning the bible to show what Christianity says in line with subforum guidelines, not to prove that a statement or story therein is true. ​I am not presenting the bible as authorative or proof of truth and have no intention to add an argument to that end in this subforum See LINKS for details: viewtopic.php?p=213491#p213491

[Tcg]

Well assuming God and heaven are real, I believe that the world needs Christianity for the following biblical reasons [*]...

1) For those those God judges as meek, it teaches them how to please Him and how they can gain everlasting life

2) It is the means by which the wicked are forewarned of their coming destruction

JW

[ * ] I am ONLY mentioning the bible to show what Christianity says in line with subforum guidelines, not to prove that a statement or story therein is true. ​I am not presenting the bible as authorative or proof of truth and have no intention to add an argument to that end in this subforum See LINKS for details: viewtopic.php?p=213491#p213491

Given your disclaimer, there is no reason to accept that either 1 or 2 are valid. You may be able to show that the Bible teaches these things, although you haven't. Even if you did, that wouldn't address the O.P. It asks why Christianity is needed, not what does the Bible teach about pleasing God or the forewarning of an of course perfectly unsupportable claim about some coming destruction.


Tcg

[JehovahsWitness]

. ... the O.P. It asks why Christianity is needed

FIRSTLY PLEASE NOTE I make no claims here, I am simply examinjng the OP from a biblical perspective ..."

Regarding addressing the OP, the need is inferred in my response. If somebody was dying and could be saved by a lifegiving treatment, it is a given they would need said treatment. If ( and I am presenting a supposition here, not making a claims) ... if [ * ] Christianity is the means by which humanity can be saved from an avoidable destruction, the need for it would be self-evident.





JW

[ * ]I usually use conditionals ( ... or suppositions, hypothesis etc ) when discussing theological points in this subforum in order to respect forum guidelines while also avoiding making any absolute claims in this regard.This hopefully avoids being sidetracked by challenges to prove points unrelated to the point under discussion.

[JehovahsWitness]

Or can you simply read the bible, believe in what you want, and still get to heaven?

*This assumes heaven and god is real, of course.

FIRSTLY PLEASE NOTE I make no claims here, I am simply expressing my bible based opinion ..."

In my personal opinion, no. I don't think (and I am making no claim here, just expressing my opinion) most parents would be happy with his children only obeying the house rules that pleases them (the child) and ignoring those they find objectionable. While biblically, heaven is not open to all the faithful, faith and proof of faith involves more than simply believing selected passages in the bible.

[Avoice]

[Replying to Tcg in post #4]
Christianitys solution for sin is worse than the sins they worry about

[nobspeople]

[Replying to Tcg in post #4]
Christianitys solution for sin is worse than the sins they worry about

Threatening, which creates guilt and fear, is a great motivator for many.

[Tcg]

[Replying to Tcg in post #4]
Christianitys solution for sin is worse than the sins they worry about

I'm not sure how this addresses my post. I didn't mention anything about sin. Christianity functions in the same way many other religions do and it has nothing to do with a so-called "solution for sin" although undoubtedly other religions offer what they consider to be their solutions. There's no reason to consider any valid or even that there is a need for such a thing.


Tcg