Christianity: For entertainment purposes only?

The easiest way around the problem would be for the church not to charge for it's services. Then the people going to the church wouldn't be customers anymore.

Brian writes:I am seriously considering reporting the next Christian preacher who stops me in the street and rattles a collection tin under my nose, then goes on about Jesus. I will play along, get their contact details, then report them to the police for breaking the law. Then we will see how the courts deal with it.

Brian writes:So it could indeed be YOU that's out of touch with reality? perhaps it doesn't happen on your streets, perhaps it does, but your TV evangelists sure are raking in tens of millions of dollars from the gullible American public. Now THAT deosn't happen in Scotland.

Grizz writes:I recently read an article by NT Wright were here offered up a rebuttal to Liberal Christian theologians who deny the resurrection. One quote struck me as odd: "If the resurrection is not true then all is for naught. What is the point of being a Christian if not for the resurrection?"In other words, why would you want to be a Christian and follow the moral commandments if not for the truth of a redemptive act which ensured eternal life for Christians?So, If the resurrection were not true, would you still think it worthwhile to "reach out to others in gestures of Love and kindness," or do you need instructions and the presence of an implicit reward or punishment to do such things?Let's say Jesus were to tell you that the gates of Heaven have been closed and nobody else gets in; your death represents the expiration of your existence. You are free to do as you wish without fear of reward or punishment. Out of your love for God you are asked to continue to follow the moral law and commandments, not because of a reward or punishment but because of your respect for God who gave you life. Of course, as a Christian I understand your response will be "this is impossible"; still, as a hypothetical, what would your answer be and how would your view the "moral law" as presented in scriptures?Are gestures of love and kindness to be done for their own sake or because we are told do these things? Which approach to morality is more shallow and which is more "righteous?" Which do you think a God would be more pleased by?