Has Christianity been responsible for goodness int he world?
answer: hospitals and universities ONLY after setting learning back a thousand years. Progress that was common place among the Greeks, Egyptians and Romans we find astounding because of the imposed darkness, superstition and hatred of learning by Christianity.
Christianity has never been in favor of learning except what it wants others to learn, sadly. Even now some Christians try to get books banned from libraries, for example.
Has Christianity been responsible for goodness int he world?
sorry, didn't mean to be short. I'm a historian and sugar-coating history sometimes bugs me. Search and find answers, never believe one person's opinion, young one - even mine. :)
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Actually the opposite is true.
Christianity is responsible for more death, hatred and misery than any perceived or trumped up %26quot;good%26quot; it does.
the only thing christanity is good for it christanity itself nothing more nothing less.
proof please schneb...........
That's good for a belly laugh.
how about, 'Are guns the greatest life saving device?' or 'Was Hitler the source of tolerance in the 20th century.%26quot;
Christianity has brought much good into the world, yes.
The distorting and abuse of Christianity has brought much evil into the world, too.
No, the egyptians had such before christianity was even started. The fact is that christianity was started with much bloodshed. Leave it to us humans to take a good message and turn it into a power struggle.
Hahahahahaha I am sorry but that is hilarious. None of that came from Christianity. Scientific progress was halted for a very long time because of it though. There were places of higher learning long before Christianity, as well as medicines, charities, hospitals and sciences.
Yes some good has come from Christianity but so has a lot of terrible things. There has been so much blood shed in the name of the christian god that it blocks out the good things.
umm higher learning, science, medicines are all thanks to knowledge. it has nothing to do with christianity
christianity can't even tell you why someone gets a common cold let alone be responsible for the goodness in the world
however science can cure of the many diseases in the world.
and no god had nothing to do with that. If he did then certainly it would be in the bible but its clearly not
Well christians must give us all those things because in the past they beat rape insult and kill our people and take our land destroy our culture and our belieft force us to believe in christianity if we dont acept we will be kill or burnt and they spilt our people from their family
thats why the world is bad now thanks to the christian and their race from europeans
You're joking right? Christianity held back all but one of those. Institutes of higher leaning, hospitals, medicines and sciences were all held back because of religion. The only thing Christianity does is charity.
ha thats funny. no i think the opposite because to me it seems i am having to fight against my fellow christians in the sense to not judge other religions and people in general. lots of *cough cough* christians are complete hypocrites. sigh, its sad and for those of us who try to make them see that that is very un-Christlike, well, its a loosing battle
While there are individual Christians, and groups of, who have done good, it is rather beyond arrogant to suggest that their religion as a whole is the %26quot;most wonderful and world changing thing.%26quot;
There are other beliefs, cultures, and groups that have contributed greatly and some things far superior to what Christianity has done.
They do not OWN the concept and existence of colleges, hospitals, charity, science, and absolutely not medicine.
Edit: Charity, being an act done by humanity forever for one another, doesn't seem to have a recorded history, but here is some info on the early beginnings of the others things mentioned. None of which were started by Christianity.
Higher Learning
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy
%26quot;An academy (Greek ?καδημ?α) is an institution of higher learning, research, or honorary membership. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 385 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, north of Athens, Greece.%26quot;
Medicine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_…
%26quot;Although there is no actual record of when the use of plants for medicinal purposes (herbalism) first started, the first generally accepted use of plants as healing agents was depicted in the cave paintings discovered in the Lascaux caves in France, which have been radiocarbon dated to between 13,000 and 25,000 BC.%26quot;
Science
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_…
%26quot;Many ancient civilizations collected astronomical information in a systematic manner through simple observation.
From their beginnings in Sumer (now Iraq) around 3500 BC the Mesopotamian peoples began to attempt to record some observations of the world with extremely thorough quantitative and numerical data. %26quot;
Hospitals
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital#Hi…
%26quot;In ancient cultures, religion and medicine were linked. The earliest known institutions aiming to provide cure were Egyptian temples.%26quot;
If we didn't have Christianity we would have much more evil in the world. Christians gave the world morals and a sense of judgement to God. Sorry it would be so much easier if we could talk.
I don't necessarily agree with your friend. Christianity in fact as been the cause of more war, hatred and killing than almost any other group if the truth be told. The crusades namely - Killing in the name of God. BUT God was not responsible or approving of that event either that was MEN.
I think we can give Good, intelligent, righteous, knowledgeable, truth seeking, wise people credit for the GOODNESS in the world and I believe that anywhere GOOD RESIDES there also God and His spirit reside - whether the people are CHRISTIAN or not. I think God has guided events over the centuries as HE knew they needed to transpire for the PLAN to unfold. Some of that was done through Christian folk - some not. It doesn't take a christian person to equal GOODNESS by any stretch of the imagination.
Christianity has probably accomplished more good in the world than the aberrant consequences caused by a few of its followers.
Let me continue where you left off:
- countless humanitarian efforts (recently Hurricane Katrina, tsunami disaster relief, etc)
- the abolition of the slave trade in Great Britain in the 19th century was a direct result of Christians lobbying in Parliament
- the Salvation Army is a Christian-based organization that is the largest provider of social aid in the world
- Christians led reform movements in the US in the 19th century: factory reform, temperance, education, child welfare, workplace conditions, etc.
- Millions of Christian missionaries have brought education, reform, medicine and lives of devotion to peoples in all cracks and corners of the world (most of them supported by the financial gifts of churches)
Christianity is a beautiful and flawless piece of music composed by God. Sometimes, the musicians attempting to play it hit a few wrong notes or play it off key. Some make such an awful noise that they cause their audience to run away from them, holding their ears. But every now and then, a musician who is practiced in their Christianity plays the music and it is glorious and wonderful and sweet. We shouldn't fault the composer (Jesus) when unpracticed musicians play His composition; a composition should be judged when it is played by the best, not the worst!
He is correct. Although, it wasn't the only thing that gave us institutions of higher learning, hospitals, sciences, etc. What it did was mandated that every believer must partake in acts of mercy, and hospitals, orphanages, etc were established to meet this end. Universities in Europe were attached to cathedrals at first for theological trains, and gradually grew into free standing institutions. Oxford, for example, grew out of a chantry that was assigned to say Mass for the departed souls of the gentry in that area. There are still vestiges of this such as titles of academic leader, namely Dean, Chancellor, etc. Also, the robes that are worn at graduation are direct decedents of clerical garb from the middle ages.
This is not to say that the practice of Christianity has been Perfect; far from it. However, the institution of atheism in the last century has lead to more death, suffering and misery than any other system of belief the world has ever known. Contrast the accomplishments and failures of Christianity with atheism. How many people perished in the nightmare of communism in Russia, China, Cambodia and elsewhere. Or the fascist regimes of Europe in the first half of this century. These regimes were avowed atheist, some even reaching back to their pagan roots to undermine the Church in their lands Yes, these regimes did try and institutionalize charities that their christian counterparts had pioneered. The result? Hospitals that began to eliminate those deemed %26quot;unworthy%26quot; of life. The brutal murder of the mentally ill, of those of a race deemed to be sub-human, and so on. So bad as the Inquisition was, does it really compare with the wholesale destruction wrought by secular Inquisition from the French Revolution forward?
oh, yes, all those chinese, indian, etc. scholars had nothing to do with the institutions of higher learning.
please, reduce your ego.
christianity is not better than any other religion.
They are correct. Thought the naysayers will say otherwise.
Most of the colleges in the United States that started over 300 years ago were Bible-proclaiming schools originally. Harvard and Yale (originally Puritan) and Princeton (originally Presbyterian) once had rich Christian histories.
Harvard was named after a Christian minister. Yale was started by clergymen, and Princeton’s first year of class was taught by Reverend Jonathan Dickinson. Princeton’s crest still says “Dei sub numine viget,” which is Latin for “Under God she flourishes.”
In the United Kingdom, the earliest university-type establishment was probably the College, established by the Celtic preacher St. Illtyd in about AD 500. Oxford University was established by various religious orders. Likewise, Cambridge University was established in 1209 by Christian leaders. Saint Andrews, Scotland’s oldest university, was founded principally for the teaching and study of theology. The commitment of these religious founders might be suspect, but many of the later colleges were founded by Bible-believing Christians. The University of Edinburgh had a thoroughly evangelical beginning, being founded under Presbyterian auspices.
Christians early on began to take care of the poor and sick in their neighborhoods. By the year 251, the church in Rome supported more than 1,500 widows and needy persons, all of whom were %26quot;fed by the grace and kindness of the Lord.%26quot; Two great figures in fourth century Christianity, St. Fabiola of Rome and St. Basil of Caesarea went further and built large complexes with their personal fortunes. Basil's %26quot;new city, the storehouse of piety,%26quot; contained hospices, training facilities for those out of work and, of course, areas to tend the sick. St. Jerome wrote of Fabiola, %26quot;Was there a naked or bedridden person who was not clothed with garments supplied by her? Were there ever any in want to whom she failed to give a quick and unhesitating supply? Even Rome was not wide enough for her pity.%26quot; And, oh yes, all for free.
Most in our society do not seem to realise how much we owe to the advent of Jesus Christ. Hospitals as we know them were an innovation of Christianity (hence the universal healing symbol of a cross to represent hospitals). The nursing profession was founded by Florence Nightingale out of devotion to Christ. One of history's greatest humanitarian movements, the International Red Cross, was founded by Christians in response to the Scriptural injunction to care for the sick and suffering. Christians, such as Dr. Louis Pasteur, have fueled some of the greatest practical advances in medicine. More hospitals have been founded by Christians than by all other religions combined. The Christian Church has been the supreme (and often the only) force restraining man's inhumanity towards man.
Christian charities made up nearly a quarter of the 100 best nonprofit groups for financial integrity in the United States, according to a leading nonprofit management magazine.
Twenty-two Christian organizations were ranked in the 2007 Top 100 list by The NonProfit Times. Notably, three groups – Catholic Charities, USA, The Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity International – were among the top 10 best charities.
To make the list, at least 10 percent of an organization’s income must have come from public support. International humanitarian and development groups World Vision and Food for the Poor ranked 14th and 18th, respectively, among other Christian nonprofits that made up made up a quarter of the top 20 charities. Well-known ministries such as Campus Crusade for Christ, Samaritan’s Purse and Compassion International were included in the top 50 nonprofits. Compassion, a leading child-development ministry, advanced to 48th place this year, up from 54th place a year ago.
I live down the street from one of the largest Christian-based university hospitals that pioneered the heart transplant and new discoveries in cancer research and treatment. It is based on the Seventh Day Adventist religion and is based in Loma Linda, CA.
Was Mother Theresa a Christian? Oh, perhaps we should not include her.
Hmmm, so many thumbs down. Must be saying something right. The fact is, that the most advances in all that you listed can be traced to two groups, Christians and the Jewish people. Some of our greatest medical discoveries today are taking place in Israel.
