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Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

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Page 1: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good?

By Michael Horner

Page 2: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Introduction

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

• Sociologist Rodney Stark – who described himself as an agnostic."[9]

• Through his study of the sociological impact of Christianity through the ages, he was influenced to become a follower of Christ. What did he discover? - We will see by looking at his book, The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success

Page 3: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Introduction

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Jonathan Hill – What has Christianity Ever Done for Us?

Ph.D. in Philosophy & Master of Philosophy in Theology

Has written numerous books on the History of Christianity and the History of Christian thought.

Page 4: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Paul Chamberlain, Professor of Philosophy & Apologetics Trinity

Western University

Why People Don’t Believe:

ConfrontingSeven Challenges

to the Christian Faith

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 5: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

I. Ancient Times

1. Christians cared for their sick and marginalized pagan neighbors.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 6: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Tertullian

While pagan temples spent their donations "on feasts and drinking bouts," Christians spent theirs "to support and bury poor people, to supply the wants of boys and girls destitute of means and parents, and of old persons confined to the house."

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 7: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Emperor Julian

"The impious Galileans support not only their poor," complained pagan emperor Julian, "but ours as well."

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 8: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

I. Ancient Times

1. Christians cared for their sick and marginalized pagan neighbors.

1b. Christians began hospital care

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 9: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

I. Ancient Times

1. Christians cared for their sick and marginalized pagan neighbors.

1b. Christians began hospital care

2. Enhanced status of women

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 10: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

I. Ancient TimesChrist in the House of Martha and Mary

Diego Velazquez, 1618

This Gospel account from Luke 10: 38-42, and other accounts suggests that Jesus broke with

the conventions of his age and provided religious instruction to women.

Page 11: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

I. Ancient Times

1. Christians cared for their sick and marginalized pagan neighbors.

1b. Christians began hospital care

2. Enhanced status of women

3. Good theological news

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 12: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

II. Medieval Times or Middle Ages (5th - 15th Century)

Positive Contributions by Christianity

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 13: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

II. Medieval Times or Middle Ages (5th - 15th Century)

Agobard of Lyons - Specialized in debunking "weather magicians" who claimed to be able to

control the weather.

Page 14: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

II. Medieval Times or Middle Ages (5th - 15th Century)

Pope Leo I persuades Attila the Hun not to attack Rome.

Page 15: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

II. Medieval Times or Middle Ages (5th - 15th Century)

Positive Contributions by Christianity

1. Reason and Progress

• Christian theology was both rational and progressive.

• “… Greek religion… was all about mystery, and if things were logically inconsistent, that was even better proof they were of divine origin.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 16: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

II. Medieval Times or Middle Ages (5th - 15th Century)

Positive Contributions by Christianity

1. Reason and Progress

2. Invention

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 17: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Inventions from the Middle Ages

Page 18: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

II. Medieval Times or Middle Ages (5th - 15th Century)

Positive Contributions by Christianity

1. Reason and Progress

2. Invention

3. Elimination of Slavery

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 19: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

II. Medieval Times or Middle Ages (5th - 15th Century)

• Callistus, a former slave, not only became a priest, but later a bishop and is listed as one of the early Popes.

• “St. Melania was said to have emancipated 8000 slaves, St. Ovidius…. of Gaul, 5000, Chromatius a Roman prefect…. 1400, Hermes, a prefect…. 1200. And many of the Christian clergy…. under the rule of St. Augustine, as well as great numbers of private citizens, freed their slaves as an act of piety.”

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 20: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

II. Medieval Times or Middle Ages (5th - 15th Century)

Positive Contributions by Christianity1. Reason and Progress

2. Invention

3. Elimination of Slavery

4. Science, Freedom, Capitalism & Democracy

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 21: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

II. Medieval Times or Middle Ages (5th - 15th Century)

Positive Contributions by Christianity

5. Establishing Universities

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 22: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

III. Enlightenment Times[16th C – 20th C]

1. Wilberforce and Abolition of Slavery"Unless God has raised you up . . . I see not how you can go through with your glorious enterprise in opposing that execrable villainy. . . . You will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils; but if God is with you, who can be against you? Oh, be not weary in well-doing. Go on, in the name of God and in the power of his might, till even American slavery, the vilest that ever saw the sun, shall banish away before it." (John Wesley)

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 23: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Wilberforce and Abolition of Slavery

Page 24: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Wilberforce and Abolition of Slavery

Page 25: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

III. Enlightenment Times[16th C – 20th C]

1. Wilberforce and Abolition of Slavery

2. Dunant & Founding of the Geneva Convention and the Red Cross

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 26: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Jean Henry Dunant

Founder of the Geneva Convention and the Red Cross

Page 27: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Jean Henry Dunant

Page 28: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Jean Henry Dunant

Founder of the Geneva Convention and the Red Cross

Winner of the First Nobel Peace Prize

Page 29: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

IV. Contemporary Times

Compassionate Evangelical Agencies - International Justice Mission, World Vision, Compassion International, Prison Fellowship, Samaritan’s Purse, Global Aid Network and many, many others too numerous to mention

1. Evangelicals, Sudan/Darfur, and Sexual Slavery and Trafficking

2. First Responders after Katrina

3. Sex Trafficking

4. Helping the Poor & Marginalized

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 30: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

V. Blemishes on the Record

1. In Christianity, if one is propagating their religion via violence, they are not following the teachings of Jesus.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 31: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

V. Blemishes on the Record

2. The numbers are usually not as bad as they are made out to be

The Salem Witchcraft Trials – 36 - not millions

European Witch Executions – 50,000 – 200,000 not 9 -10 million

Inquisitions – thousands not millions

Crusades – Tens of thousands not millions

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 32: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

V. Blemishes on the Record

3. Atheism does far worse when given the chance

• Would violence and war disappear if religion were eradicated? Not a chance!

• The statistics that are the result of irreligious violence & genocide stagger the imagination.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 33: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner
Page 34: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner
Page 35: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Lives Lost Under Non-Religious Dictators - [Conservative numbers – and could be much higher]

Joseph Stalin - 42,672,000

Mao Zedong - 37,828,000

Adolf Hitler - 20,946,000

Chiang Kai-shek - 10,214,000

Vladimir Lenin - 4,017,000

Hideki Tojo - 3,990,000

Pol Pot - 2,397,000

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 36: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

V. Blemishes on the Record

3. Atheism does far worse when given the chance

4. It is a human problem not a problem of just religion, or Christianity.• It just so happens that most people

throughout history are religious not atheist

• Christian teaching affirms that humankind is fatally flawed

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Page 37: By Michael Horner Has Christianity Done More Harm than Good? By Michael Horner

Conclusion“In Western culture it is Christianity that has produced every single thing that the secularists pretend was invented by them — like the idea of human rights, the concept of equality under the law, the affirmation of the goodness of reason. Even the development of science is inseparable from Christianity.”

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor 10: 5

Brian KillianWriter & Columnist