Christian Persecution

[Mac1337]

Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire began during the Ministry of Jesus and continued intermittently over a period of about three centuries until the time of Constantine when Christianity was legalized.

Shortly thereafter it became the state religion of the Roman Empire.

This persecution impacted all aspects of Christian life including the development of the Canonical gospels, Christian theology and the structure of the Church.




disney hotel

[cbelt3]

Uhm... Guys... the primary purpose of most religions is to increase its membership. Missionary work is a biggie. So is having many babies. I don't think you're going to change that basic imperative based on opinion.

Would I go on a missionary effort ? No... I can't handle cold-calling or its equivalent. I think religion is a private thing between you and your deity (or lack of same).

Do I respect people who follow their beliefs and do that kind of work. Yes. Yes I do. I always respect people who put themselves into their work and beliefs, body and soul. I may disagree with them, but I do respect commitment.

(OK, within limits.. I do not respect suicide bombers and that ilk.)

[decay]

George Carlin (RIP) wrote:
Religion is like a lift in your shoe. If it helps you stand up straighter and walk a little better, good for you! But don't you go and try to put your lifts in my shoes, and for crying out loud, let's stop sending missionaries to Africa to nail the lifts to the natives' bare feet!

[mattkime]

>>Uhm... Guys... the primary purpose of most religions is to increase its membership. Missionary work is a biggie.

Seems to me that its primarily a feature of christian religions.

[decay]

Jews aren't out trying to sign up new members.

Neither are Quakers, Mennonites, or Amish.

[$tevie]

Anyhow, why travel around the world to recruit members? How about recruiting members in the Good Ol' USA? I don't think it's about increasing membership so much as about believing that anyone who is not Christian is a lost soul. It's a very patronizing view of other cultures. And if one does insist on doing "the Lord's work" in dangerous places, one ought to assume that either the Lord will protect you or else you are meant to be a martyr.

[Uncle Wig]

cbelt3 wrote:
Uhm... Guys... the primary purpose of most religions is to increase its membership. Missionary work is a biggie. So is having many babies. I don't think you're going to change that basic imperative based on opinion.

Huh....I thought it was to have faith in a higher power and to gain salvation.

[cbelt3]

matt... not quite true, just most of what you hear about in the US.

decay... quite correct. Having babies is their way of growing the faith. And in the case of the Anabaptist groups (Mennonite, Amish) , there are huge birth defect problems due to the interbreeding. Ohio has some large birth defect care and research centers in Amish areas to the south of where I live.

And in the case of the Jewish groups... methinks that mother guilt thing works, or so my Jewish friends have related to me... Same model I experience in Catholicism... Yes, Mom, I'm going to church/temple. Oy ! :biggrin:

Wikipedia to the rescue on the rest... there's LOTS of Missionary work out there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionary

[$tevie]

Quakers do NOT grow the faith by having babies. I was raised a Quaker and that's the silliest notion I've heard yet.