Expert: Ernie Laurence, Jr. - 8/25/2011

Question
Is Christianity negative for the society? I have found something in the internet that says that Christianity is negative for the society. based on someone not me.

Christianity's protocol is inherently flawed
As we must analyze Christianity at its protocol, this contention will show us how the main protocol for the religion in question is inherently flawed. The Bible is the central guide for the practice of the religion, and it is notoriously known to be promotional of immoral actions, contradictory in reasoning and idealisms, and possibly illegitimate with objective analysis on the documentation and traslations thereof. With such a flawed document, we realize that this such doctrine is not optimal or even suboptimal for society, but dangerous for the society.
Sub 1a: Christian doctrine promotes immoral actions
From condemnation of homosexuals to sexism to genocide, the Bible has been a staunch promoter of inherently immoral actions that are poisonous to the society. These actions have resulted in negative effects whether subtle or extreme, and there mere quality of the protocol being immoral shows that it prompts for an immoral society and ought not be considered a doctrine worthy of creating a social structure. Such immoral actions promoted in the Bible are shown below:
Biblical Promotion of Sexism
Colossians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Genesis 3:16
Biblical Condemnation of Homosexuals
Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Romans 1:18-32
Biblical Condemnation of Other Religions
Deuteronomy 13:13-19; Deuteronomy 13:7-12
Sub 1b: The Bible may not be totally legitimate in documentation
In addition to the Biblical text being thousands of years old, translated countless times, and having a possibility of being misinterpreted through the entire course of its existence, but new research shows us that the Bible's authors may not have been qualified for interpretations because of their lack of connections to temples, as shown in the following article:
"Special Software Sheds Light on Who Really Wrote the Bible."--30 June 2011;
http://www.foxnews.com......


Christianity has been detrimental to society
Not only shall we look at the actual religious doctrine itself, but analyze the effect that Christianity has had on the society through history, and we will notice that Christianity has been a poison in not only text, but effects of the text.

Sub 1a: Christianity has inhibited science
Science is required in order for society to better itself by enhancing knowledge about the natural world. However, more often than once has Christianity prevented science from developing properly and quickly. The best examples could be the treatment of Galileo Galilei after his proposal on the idea of heliocentrism or the infamous Scopes Trial in Tennessee 1925.
Sub 1b: Christianity has prompted for bigotry and inequality
The teachings of Christianity have prompted general hatred against groups of people in the country, leading many minorities including gays, Muslims, atheists, and others to be subjected to inequality and hatred by the community. The examples are endless as to how Christianity has done this. An excellent example would be Rev. Jerry Falwell's comments after 9/11.
Sub 1c: Christianity has caused genocide
The genocide of peoples have been caused by Christianity, including The Crusades, The Spanish Inquisition, The Salem Witch Trials, and others.
Sub 1d: Christianity has attempted to take over government with relative success.

The good things from Christianity are irrelevant
When we analyze what Christianity really has done and what kind of idealism and doctrine it tries to place over society, we notice that Christianity is essentially attempting to make as many people in the society adhere to their doctrine. People are pretty much condemned if they deviate from the doctrine in any way, and because the good things aren't totally genuine if they're trying to better the all of society just to install this doctrine and condemn anyone if they deviate from it, we can argue that the good things from Christianity are pretty much irrelevant.

I hope you can shed me a light on these matters. Thank you.

Answer
Hi Dan,

Sorry for the late response.  I'm going to respond point by point to your question so as to make sure I cover it completely.

Is Christianity negative for the society? I have found something in the internet that says that Christianity is negative for the society. based on someone not me.

The short answer is no.  However you must define what you mean by "Christianity".  If you are using it in the specific, Biblical sense, then my answer is still no.  If you are using it in the broad sweeping "Christianity" that includes all who claim some kind of belief or discipleship to Jesus, then its a 99% yes .  I'll explain below.

Christianity's protocol is inherently flawed
As we must analyze Christianity at its protocol, this contention will show us how the main protocol for the religion in question is inherently flawed. The Bible is the central guide for the practice of the religion, and it is notoriously known to be promotional of immoral actions, contradictory in reasoning and idealisms, and possibly illegitimate with objective analysis on the documentation and traslations thereof. With such a flawed document, we realize that this such doctrine is not optimal or even suboptimal for society, but dangerous for the society.

So the article is going to make a direct attack on the Bible itself, which is great, because its something I am perfectly capable of and desire to defend.  If it were an attack on specific faiths or denominationalism in general, I would probably agree with most of those premises.  So lets get started.

~~~~Sub 1a: Christian doctrine promotes immoral actions
From condemnation of homosexuals to sexism to genocide, the Bible has been a staunch promoter of inherently immoral actions that are poisonous to the society. These actions have resulted in negative effects whether subtle or extreme, and there mere quality of the protocol being immoral shows that it prompts for an immoral society and ought not be considered a doctrine worthy of creating a social structure. Such immoral actions promoted in the Bible are shown below:
Biblical Promotion of Sexism
Colossians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Genesis 3:16
Biblical Condemnation of Homosexuals
Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Romans 1:18-32
Biblical Condemnation of Other Religions
Deuteronomy 13:13-19; Deuteronomy 13:7-12~~~~

The primary flaw in this reasoning is that it argues that the Bible promotes actions that the writer of the article calls immoral.  But the standard by which the writer is a subjective standard by definition.  Who are they to get to determine what is moral and immoral and thereby judge the Bible (or any other document or even person)?  Take Condemnation of Homosexuality for instance.  This person arbitrarily decides that homosexuality is "good" for society and since they have decided that it is "good", the Bible must be "bad" because the Bible condemns Homosexuality.  This is the flawed thinking, not the Bible.

The writer of the article must first define the standard by which they judge the Bible, then establish that such a standard is not only objective, but superior to that which it judges.  The writer does neither and so sets themself up as the de facto standard, a very selfish and arrogant stance.

As for the charge of "sexism", the writer doesn't define what they mean by that term and hopes to use a negatively charged (undefined) term to sling mud and hope it sticks.  They post references to three phrases without regard to context, which is poor scholarship at best, and intentional avoiding of context to promote a false premise, i.e. lying.

Condemnation of homosexuality and of other religions I happen to agree with.  Both are arguably devastating to any nation on Earth.

~~~~Sub 1b: The Bible may not be totally legitimate in documentation
In addition to the Biblical text being thousands of years old, translated countless times, and having a possibility of being misinterpreted through the entire course of its existence, but new research shows us that the Bible's authors may not have been qualified for interpretations because of their lack of connections to temples, as shown in the following article:
"Special Software Sheds Light on Who Really Wrote the Bible."--30 June 2011;
http://www.foxnews.com......~~~~

Wow, this is such poor scholarship it hardly merits reply.  "May not be"?  Its the prosecutor throwing out accusations for the jury to hear, that the judge orders stricken from the record for speculation, but that the jury will then forever keep in the back of their minds.

Beowulf only has a few existing fragments, but no one doubts their authenticity.  Homer's Iliad and Odessy have barely a few intact manuscripts that are but copies of the originals, but no one doubts Homer wrote them or his credibility in authoring contemporary fiction concerning religions of the day.  But there are more than 5000 manuscripts and fragments, especially recently discovered ones like the Dead Sea Scrolls, that support and verify the meticulous continuity of the text and its translations.

The veracity of scripture is seen when studied as a whole in the way that it connects to itself, interprets itself, and empowers its adherents in a way that no other book is even capable of.  This point alone is worth an encyclopedia of comment.

Basically its baseless mudslinging without any actual evidence.

Christianity has been detrimental to society
Not only shall we look at the actual religious doctrine itself, but analyze the effect that Christianity has had on the society through history, and we will notice that Christianity has been a poison in not only text, but effects of the text.

Now the writer is going to turn to attacking denominations and I hypothesize that I will agree with the sentiments here.  Please note that not only am I a defender of the Bible, I'm also a scientist (Physicist, Chemist, Mathematician) so I'm qualified to address a number of the topics this writer is bound to bring up.

Sub 1a: Christianity has inhibited science
Science is required in order for society to better itself by enhancing knowledge about the natural world. However, more often than once has Christianity prevented science from developing properly and quickly. The best examples could be the treatment of Galileo Galilei after his proposal on the idea of heliocentrism

The guilty group here was Catholicism, not Biblical Christianity.  I agree with this point, except that the heliocentric model has sense been proven to be incorrect as well.  The sun is not the gravitational center of the solar system.

or the infamous Scopes Trial in Tennessee 1925.

Mudslinging.  Macro-Evolution has no basis in science whatsoever.  No person on Earth can name one single piece of evidence that demands as its only conclusion: Therefore Macro-Evolution must be true.  It is an interpretation based on the paradigm of those who start from the premise "There is no God" and see everything through that lens.

This is again the writer setting theirself up to be the judge and standard of what is right and wrong.

Sub 1b: Christianity has prompted for bigotry and inequality
The teachings of Christianity have prompted general hatred against groups of people in the country, leading many minorities including gays, Muslims, atheists, and others to be subjected to inequality and hatred by the community.

First of all, gays, Muslims, and atheists are not "minorities" in the traditional sense of the word.  This is a bait and switch tactic to confuse the reader by associating these groups of people who chose something with groups who have inherent properties (skin color, gender, etc.).

Second, while there are a few out there who espouse and act upon hate toward people who make these choices, this is a flat out mischaracterization of Christianity (even in the general sense, and absolutely in the specific, Biblical sense)

Third, this is once again the writer setting theirself up to be the judge and standard of what is right and wrong.

The examples are endless as to how Christianity has done this. An excellent example would be Rev. Jerry Falwell's comments after 9/11.

I do not defend Jerry Falwell or his aberrant form of Christianity.

Sub 1c: Christianity has caused genocide
The genocide of peoples have been caused by Christianity, including The Crusades, The Spanish Inquisition, The Salem Witch Trials, and others.

Again, specific denominations taking part in actions that are wrong.  This has no bearing on Biblical Christianity.  I agree with the point made if directed properly.

Sub 1d: Christianity has attempted to take over government with relative success.

Example?  More mudslinging without even an attempt at corroborating evidence.

~~~~The good things from Christianity are irrelevant
When we analyze what Christianity really has done and what kind of idealism and doctrine it tries to place over society, we notice that Christianity is essentially attempting to make as many people in the society adhere to their doctrine. People are pretty much condemned if they deviate from the doctrine in any way, and because the good things aren't totally genuine if they're trying to better the all of society just to install this doctrine and condemn anyone if they deviate from it, we can argue that the good things from Christianity are pretty much irrelevant.~~~~

This last bit is simply personal opinion couched in haughty judgmental language where the writer has set themself as final judge and arbiter of all that is good and evil in the world.  I reject this person's subjective standard as they have no authority to take that mantle upon themself, much less impose it on anyone else.  Anyone with half a brain who reads this will see through the shallow venting of a human trying to do more than justify their own actions that their conscience is telling them are wrong.  The other half need to be shown.

Hope that's the type of answer you were looking for and hope it helps.

In Truth and Love,

Ernie