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What do you think the greatest challenge facing Christianity is today?
As an atheist I’d be inclined to say that it was the growing trend of people towards atheism. As people turn away from the church it must lose support. If society does not support a religion then it loses its influence and more people will turn away from it. Of course, I assume a static church that does no move to gain support or to integrate with a changing society but I still see atheism as a challenge for a religion.
Do you agree or do you see something else as a greater challenge?
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I think it’s Christianity becoming more and more split. A Creationist Christian and a Christian who belives in evolution is pretty far appart today, and I wouldn’t put it past the Creationist to think that the other Christian is heading for hell.
I think the greatest challenege to Christianity is people who claim to be Christians with words, yet their actions say something else. It’s not the Atheiests that would hurt the support of the church, it’s the people who claim it, yet don’t live it.
When people don’t live it out, that repels others, that gives Jesus a bad name, and that makes it so much harder for the ‘real’ Christians to not come across as judgmental, hypocritical bigots in order to get the Gospel shared.
That to me is the biggest challenge Christianity faces, people who claim it but don’t walk it.
Drakim, good point. Fundamentalist and Apologetic are two flavours of Christianity. Both have points that attract supporters but also have mutually exclusive opinions.
Ashley, I do see your point. I’ve heard arguments from some Apologetics that some atheists are more “Christian” than some Christians. I’m not sure I agree. I think that the members of a group are actually representative of the group. If you have people who fail to live up to a Christian ideal then that reflects on the ideal as well as the individuals. That does turn people away but where do they go? Not always to other faiths.
Are you saying that the rise in atheism is not a cause for concern in itself but merely a symptom of a greater issue? That greater issue being a lack of positive action?
I would have to say yes.
Really, I don’t see a problem with the rise of atheism. Maybe I should??
But, honestly if the people are not turning to Christianity, that means that God has a greater chance for his glory to be revealed later on. And, the way the Christian faith plays out, is that life is all about God’s glory, so if people are going to atheism, that does a few things if the Christian is willing:
1. Sharpens Christians knowledge in what they believe and why
2. Helps them know how to share their beliefs with rational justification
3. Let’s them build their faith in God that he is who He says He is.
So, by people turning away from Christianity, people who are serious learn more, build their faith, an in turn get fired up to go out and reach the ‘lost’ people, and see God in action to where he gets the glory.
Hello all,
In my opinion, the major hurtles of Christianity doesn’t come from outside the faith, but within. The unwillingness to accept homosexuality as a valid life-style, along with the unrelenting fear of other religions and atheism is a big problem. Not only does this make the religion seem intolerant, but in some cases down right foolish.
Now, I know that these problems do not apply to all Christians - most are open minded and tolerant. But those who aren’t tend to be the Christians with the microphone, or on TV. Christianity as a whole needs to soundly denounce these individuals and their followers in order to move beyond the problems it faces today… Yet, I don’t see that happening any time soon.
Namaste.
Ashley, I don’t see it as a problem. Quite the reserve actually. It is a challenge for Christians though. I suppose also for secular humanists. I don’t want to see peopel blindly accepting anything. I want them to think.
Your three points are great. I like the second one most of all. Time and again I’ve spoken to theists who really have no idea what they’re talking about or why they beleive the things that they do. It makes me want to shout “read your bible before defending it” at them. I don’t because I’m extra polite these days.
John, I think you’re looking at this differnetly from me, which is good. Do you think that fear is the challenge then? In this case fear of change.
@John
I completely agree.
Yes sir!
I disagree. There is a very fired up young generation (I include myself) that is refusing to let this continue. I think things are about to (and already are) change drastically.
I think the greatest challenge that Christianity faces today is finding a way to get back to the basics. I believe we’ve become so entrenched in the law that we’ve forgotten what Christianity is about. We’ve become a generation of modern day Pharisees.
Great post, Hov!!!
The same thing that has been its greatest challenge since its invention. Its falseness.
Just found your blog and am enjoying it.
Truth and Love - the pillars of the church. Christianity must stand on the Truth. Light always dispells darkness. Yet someone with the Truth, that does not develop the love of Christ, becomes the I Cor. 13 type-of-Christian (though I give my body to be burned, yet have not love,etc.) Yet, if you love but don’t give out the truth (which really isn’t loving) then the Truth is compromised.
The challenge of Christianity has always been the balance of the two.
@Linda Abshire…
Welcome aboard!!!
I like what you said…it’s always an interesting challenge for me too!
Bill
Initially, I’d say it is people thinking Christianity is a religion (this includes Christians). Being a Christ-follower is not a building, rituals, etc. and Jesus spent his time on earth attacking the religious, Personally, I don’t see atheism as a challenge for Christianity … the flesh is, but that’s another topic. The great news is the Bible says Christ died for all, even me, a great sinner.
Bill, modern day Pharisees eh? Strong stuff.
Ben, do you mean it’s factual inaccuracies, or the attitude that some Christians portray? I ask because, while I believe that all religions are untrue, I don’t think that it helps anyone to build a wall and throw stones. Christians and atheists can sit, entrenched in our own positions, and say “I’m right, you’re wrong” to our hearts content but how does that help us to reach a common ground?
Hello Linda, I think that a great part of what Bill is trying to do is to live the life according to his beliefs rather than just talk about them. A challenge for anyone I’d say.
Bryan, in effect Christianity is a lot of religions but I do get your point about it not being one in a sense. Human beings are great joiners though and we very much tend to put ourselves in groups of like minded people.
Yes.
Of course. However, open inquiry and challenge DO help everyone to end up with more accurate beliefs.
It doesn’t matter if someone is friendly or unfriendly while they advocate scientific ignorance, or oppose women’s suffrage, or oppose the abolition of slavery, or oppose civil rights, etc. Beliefs are what guide actions. There is no way to change many of those helpful actions without changing the beliefs that guide them. How would you convince someone to put their hand in a pot of boiling water, for example? If they believe the water is hot and they will be burned, they won’t do it.
The Atheist Community of Austin does a pod-cast every two weeks called “The Non-Prophets.” For an hour and a half, they bring up topic after topic, and most of the time the hosts are disagreeing with each other. (Contributing to this, saying ‘I agree’ takes hardly any time at all.) Does it cause them to cease being friends? Do the co-hosts perceive themselves as being attacked every time they disagree with each other? No. For those who think you have to hide your opinions to peacefully co-exist, check it out for a great counter-example:
http://www.nonprophetsradio.com/
What makes a common ground a good thing in itself? Resolving to peacefully co-exist is good, peacefully settling disputes, agreeing to live and let live, etc., are good things. Not challenging inaccurate beliefs that guide harmful actions is NOT a good thing.
I think that it’s fair to say that the Bible does have some glaring inaccuracies but then it isn’t a science book or a history book. It’s a set of opinion pieces from 2000 years ago (OK 1500 to 1900 years years) that have served to guide and influence people and have shaped modern culture into its present form. We’re in the fortunate situation in the 21st century tobe able to decide whether or not this has any value anymore.
I do appreciate your second point about challenging ignorance, I wish I had time to expand on it. Maybe later.
I will disagree with the post as far as people turning to Atheism as the problem. It seems to me that the more that turn away from the church that and more come. Example: more people are persecuted around the world for their faith, and instead of it decreasing thier numbers, it is increasing.
My thinking on the biggest problem that Christianity is facing is being real, taking off their perfect masks, and allowing people close enough to see we don’t have it all together, and that is the beauty of it all. Grace, it is free to all, and only the ones who admit they don’t have it all together will grasp it! :)>-
Christianity’s main problem is reality. In this day and age people are used to having claims backed up by evidence and Christianity has failed to provide any (decent) evidence for most of it’s central claims.