The Christian Discussion Thread VI

[Czechanada]

Arch already answered this question very well, but I'd like to add to his answer. The big difference between Catholic and Orthodox numbers today is overwhelmingly due to Catholic expansion and missionary work in Latin America, Africa and Asia from the 16th century onward. Neither the spread of Islam in formerly-Orthodox lands in the Middle East, nor the rise of Protestantism in formerly-Catholic lands in Europe, made much of a difference by comparison.

Think of it this way: Even if the lands that Orthodox Christianity lost to Islam were still 100% Orthodox Christian today, their total population only amounts to 220 million people (Turkey + Syria + Lebanon + Israel/Palestine + Jordan + Egypt + Libya). That would only raise the Orthodox population to about 450 - 550 million overall. Still only about half of the current global Catholic population.

On the other hand, if the Catholic Church was still limited to western Europe and north-west Africa, then even if the Protestant Reformation never happened (and even if Islam never spread into formerly-Catholic north-west Africa), the total Catholic population today would only be... about 550 million. To be more exact, if you add together the Catholic and Protestant populations in Europe (i.e. assume the Reformation never happened), and then add to them the populations of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco (i.e. Islam never happened), then the number you get is precisely 545 million.

So, if you count the present-day populations of ancient Catholic lands and ancient Orthodox lands, they turn out to be about equal. It's what happened outside of Europe and the Middle East that ultimately made all the difference.

I'd failed to account for colonialism. Interesting, one can only wonder what things would be like if the Byzantine Empire had survived and began to colonize the Americas.

I'd find it really unlikely that the Byzantine Empire would colonize the Americas if they had survived. European colonialism arose from various different factors such the necessity of new trade routes, geographical proximity to Africa, and the development of capitalism; If the Byzantine Empire survived, than these factors would have changed drastically and they wouldn't have compelled the Byzantine Empire to do so. It was never a case of countries saying: "Hey, some free land. I'll take it!"

[Rejeistan]

I suppose I have a question, how confident are you in your Christianity, and why?

[Czechanada]

I suppose I have a question, how confident are you in your Christianity, and why?

What do you mean?

[Rejeistan]

I suppose I have a question, how confident are you in your Christianity, and why?

What do you mean?

Just a general question for the thread. How confident are you, the reader, in the tenets of Christianity, and why?

[Czechanada]

What do you mean?

Just a general question for the thread. How confident are you, the reader, in the tenets of Christianity, and why?

But what exactly do you mean by confidence?

[Gim]

What do you mean?

Just a general question for the thread. How confident are you, the reader, in the tenets of Christianity, and why?

6 out of 10, maybe.

[Rejeistan]

Just a general question for the thread. How confident are you, the reader, in the tenets of Christianity, and why?

But what exactly do you mean by confidence?

Confidence, certainty... on a scale of 1-10?

[Gim]

But what exactly do you mean by confidence?

Confidence, certainty... on a scale of 1-10?

Confidence and accuracy of knowledge are different, I think, though.

[Rejeistan]

Confidence, certainty... on a scale of 1-10?

Confidence and accuracy of knowledge are different, I think, though.

I agree, but I'm asking about how confident people are.

[Gim]

Confidence and accuracy of knowledge are different, I think, though.

I agree, but I'm asking about how confident people are.

How confident are you?

[Diopolis]

I'd failed to account for colonialism. Interesting, one can only wonder what things would be like if the Byzantine Empire had survived and began to colonize the Americas.

I'd find it really unlikely that the Byzantine Empire would colonize the Americas if they had survived. European colonialism arose from various different factors such the necessity of new trade routes, geographical proximity to Africa, and the development of capitalism; If the Byzantine Empire survived, than these factors would have changed drastically and they wouldn't have compelled the Byzantine Empire to do so. It was never a case of countries saying: "Hey, some free land. I'll take it!"

I imagine it would have been rather difficult for Byzantine ships to get to the Americas, anyway.

[Living Stones]

That question is undetermined. Regardless of the state of your bulb you are loved. There will be a special "Bulbs of Change" Lesson this Sunday before the Main Service. Come to find out more! (There will also be a potluck after the Main Service--names ending in A-F please bring Main Dish; G-L Side Dish, M-R Refreshments, and S-Z Desserts--If you are new or are a guest, please bring only your appetite.)

It's amazing how true that is, although people are not assigned to bring certain foods to meals.

Also, Methodists only have communion once per month. This tradition came when there were low numbers of pastors in the Midwest. They would travel around in a 'circuit' so everyone in the area could attend a service and have communion.

Do you mean there were low numbers of ordained pastors?
Can/could only ordained pastors serve communion?
Did church services themselves, communion or not, only occur once a month in those days?
If they occurred weekly or more often, what exactly did they do w/o a pastor? Did they have lay pastors?
???

[Salus Maior]

I'd find it really unlikely that the Byzantine Empire would colonize the Americas if they had survived. European colonialism arose from various different factors such the necessity of new trade routes, geographical proximity to Africa, and the development of capitalism; If the Byzantine Empire survived, than these factors would have changed drastically and they wouldn't have compelled the Byzantine Empire to do so. It was never a case of countries saying: "Hey, some free land. I'll take it!"

Not super relevant but I saw a Europa Universalis IV game where the Byzantines colonized Australia.

[The United Neptumousian Empire]

But what exactly do you mean by confidence?

Confidence, certainty... on a scale of 1-10?

9.9999/10

[Gim]

Confidence, certainty... on a scale of 1-10?

9.9999/10

I used to be like that, but I was enlightened in certain areas of my Christian knowledge here.

[Czechanada]

I'd find it really unlikely that the Byzantine Empire would colonize the Americas if they had survived. European colonialism arose from various different factors such the necessity of new trade routes, geographical proximity to Africa, and the development of capitalism; If the Byzantine Empire survived, than these factors would have changed drastically and they wouldn't have compelled the Byzantine Empire to do so. It was never a case of countries saying: "Hey, some free land. I'll take it!"

Not super relevant but I saw a Europa Universalis IV game where the Byzantines colonized Australia.

I was considering saying that: "This isn't like Europa Unversalis IV."

[Luminesa]

What do you mean?

Just a general question for the thread. How confident are you, the reader, in the tenets of Christianity, and why?

7/10

[Salus Maior]

I was considering saying that: "This isn't like Europa Unversalis IV."

If only it were, the world would be much more interesting XP

[Czechanada]

I was considering saying that: "This isn't like Europa Unversalis IV."

If only it were, the world would be much more interesting XP

Be thankful it isn't.

"Girl, I'm gonna fabricate a claim on dat ass."

[Salus Maior]

If only it were, the world would be much more interesting XP

Be thankful it isn't.

"Girl, I'm gonna fabricate a claim on dat ass."

That line ever work for you?

[Nordengrund]

I suppose I have a question, how confident are you in your Christianity, and why?

I'd say my confidence somewhere betwen 7.5-8/10. I don't see my denomination as perfect or completely right, but is the closest anyone has gotten. Most things I think my denomination has gotten wrong are pretty minor theologically.

[Gim]

I suppose I have a question, how confident are you in your Christianity, and why?

I'd say my confidence somewhere betwen 7.5-8/10. I don't see my denomination as perfect or completely right, but is the closest anyone has gotten. Most things I think my denomination has gotten wrong are pretty minor theologically.

Are you Protestant?

[Rejeistan]

I agree, but I'm asking about how confident people are.

How confident are you?

I'm fairly confident in my views on Christianity, maybe an 8 or 9 out of 10.

[Nordengrund]

I'd say my confidence somewhere betwen 7.5-8/10. I don't see my denomination as perfect or completely right, but is the closest anyone has gotten. Most things I think my denomination has gotten wrong are pretty minor theologically.

Are you Protestant?

Yep!

[Gim]

Are you Protestant?

Yep!