Reply #11: Most Christians are better than their creeds.

[NAO]

I think most Christians are good people. I think most are trying to do what is right and what they believe to be moral. Most Christians are better than their creed.

But aside from some moral precepts, which are not unique to Christianity, the effect of the religion on the human race has been largely negative. Someone once said "ye shall know them by their fruits". The Christian Church has produced many really horrific things over its long history.

In the past 200 years or so Christians have forced Christianity to become more civilized, more humane. But there has been a backlash, and the old guard is fighting to regain control. Even the election of the latest pope betrays a desire to 'purge' the church of 'impurities', even if it means the Catholic Church becomes smaller.

There are many things (religious intolerence up to killing of unbelivers, eternal damnation, endorsement of slavery, polygamy, wars of extermination, etc.) in Bible-based Christian teachings which are abhorrent to modern sensibilities but are nonetheless clearly present in the Bible. Unless Christians are willing to let go of the notion that the Bible is "The inspired, inerrant WORD of God" they will find themselves in many very odd moral positions.