Christianity has nothing to offer you while you're alive

[Llewelyn Stevenson]

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.

And to think I was healed as a newborn baby by faith in the name of Jesus Christ; I was set free from a violent temper at age 13 by a simple faith spoken prayer and trust in God; I was challenged by God and received healing from a sometimes crippling nervous disorder by God's inner voice at age 17; I asked God for a particular house in the town I live in in 1987 and in 1988 a man gave me the deposit and paid all my legal fees to pay for that house: the exact street address.

Yet, if it is as you say, faith in Christ and Christianity offer you nothing in this life, I have actually received nothing.

For a period of 2 months, after I lost my job due to Paul Keating's recession claims here in Australia; a man, who objected to me believing that God would provide for me, left groceries each week on my front verandah.

I think you must be mistaken. I have had a lifetime of provision by my faith and see no reason to give it up on your say so.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

You're probably not even trying to understand it.

If I attempt to interpret your nonsense, it's very unlikely I'll infer what you intend. This is why it's best to speak properly. If you have something to say that requires I make my own interpretation, then that's called art. However, this thread is about utility. As I said, many religions offer art, and I don't even need religion at all to find art.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

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

Is your physical body ever going to be in heaven?

 

[Nihilist Virus]

I did read it, but okay.

No you didn't. You said that Christianity offers hope. I said in the OP:

"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."

You can't simply re-assert that Christianity offers hope. You need to actually acknowledge my claim and respond to it. What you stated indicates you did not read.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

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.

You clearly didn't read the OP.

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.

Morality and charity are offset by decades of child rape sanctioned by the Pope. And I'm being charitable to Christianity in counting that as zero instead of negative.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

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

The wise choice is to choose none of them.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

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

What?

 

[friend of]

Love the world all you want. Eat drink and be merry. For tomorrow ye shall surely die.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

And to think I was healed as a newborn baby by faith in the name of Jesus Christ; I was set free from a violent temper at age 13 by a simple faith spoken prayer and trust in God; I was challenged by God and received healing from a sometimes crippling nervous disorder by God's inner voice at age 17; I asked God for a particular house in the town I live in in 1987 and in 1988 a man gave me the deposit and paid all my legal fees to pay for that house: the exact street address.

Yet, if it is as you say, faith in Christ and Christianity offer you nothing in this life, I have actually received nothing.

For a period of 2 months, after I lost my job due to Paul Keating's recession claims here in Australia; a man, who objected to me believing that God would provide for me, left groceries each week on my front verandah.

I think you must be mistaken. I have had a lifetime of provision by my faith and see no reason to give it up on your say so.

Would you believe these claims if you were me? And even if we assume this is 100% true, why don't other Christians have the same results? There are many Christians who experience mostly suffering. Is it because they are fake Christians?

 

[Yttrium]

You clearly didn't read the OP.

Well, you did say Christianity provides some things, like hope, but at the same time said it provides nothing, which left me confused. You were contradicting yourself.

The fact that there are alternatives doesn't negate that it provides something.

Morality and charity are offset by decades of child rape sanctioned by the Pope. And I'm being charitable to Christianity in counting that as zero instead of negative.

Seriously? That's completely nonsensical.

 

[friend of]

Christianity isn't about this life man. It's all about preparing for the next eternal life. This is the foundation of our hope. So of course it has nothing to offer someone who has no faith.

 

[Halbhh]

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.

Mistaken premise that there're no rewards here and now -- by both the text, where both future and present outcomes are specified, and also by actual experience many have also.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

Well, you did say Christianity provides some things, like hope, but at the same time said it provides nothing, which left me confused. You were contradicting yourself.

The fact that there are alternatives doesn't negate that it provides something.

Perhaps I condensed the title too much. That's why it's important to read the actual thread. I can't explain my entire position in the title.

Seriously? That's completely nonsensical.

Why?

 

[Nihilist Virus]

Mistaken premise that there're no rewards here and now -- by both the text, where both future and present outcomes are specified, and also by actual experience many have also.

What?

 

[St_Worm2]

Is your physical body ever going to be in heaven?

Hello again Nihilist Virus, no, I don't believe so (though it is possible, as two men, Enoch and Elijah, were taken there bodily (while they were still alive), and the Lord Jesus is there (who still has His glorified human body).

At the end of this age the graves will all be opened, and everyone will be resurrected bodily (according to the Bible). It also tells us that we will live with God on the New Earth, not in Heaven, in the eternity to come .. e.g. Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:11-13.

--David

Revelation 21
1 I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
​

 

[Occams Barber]

Is your physical body ever going to be in heaven?

Hello again Nihilist Virus, no, I don't believe so (though it is possible, as two men, Enoch and Elijah, were taken there bodily (while they were still alive), and the Lord Jesus is there (who still has His glorified human body).

At the end of this age the graves will all be opened, and everyone will be resurrected bodily (according to the Bible) but it also tells us that we will live with God on the New Earth, not in Heaven, in the eternity to come .. e.g. Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:11-13.

Is that a 'Yes', a 'No', a 'Maybe' or an 'I don't know'?

It actually reads like all four.

OB

 

[Reasonable Christian]

I'm not a Christian primarily because it "offers" me something, material or immaterial. I didn't shop around for the worldview that I found most superficially attractive, as if I were buying a new shirt. I'm a Christian primarily because I think Christianity is true.

 

[NBB]

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.

You say that while also rejecting any testimony from people? way to think wrong...
When christians say God intervened in their life, they are serious, God does things to his childs.

You are falling in something very common in atheistic thinking, that christianity is a 'belief' only, no! you also get to have a relationship with God, and in relationships things happen.
If you can't hope to get something from God at all in this life, i think there is no point in believing. We not only hope, people receives things from God.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

Hello again Nihilist Virus, no, I don't believe so (though it is possible, as two men, Enoch and Elijah, were taken there bodily (while they were still alive), and the Lord Jesus is there (who still has His glorified human body).

At the end of this age the graves will all be opened, and everyone will be resurrected bodily (according to the Bible). It also tells us that we will live with God on the New Earth, not in Heaven, in the eternity to come .. e.g. Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:11-13.

--David

Revelation 21
1 I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
​

If your body can't go, and if the graves have to be opened, then doesn't that kind of imply death is required?

 

[Nihilist Virus]

I'm not a Christian because it "offers" me something, material or immaterial. I didn't shop around for the worldview that I found most superficially attractive, as if I were buying a new shirt. I'm a Christian because I think it's true.

So you agree with the thread, then?