Religion (split from Q&A)

[KanadaHye]

Re: Religion (split from Q&A)

In Christianity the scriptures teach that all other belief systems are wrong. I think it's the same for Islam and Judaism. Basically, when someone's religion is wrong, you have the right to make war with them to subvert them or destroy them. They are to be regarded as sub-human.

You left out the part where the leader/king gets to divide and plunder all the gold and J3wels or in the modern world... the oil and gas.

[Yeznik]

Re: Religion (split from Q&A)

Basically, when someone's religion is wrong, you have the right to make war with them to subvert them or destroy them. They are to be regarded as sub-human.

Christianity doesn't teach that other people are sub-human and to destroy other people. It is people manipulating Christianity from its true form to their political ideals and gains.

[Siggie]

Re: Religion (split from Q&A)

Christianity doesn't teach that other people are sub-human and to destroy other people. It is people manipulating Christianity from its true form to their political ideals and gains.

But he is correct in that it does teach that the only way to salvation is to accept Christ.

[Yeznik]

Re: Religion (split from Q&A)

But he is correct in that it does teach that the only way to salvation is to accept Christ.

Correct Christ states that Salvation is only through Him "I am the way and the truth and the life...” John 14:6. But that doesn’t translate to promote violence and kill other people.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Religion (split from Q&A)

But he is correct in that it does teach that the only way to salvation is to accept Christ.

The concept of salvation is similiar across many religions. For example, Armenia would have been a lost nation had it not adopted Christianity. Eternal life can also be interpreted as having children and continuing your ancestry. Christianity also professes the dangers of materialism in which possessions are put at a higher value than life itself.

[Siggie]

Re: Religion (split from Q&A)

The concept of salvation is similiar across many religions. For example, Armenia would have been a lost nation had it not adopted Christianity. Eternal life can also be interpreted as having children and continuing your ancestry. Christianity also professes the dangers of materialism in which possessions are put at a higher value than life itself.

I told Yeraz the same thing when he made that claim about Armenia. There is no way to know that Christianity saved Armenia. It survived long before Christianity and it is impossible to say that it has survived since because of it.

You're talking about eternal life because I mentioned salvation? Does it make sense to say you wouldn't continue your ancestry if you didn't believe? What is "hell" then?

As for materialism, no one has argued that the bible does not include some good things (though there's lots of bad). It is not the only source for them though.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Religion (split from Q&A)

I told Yeraz the same thing when he made that claim about Armenia. There is no way to know that Christianity saved Armenia. It survived long before Christianity and it is impossible to say that it has survived since because of it.

You're talking about eternal life because I mentioned salvation? Does it make sense to say you wouldn't continue your ancestry if you didn't believe? What is "hell" then?

As for materialism, no one has argued that the bible does not include some good things (though there's lots of bad). It is not the only source for them though.

There were many Armenians that gave up their faith, assimilated into other cultures and populations and can no longer identify themselves as Armenian even though they have Armenian ancestry. They are lost. Hell is the concept of damnation or in other words, you're not worthy to be preserved.

[Yeznik]

Re: Religion (split from Q&A)

The influence of Christianity created the following:

1) The Armenian alphabet, it was created by the Vartabeds and the Catholicos at the time. Giving the Armenians the ability to communicate in their own language.
2) The creation of the alphabet brought it to the Golden Age of Armenia in the 5th century in which Armenia was able to document its history.
3) Going forward the most prominent historians of Armenia have been Vartabeds, monks, bishops and priests. The father of Armenian History is also a Saint and a Vartabed of the Armenian Church.
4) The majority of the academic systems, orphanages, and organizations that helped people were ran by the Church since the earliest centuries.
5) The music of the Armenia is mainly conserved by the Church. In the late 20th century Komitas Vartabed is accredited in documenting ethnic Armenian music prior to the Genocide.

Now, granted Armenia existed before Christianity, I would even say before time as we know it, but this does not negate that Armenia and Armenians are now what they are because of Christianity.

[Siggie]

Re: Religion (split from Q&A)

The influence of Christianity created the following:

1) The Armenian alphabet, it was created by the Vartabeds and the Catholicos at the time. Giving the Armenians the ability to communicate in their own language.
2) The creation of the alphabet brought it to the Golden Age of Armenia in the 5th century in which Armenia was able to document its history.
3) Going forward the most prominent historians of Armenia have been Vartabeds, monks, bishops and priests. The father of Armenian History is also a Saint and a Vartabed of the Armenian Church.
4) The majority of the academic systems, orphanages, and organizations that helped people were ran by the Church since the earliest centuries.
5) The music of the Armenia is mainly conserved by the Church. In the late 20th century Komitas Vartabed is accredited in documenting ethnic Armenian music prior to the Genocide.

Now, granted Armenia existed before Christianity, I would even say before time as we know it, but this does not negate that Armenia and Armenians are now what they are because of Christianity.

The alphabet may have been created later on anyway although the motivation to do so at that time was to translate religious texts.

The scholars and historians were in religious positions because they were the ones who were literate and could write these things down at that early time.

I cannot speak to the academic systems and the rest, but there are secular charities as well and there was no education that early than theology. It isn't as if these early school were established to teach people math, engineering, science, etc... It was to train them as monks, priests, etc. Further,most of the religious organization who are involved in charity use it as a means to try to attract people to their religion (e.g. preaching, giving pamphlets, etc).

I am not informed about the music either, so I cannot comment as to the veracity of your statement, but can we say that had the music not been documented, Armenia would not exist now?

In the end, we cannot say that these things would not have happened anyway in due time, nor that had they not, that Armenia would not ave survived.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Religion (split from Q&A)

The alphabet may have been created later on anyway although the motivation to do so at that time was to translate religious texts.

The scholars and historians were in religious positions because they were the ones who were literate and could write these things down at that early time.

I cannot speak to the academic systems and the rest, but there are secular charities as well and there was no education that early than theology. It isn't as if these early school were established to teach people math, engineering, science, etc... It was to train them as monks, priests, etc. Further,most of the religious organization who are involved in charity use it as a means to try to attract people to their religion (e.g. preaching, giving pamphlets, etc).

I am not informed about the music either, so I cannot comment as to the veracity of your statement, but can we say that had the music not been documented, Armenia would not exist now?

In the end, we cannot say that these things would not have happened anyway in due time, nor that had they not, that Armenia would not ave survived.

The recreation of the alphabet was critical to oppose the inevitability of assimilation since the Greek language was the ruling language during that time period much like English is today.