Is Christianity a Vampirical cult?
482143
Maybe you could make a movie, Jesus the Vampire, born in Bethlvania, Mother raped by a Roman Soldier, who happened to be a Vampire!! Next, well... I'll leave the details to you.
344260
Vampires are mythical or folkloric creatures, typically held to be the re-animated corpses of human beings and said to subsist on human and/or animal blood (hematophagy), often having unnatural powers, heightened bodily functions, and/or the ability to physically transform. Some cultures have myths of non-human vampires, such as demons or animals like bats, dogs, and spiders. Vampires are often described as having a variety of additional powers and character traits, extremely variable in different traditions, and are a frequent subject of folklore, cinema, and contemporary fiction.\n\nVampirism is the practice of drinking blood from a person/animal. Vampires are said to mainly bite the victim's neck, extracting the blood from the carotid artery. In folklore and popular culture, the term generally refers to a belief that one can gain supernatural powers by drinking human blood. The historical practice of vampirism can generally be considered a more specific and less commonly occurring form of cannibalism. The consumption of another's blood (and/or flesh) has been used as a tactic of psychological warfare intended to terrorize the enemy, and it can be used to reflect various spiritual beliefs.\n\nIn zoology and botany, the term vampirism is used to refer to leeches, mosquitos, mistletoe, vampire bats, and other organisms that prey upon the bodily fluids of other creatures. This term also applies to mythic animals of the same nature, including the chupacabra.
829746
Christianity is not against witchcraft, the only religion to my knowledge that strictly forbids witchcraft is Islam. Some Christians may be against witchcraft and there was a stance of the church that witchcraft was evil, however this was a combination of bastardisation of the bible and bible teachings, as well as church suppression of various things that they did not like the looks of or that was seen as a threat to them. There are plenty of Christian witches, in fact there are of course far more Christian witches than Wicca and they have been around for far longer than Wicca.\n\nThe idea of Christian Wicca is an oxymoron not because of the use of witchcraft within Wicca, but because simply two religions cannot be combined, particularly not two such widely different religions. Wicca is first and foremost a priesthood, they have no laity like Christianity does, in order to become Wicca one has to be initiated after a lot of study within a coven, only then are they taught about Wicca – if someone is Christian or holds Christian beliefs as apposed to Wicca beliefs then a coven will not teach them, let alone initiate them – as such these is no such thing as someone who is both Christian and Wicca or who has combined Christian and Wicca. \n\nThere are Neo-wicca who have taken on Christian mythology and ideas, Neo-wicca is however a different animal to Wicca (Wicca initiate-only oathbound priesthood, Neo-wicca is a belief system based on loose ideas and outer-court teachings of Wicca) essentially Neo-wicca is a New Age combination of beliefs, so leaving them open to look into the likes of Christianity – remains however one cannot be two things at once, even Neo-wicca ahs some form of distinction between any other religion. \n\nI could go into this in more detail, but I tire of it, simply common sense and basic understanding of either religion will say there is no such thing as a Christian Wicca as much as some would like to argue otherwise – in most cases it is either people who do not understand either religions, people who want to be Pagan but refuse to leave their Christian roots or simply people who want to be witches without realising it is a practice that spans religions – in other words, some people are just plain ignorant. \n\nSide note – Christians suffered more from persecution from Pagans than the other way around, unfortunately the idea of Pagans being prejudiced by Christians is by large victim mentality on behalf of Pagans, for the most part it was quite the opposite situation.
51218
The Slavs (from around the year 300) believed that vampires were afraid of silver (but couldn't be killed with it) and that one could kill them by cutting their head off and placing it between their legs, or by stabbing them with a wooden stake in the heart. During the Middle Ages, the myth transformed a bit. People used holy water, wooden stake, and cross to kill a vampire (we can see the influence of the Christianity here). If people suspected that a dead person has turned into a vampire, they would dig them out and stick a stake into the heart. This wasn't meant to kill the vampire but to bind it to the grave. Serbs believed that every single drop of blood had to be destroyed or else the vampire would still be "alive" (they were more or less living corpses, but you get my point) so they used to burn the vampire after that. Then butterflies would fly out of the vampire and people had to kill each one of them. \nGarlic can only scare the vampire because of its strong and unpleasant smell. In order to stop the vampire's visits at night, people would hang garlic near every hole in the house (for example keyhole, chimney, windows..., because people believed that the vampire could enter the house even through the smallest hole). One could also throw some seeds before the vampire, since they had to stop and count them all. \nI'm not really sure how they used to capture them. I know vampires could be captured by stealing that cloth they had over them in the grave, but I have seen this only in vampire stories. But in reality, people were just killing them and they were probably too scared to just capture them (that'd be pointless, wouldn't it). Although in Asia there were some kinds of vampires which people used to capture and then keep them in wooden cages and feed them eggs :P I haven't heard of any captured werewolves either. If you want to investigate a bit, try reading some legends and old beliefs from the Balkans; I promise you'll find it very interesting!
967907
Like Christian churches, there are different Satanic groups. Some are simply Christians who choose to worship the negative side of the religion, hence Satan.\n\nOthers are groups who follow such leaders as Anton LaVey. \n\nMost Satanists are people who urge peace and tolerance, and have a desire to fulfill their desires in a peaceful fashion.\n\nMany Christian curches would define anything other than Christianity as Satanism. Most believe that Pagans are Satanists.\n\nIf you want more information on the Church of Satan, founded by Anton LaVey, check the link below.
1152487
Christianity is a cult. All "we are right and they are wrong" religions are cults.
630236
catholics are christians
358794
Just my opinion ... At about the same time Constantine was grooming Christianity as the new state religion his mother found LOTS of things (sacred artifacts and relics) pertaining to the new faith, including but not limited to just the cross. Bluntly ... That seems very convenient to me. So ... No, I don't think so. Either history got re-written or someone played a good scam.
492034
You know I don't believe that Christianity is a myth, but I'll answer.\n\nThere is not a book, chapter and verse that specifically says exactly that.  However, people have already offered some good passages that link the two.\n\nDeath, and by implication causes of death, came into effect after the fall and plague not just us, but all of creation.  Romans 8:20-23\n\n20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. \n\nThe whole earth suffers because of sin.  Sin is not God's domain but Satan's.  Ephesians 2:1-3\n\nI do not in any way mean to imply that illness and disease are the equivalent of demon possession, though I believe that demon possession was real during the time of Christ, and that passages like Matthew 9:32-35 where physical ailments and diseases were healed when demons were cast out link Satan to disease.  \n\nAs to demon possession, I think it was allowed by God during that time in order to turn the hearts of men back to Him.  The worst that Satan can do, God can overcome.  I believe that if there is demon possession today (and I do not entirely believe that there is) it is a matter of one choosing to be possessed.  Giving oneself over.  (Which is what I believe happened to Judas in Luke 22:3)\n\nDemons apparently knew they would be limited in power per Matthew 8:29.  And I believe they were bound when Satan's power on earth became limited which would have been around the time when the Apostolic powers ceased.\n\nJesus is referred to as the great Physician, sent to heal those who were sick.  Primarily He came to deal with spiritual sickness, but He healed physical sickness as well.  So, I think that the lines are drawn thusly:  God, life, health, healing vs. Satan, death, disease, deterioration.\n\nNow, I don't know how this is practically accomplished. But just as I believe that God can work in us in non-miraculous ways, I believe that Satan can harm us in natural ways.\n\nPaul's thorn in the flesh (whatever it was) was sent by Satan (II Corinthians 12:7).\n\nConsider Matthew 12:43-45:\n\n43“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”\n\nI don't think this is referring to disease and I don't believe that demons possess people as they did in Jesus' day, but if you read that description of how demons (Satan's workers if you will) work, what is that remarkably like?\n\nYou get a bacterial infection, you take antibiotics which kill not only the bad bacteria, but the good bacteria.  If you don't replace the good bacteria you run the risk of another infection - bacterial or fungal.  It's not enough to fight the bad, you have to embrace the good.  \n\nIn a metaphorical way, doesn't disease behave the way Satan would?  Shifting, changing, destroying, completely selfish and parasitic?\n\nIsn't there an ecological balance in the rest of nature that is missing in disease?  \n\nWhy would disease hold the mysteries of life?
398824
Christianity is a religion.
85158
Not in the sense of the popular literature. There are people out there that THINK they are real vampires and can be somewhat dangerous, but they don't need blood, they need treatment.
590193
Oh please, if I hear that "Christianity is not based on fear" crap again I'll puke.  What would you call the concept of eternal damnation?\n\nIt's fairly straightforward... fear's the easiest way to control people.  Understanding empowers the individual.  We wouldn't want that now, would we?
570023
agrees wholeheartedly with gravesidian. and the same thing happened to me. christian by birth Pagan by choice. Christians, it is needless to say, utterly detest each other. They slander each other constantly with the vilest forms of abuse and cannot come to any sort of agreement in their teaching. Each sect brands its own, fills the head of its own with deceitful nonsense, and makes perfect little pigs of those it wins over to its side."
1051410
Christianity is a religion.  What you listed are denominations within "Christianity".
289341
Ironically enough, almost every culture hass their own version of Vampires. In african folklore their are vampires that are turned inside out, and stalk the night looking for peoples skins. In asia, their version of the vampire carries his guts around with him, looking for, you guessed, a place to put his guts. \n\nWestern vampires, unfortunately for vampire hunters, have a varied a mythology as the rest of the world. \n\nThe idea that vampires are obsessive compulsive is common. Carrying seeds with you or a string with many knots in it is a way to distract they vampires. they MUST count the seeds and untie the knots. \n\nI've read various accounts of killed vampires (of course they were just sickly humans, mutilated by their less-than-knowledgable companions.) and medieval peasants have come up with some of the most clever things. For example, a vampire must be buried upside down, so that when he tries to rise,  he'll just dig his way to hell. Also cutting off their heads, burning them in fresh rose petals, etc. The list goes on and on.
221756
i'm thinking no. christianity is founded on the belief that jesus died for our sins, and he was god's one and only son.
380079
No.  It is interesting to me that the same people who bash Christians and deny the authority of the entire Bible are always the first to jump on the latest theological bandwagon as long as it runs contrary to accepted beliefs.  Take for instance the Divinci Code.  Now the hot topic is the gospel of Judas.  It reminds me of the way Hollywood is quick to make movies about the powers associated with the devil and demons, but rarely makes one portraying God's side of the picture.  How many horror movies have been made about demons?  How many movies have been made about Christian faith?  Beware of the latest fad -ALWAYS!  To me the good news about the latest debate is that anyone seriously engaged in it, has already admitted some very basic truths.  Namely that Jesus existed, that he was crucified, that his follower Judas handed him over to the authorities.  Those truths have never been in question.  Any historian will tell you that the life of Jesus is THE most well documented event in history.  That in itself should tell you something.