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[–]magnora7 5 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 2 fun -  (10 children)

Seriously though.

I think the answer is because Christianity is actually centered around the martyrdom story of Jesus, rather than the teachings of Jesus. (Although it certainly depends on the denomination and the individual).

Once you realize that the whole reason Christianity is so popular and widespread is because of the martyrdom aspect, and the moral/social leverage that narrative provides, then it all makes sense, imo. Not saying all Christians are like this, but a lot of them are. They wield the narratives for social power, rather than actually following the teachings of Jesus. That's why they wear the cross.

[–]Tom_Bombadil 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (9 children)

There's also the resurrection/eternal life aspect.

Eternal life in exchange for a life of obedience to the church's guidelines.

[–]Canbot 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (8 children)

That is not a claim Christianity makes. You can literally be forgiven of your sins by confessing with the honest intent of being better. The criticism of religion that "it requires (or requests) obedience therefor is bad" is incredibly stupid. Not only is that a blanket criticism that can be levied at any and every religion, it essentially can be used to attack any structure including government or parental authority or any societal structure what so ever. Possibly the only thing that is exempt is total anarchy.

[–]Tom_Bombadil 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

That is not a claim Christianity makes. You can literally be forgiven of your sins by confessing with the honest intent of being better.

Separate graveyards exist where unbaptized babies were buried.

This was a very real threat to the parents of any newborn.

[–]JasonCarswell 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

A limbo garden where dancing is frowned on.

[–]Tom_Bombadil 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Spiritual terrorism.

[–]Canbot 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

That doesn't change anything.

[–]JasonCarswell 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

The premise of religion that it requires blind faith in invisible beings and their alleged rules is incredibly stupid.

Blind faith in "authority" is also stupid but has been beaten into us since time began by their monopoly on violence.

[–]Canbot 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Religions don't by default require blind faith, they offer "miracles" as evidence. It gets reduced down to blind faith when you challenge the validity of the miracles. Many people believe they experience "tiny miracles" all the time. Regardless of whether that is completely imagined, they believe it and therefore to them it is not blind faith.

It also seems that you are conflating faith and obedience. They are not the same thing at all. Every structured system has rules. If you break the rules that structure falls apart. When you go to school you have to listen to the teacher. If everyone ignored that it would be chaos and no one could learn. So the argument that something is bad because it requires obedience is patently absurd.

[–]JasonCarswell 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Miracles are bunk too. Just because it's rare, misunderstood, or unexplained doesn't make it a "miracle". /s/memes/comments/4cjo/i_heard_its_easier_to/

Living from a place of gratitude is definitely better for you, but being naive is not.

I'm clearly not conflating faith and obedience because because I've indicated that there was coercive brainwashing on a mass scale that lead to the social virus we call social order, in which many people certainly have their doubts, but many do indeed have blind faith in their authority - regardless if they obey all their laws or not. Further, it's not the people telling us to obey and have blind faith in the authorities and experts - it's they that tell us that, not to mention their psychopathic compulsion for secrecy for whatever reasons - from "national security" to "covert operations" to "need to know" - all subjective bullshit and obscurantism to confuse and cover their mafia activities.

[–]JasonCarswell 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

" You can literally be forgiven of your sins... "

From a literal source, figuratively, allegedly. Some imaginary person will have some subjective imaginary judgements, then imaginary forgiveness - so the story goes.