If Christianity is not true, why do Millions keep embracing it all over the world? Let's take the case of Africa in particular.
"As of 2023, there are an estimated 718 million Christians from all denominations in Africa,[13] up from about 10 million in 1900." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Africa Gordon Conwell Status of Global Christianity reports project this to increase to 750 MN by 2025.
A large part of how this happened is the Christian Missionary Reinhard Bonnke, called the "Billy Graham of Africa". 1 Million Souls, mostly pagans (polytheists) and Muslims, gave their life to Christ at a single Reinhard Bonnke Crusade. Such an event has never happened in the history of any other religion anywhere. With Universal Christian Love, for all people but especially for the Good African People, Reinhard Bonnke, a German Evangelist, founded the Christian Ministry, CFAN - https://cfan.org/ - today run by his successor, Daniel Kolenda, and won around 79 Million Souls for Christ during his 79 years of years - 1 MN for each year. If anyone doubts that he did this, how do you explain the demographic change?
That demographic change documented in Wikipedia shows this Evangelistic change is real and actually happened, which it hardly could have without documented miracles, to which many Africans can testify. CFAN has recorded about 92 MN decisions for Christ at last count, adding about 13 MN more Souls since Evangelist Bonnke passed to his Eternal Reward in 2019 5 years ago. Here is a BBC Article about Bonnke:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-50781193
Reinhard Bonnke: The man who changed the face of Christianity in Africa Bonnke was rightly eulogized as "a Giant and a General in the Army of God".
QuoteGerman-born evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, who attracted massive crowds in Africa during decades of preaching, is being mourned by millions of Christians across the continent following his death aged 79. Kenyan writer Jesse Masai looks back at his influence.
With comparisons ranging from British "Prince of Preachers" Charles Spurgeon to American televangelist Billy Graham, Bonnke's status as the father of modern-day crusade preaching and healing in Africa is not in dispute ...
"His pioneering, militant approach of open-air crusades was informed by our context. Like the Biblical St Paul, he was aware that he was confronting strong evil forces," says Mr Mamboleo.
His Christ For All Nations (CFAN) organisation, known for its work throughout Africa, claims Bonnke oversaw more than 79 million conversions to Christianity."
Thoughts? Also, how many Atheists are there in Africa? I doubt there are 750 MN Atheists in the World.
If Atheism were really true, wouldn't we expect more people to embrace it, with geographical diversity all around the world? Yet, we see the opposite happening all the time. Globally, Atheism is in decline.
QuoteGlobally, Atheism is in decline.
Non-religion, including atheism, is the fastest growing "religious" group according to every poll out there, but okay.
QuoteI doubt there are 750 MN Atheists in the World.
Religious Nones already number at an estimated 500-750 million globally. This literally took me five seconds to google.
QuoteAlso, how many Atheists are there in Africa?
Probably not a lot. Most atheists who didn't grow up as one de-convert themselves when they seek higher education. The parts of Africa your guy was running missions to? Not exactly bastions of education. Or high living standards, for that matter. Strong religious beliefs tend to be more common among the less fortunate. This is well documented and not surprising to anyone.
We'll go ahead and mark this as the 1,704,657th time someone has tried the appeal to numbers on me. You are seriously the laziest apologist I've ever met. At least some of the other ones we've had on this forum
tried to come up with something original.
Quote from: Sargon The Grape on July 25, 2024, 05:05:40 AMNon-religion, including atheism, is the fastest growing "religious" group according to every poll out there, but okay.
"While Christianity and other religions are growing around the world, the global atheist population is falling.
The current growth trend for atheism is -0.12%, with their number falling from 147 million in 2020 to 146 million in 2024. Atheism peaked around 1970 with 165 million people." https://research.lifeway.com/2024/01/22/8-encouraging-trends-in-global-christianity-for-2024/
QuoteReligious Nones already number at an estimated 500-750 million globally. This literally took me five seconds to google.
But not Atheists specifically or alone, that number includes Atheists, Agnostics and the irreligious. Also, Religious People are a clear Super-Majority on the Planet, with about 85% being Religious, and that number is expected to grow toward 90% by 2050: "as a share of all the people in the world, those with no religious affiliation are projected to decline from 16% in 2010 to 13% by the middle of this century." https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/
QuoteProbably not a lot. Most atheists who didn't grow up as one de-convert themselves when they seek higher education. The parts of Africa your guy was running missions to? Not exactly bastions of education. Or high living standards, for that matter. Strong religious beliefs tend to be more common among the less fortunate. This is well documented and not surprising to anyone.
Ok. But Christian Missionaries often emphasize not only Religious Education but also Secular Education and thus operate many schools, hospitals etc. Where Christianity goes, education and progress will generally follow. That's historically been the trend in many mission countries. Material affluence in itself is not bad, especially if we use those riches God gave us to bless others, as Christ commands in the Gospel. It becomes bad if it leads us to Pride, or if it takes us away from the thought of storing up Treasures in Heaven, by doing good works here on Earth, as Christ counselled. I think Africa will do well in the coming decades, let us see.
QuoteWe'll go ahead and mark this as the 1,704,657th time someone has tried the appeal to numbers on me. You are seriously the laziest apologist I've ever met. At least some of the other ones we've had on this forum tried to come up with something original.
Thanks for the insult. I'm writing a book, 25 Reasons to be Christian. Maybe about half of it is original, the rest is just me popularizing arguments that are maybe not so well known. There's no need to re-invent the wheel. But doctrine and theology does develop and progress, and the Kalam and other arguments that make use of recent developments in science or technological progress are evidence of that. So is fine-tuning, and we'll move on to that next in another thread. As for this thread, the argument is that this change from 10 MN to 750 MN including 1 MN Souls saved at a single Crusade could not have happened in so short a time without miracles. An extraordinary effect requires an extraordinary cause, and it's unlikely demographics could have been altered so substantially in such a limited time period without God/Christ/the Holy Spirit working miracles, about which you can read many testimonies on the CFAN Website. God is able to do all things for those able to trust in Him.
God Bless,
Xavier.
QuoteBut not Atheists specifically or alone
No one on this forum besides you gives a fuck about the distinction, bud. You don't even know how many people here actually call themselves atheists, nor what the rest of us actually believe. But you'd rather continue vomiting up PRATT arguments than actually bother to investigate the forum a little.
Thousands of Africans die every year because somebody has a problem and they blame it on witchcraft. "Do not suffer a witch to live!" Imaginary enemies make good theater, they also strongly indicated the collective IQ level. Imaginary gods do the same.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on July 25, 2024, 08:19:09 PMThousands of Africans die every year because somebody has a problem and they blame it on witchcraft. "Do not suffer a witch to live!" Imaginary enemies make good theater, they also strongly indicated the collective IQ level. Imaginary gods do the same.
Guarantee he pulls out the "no true Christian" card for that one. (But still continue to count them for his census, because apologists will never be consistent if it hurts their position.)
Oh brother.....nothing says true like the majority that believes it, because after all, the sun does in fact revolve around the earth....🙄
Quote from: Sargon The Grape on July 25, 2024, 01:44:26 PMNo one on this forum besides you gives a fuck about the distinction, bud. You don't even know how many people here actually call themselves atheists, nor what the rest of us actually believe. But you'd rather continue vomiting up PRATT arguments than actually bother to investigate the forum a little.
He's here to preach, and it's gotten him kicked off some other forums...
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