Not something I've ever pondered but, I'll bite-eth. Whatever would-eth I do?

Well... Wouldn't you want to divide and conquer?

The number 1 religion world-wide, in terms of membership, is Islam. They are much more devoted than Christians and many who claim to be Christians don't attend church. You could say that many who claim to be Christians do attend church, as well. And btw, Christianity includes Catholicism which makes up the majority of its members.

Where is the best place to wage war against your enemy, from the outside or the inside?

lolol doesn't take much for us to lose patience drift off topic does it?

And actually Christianity has nothing to do with going to church though.
It is all about a relationship.

you can also have a relationship without going to church as well.

exactly...a large majority in some churchs are only there to be seen anyway

hmmm. i'm a major league ballplayer making more money than me and my wife and kids, and their kids, and their kids could possibly spend in their lifetimes. i have the option to make even more money where i enjoy living, play for a contender, and the community loves me. OR, i could go somewhere else, with unlimited unknowns, and make (enter your number here) more than my current club has offered me.

gee, what should i do?

These are the numbers I found in my search. I have no idea if they are accurate, or if it even matters.

World population 6.8 billion

Christianity 2 billion - 2.2 billion
Buddhism 1.9 billion
Islam 1.57 billion
Hinduism 900 million - 1 billion
Irreligion 300 - 500 million

Total 4.65 billion - 6.8 billion

Where is the beast place to wage war? I think if we're talking about God and Satan then there is no outside to consider. I might be wrong.

agreed.

How dare you sneak a baseball post into the middle of a religious discussion. What do you think this is, a baseball forum????

well, i did give a religion question response prior to. does that count? lol.

There is no better religion than Baseball.

If there was then a strongly Christian Basketball player who would play for the Nets, they would have Manhattan surounded.

<And actually Christianity has nothing to do with going to church though.
It is all about a relationship.>

Really? Could you explain to me, then, my friend, why Jesus came to start a Church, not to start "Christianity"? Matthew 16:18?

Or why Jesus gave his Church (not the Bible) the authority to resolve disputes? Matthew 18:15-18?

Or why the Bible tells us that the Church (not the Bible) is the pillar and foundation of truth? 1 Tim 3:15.

Is Buddhism, technically, a religion? Or is it a belief system of some kind? (Real questions, not a joke.)

Whoop,

Look what you're referencing in each of these statements: a verse from the Bible.

I would disagree with Dor somewhat - Christianity does not "have nothing to do with going to Church," but at the same time, God's Word is the Truth, for the Word cannot change. *People* of a church are sinners by nature, and while they (most of them) strive to lead a better life, they will always fall short.

What I'm getting at can best be said by looking at the 2nd thing you said; Matthew 18:15 tells of how a person's continual sin should be handled, first by a single person, then by a small group, then by the church, etc. But, how can one person (or many) claim a person has sinned? Humans are all sinners, and there are none who are righteous. The Bible is the standard of Truth by which the Church acts.

I wish I was more knowledgeable about the Bible, or even had a better way of explaining what I'm getting at, but hopefully that made sense.

<<<Really? Could you explain to me, then, my friend, why Jesus came to start a Church, not to start "Christianity"? Matthew 16:18?

Or why Jesus gave his Church (not the Bible) the authority to resolve disputes? Matthew 18:15-18?

Or why the Bible tells us that the Church (not the Bible) is the pillar and foundation of truth? 1 Tim 3:15.>>>

These scriptures referencing the "Church", are talking about the body of believers, and I do agree that in the strongest sense of the word, the church is those that worship the Savior.

What I think Dor was referring to was the physical structure, i.e. the building where the worshipers gather. In that, he is correct. Believers do not have to go to the church (building) to have that relationship.

He was not talking about one specific building in Matthew he was talking about Christianity and read the whole chapter.

There is a difference between a church...the actual building that someone goes to and "the Church" or the body of Christ.

Not all who attend a church are part of "the Church".

Actually just go look at what the word church meant in Greek back then to start with. Here I will help start you Greek word ekklesia which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.”

Go check Ephesians 1 about what the church is.

I will stand by what I said ... a lot of the actual buildings we call a church have little to do with Christianity.

The Church itself as in all the followers of Christ of course they are a very important part of it.

No one has to attend a church to find him though...he tells us anywhere 2 or more gather in his name he is present.