[Unknown008]

A preacher in my church just talked about that. Saying that christiamism spreads like epidemies, but in the positive way, that there is still work to do for the 4 billion left. Do you think we'll be able to do so quickly, say 10 years? :rolleyes:

[arcura]

Unknown008,
Yes, Jerry, there is a lot of work still to be done.
However it took 2000 years for there to become 2 billion Christians.
I think it would take more than 2000 more years to convert 4 billion more.
And, keep in mind that IF there were 6 billion Christians 2000 years from now because of population growth there would still be billions yet to be converted.
Big job lies ahead of us all.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

[Unknown008]

Yes, I was thinking that if there were more people, there would be more converted! For example, 1 converts 1, then these two convert 2 more, then 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16384, etc. So 2 billion becomes 4 billion, and then the rest! Except that that's in theory, assuming no death nor births.

[gromitt82]

Yes, i was thinking that if there were more people, there would be more converted! For example, 1 converts 1, then these two convert 2 more, then 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16384, etc. So 2 billion becomes 4 billion, and then the rest! Except that that's in theory, assuming no death nor births.

As Arcura says we have a big job to do ahead of us. And, possibly, the most important job that would facilitate our task of converting those which still do not believe, would be to finally agree that it is absolutely ridiculous that we Christians, who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, who died in the Cross for us, are divided into umpteen Churches, each one pretending to be slightly better than the one around the corner!
Or even more than this! When each Christian denomination interprets the Scriptures their own way, and refuses even to listen to others' arguments convinced they are right and the others are almost in schism...!
And don't even think I am saying that we Catholics are not guilty because we form the most numerous group.
Precisely, because of that I think we should humble ourselves a little more and try to walk half of the way towards a global and total ecumenism.
Yes, we ALL have a tough job ahead of us"

[arcura]

gromitt82,
I agree!!
Fred

[Credendovidis]

... 2 billion people have been convince that the Christian God exists and others are converting every day. It happens whether you believe it or not ...

Fred : you know me well enough to understand that from me everyone may believe whatever suits him or her.

But I disagree with your suggested "growing" christianity pattern.
Based on human population growth Christianity is no longer growing.
Many people just get easier on main-stream religion all the time, while others go into extreme formats of religion. At one side aggressive religions and denominations are growing, at the other side Atheism is growing too, even in the US - where a lot of people just say they are Christian to prevent all kind of social problems that could follow from their actual non-religious worldview.
That is of course the consequence of all that christian pressure and presence in the US.

Here is Europe - where we are more open to our worldview position - Atheism is growing steadily, while more and more people openly admit no longer to believe in a god or in gods.

Religion may always remain around, as long as humanity exists. But I do not think it will grow any further. Not even the aggressive religions, denominations, and sects. My guess is that we are now at the highest level ever of religions. From now onwards the influence and effects of religion will further and further water down and decline.

... However it took 2000 years for there to become 2 billion Christians.
I think it would take more than 2000 more years to convert 4 billion more....

If that were so it would mean that christianity by that time would be a sect only - supposing that at that time humanity still exists, and has grown in numbers.

The prognosis is that in one hundred years from now there may be tens of billions of human beings walking on this earth.

A fair and honest forecast may be that most energy resources will by that time be completely depleted, and humanity may by than even have fallen back to pre-historic living standards (and resulting extremely reduced numbers).

... And, keep in mind that IF there were 6 billion Christians 2000 years from now because of population growth there would still be billions yet to be converted....

See above : either some 94 Billion to go (most unlikely) , or just some couple of million still living savages (the remainder of humanity) that are hunting and farming around for their daily food.

Add to that the dreaded global warming effects, and the real forecast is that most life AD 4000 will have become extinct...

Isn't THAT amazing ?

:rolleyes:

.

[arcura]

Cred,
So you believe as I know you do and have know for a long time.
That's OK with me.
It's your choice and of course I have mine.
That does not say that we should not get along with each other.
Your well know my hope and wish for all people is peace and kindness,
Fred

[gromitt82]

Fred : you know me well enough to understand that from me everyone may believe whatever suits him or her.

But I disagree with your suggested "growing" christianity pattern.
Based on human population growth Christianity is no longer growing.
Many people just get easier on main-stream religion all the time, while others go into extreme formats of religion. At one side aggressive religions and denominations are growing, at the other side Atheism is growing too, even in the US - where a lot of people just say they are Christian to prevent all kind of social problems that could follow from their actual non-religious worldview.
That is of course the consequence of all that christian pressure and presence in the US.

... Isn't THAT amazing ?

:rolleyes:

.

Allow me to just meddle a little in your conversation with our mutual friend Arcura.
Of course, your discrepancy with Arcura’s statement re. the growth of Christianity all over the world is perfectly understandable, especially when we consider that you are an EU resident as I am too.
Since the WWII ended, we have had in the EU a considerable spread of outrageous and fierce materialism that coincided with almost a total fading of moral and ethic values.
As it was to be expected, this drifts brought along a significant growth of agnosticism and atheism, especially among teens and people up to their mid 40s.
But by the same token, after half a century of moral degradation people in the western world seem to be getting tired of all this customs debasing and, following the law of the pendulum, shyly starting to get into the right direction and, curiously enough, beginning with teen agers.
This trend can be perhaps more recognized in the Islam world. The strength of fundamentalist movements amongst young people cannot be ignored.
During my many business trips through the Middle East countries in the 70s and 80s I could detect the growing concern of many friends when perceiving their sons’ increasing scorn to what they used to call
“American materialism and customs downgrading”. The end result can be seen in the present boom of violence and hate amid young Muslims against us.
Youngsters offer a breeding grown that religious imams and politics do not hesitate to use for their own indescribable purposes.
Religions will always exist because they offer the ONLY reasonable anticipation of a better life. Even in the most backward tribes this need is being felt to sort of explain our reason of being.
During the 19th century, Christianity spread more rapidly than at any other time since the 4th century. In 1900 the world was 34,4% Christian and the Bible printed in 537 languages. This percentage is quite similar at what we are today. Muslims have grown too. This seems to favor Monotheistic Religions.
Right now, the main growth of Christian denominations is to be found in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Here in Europe it may take some more time yet. But in the States I would say that there have never been so many denominations and even sects which prove that a lot of people need to find some kind of comfort for their present life.
I therefore think we should be optimistic and positive and believe our little and insignificant world cannot really improve unless we recover our basic respect for the natural laws, the proper ethics and, in brief, we let religion warm again our hearts.

[NeedKarma]

[gromitt82]

Need Karma,

Funny, though rather disrespectful!

Still, there is one truth implied therein... Namely, that our prayers, more often than not, hide selfish demands intended to improve our condition one way or other.

I guess we should be much better off in our family life if every day, when we get up, after saying "Good morning" to our wife/husband/sons, we should immediately and sincerely add "I love you..."

In the same way I believe, our prayers to Our Lord, should enclose many more "I Love You" and less "I would like..."

[arcura]

gromitt82,
I agree with you wholeheartedly,
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

[NeedKarma]

I guess we should be much better off in our family life if every day, when we get up, after saying "Good morning" to our wife/husband/sons, we should immediately and sincerely add "I love you..."

We do that in our family... and there is no god involved. I hope you do this as well.

[Credendovidis]

Allow me to just meddle a little

Just that you know : I do not react - other than with this note - to people who yell at me...

:mad:

[pimp_mah_alpaka]

Couldn't we just simplify things by saying
The universe is amazing.

I mean every fact you had in your post was about the universe not god. Maybe there are other universes that aren't so great. I mean if want to say god created the universe fine but how do we know that he hasn't been working on it for a really long time. I'm sure with enough time I could create a universe too and maybe my universe would be better than this one wouldn't really make god amazing would it. I would say that would make him okay at best since I created a better universe.

God is amazing, if you sat back and thought about the post more thoroughly. He created everything in this world to keep it going. Bees take pollen from one flower to the other, thus helping the flower to grow. He made the heavens and the earth, he made apple trees so we can eat. He's kept the planets in space without them falling. He's done so much for everyone and everything. He truly is an amazing God.

[Credendovidis]

God ... created everything in this world to keep it going. Bees take pollen from one flower to the other, thus helping the flower to grow.

So because "bees take pollen from one flower to the other" "God" exists?

What empty argumentation is that ?

:rolleyes:

.

[inthebox]

"Atheist solve their problems without bothering God .."

The irony - atheist do not believe in God! That is like me asking FSM [ which I don't belieive in ] to help me. I know that FSM dose not exist and therefore would not waste my time even asking FSM for help ;)

"God prefers atheists"

That is, God prefers people that don't believe in His existence. That is a good one.

That is orders of magnitude more false than if I were to say Celtic players prefer Laker fans, because Laker fans don't believe in Celtics being winners. ;)

[arcura]

inthebox,
Excellent points well made.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

[gromitt82]

Just that you know : I do not react - other than with this note - to people who yell at me ....

:mad:

I did not yell at you, did I? I was just trying to be polite! I come from an age -many years ago- when politeness and good manners (like saying please and thank you) were the normal procedure among normal people. I apologize if I have bothered you in any way!:)

[NeedKarma]

"Atheist solve their problems without bothering God .."
The irony - atheist do not believe in God! That is like me asking FSM [ which I don't belieive in ] to help me. I know that FSM dose not exist and therefore would not waste my time even asking FSM for help ;)
"God prefers atheists"
That is, God prefers people that don't believe in His existence. That is a good one.
That is orders of magnitude more false than if I were to say Celtic players prefer Laker fans, because Laker fans don't believe in Celtics being winners. ;)

Yes it is preposterous, that's what makes it funny.

[arcura]

NeedKarma,
Yes it was funny, even though silly.
Fred