Christianity -- The easier to learn religion? (Jesus, ritual, moral)

[cfer]

Okay, first off, I'm not saying Christianity is a lesser religion, or that its followers are simpletons. I'm just asking if it's easier to learn.

Think about how fast Christianity spread throughout history. Could that be because the basic concepts are more straightforward and easier to follow than other religions?

I grew up Christian, so maybe that's why I think the concepts behind Christianity are relatively simple compared to say, Zen Buddhism and Taosim. I try to learn about other religions, the two previously mentioned especially, and I have difficulties with it.

Imagine being on a deserted island with only the Bible, and you only knew the smallest, most tiny amount of it's background and philosophies. Would the concepts be difficult to grasp? That's the way I feel when I look at Zen Buddhism and Taoism.

Now, I believe myself to be a fairly intelligent man. Sure, sometimes I lack common sense, but I still am able to follow and learn new things relatively easily. Except for religious concepts.

Because I was raised as a Christian, I was told how to act, how to feel, how to think about certain things. I even had parents, grandparents, extended family, even the ministers and the rest of the "church family" serve as guides in learning the doctrine. So, if I had questions, there was always someone to ask. The answers would vary slightly from person to person, but there was always a consistency to the answers.
I don't have that kind of support when studying other religions. I have books, websites, and the great people on the forums here, but that's about it. I feel like I'm on that deserted island with no one to answer my questions. Sure, my questions get answered here, but it's not a vocal dialoge. And that difficulty that I've been having has made me wonder if Christianity is just eaiser to learn.


It could also just be that Eastern thought is totally different than Western thought, and having grown up in the West, I think like a Westerner, hence the problem(s).

But, overall, do you think that Christianity and its concepts are easier to learn than other religions and their concepts?

[dawny0826]

I'm not sure. It's a good question.

I don't think that the core concepts of Christianity are very difficult to learn or understand but much more of Christianity plays on a spiritual level than a mental (IMO). And even if it is an "easier" religion to learn than others...to actually LIVE life as a Christian isn't always easy.

[Scuba Pete]

It is my humble opinion that the spread of Christianity had little to do with it's precepts. Unfortunately, man loves to politicize everything and this includes religion. It's the real "golden rule": those who gots the gold, makes the rules! This normally includes religion.

[Buttons*]

I dont think that Christianity should be an easy thing to follow. I mean, you believe a man walked on water, changed water into wine, rose from the dead... that's pretty hard to put faith in if you hadn't already been trained to think that way.

When Pythagorus lived, there were claims that he could raise people from the dead... but no one hears about that. If we had grown up thinking that he had, it wouldnt be strange to us. Its not that Christianity is easier to grasp, its that it has more of an influence than Eastern religions.

I know how it feels to kind of be alone on a faith, or a hard idea to follow. It's hard to change the way you view the world from always thinking a certian way.... but if you stick with it, eventually the answers will come *smiles*

[James the Persian]

Originally Posted by cfer

It could also just be that Eastern thought is totally different than Western thought, and having grown up in the West, I think like a Westerner, hence the problem(s).

This is even true within Christianity. I was brought up a western Christian and am now an eastern Christian and some of the hardest things for me to grasp were the differences in thought between the two traditions - for instance, being a rather rational westerner, the more mystical less rationalising faith as taught in the East (where the hard questions are usually answered with 'it's a Mystery' rather than an attempt to philosophise) was quite difficult to get to grips with. Now, though, I wouldn't have it any other way. So when you ask whether Christianity is easier to learn than other religions, I must ask, what do you mean by Christianity and who are you thinking would find it easier to learn? Generally, I think the easiest to learn religion is the one that follows concepts you already understand, and given that the Gospel was supposedly foolishness to the Greeks (which really means the entire Greco-Roman world) I doubt that it spread rapidly in the early years because it was simple to grasp.

James

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by NetDoc

It is my humble opinion that the spread of Christianity had little to do with it's precepts. Unfortunately, man loves to politicize everything and this includes religion. It's the real "golden rule": those who gots the gold, makes the rules! This normally includes religion.

I agree.

[jewscout]

i think it's easier in the west, especially the US, since so much of our culture is connected to christianity. It's like the default religion of many in this part of the world.

[jeffrey]

At one time, yes, and people still make it harder then IMO, what Christ meant it to be. Following his basic principles of his 2 laws and follow your heart once you understand these 2 laws, is relatively easy. Redefining and adding to it make it hard. I'll stick to try and follow his 2 laws, follow my heart and be one happy bunny!

[robtex]

I think, and this is a personal opinion based on the way it is propogated today, that Christianty is designed with a sales-pitch in mind. People in sales will tell you clarity in presentation is a vital componet to any pitch. Just the key concepts build the need and ask for the sale. Irregardless of what you are selling this is important. Within that scope many , certainly not all, but many of them have made the presenation crisp clear and to the point to make the religion more marketable. The ones with rigid post-acceptance study programs being the exception. But quite a number of them thinking in a sales mode have highlight the areas they think are vitial like John 3:16, Jesus's resurrection, and the basic moral preceptitions they have attached to their faith and they have moved from there. In many churches Christianity is not a religion that is studied but presented with just the key componets hammered over and over again not unlike a sales pitch. For the churches and denominations that do have and require study it is a different story with study of the bible, church history and metaphysical theory presented. For a lot of people who are prospects, against the backdrop of a busy life filled with complications it lessens in feasiblity and somewhere along the way, various leaders of some of the denominations (or non-denominations) made a "presentable package" quick simple with the major points and easier to learn. I think in my personal opinion that is why you find such a high number of Christians who have never read the bible. It just isn't presented as a vital componet of the religion and by margin is not accepted as much, at least not enough to actualy read and study it.

[Flappycat]

Are you kidding? It's a cakewalk. Just think of of "Paramatman" as a sort of "oversoul," as it were, something like the biggest soul of the bunch. "Atman" is just a word for soul. "Brahman" is just a word for the stuff that the universe is made of.


The whole principle behind Hinduism, as far as I can tell, is an admission that the whole Truth is too deep and vasty to be fully understood, so all we can really do is understand it by understanding reflections and aspects of its full nature. In short, pick a sect of Hinduism (trying to understand the whole thing will just make your head explode), and start reading. If you don't understand the whole thing, don't worry; neither do they, and most of them will admit it. It's a fun way to get a buzz.

Buddhism...sheesh, if you wanted to, you could call it a happy, little splinter sect of Hinduism, though I think they get mad at you if you refer to it that way. Call it Hinduism for Dummies. Why? It's fun to listen to them trying to explain their way out of the description.