Christianity has nothing to offer you while you're alive

[Nihilist Virus]

The promise of eternal life requires that you die. Materially, Christianity offers you absolutely nothing while you're alive. You are, however, pressured into offering time and money to Christianity.

So what does Christianity offer that is immaterial?

Christianity offers hope that things will be better once you die. I don't need Christianity for this. There are many religions that offer the same thing, often with less strings attached.

Christianity offers philosophy. Jesus was a philosopher. However, Christians are compelled to accept as absolute truth everything that Jesus said. Even when Jesus suggested that we don't need to wash our hands before we eat. It has been well established that this is a bad idea. Therefore, it is best to pick and choose from the sayings of Jesus rather than accepting all of them. As an atheist, I pick and choose from religious philosophy all the time. Not only do I not need Christianity to do this, but as a Christian I wouldn't even have the freedom to pick and choose from the sayings of Jesus.

Therefore, Christianity offers nothing materially, and its immaterial offers come at a cost. Christianity restricts your freedoms and wastes your time and money. The little that it does offer can be found elsewhere.

 

[Rachel20]

What does this life offer you that you can keep eternally? And if you can't keep it eternally, is it really yours?

 

[zippy2006]

Peter began to say to him, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:28-31)

 

[NerdGirl]

So what does Christianity offer that is immaterial?

Hope (not only for the afterlife, but for things here on earth).

The ability to love beyond what one believes themselves capable.

Freedom from the bonds of our flesh by placing our minds and hearts on heavenly things.

Joy indescribable. Not 24/7, but it is still possible to experience

An insight and perspective on the world that is outside the here and now. The ability to see "the bigger picture" more clearly, and understand humanity, society, politics, cultures, in a unique way.

Virtues like grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion, that are often in short supply in the secular world.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

What does this life offer you that you can keep eternally? And if you can't keep it eternally, is it really yours?

If you have to die to get it, do you actually get it?

 

[Nihilist Virus]

Hope (not only for the afterlife, but for things here on earth).

The ability to love beyond what one believes themselves capable.

Freedom from the bonds of our flesh by placing our minds and hearts on heavenly things.

Joy indescribable. Not 24/7, but it is still possible to experience

An insight and perspective on the world that is outside the here and now. The ability to see "the bigger picture" more clearly, and understand humanity, society, politics, cultures, in a unique way.

Virtues like grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion, that are often in short supply in the secular world.

Your very first sentence indicates you didn't read the OP.

 

[St_Worm2]

The promise of eternal life requires that you die.

Hello Nihilist Virus, actually, the only "requirement" (for someone to come into possession of eternal life from God) is saving faith in Him, because God gives us "eternal" life from the very moment that we first believe. As the Lord Jesus said,

John 5
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, ~has~ eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
​

--David

 

[Sabertooth]

Hello Nihilist Virus, actually, the only "requirement" (for someone to come into possession of eternal life from God) is saving faith in Him, because God gives us "eternal" life from the very moment that we first believe. As the Lord Jesus said,

John 5
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, ~has~ eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
​

--David

But if we don't listen to the Holy Spirit, in this life, our ride is going to be bumpier than it needs to be... [James 1:5-8] (That is another plus on this side.)

 

[NerdGirl]

Your very first sentence indicates you didn't read the OP.

I did read it, but okay.

 

[Sabertooth]

What does this life offer you that you can keep eternally? And if you can't keep it eternally, is it really yours?

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot, missionary

 

[childeye 2]

Your very first sentence indicates you didn't read the OP.

When I began to die on the cross with Christ, is when He began to live in me. The op doesn't address anything about this.

 

[Rachel20]

If you have to die to get it, do you actually get it?

I believe I already have it. My soul won't die when my body does. Yet even in this life, I have many blessings though I also had to go through many dry valleys first. Not sure why that is, but that's how it panned out in my life. Perhaps something related to God trying man with his eyelids and watching him for awhile (Psalms 11:4). After that, it seems the floodgates opened.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

Peter began to say to him, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:28-31)

Perfectly relevant to the thread, thanks. Except it's obviously and demonstrably false, so there's that issue.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

When I began to die on the cross with Christ, is when He began to live in me. The op doesn't address anything about this.

Yes, I do try to avoid talking nonsense.

 

[Sabertooth]

Yes, I do try to avoid talking nonsense.

You DO understand that the answer to your OP lies in a different paradigm, don't you?

 

[childeye 2]

Yes, I do try to avoid talking nonsense.

You're probably not even trying to understand it.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

I believe I already have it. My soul won't die when my body does. Yet even in this life, I have many blessings though I also had to go through many dry valleys first. Not sure why that is, but that's how it panned out in my life. Perhaps something related to God trying man with his eyelids and watching him for awhile (Psalms 11:4). After that, it seems the floodgates opened.

I already addressed this. Other religions offer you belief in rewards after you die.

 

[Yttrium]

Well, lemme try to think up some things that Christianity can provide to people during their lives.

Hope - A chance at eternal bliss can lift people out of despair and motivate them to overcome hardship and suffering. It has been and continues to be a popular religion among the impoverished around the world.

Meaning - It provides a reason for existence, countering nihilistic notions.

Morality - The Golden Rule and other commandments provide a sound standard of behavior for people to live by. Certain morals that Christians come up from scripture with may be questionable in modern society, but there is no question that a Christian society follows a good moral structure overall.

Charity - Helping out the poor was a big thing for Jesus, and that is reflected in Christians on average. Even those who believe government has no business handing out charity to the poor will tend to be charitable in private.

All of these things can be found outside of Christianity. They are not found automatically, however. It can be very easy to slide into darkness without something handy to guide you.

So... I can see some value in it.

 

[Rachel20]

I already addressed this. Other religions offer you belief in rewards after you die.

Truth isn't a smorgasbord, so if you play it like that, be very wise which you choose

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The promise of eternal life requires that you die. Materially, Christianity offers you absolutely nothing while you're alive. You are, however, pressured into offering time and money to Christianity.

So what does Christianity offer that is immaterial?

Christianity offers hope that things will be better once you die. I don't need Christianity for this. There are many religions that offer the same thing, often with less strings attached.

Christianity offers philosophy. Jesus was a philosopher. However, Christians are compelled to accept as absolute truth everything that Jesus said. Even when Jesus suggested that we don't need to wash our hands before we eat. It has been well established that this is a bad idea. Therefore, it is best to pick and choose from the sayings of Jesus rather than accepting all of them. As an atheist, I pick and choose from religious philosophy all the time. Not only do I not need Christianity to do this, but as a Christian I wouldn't even have the freedom to pick and choose from the sayings of Jesus.

Therefore, Christianity offers nothing materially, and its immaterial offers come at a cost. Christianity restricts your freedoms and wastes your time and money. The little that it does offer can be found elsewhere.

Christianity’s newness is the opportunity of a fruitful life with the power available to maintain it.