Mickiel
New member
Christians are about 1/3 of humanity; that's , more or less, about 2. 3 billion people. That's a whole lot of people! Christianity is a giant, its NOT the small church that satan is chasing in the book of Revelations. Christians are all over the place; I disagree with the Atheist who love to claim that Christianity is shrinking; when your that big, the number of people who leave is insignificant.
Catholics are different from many other forms of Christianity, but they are still Christian. And I think they were the first brand of Christianity that evolved from the first church after Christ left the earth. In Acts 11:26, " The disciples were " Called" Christians " First" in Antioch." They were called that by other people, not themselves. And the only other people around at that time , were Romans, Pagans, Philosophers and more Pagans. They used to call themselves " The Way." But more or less, Christianity was born here; right here in history. In Rome. After that, the Genesis of this great church began.
I believe that original first church, that first century church, was the church in its purest form; never to be that pure again! That was the church before it was tainted and corrupted. That church was an organic church, an organism that breathed in and out the truth; and that truth today, looks nothing like it did back then.
The DNA of the Christian church has changed; and this is perhaps best told by someone " outside" of the church, because religious self evaluation is the worse kind; its far too selfish, too self sacrosanct.
The real historical story of Christianity is one of God's people absorbing foreign elements into their bloodstream, and historically never exhaling those elements. The incredible traditions that were tacked on to Christianity over the years, would fill volumes in books, and the incredible self absorbed mentality of all of Christianity to never even notice their true history and how off course it has become, is simply stunning! The way the religion protects itself is astounding; and yet no one is safe from true history. It will tell the truth, no matter who is unable to absorb it.
"After the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70, Judaic Christianity waned in numbers and power. Gentile Christianity dominated, and that " New Faith" began to absorb Greco-Roman philosophy and ritual. It was a period of pagan culture, and much of what Christianity does today, was lifted directly out of pagan culture. Paganism dominated the Roman Empire up until the 4th century, and many of its elements were absorbed by Christians in the first half of the first millennium." ( Pagan Christianity, pg.6, by Frank Viola and George Barna).
Not that paganism or philosophy are wrong in and of themselves, they are not; but these two concepts obviously molded and shaped Christianity, like no other element has shaped this incredible giant of a church.
Lets take a closer look at how.
Catholics are different from many other forms of Christianity, but they are still Christian. And I think they were the first brand of Christianity that evolved from the first church after Christ left the earth. In Acts 11:26, " The disciples were " Called" Christians " First" in Antioch." They were called that by other people, not themselves. And the only other people around at that time , were Romans, Pagans, Philosophers and more Pagans. They used to call themselves " The Way." But more or less, Christianity was born here; right here in history. In Rome. After that, the Genesis of this great church began.
I believe that original first church, that first century church, was the church in its purest form; never to be that pure again! That was the church before it was tainted and corrupted. That church was an organic church, an organism that breathed in and out the truth; and that truth today, looks nothing like it did back then.
The DNA of the Christian church has changed; and this is perhaps best told by someone " outside" of the church, because religious self evaluation is the worse kind; its far too selfish, too self sacrosanct.
The real historical story of Christianity is one of God's people absorbing foreign elements into their bloodstream, and historically never exhaling those elements. The incredible traditions that were tacked on to Christianity over the years, would fill volumes in books, and the incredible self absorbed mentality of all of Christianity to never even notice their true history and how off course it has become, is simply stunning! The way the religion protects itself is astounding; and yet no one is safe from true history. It will tell the truth, no matter who is unable to absorb it.
"After the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70, Judaic Christianity waned in numbers and power. Gentile Christianity dominated, and that " New Faith" began to absorb Greco-Roman philosophy and ritual. It was a period of pagan culture, and much of what Christianity does today, was lifted directly out of pagan culture. Paganism dominated the Roman Empire up until the 4th century, and many of its elements were absorbed by Christians in the first half of the first millennium." ( Pagan Christianity, pg.6, by Frank Viola and George Barna).
Not that paganism or philosophy are wrong in and of themselves, they are not; but these two concepts obviously molded and shaped Christianity, like no other element has shaped this incredible giant of a church.
Lets take a closer look at how.
linger: Her daughter harlots are returning home to her (Re 17:2, 18:4). 
