Why is it that Christians refuse to learn the history involved in and surrounding their religion?

Question

There is a wealth of information about how many things in both the Old and New Testamnets came to be there. Many of the stories in the Bible are retelling of older myths. There are many books relating to Jesus not included in the Bible that are very different than the ones that were included. It seems like nearly every Christian I have ever met thinks that their version of the Bible is a word for word translation, when it is painfully obvious that many versions of the bible vary greatly from each other. That being said why don't Christians try to find the most accurate translations? Most Christians don't know what sect of Jewdaism Jesus' family practiced? or What month Jesus was born in? (It wasn't December, that is clear from the shepards tending flocks in the fields they wouldn't be doing that in December) Also Christians will pick out what Rules in the Bible to follow, and to ignore. They also will take a single line, out of context to support a bigoted belief, why is that?

Answer 1

You will never hear the history of Christ-insanity preached from the pulpits. Their religion is based on a history of violence, hatred, greed, intolerance, and war. It was Christians persecuting non-Christians, not the other way around, during the infamous Inquisitions and witch trials. The Crusades, with their awful death tolls, were the result of Christians waging war against the infidels. Slavery thrived in America largely because of Christian slave owners who supported it, justifying it with the Bible (which NOWHERE states that slavery is wrong). Christianity is an abomination, a crime against humanity, and their history proves it. They do not bring peace, but a sword, wherever they go and whatever time they live in.

Christians will never hear their pastors preach about how their Bible came to be. THey will never learn of the great multitude of gospels, letters, and other writings that circulated in the early centuries, each one with its own devout believers. They will never learn that Christianity is based on Gnostic and pagan, not Jewish, ideas of God and salvation. They will never learn that the New Testament is compiled from more than 5000 scraps of manuscripts, most of them incomplete, all of them contradictory, the smallest ones being no bigger than a postage stamp and containing only a few letters or words. Many of them think the KJV is the best and most accurate, but they will never be taught that modern scholars have access to far more resources than the KJV writers ever did. They will not learn that the 1611 KJV originally contained the Apocrypha, or that there were several different versions printed within a few years. No, they will not hear of these things, even though their pastors are well aware of them because they learned them in seminary. It is much better for the church if the pew-warmers are kept stupid and submissive--why do you think Jesus called his followers "sheep," "slaves," and "servants"? Sheep are dumb, slaves and servants are not to ask questions, only follow orders. I doubt that even one Christian who reads this will bother to go to Google.com and verify anything I have said...they have been taught that it is better not to know.

Answer 2

I think a lot of Christians do what they are told. They are told to have "faith" and that questioning anything is a deviation from "faith." Most Christians that I know don't know much about other religions. Even those that are also Christian but aren't of the same sect.

I'm from the Bible Belt and most of the people here think that the King James version is the only Bible. And the King James version was a revised version of the Bible, changed specifically to mold to certain ideas. James himself has been said to have been a homosexual.

A lot of Christians do pick and choose what they want to believe. Although homosexuality is considered wrong, they have no problem with male-female fornication, which is also listed as a sin.

I think a lot of Christians are afraid to research their beliefs further because it will cause them to come face-to-face with some of these inaccuracies, the ones you pointed out and countless others. I have read the Bible several times (different versions as well) and there are definitely some good principles in it, but there are some things that don't make sense as well.

It's crazy not to question your own beliefs and research them. If what you believe holds true when looked at under the proverbial microscope, then you've only made your faith that much stronger. You should never believe anything someone tells you without question. And although I know it's not true of all Christians, it's certainly true of a lot of them. Some people are afraid that if they research, they will change their minds. A lot of them choose to be in the dark.

Answer 3

I am a Christian myself, and fairly young. Finding accurate translations and Jesus' history is hard. It was people that corrupted the Church, and only people, with God's help, can change that. But what you propose is to hard without definitive proof. It's almost like looking at religion as politics, but it's not. In politics everything is based off of facts. In religion, it is faith. I have faith that the version of the Bible I read is true.That's what religion is all about. As far as Jesus' birth month, that really isn't important in Christians' beliefs. I already knew that, it was supposedly in April, right? The Bible says the most important thing is that Christ died to save us from sin, death, and the devil. As far as picking out certain verses for selfish uses, that is horrible. Those people sometimes turn out to be hypocrites, and other times they just make mistakes. The only way I can ever fight those people back is by taking real quotes from the Bible to support the correct teaching. I hope that is not the way people look at all Christians, and I apologize and hope you'll give the religion another chance if you were ever insulted by a Christian. I hope that answers all of your questions.

Answer 4

As a Christian, I have to admit that I discoverd that most Christians are too lazy to research their own religion.

Having said that, I will also note that I looked into the so-challed charge that Bible stories are nothing more that the "re-telling of old myths", as you say. If I put someone on the spot, and ask him to match a specific Bible story with a specific myth, I notice that no one can really do it (The few people who have tried, like trying to match the Oris story to the Jesus ressurrection story, seem to be streaching it big time -- since the myth cited usually bears only a superficial resemblance to the Bibical story that is supposed to be a copy.).

I noticed that many opponents of Christianity don't really know as much about the history of Christianity as they claim to, either. They just make stuff up, or sort of recall some unsupported & unprovable assertion that they made have read once in a book years ago (see your assertions, above), and call it a fact. With all due respect, mental laziness is not confined to religious people.

Answer 5

Christians SHOULD learn about the history surrounding The Bible, especially since recorded history corroborates many of the accounts in The Bible (including the life of Jesus Christ and the miracles He performed).

Having said that, however, there are many books out there that claim to support Christianity and The Bible, but on closer examination are found to be in direct conflict with The Bible. The Book of Mormon is one example I can think of right off the top of my head. That's why many churches have resorted to the stance that The Bible is the one and only inspired Word of God. Is this position correct? Don't know...

Also, anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ can't be a true follower or believer if he or she editorializes The Bible. Jesus didn't pick and choose which of His Father's rules He was going to obey -- He obeyed them all. Christians must follow His example. Sure, we are going to screw up, but the Apostle Paul makes it very clear in his letter to the Romans (Chapter 6, I think) that our imperfections are not an excuse to continue to sin. We are directed to do the best we can and ask for forgiveness when we mess up.

P.S.: Are you SURE the shepherds wouldn't be tending the flocks in December? I've never been to Israel, but I understand the temperature is fairly constant year-round, so...

Answer 6

I make it a point to learn the history surrounding the time-line of the Bible. Just because I don't believe that the writers of the Bible plagiarized "existing myths/religion", doesn't mean I have not read the same things you have. I just do not accept your conclusions.

Case in point, you mention the Gnostic codex. They were written well after the rest of the books of the Bible were written to justify a belief that they had that did not correspond to the other letters and gospels. The Bible was written by either people who personally witnessed Christ's life or their close associates within the 1st century A.D. (within one their lifespan). I choose the more accurate one.

That is just one reason. There are so many more that just can't fit in this forum.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/bible.asp
http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/archaeology.asp

Answer 7

Most of the time, I think the people that point out that certain things should be "looked into" are atheists.

And Christians have been indoctrinated with the belief that anything an atheist says is a lie, or is meant to steer them from their faith, etc. So therefore, to even consider that an atheist may have a worthy idea, is wrong.

Muslims think the same way. They value the word of the "infidel" about as much as they do the word of a pig. (And they're not big fans of pigs, either...)

Answer 8

Because Christians are humans just like everyone else with foibles and misconceptions just like everyone else. Christians also believe God will inspire each person to find their own guidance in the reading of his word. Many do pick and choose which rules are important just as any religion has factions that pick and choose their rules. As for what month Jesus was born or what sect of Judaism his family practiced, why would that be important in believing he died for mans sins? If Christians bother you so much don't associate with them. Chill dude.

Answer 9

The answer lies with their pastors, their parents, their teachers, and with themselves. Most people who say they are Christians arent.
A Christian is a person that is doing the Will of God. If you don't know the Will of God, and do it, you are not a Christian.
God is so good to us His children. He loves us. He has given us a personal letter in the form of Scriptures to show us what He wants from each of us.
Most Christians are lazy. They don't read the Bible but let others tell them want they want to tell them.
They think that Sunday is there rest day, but neglect to read that Jesus Christ became their rest ( Sabbath)
I can keep going but I afraid they out there will get to tired and stop reading.
Hope I've help you though. ><>

Answer 10

Most people believe what they were raised to believe. They have believed these things their whole lives. When someone or something comes along and says that their Bible is incorrect or these birth and death dates are wrong, they see these as attacks on their belief. It all comes down to christians defending their beliefs. I would have to say that it does not matter which version of the bible you are using, as long as you live your life for God, using the Bible as a reference, and not trying to live it word for word, which would be impossible.

Answer 11

I agree that many (even perchance maximum) do not understand the heritage in the back of Christianity, yet why might want to the small quantity of undesirable heritage smash the full quantity of excellent heritage. i'm responsive to the poor atrocities that were committed interior the call of God, yet I an also responsive to the poor atrocities that were committed interior the call of greed and skill. in simple terms because Hitler used ignorant people, interior the call of God, does not propose that God did it. seem on the heritage of united statesa. and the terrible issues we've finished over the years. Now does that propose that united statesa. is a pretend united states or that humanity will use any element it would want to to finish fill its greed.