Christianity has nothing to offer you while you're alive

[BNR32FAN]

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.

Nope this is not true at all. I’ve received more blessings than I can count after coming to Christ. The biggest being my family but also my job is much better after coming to Him. I struggled with loneliness for 38 years until I came to Christ and got a better job easier work making over 30% more money. So yeah God has had a huge impact on my life since I came to him.

 

[BNR32FAN]

The "how" is not relevant. I'm talking about the "what".



Yes. Generally speaking, all religions say the same thing in different ways. The same "what" with different "how"s.



Let's see if we can find something material offered by Christianity which is available to you while you're alive which is unattainable through other religions.

So I’m guessing you were a believer at one time?

 

[Nihilist Virus]

Well, in my opinion we who are Christian are not trying to get away from others, in this material world; so we can tend to have what others have, while reaching to and sharing with them in order to reach them for Jesus.

And there can be persecution which results in ones of us not having what the persecutors have.

The Bible says, "be content with such things as you have", in Hebrews 13:5. So, I understand God has us accepting whatever good we have, and share with people who are near us. How we can be loving is more important than the materials we have.

So, it's not how much we have, but how much we can do with it.

And our Apostle Paul says,

"I will not be brought under the power of any," in 1 Corinthians 6:12.

So, while we may have and enjoy material benefits . . . how well do we avoid being somehow "under the power" of things we have and are managing? How we are emotionally and in relating with people can have a material effect on our bodies, by the way. So, being able to stay in God's peace with almighty protection against stress and arguing, for examples, can have an effect on our material bodies and lifestyles.

Do we have almighty power of peace in us, so we easily can say no to smoking, for one practical example? This can have a material effect on our health and finances.

Now, yes, ones claim that all religions can give you peace so you can easily avoid harmful and wasteful things like smoking. But there is a difference between God's peace, and humanly self-produced calm and control.

If Christianity is true, this thread is moot. You seem to be unable to respond without first assuming the point in question.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

Nope this is not true at all. I’ve received more blessings than I can count after coming to Christ. The biggest being my family but also my job is much better after coming to Him. I struggled with loneliness for 38 years until I came to Christ and got a better job easier work making over 30% more money. So yeah God has had a huge impact on my life since I came to him.

So the almighty creator of the universe who could've done anything for you decided to give you a 30% raise and better work conditions. Hmm.

From what I can tell, adherents of other religions are also able to find families and advance their careers. They would also say the creator of the universe did something for them.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

So I’m guessing you were a believer at one time?

Yes, while I was a juvenile. I lost my faith at age 18.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Yes, while I was a juvenile. I lost my faith at age 18.

Ahh, it would appear that your not really speaking from experience but rather from speculation when you say that God does nothing for us in this life. If your not a believer then how could you possibly know? There’s a reason that Jesus often said “he who has ears to hear let him hear” just like He had a very good reason for saying “he who eats My flesh and drinks My blood will have eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day”. Do you understand His reasoning behind these two parables?

 

[BNR32FAN]

So the almighty creator of the universe who could've done anything for you decided to give you a 30% raise and better work conditions. Hmm.

From what I can tell, adherents of other religions are also able to find families and advance their careers. They would also say the creator of the universe did something for them.

uh huh

 

[Nihilist Virus]

Ahh, it would appear that your not really speaking from experience but rather from speculation when you say that God does nothing for us in this life. If your not a believer then how could you possibly know? There’s a reason that Jesus often said “he who has ears to hear let him hear” just like He had a very good reason for saying “he who eats My flesh and drinks My blood will have eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day”. Do you understand His reasoning behind these two parables?

What? 18 years isn't enough of a trial run? That's insane.

 

[BNR32FAN]

What? 18 years isn't enough of a trial run? That's insane.

No not really because for most of that time it wasn’t your choice it was most likely your parents who made that choice and as soon as you were old enough to choose you chose to turn away. So what made you turn away at the age of 18?

 

[Nihilist Virus]

No not really because for most of that time it wasn’t your choice it was most likely your parents who made that choice and as soon as you were old enough to choose you chose to turn away. So what made you turn away at the age of 18?

No, no, keep going. Keep telling me my own life story. I can't wait to find out what made me turn away at age 18.

 

[BNR32FAN]

No, no, keep going. Keep telling me my own life story. I can't wait to find out what made me turn away at age 18.

Its impossible that you chose to attend church for the first 18 years of your life that’s just common sense. A child can’t make a conscious choice to believe in Christ until he’s at an age old enough to understand salvation. At 18 years old you may have had that capacity for only a few years before you turned away.

 

[All Becomes New]

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?

Joy, for one. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, as well as peace in any situation.

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.

But do you believe in life after death? If you don't it's a moot point anyways.

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.

The passage you are talking about was about being accepted by God or not, not what you should do or shouldn't do before you eat. Jesus was saying "Even if you don't wash your hands before you eat, you can still be accepted by God" Jesus was NOT saying, "There is no need to wash your hands before you eat because it will not prevent anything bad from happening to you." that is you reading into the text something that isn't there.

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.

Except Christianity offers freedom from sin as well as plenty of other benefits while here on earth.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

Its impossible that you chose to attend church for the first 18 years of your life that’s just common sense. A child can’t make a conscious choice to believe in Christ until he’s at an age old enough to understand salvation. At 18 years old you may have had that capacity for only a few years before you turned away.

But why did I turn away?

 

[Nihilist Virus]

Joy, for one. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, as well as peace in any situation.

I don't need Christianity for that.

But do you believe in life after death?

No.

If you don't it's a moot point anyways.

After death, you're not alive. This thread is about things that affect you while you're alive.

The passage you are talking about was about being accepted by God or not, not what you should do or shouldn't do before you eat. Jesus was saying "Even if you don't wash your hands before you eat, you can still be accepted by God" Jesus was NOT saying, "There is no need to wash your hands before you eat because it will not prevent anything bad from happening to you." that is you reading into the text something that isn't there.

No, I think you're the one reading something into the text that isn't there.

Except Christianity offers freedom from sin as well as plenty of other benefits while here on earth.

Freedom from sin? Interesting. Many Christians say they sin all the time.

 

[All Becomes New]

I don't need Christianity for that.

Criticism doesn't seem to be a fruit of joy to me. Are you sure you are experiencing joy right now? Or are you experiencing a conflict that you have to talk about?

After death, you're not alive. This thread is about things that affect you while you're alive.

Well, if you are not actually experiencing joy right now, then I would say you can't actually say you could get it another way. Let's try this: what is your definition of joy?

No, I think you're the one reading something into the text that isn't there.

Quote the passage and we will talk about it.

Freedom from sin? Interesting. Many Christians say they sin all the time.

Sanctification is something every Christian should experience in their lives. What sanctification is is not sins you once did and doing more and more Good works.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

Criticism doesn't seem to be a fruit of joy to me.

Then Paul must've been very unhappy and not full of the spirit, don't you think?

Are you sure you are experiencing joy right now?

My life is pretty good, thanks.

Or are you experiencing a conflict that you have to talk about?

The conflict reality vs religion.

Well, if you are not actually experiencing joy right now, then I would say you can't actually say you could get it another way. Let's try this: what is your definition of joy?

For me part of joy is not playing word games.

Quote the passage and we will talk about it.

He said that it is not what goes into you that defiles you, but what comes out of you. I can think of several ways in which that is not only wrong, but way, way, way super wrong.

Sanctification is something every Christian should experience in their lives. What sanctification is is not sins you once did and doing more and more Good works.

I've never heard of this.

 

[All Becomes New]

Then Paul must've been very unhappy and not full of the spirit, don't you think?

Joy is not synonymous with happiness, just so we are clear. And if Paul was full of vigor, it is because cares a lot about right and wrong.

My life is pretty good, thanks.

Not what I asked, but whatever.

The conflict reality vs religion.

You know that for a fact?

For me part of joy is not playing word games.

Does this or doesn't this mean you care about precise speech?

He said that it is not what goes into you that defiles you, but what comes out of you. I can think of several ways in which that is not only wrong, but way, way, way super wrong.

Not what I was asking. Quote the passage.

I've never heard of this.

Color me surprised. It a pretty big part of being a Christian.

 

[Nihilist Virus]

Joy is not synonymous with happiness, just so we are clear. And if Paul was full of vigor, it is because cares a lot about right and wrong.

Do I get to care about right and wrong without being accused of things?

Not what I asked, but whatever.



You know that for a fact?

Yep.

Does this or doesn't this mean you care about precise speech?

Every word is defined in terms of other words. So if you want to be precise about it, language is circular.

Not what I was asking. Quote the passage.

Yes, I know. Every time Jesus said something you don't like, he meant something else. I mean, come on, who wants sell all their stuff and give all the money away? After all, he wasn't talking to you. He was talking to someone else. When he's talking generalities to no one in particular, that's when you need to listen.

...except that he told some people to eat crackers and drink grape juice, but that's easy so we should do that. Even though he didn't say it to you but rather to other people. Even though he told them to do it in remembrance of him, which is something you can never do because you weren't there.

Color me surprised. It a pretty big part of being a Christian.

How big a part of being a Christian is following Jesus? Because in my country, the evangelical churches are not only refusing to pay taxes, but they're even breaking American law by being a tax-exempt entity and then proceeding to espouse partisan politics at the pulpit. From what I can see, Jesus told people to pay taxes. Given the weight of eternity vs a few bucks in this life, you'd think Christians would pay their taxes even if they're tax exempt - you know, just to be sure.

 

[All Becomes New]

Yep.

So are you saying you know religion is not true as a fact?

 

[Nihilist Virus]

So are

Sorry, I don't know what you're saying because I've redacted the majority of what was said.