What would be the dominant religion in America and Europe today if the disciples had obeyed Jesus?
545681
My vote is for Asatru. The Vikings sacked Rome several times and had power bases in every coastal European country. They only converted to Christianity because of Christian missionaries, and an old king who allowed them to build churches on top of pagan shrines. Even after their conversion, pagan practices were not banned for several generations. If the Christians had not interfered with their beliefs, the conversion would never have happened.\n\nThey made it to the America's before that took place, and I speculate that they would have done so again if not for their conversion and consequent subjegation of the Catholic church.\n\n-SD-
483246
There would be no preachers. The tenets of peace, tolerance, and nonviolence would be written in the sand at low tide. Anyone expressing an interest in becoming an advocate of the "faith" would be banned for life. There would be no buildings, politics, or symbols.\n\nI would keep the wine and biscuits though! Lol!
844437
Not likely.  Our country follows the Moses Law & not the Jesus Law.  Moses said "an eye for an eye" where as Jesus said "turn the other cheek."  Which do you think we are more likely to follow as a nation?
205544
The church split in two at the begining of the first century of the second millenium. What leaded to this? there were two different ways of understanding God, the eastern (Orthodox) countries decorated their churches with different pictures that represent Saint and Jesus, and the Western civilization couldn't accept this because they thought that it's a blasphemy.Orthodox priest wanned to have children and get married. So they had separated. So, nowadays western and eastern europe is divided by this line, the catholic (western) and orthodox (eastern).Sorry my english I'm from Romania (othodox country:)
753942
None. Israel, which is a holy place for the three major monotheistic faiths, is also one of the most conquered places in the world. Every civilization has proved to be temporary; Babylon fell, Persia fell, Greece collapsed, Rome fell, the Vatican lost its reigns, China and Mongolia have been crushed before, Britain has lost much influence, Soviet Union has fallen. And like my Greek teacher, I believe America is suffering its downfall and it wont reverse itself unto greatness.
989836
WWJD?  Just because it is modern America probably wouldn't change anything.\nLuke 4:16  And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.\n\nYou would still find him going to synagogue on Sabbath -- so he would probably never cross paths with the modern Christians.\n\nPlease, don't insult modern religious Jews who are all descendants of the Pharisees by misusing the title as you have done.
874305
I would think that a disciple would be one that is a devoted follower of the religion's god.  As in the disciples of Jesus Christ. This however could be like the people who were willing to die for Jim Jones or kill for Charles Manson.  They idolized men and were willing to do anything for them.  Unless you are referring to a disciple of religion in general.
874153
Religion, but not the true one. Jesus' true followers obey his instruction to love their enemies and to pray for those persecuting them. They do not go to war for any reason.
770076
Neither. They were both prophets and given a significant assignment. One got to lead the Jews out of slavery and start a personal relationship with God.  The other had the privelege of leading the way before Jesus came and got to baptize him.
1008134
Simple answer:\n\nTaken strictly from the Bible, because that's where Christianity comes from today (realizing that Christianity came from Jesus and the commisioned apostles, but today all their teachings come from the Bible) I would have to say that there are many heresies that one can commit. If you're looking for just three of them, or the most severe then I'd have to go with:\n\n1. Those that deny that Jesus was resurrected.\n2. Those that blaspheme the Holy Spirit.\n3. Those that believe that Jesus was either all man or all God, but not both.\n\nOther heresies would include:\n\n-equating Scripture with man's traditions\n-believing that the Bible is not God's literal word.\n-not believing in the Trinity\n\nThe list can go on but I believe this is sufficient.\n\nI hope this answered your question and helps.
3073
The first religion that has the most followers up to know is the Christianity. The second is the Atheism if you count it as a religion.
713196
Catholicism has been here a long time.  Since before the United States existed as a country.
817581
The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses! (Isa. 43:10-12) Their beliefs and practices are not new but are a restoration of first-century Christianity. \nHow did Jesus distinguish his true followers? His answer brings us to a vital identifying mark of true worship. Jesus said: “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:34, 35) \n\nAs to serving in the armed forces, what does secular history disclose about the attitude of early Christians?\n\n“A careful review of all the information available goes to show that, until the time of Marcus Aurelius [Roman emperor from 161 to 180 C.E.], no Christian became a soldier; and no soldier, after becoming a Christian, remained in military service.”—The Rise of Christianity (London, 1947), E. W. Barnes, p. 333.\n\n“We who were filled with war, and mutual slaughter, and every wickedness, have each through the whole earth changed our warlike weapons,—our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into implements of tillage,—and we cultivate piety, righteousness, philanthropy, faith, and hope, which we have from the Father Himself through Him who was crucified.”—Justin Martyr in “Dialogue With Trypho, a Jew” (2nd century C.E.), The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Grand Rapids, Mich.; reprint of 1885 Edinburgh edition), edited by A. Roberts and J. Donaldson, Vol. I, p. 254.\n\n“They refused to take any active part in the civil administration or the military defence of the empire. . . . it was impossible that the Christians, without renouncing a more sacred duty, could assume the character of soldiers, of magistrates, or of princes.”—History of Christianity (New York, 1891), Edward Gibbon, pp. 162, 163.\n\nWith reference to Jesus Christ, the Bible states: At Matt. 26:52: “Jesus said to him: ‘Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword.’” (Could there have been any higher cause for which to fight than to safeguard the Son of God? Yet, Jesus here indicated that those disciples were not to resort to weapons of physical warfare.)\n\nIsa. 2:2-4: “It must occur in the final part of the days that the mountain of the house of Jehovah will become firmly established above the top of the mountains . . . And he will certainly render judgment among the nations and set matters straight respecting many peoples. And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.” (Individuals out of all nations must personally decide what course they will pursue. Those who have heeded Jehovah’s judgment give evidence that he is their God.)\n\n2 Cor. 10:3, 4: “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage warfare according to what we are in the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things.” (Paul here states that he never resorted to fleshly weapons, such as trickery, high-sounding language, or carnal weapons, to protect the congregation against false teachings.)\n\nLuke 6:27, 28: “I [Jesus Christ] say to you who are listening, Continue to love your enemies, to do good to those hating you, to bless those cursing you, to pray for those who are insulting you.”\n\nMalachi 3:17,18 “And they will certainly become mine,” Jehovah of armies has said, “at the day when I am producing a special property. And I will show compassion upon them, just as a man shows compassion upon his son who is serving him. And YOU people will again certainly see [the distinction] between a righteous one and a wicked one, between one serving God and one who has not served him.”\n\nMatthew 7:20, Rice states: “‘By their fruits you shall know them,"\n\nThe Italian newspaper Il C
493391
To pink_maltese8, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were not all apostles. Matthew and John were, but Luke was not and Mark was a disciple of peter and wrote down the teachings of Peter but never actually sat under Christs teachings. I am not trying to be mean but you obviously attend church because that is where you find the most people that know very little about the Bible yet think they have it down pat.\n\nRegarding the question: I would think that you are referring to the Catholics and JW's but I may not know your thinking. My personal opinion is that if they have a religious denominational name then they probably aren't Christians at all. There are very few Christians involved in any type of religion, the true believers won't tolerate the lies spewed from the pulpits. "come out of her my people".\n\nJoin the Revolution\nReject Religion\nTurn to Christ
429956
Yes and no. Depends on which part of the church body. The Crusades took place because the Roman Catholic Church translated the Bible into Latin, locked it up behind gates and said, "Thus and thus is what God says." From this we got inquisitions, crusades, indulgences and the like.\n\nWhen the reformation translated the Bible into German and English, the average person could stand up to the evil popery and say "No!" for the Bible says thus and thus. Then the killing and fleecing soon stopped.
885723
In the US, the question doesn't get framed properly.  One must look at the actual Constitution to properly consider this issue.\n\nEither that or one must get rid of the Constitution.  \n\n--England before US was colonized:  Church controlling government.\n--Soviet Union (f/k/a):  Government controlling church.\n\nWe're not even close.
786341
Excellent question!  I truly think that it is because modern American Protestantism is the new Pelagianism - and it is failing miserably...no matter how much they preach about "Grace" and "Faith" - the whole idea about "I am saved now - I don't have to work on sanctification" is BOGUS...and not at all what the Scriptures or the Apostolic Fathers teach.  These neo-con "Evangelicals" would have lasted about a nanosecond during the persecution of Nero or Diocletian.  None of this surprises me...."All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God."