Why has Christianity evolved so much since the first century?

Question

How do the denominations compete amongst one another for survival through natural selection? Have any Christian denominations gone extinct? Why?

remember, evolution doesn't mean "improve", it just means "change over time".

Answer 1

Things change through time, people have new ideas and incorporate them into what is already there.

Christianity like any religion is a commodity.

Denominations and sects die out when not enough people believe in buying that commodity.

Its pulled off the market and new ones come in when the next charismatic founder's beliefs or ideas attract a new market.

Answer 2

It's just crumbled into an incoherent mass... evidence that it isn't based on anything real.

A whole host of Christan sects have gone 'extinct' over history. I would consider the Branch Davidian one. You may say it's a cult but aren't all religions to an extent? Not to mention the beliefs that were squashed by the Pauline church.

Answer 3

Evolution

Answer 4

you mean apostatized?
Jesus said the night was coming, and that no work would be done during the night. The night was the obliteration of the truth he taught and the oversowing with pagan beliefs and practices. He also said that at the time of the end the light would return, and it has returned. It is represented by Christians who reject and turn away from the pagan practices and embrace the truth as it is spelled out by the Bible alone!

Answer 5

All religions evolve and change is good. For instance, the music you listen to today is not the music your grandparents loved. Not in all cases but in most. I once heard a story of a fisherman who wasn't catching any fish. When he saw another man catch fish he asked him what he was doing. The guy told him he had this new lure. Well the other man was indignant and said he would never give up his traditional way of catching fish. When he finally realized he wasn't going to catch any fish he finally said to himself, the fish just aren't biting today and he went home.

Answer 6

Christianity has evolved as civilization has evolved. Human culture is now a knowledge based society rather than muscle powered.

Religion has had to change as the culture around it changed.

This is true for all religions, not just Christianity.

Answer 7

Great question.

2 Pet 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

Perhaps this will shed some light on the question.

Answer 8

Since you are speaking of the "evolution" of Christianity, I will take that in the positive.

Jesus said, "Of the increase of my kingdom, there shall be no end...The kingdom of heaven is within you."

The name of God is YHWH which is bein interpreted as "I may become, what I may become."

Answer 9

Because of sinful man.
Look what happened between the time man was created until the point when Christ came.

What had man done up until that point.
How far had man come from God?

Answer 10

like any religion, whether people wil admit to it or not, it is necessary for them to adapt to cultural surroundings in order to the religion to survive. if they dont adapt, they loose followers and would-be convertees. they also must adapt with humanity, like with scientific discoveries. so with that in mind, no religion is absolutely "pure". and by that i mean in the sense that it is still the same now as it was when it started.