Why did Christianity begin winning converts?
Christianity was able to win converts because: 1. Unlike Judaism, anyone was allowed to join, and unlike the state Roman religion, your salvation was believed to hinge on your faith and not your financial ability to make sacrifice to the gods. 2. Expanding on the above point, Paul stated that slaves who died in a state of servitude would be free men and women in the afterlife. Considering that a significant portion of Rome's population were slaves, it is not surprising that the belief was quite popular among the lower classes. Rome felt that this was a threat to their reign, hence the persecution for several centuries. 3. The testimonies were much more "real". Roman religion was based on ancient myth, and was generally vague and sometimes demonstrably false. Christian evangelists could tell when and where the miracles happened, and many accounts likely claimed to be second or third hand. Plus, the Roman persecution gave many martyrs their opportunity to prove the religion was worth dying for, which probably did more to help its spread rather than hinder it. As far as unity was concerned, it was not very unified at all until it became the state religion of Rome. There are several dozen apocryphal gospels that were not incorporated into the New Testament canon but survived the passage of time; we have no idea how many other "gospels" arose during the first three centuries of Christianity that have not survived the passage of time. Christianity became unified and solidified as a gradual process during its first four centuries, although its unification became much more quick following Roman acceptance in the 4th century.
Why has not Christianity won more converts in India?
Hinduism is a complete religion with deep roots and that is why Christianity has not found many converts in India. Although missionaries continue to come from Europe and USA to seek converts. But in fact, they come and go back empty handed. In fact, opposite is happening, many Europeans and Americans come looking for peace find tranquillity in Hinduism. For instance, many are practising yoga which is a Hindu gift to the world. Many have openly converted to Hinduism. If you are considering converting then you might wish to try this book:HINDUISM: Hinduism for Beginners: Guide to Understanding Hinduism and the Hindu Religion, Beliefs, Customs, Rituals, Gods, Mantras and Converting to Hinduism - Kindle edition by Shalu Sharma. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Are more Muslims converting to Christianity, or vice versa?
islam isn't growing because of the conversion rate, but due to the relative birth rates. looking around the web, you seem to find similar rates of conversion from one to the other. you are right that most leave christianity due to lack of understanding about the trinity doctrine. to that, islam offers a simple "monotheism for dummies" version of god. conversely, most muslims seem to leave because they have had a genuine supernatural encounter with jesus himself. which is the greater reason? a lack of intellectual comprehension, or meeting god-in-the-flesh personally?
Why has Christianity completely failed to win converts in India?
India was ruled by European colonial powers since 15th century till 1947....This is almost the same amount time Europeans had contact with South America. Yet in India only 2.3 percent of the population is Christian. Compare it with Latin America which is entirely Christianized. South Korea which has massive Christian population of around 30 to 40 percent. Phillipines entirely Christianized....etc etc But in India just 2.3 percent of the population is Christian after almost 5 centuries after European contact. Even that 2.3 percent is predominantly concentrated in few select states in South India where the low caste Hindu people are lured by money by the Christian missionaries from the western countries. The vast majority of the India remains vaccinated from Christianity
Did muhammad co-opt judaism and christianity to win converts?
Doctrina Jacobi Prophets don't come with sword and chariot. http://www.livius.org/men-mh/messiah/messiah_med01.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctrina_Iacobi Antichrist In the Book of Daniel the evil one is a military leader modeled on Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who persecuted the Jews. http://www.answers.com/topic/antichrist Daniel Daniel recorded his visions (which became prophecies) for future as well as present use; including prophecies about the exact date of the coming of the Jewish Messiah into Jerusalem, http://www.answers.com/topic/daniel- muhammad should have obeyed the 10 commandments and the teachings of Jesus especially when he was plagiarizing judaism and christianity, therefore he proves himself to be false. his actions speak louder than his words. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Why did russians convert to Orthodox Christianity?
The Tale of Bygone Years reports that in the year 987, Grand Prince Vladimir sent envoys to study the religions of the various neighboring nations. Of the Muslim the envoys reported there is no gladness among them; only sorrow and a great stench, and that their religion was undesirable due to its taboo against alcoholic beverages and pork. Russian sources also describe Vladimir consulting with Jewish envoys, and questioning them about their religion but ultimately rejecting it, saying that their loss of Jerusalem was evidence of their having been abandoned by God. Then Vladimir settled to Christianity. In the gloomy latin churches of the Germans his emissaries saw no beauty; but at Hagia Sophia (Constantinople) they found their ideal and reported: "We no longer knew whether we were in heaven or on earth, for surely there is no such splendor or beauty anywhere on earth, and we know not how to tell of it. We only know that God dwells there among men, and that their service surpasses the worship of all other places. For we cannot forget that beauty".
Why did Christianity win over other ancient religions? Was it by luck, by force, or was it more attractive?
It was several reasons.In some places, and indeed much of its early growth, was due to its attractive idea. The concept of ‘God’ and the ideals of Christianity are highly attractive to many people, especially the poor and downtrodden. At the same time, the trade networks and cultural ideas of the region in which Jesus lived were able to carry his teachings and ideas to the regions around where he lived. For slaves and the poor, the promise of eternal life despite suffering felt pretty damn good.Within a few centuries, the Roman Empire began to crumble and Christianity began to spread across Europe, but this was slowed by the passage of several barbarian tribes which migrated out of what is now Germany and who settled across Europe and the British Isles. Eventually, often by simple debate they were converted. Interestingly many of them followed very different forms of Christianity (including the concept of God in three parts) and Christianity mixed often with folk beliefs.Thus Christianity spread in this way. Other times however it was indeed less peaceful. Most of Western Germany and the low countries converted peacefully. The Baltic, Scandinavian and much of Eastern Europe required vast amounts of force. The norse (Vikings) were particular hard to convert . Ironically it was mostly down to former pagans that saw out the conversion of these regions. Olaf Trygvasson, a viking, merrily slaughtered his way through France and England, before being converted. He then merrily slaughtered (and converted) his way through the Viking countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The sight of his ships led the Icelandic, out of sheer fear, to convert to Christianity.So it was down to a mixture of reasons. I would personally argue that Christianity is such a powerful idea that it is easy for many to convert from paganistic beliefs to Christianity. The world was ready for the teachings of Jesus as trade had grown and peace and become widespread enough for these teachings to spread. Then Christianity was able to take control of the rudimentary levers of state and to empower warlords to spread itself and defend itself against the various pre Christian faiths of Europe.