Every Religion has its fair share of legends, beliefs and myths that are a profound part of its existence and have often been passed down from generation to generation without fail, even if they are by some means untrue. Christianity too has a vast number of myths attached to it and in this article, we explore some of these.
1: CHRISTIANITY IS A WESTERN RELIGION:
It is widely believed that Christianity originated in Western Europe. This is not true. It neither originated there nor is it confined to Western Europe. Christianity is a world religion that founds its roots in various parts and thus this belief lasted only from around the early 16th to the mid-20th centuries, until it was soon recognised that there were older churches in India, China, Iraq etc.
2: JESUS WAS ONLY A TEACHER AND ZEALOT:
A lot of people believe Jesus is more a teacher and guide as opposed to a revolutionary. His claim to be the ‘only God’ really bothered some people and felt his message about equality scandalous that he preached equality for people but regarded himself as the one true saviour of the world. However, though perhaps not a revolutionary, he was much more than just a teacher.
3: CHRISTIANITY WAS IMPOSED ON THE NON-WESTERN PEOPLE BY FORCE:
If this were true, even today Non-Western Christians would simply hold a status as just passive recipients of the faith passed on by western dominant ideologies. However, the western missions never had the power to conquer and achieve such a degree of capitulation, even if that’s what they wanted, which was not.
4: CHRISTIANITY STIFLES ONE’S PERSONAL FREEDOM:
Christianity is a liberal religion that does not curb a person’s personal freedom in any way. It, of course, tries to protect its followers from self-deception and wrongdoing but otherwise gives all the freedom necessary to do whatever one wants, by simply remaining accountable to God for the same.
5: CHRISTIANITY IS UNTRUE BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON FAITH RATHER THAN FACTS:
Compelling historical evidence and growing archaeological evidence supports the authenticity and truth of the Bible and the accounts of both the Old and New Testament events and ideas. Thus, saying the Bible is simply a book of guidelines and stories praising the faith would be untrue.
6: CHRISTIANITY IS JUDGEMENTAL AND INTOLERANT TOWARDS OTHERS:
A saying in the Bible quotes “Whosoever will, may come. Who can come to Jesus? Everybody!”
This by itself shows that Christianity is one of the most inclusive religions in the world that is open and welcoming of all. While like most religions, there is, of course, a select group of people that believe their religion all supreme and thus are judgemental to others; Christianity is mostly a very tolerant religion.