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Any new religion has to figure out a strategy for luring new converts. When Christianity was trying to establish a foothold its leaders were trying to figure out what would make Christianity most attractive to pagans. Paul had the right idea--a sort of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach. When pagans complained they couldn't see the logic of having their foreskins snipped off Paul conveniently declared it just wasn't necessary to become Christian. Paul made a lot of modifications to the old Jewish traditions in the name of "reel them in by any means necessary".
But the most effective tool for snagging converts was the "stick" -- the threat of eternal damnation in a fiery hell if pagans didn't join Christianity. That worked wonders for winning new converts, especially after Christian leaders broke the news that Jesus said in heaven there would be no sex or marriage or wine, just one big worship fest gathered around the throne of God bowing and singing hymns to Him and generally stroking His ego 24/7 for all eternity. If you don't think THAT went over like a lead balloon for these wine-loving sexually-charged pagans!
Islam took a lesson from this blunder and went for the "carrot". Their version of heaven was called Paradise--already a big improvement-- and it came replete with 70-100 wide-eyed virgins of the most splendid and beauteous countenance and perfection of form. There would be rivers of wine running through each Moslem's palatial harem tent that men could partake of at all hours and the orgies would generally go on nonstop forever while God looked on approvingly.
So which would you choose if you were a pagan scratching your beard trying to decide which religion to convert to: bowing and scraping before God and singing praises to Him till you were hoarse and your back ached, or wracking your brain deciding which virgin to have sex with that night? I know which one I'd go for. I just didn't have the good fortune to be born a prince in Saudi Arabia so I could get my pie here AND in the sky by and by.
Last edited by thrillobyte; 05-08-2016 at 04:03 PM..
Location: In a little house on the prairie - literally
10,202 posts, read 7,919,895 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thrillobyte
Any new religion has to figure out a strategy for luring new converts. When Christianity was trying to establish a foothold its leaders were trying to figure out what would make Christianity most attractive to pagans. Paul had the right idea--a sort of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach. When pagans complained they couldn't see the logic of having their foreskins snipped off Paul conveniently declared it just wasn't necessary to become Christian. Paul made a lot of modifications to the old Jewish traditions in the name of "reel them in by any means necessary".
But the most effective tool for snagging converts was the "stick" -- the threat of eternal damnation in a fiery hell if pagans didn't join Christianity. That worked wonders for winning new converts, especially after Christian leaders broke the news that Jesus said in heaven there would be no sex or marriage or wine, just one big worship fest gathered around the throne of God bowing and singing hymns to Him and generally stroking His ego 24/7 for all eternity. If you don't think THAT went over like a lead balloon for these wine-loving sexually-charged pagans!
Islam took a lesson from this blunder and went for the "carrot". Their version of heaven was called Paradise--already a big improvement-- and it came replete with 70-100 wide-eyed virgins of the most splendid and beauteous countenance and perfection of form. There would be rivers of wine running through each Moslem's palatial harem tent that men could partake of at all hours and the orgies would generally go on nonstop forever while God looked on approvingly.
So which would you choose if you were a pagan scratching your beard trying to decide which religion to convert to: bowing and scraping before God and singing praises to Him till you were hoarse and your back ached, or wracking your brain deciding which virgin to have sex with that night? I know which one I'd go for. I just didn't have the good fortune to be born a prince in Saudi Arabia so I could get my pie here AND in the sky by and by.
Baaaa.... campfire stories told by desert goat herders. Over active imaginations like fueled by excessive consumption of wine. Or perhaps the inhaling of some herbs.
Baaaa.... campfire stories told by desert goat herders. Over active imaginations like fueled by excessive consumption of wine. Or perhaps the inhaling of some herbs.
Any new religion has to figure out a strategy for luring new converts. When Christianity was trying to establish a foothold its leaders were trying to figure out what would make Christianity most attractive to pagans. Paul had the right idea--a sort of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach. When pagans complained they couldn't see the logic of having their foreskins snipped off Paul conveniently declared it just wasn't necessary to become Christian. Paul made a lot of modifications to the old Jewish traditions in the name of "reel them in by any means necessary".
But the most effective tool for snagging converts was the "stick" -- the threat of eternal damnation in a fiery hell if pagans didn't join Christianity. That worked wonders for winning new converts, especially after Christian leaders broke the news that Jesus said in heaven there would be no sex or marriage or wine, just one big worship fest gathered around the throne of God bowing and singing hymns to Him and generally stroking His ego 24/7 for all eternity. If you don't think THAT went over like a lead balloon for these wine-loving sexually-charged pagans!
Islam took a lesson from this blunder and went for the "carrot". Their version of heaven was called Paradise--already a big improvement-- and it came replete with 70-100 wide-eyed virgins of the most splendid and beauteous countenance and perfection of form. There would be rivers of wine running through each Moslem's palatial harem tent that men could partake of at all hours and the orgies would generally go on nonstop forever while God looked on approvingly.
So which would you choose if you were a pagan scratching your beard trying to decide which religion to convert to: bowing and scraping before God and singing praises to Him till you were hoarse and your back ached, or wracking your brain deciding which virgin to have sex with that night? I know which one I'd go for. I just didn't have the good fortune to be born a prince in Saudi Arabia so I could get my pie here AND in the sky by and by.
I see the, errr, light ... I am down with the fresh ladies that night.
Location: In a little house on the prairie - literally
10,202 posts, read 7,919,895 times
Reputation: 4561
Quote:
Originally Posted by justus978
...textbook ad hominem attack....weak.....
You're right. I'm not sure about the inhaling of the herbs.
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