I think I've figured it out...
What really gets me is when people call themselves "Christian" when they often aren't really Christian at all. Can someone tell me what main word is in "Christianity"? Christ! Jesus Christ. So it would make sense to say "Christians" should act as Jesus did. That means loving thy neighbor as yourself and turning the other cheek.
The biggest thing about Jesus speaking and teaching in black and white. Meaning not loving thy neighbor unless they were gay, then you could hate him/her. Meaning not turning your cheek if they hit you with a black, white, or red fist. There are no stipulations. There is no grey area.
Hell, I'm more of a Christian than most Christians. But I'm not affiliated with any religion. I'm a freelancer. I do my own thing and believe my own beliefs. I'm fine with that.
Also, I believe the church fathers made most of the stories in the bible larger than life. This could be for a number of reasons, but it makes sense. You have a really nice guy who has some excellent teachings (Jesus), who was crucified, but because he was given drugged wine passed out, taken for dead, was let down early, and finally nursed back to health. Since that wouldn't be anything too special, it would make sense to say he was resurrected by "God".
Keep in mind, by this time resurrection in mythology was commonplace. Osiris and Bacchus were resurrected. Greek and Egyptian mythologies were things Christianity had to compete with. To make Christianity easier to follow, it was made larger than life. Why?
Think about it. Why is there Disney? Why is Disney so successful? Because people, especially children, prefer the fantastic. The fantastic is more memorable, more inspiring to the general populace, especially when Christianity first came around.
You have to think about this. Commercials are a recent invention. We have come to the point where we can understand a story that has been told in !30 SECONDS! or less. This is a recent development. People in the past could probably not do that. Therefore, to have Christianity be remembered, it had to be something potent and lasting.
The biggest thing about Jesus speaking and teaching in black and white. Meaning not loving thy neighbor unless they were gay, then you could hate him/her. Meaning not turning your cheek if they hit you with a black, white, or red fist. There are no stipulations. There is no grey area.
Hell, I'm more of a Christian than most Christians. But I'm not affiliated with any religion. I'm a freelancer. I do my own thing and believe my own beliefs. I'm fine with that.
Also, I believe the church fathers made most of the stories in the bible larger than life. This could be for a number of reasons, but it makes sense. You have a really nice guy who has some excellent teachings (Jesus), who was crucified, but because he was given drugged wine passed out, taken for dead, was let down early, and finally nursed back to health. Since that wouldn't be anything too special, it would make sense to say he was resurrected by "God".
Keep in mind, by this time resurrection in mythology was commonplace. Osiris and Bacchus were resurrected. Greek and Egyptian mythologies were things Christianity had to compete with. To make Christianity easier to follow, it was made larger than life. Why?
Think about it. Why is there Disney? Why is Disney so successful? Because people, especially children, prefer the fantastic. The fantastic is more memorable, more inspiring to the general populace, especially when Christianity first came around.
You have to think about this. Commercials are a recent invention. We have come to the point where we can understand a story that has been told in !30 SECONDS! or less. This is a recent development. People in the past could probably not do that. Therefore, to have Christianity be remembered, it had to be something potent and lasting.