The videos at the bottom of this article are a very interesting watch if you want to see the real effects of Christian teachings on civilisation. I wish Pastors would teach this stuff more often at their churches to give Christians and their flocks a better understanding of just what their faith – or rather the effects of Jesus’ teachings are when they permeate any society.
Cutting off the branch on which we sit
Most people who want to abolish Christianity and Jesus have no idea on who’s shoulders on which they are standing, and believe that the civilisation of mankind somehow just happened on it’s own and is now old fashioned and backward – regressive as the ‘progressives’ like to say. Like salt slowing the inevitable rot of meat are the effects of Jesus’ teachings on any society as seen throughout history.
And no Greece was not great with their philosophers before Jesus – sure they’d figured out a form of democracy might be useful but who said democracy or mob rule was great? – Winston Churchill said it was the “worst form of government – except all the others.” In those days a blind eye was turned to innumerable social atrocities. It was Jesus and the Bible that brought us into the true light – not a bunch of aristocrats with too much time on their hands. The USA got it right with their limited government put together by God-fearing men who understood the innate and inevitable corruption of all men given any time holding power. The only time in history that men set out to limit governments’ power.
Of course Christianity itself can become corrupt and it often does (just look at Constantine and all the other rulers and politicians that use it as a political tool (though his mother was a real Christian!) – and let’s not forget the prosperity teachers everywhere using it to fatten their bank accounts) – but wherever the Bible is freely allowed to be read and The Holy Spirit allowed to interpret – change for the better occurs and corruption is slowed (note – it’s never stopped but severely hampered as the people begin to see light and truth and hold their politicians and pastors to account according to the Bible’s higher moral standards).
Interestingly a non-english born person filled out their profile on my Christian singles site in regard to the question: Tell us about your Christian faith? He answered: Christianity is a religion for the civilisation of mankind. I often find that people from other cultures throw amazing light on biblical truths when translating their beliefs into the language I use. More reason to celebrate and preserve our fantastic cultural differences.
The Bible (and history) shows that humans – when left to their natural animal inclinations behave no better than the wild beasts – in fact – since they have ‘the light’ and a conscience I believe they are more culpable. As you can see in these videos – mankind needs God!
