Thursday, September 8, 2011

Christianity on Trial Ch. 1

I'm reviewing the book Christianity on Trial.  This book explains the common beliefs about how Christianity was involved with the past events. It explain it in the western cultures,how it was believed to support slavery, science, the slaughter of innocent people, The Nazis and the Third Reich, Charity, the environment, and the government.  It is written by Vincent Carroll and David Shiflet. Vincent Carroll lives in Denver, Colorado and is an editor of the editorial pages at the Rocky Mountain News. David Shiflet is a freelance writer living in Midlothian, Virginia, He also wrote the book The America We Deserve, with Donald Trump.

In the first chapter of Christianity on Trial he talks about the Middle Ages and way back in the Roman Empire. One of his points that stuck out to me was "without belief in moral equality, there cannot be any hope for the western legal system or equality before law."
This is a good point made, you  can't contradict your legal system and beliefs, it just doesn't work.  True Christianity cannot support slavery in any way.  If a Christian believes that everyone is made in the image of God then how can one be better than the other? It is impossible, one would have to contradict his beliefs reject the Bible.  Once he believes true Christianity he believes that all men are moral equals and once he believes that he cannot support slavery.  Why would one want to make another serve another master besides God when he would want to serve another either.  A true Christian would encourage one to serve God and be happy rather than make one serve a tyrannical ruler. This is one reason why women preferred Christianity.  Most Religions in the ancient times just used women, they were just a number, not allowed to vote or speak.  Most girls were sold into slavery as prostitutes for the temples, so the chance to be equal and feel like they mean something was a opportunity they couldn't pass up. Even though in the Bible it says for men to be above women, it is more leaning to that a man should lead his family and wife toward Christ and set a good example for them to follow, it doesn't mean that a woman is just to bow down, they can suggest compromises to problems they disagree with.  The pagan religions would often abandon a child if it was not a boy or if the boy was deformed, girls were rarely kept.  Men out numbered women by 30 percent. 


Christianity said that no ruler was above the law, but on the other hand Roman Emperors were as a god.  This is why Romans did not like the Christians, they did not worship the Emperor.  Romans did not care who you worshipped just as long as the Emperor was one of them.

9 comments:

  1. Alright Waylon...here's how to improve the post. First, write a clear opening paragraph, introducing the book you're reviewing, why you're reviewing it, who the author is, and what the book is about.

    Second, comment on the significance of the bottom paragraph on page 2 and the top paragraph on page 3.

    Third, elaborate on your "women" comments--use pages 4-5.

    Fourth, what about the Christian response to Roman violence? (pages 6-7).

    Fifth, address the Christian concept of charity, and how that flew in the face of everything in the Roman world (pages 8-9).

    Sixth, what about the Church's influence on secular authorities? (10-11)

    Seventh: what does the book say about the Church's positive role in the Middle Ages?

    Finally: comment on how Christianity set the stage for capitalism and popular consent.

    Rememember, the goal of the blog is to thoroughly discuss and interact with ALL the major points in the book.

    Dr. Anderson

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  2. i love the cajun and i think that everyting he has said is soooooo cool and true. and i love the cajun. he is a beast.....i still love him.(:

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  3. cajun you are so smart!!!go Way Way!

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  4. i love Waylon. He has some nice jumper cables :]

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  5. i think waylon would like to say roll tide.

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  6. No, he would not, take your Alabama nonsense somewhere else

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  7. I'd like to see Waylon give a full and robust critique and observation to chapter 2.

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  8. this blog might be better if it wasn't imposed thought and forced writing

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  9. Waylon, You did a lot of good work here but I'm going to have to agree with the comment before this, it seems like everything you say is being forced out of your mouth. Don't be afraid to share exactly what you think, thats the point of a blog! :) Roll Tide Roll!

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