The question of this thread is simple: Has christianity done the world overall more Good or Bad?

Edit: Dang it. Forgot to put in a poll, ah well.

I think that overall, the answer is... hard to tell. Certainly there have been thousands of deaths due to Christianity, but it's questionable that if Christianity never existed whether those same things would have still happened, merely with a different religion or reason. It's also caused huge amounts of hatred for certain peoples throughout history, and is the cause for many political problems, but again, is that a problem with Christianity or humanity in general? I think I'd have to go with "about even" because while there have been many bad things due to it, people supposedly also gain a sense of peace from it, and since I have experienced neither, it's hard to judge which is stronger.

Also, don't forget to give your own answer to the question...

I think this could be quite the dangerous thread here . . .

Christianity is a religion, a series of beliefs, nothing more. I think it depends on how you look at it, though. Millions of people have died in the name of God, meaning that God is one of the leading causes of death in our history! However, the religion itself does a good job of instilling fear into it's followers, thus they will refrain of sinning out of fear of God's wrath.

Personally, I think it's done more bad, but who cares?

I say it's done good, but bad had been done in it's name. Not because of it, but people have used scripture to justify their own bad actions.

I think the hope it's given millions of people, as well as the many people who have improved because of it, makes it beneficial, but it's only had measured success. However, if we look at the religious effects, and not the politics of war and the Catholic Church, I'd say it's been very good to humanity.

Kaz

I say it's probably done more good. Hell, it gives some people who would just as easily slit their wrists reason to live. It's helped the poor at least hope for something more in their next life (Marx thought that was a bad thing, which it is if that is where your only focus is).


Meanwhile, Charities all over the world are saving lives with Christian help. We can look at asshats like Fred Phelps. Or wars like the crusades. In the long run, those will not really mean too much.

it has done better : ) well, for those who teach it right. its the outside world that causes conflict.

John 15:19

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

I think that one would have to define it much more tightly if one expected to get a useful answer. I think that the teachings of Jesus are excellent and like many other spiritual leaders, the things He advocated have done a lot of good.

The Bible on the other hand has been a disaster, it is so violent and contradictory, so blatant in some ways and so obscure in others, so adamant and yet so fuzzy because of all the different versions and translations. In places it demands condemnation and violent death while in another place it forbids judging lest one be judged.

Have the Ku Klux Klan folks done more harm that the Quakers have done good? Have Catholic martyrs and Christian charities balanced out the Inquisition? Who knows?

Raddmadd said, "it has done better : ) well, for those who teach it right." But the problem is that there are 2500 sects of Christians and each one thinks they are doing it RIGHT.

You can't blame the bible for this. You said it yourself, there are too many translations. Not to mention, you're proving that by claiming that it's violent and contradictory. Granted it may be, but not everyone will see it that way. None of us know exactly what all of it's messages were. You can only blame those that interpret it in a negative fashion.

The Bible's not good because it reflects a 3,000 year old culture, which isn't its fault at all. The problem is that people still believe it and apply what it says directly to contemporary issues and laws.