If Christianity were true, why has there been amost 2,000 years of philosophical questioning?

Question

Why has dogma changed over time? Why did the Christian scholars consult ancient Greek writings (mostly Plato and Aristotle) to try to discover truth? and why, after all that time are there still discrepancies and different Christian cults (religions)?

PS;, I question all religions, but Y!A seems to be overrun with Christians, so the question is quite pertinient here.

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE QUESTION BEFORE ANSWERING

Answer 1

Man's basic nature is to Question
Dogma has remained the same. Do not get Dogma and clarification mixed up. (Case in point the Trinity)
I do not know what you are referencing with Plato and discrepancies.
As with the 2nd & 3rd century Christians a rally point is needed to avoid the apperance of divisions.

The problem with this site is IF you do not ask a clear question or do not give a example or reference a question can be eaisly misunderstood

Answer 2

1. Doctrine really hasn't changed over time. It has developed from simple to more complete concepts, but it has not gone from one thing to another or contradicted itself. Could you cite an example of this? Ironically, in the history of science, established systems are refuted and rejected around every 150 years. From Newtownian physics to Einsteinian, etc.

2. The first gentile Christians were Greek and use of Greek philosophy was made far sooner than Thomas Aquinas used Aristotle. The earliest Christians discussed Jesus as the Logos and related that to Helenistic philosophy.
Greek philosophy provided a way for Christians to articulate things they read in the Bible and thus develop a theological language, especially with regards to metaphysics.

3. There is only one Christianity with a core orthodoxy. There are many denominations. Most of these denominations are culturally defined, just as geography, language, and socio-economic means create communities and habits of living. This is natural. Some denominations form out of a conviction of a particular truth. This can be done without denying the legitimacy of other groups. Very few Christian denominations deny the validity of all the others (e.g. exclusivistic).

To address science again, does it bother you that there are several theories of evolution? Darwinism, Neo-Darwinism, Punctuated Equilibrium, etc.

Answer 3

There are people of doubt that always question, such as you, you are questioning. And since the church does not live in a vaccum they have to interact and live in a world with many other views. In that church people of today may look into various political teachings, and study the ideas of other faiths,
It is not as a doubt of our faith but only as educational of others.

And often it was the a religous study of greek teachings, but more often a culture or a science that the greek had to give.

But for 1500 years there were few differences in the true faith of Christian teachings, while there were a few splinter groups, these were of a minority and never large by any means. And as long as man thinks, some will come up with thier own teachings. But it has been for all those years that the faith was taught and protected. This is seen by the comparison of the Eastern Orthodox and the "western" Catholic Church, even after their split in 1100, thier teachings still remain almost the same on the main points of faith.

It was not untill the last few hundred years that man has put his personal teachings into many of the newer Chrsitian relgions spliting over parking spaces or chicken dinners often to even form new churches over the most silliest reason.

This does not mean that Christian is false, it only means that man has evil in his heart. But the Church as a whole remains solid, and this is done though faith and protection of the faith.

And faith and worship advances and changes, we see this even in the old testement where religion has advanced from Adam and eve to the large temples that were built.

Answer 4

Dogma has not changed over time.

Plato and Aristotle were seeking to understand the nature of truth. Their methods of approaching the truth are very harmonious with the truth found in Chritianity. Christ and his apostles lived in a world influenced by Greek thought, so it is necessary to understand Greek thought if you are to understand the context of the New Testament writings.

Why are there discrepancies? This would be due to reliance on personal interpretation of God's word as well as a desire to reconcile one's personal attachments that go against that dogma that hasn't changed. Personally, I realize that even if I spent every minute of every day studying the Bible, I would never have as deep a grasp of it as the Catholic Church does after all the centuries it has had to fully understand all of the intricate levels of meaning and historical contexts of Scripture. There is no need for me to reinvent the wheel. I trust the Church that Jesus gave us.

Answer 5

Dogma changes because it is created by people. As society changes, so must beliefs. Notice the bible says not to eat pork, wear woven fabrics, trim your beard (men) or braid your hair (women). Now these are so socially acceptable that religion must release them or it will lose its congragation.

As for consults, Christianity was "organized" by Constantine, who had the desire to incorporate all cultures into it (or he just had such a diverse following that it was inevitable). That is why you end up with Roman, Greek, Egyptian, etc. influences. Dec 25th was an important day in many pagan religions, "halos" resemble Egyptian Sun Dials, etc.

Basically I think the answer to your question is that whatever the truth may be, religion is designed by society and society changes its mind. Who knows, a certain set of beliefs stumbled upon by men MAY be accurate...but out of an infinate number of possibilities regarding a subject we don't yet understand, I hightly doubt anyone has a clue.

Answer 6

I agree with you in that dogma changes over time, but when the philosophers questioned truth, it often came down to a sense of right and wrong. Change the dogma, and all you have is a new sense of right and wrong. Faith begets law, and law begets governments. Lack of faith begets another kind of law -- or lawlessness, where "anything goes", and if science is correct in that we are all only carbon life forms, then life itself becomes cheap, and to me that's dangerous and heads down the wrong path. The only other answer is of course that there is a God, and from that belief comes an appreciation for life and traditional values. I choose the latter, it gives me a better, happier life.

Answer 7

Because it is the right of mankind to question anything, even the Truth. But the basic tenants of Christianity have not changed over the years. Only smaller matters that don't really matter do.

Answer 8

Because few people, apparently, can agree on what truth is. For example, Osama Bin Laden believes HE knows the truth, and so do his followers. Hmmm...

I think the premise of your question may be wrong. One's acceptance of a particular faith is in no way any indicator that the faith in question is actually true. Quite the opposite, truth merely IS. It's our job to accept it, or do ourselves a disservice.

Answer 9

Because everyone wants to know where and how it started and who formed it and in result when they aren't giving there answer they wanted they don't believe anymore and that where most problems come from is the non believers. here is thought how do you know that what you think about religion is true and who to say that religion is right eight er? but for the ones who have witness GOD themselves.

Answer 10

Because, apparently Europe has yet to produce a single scholar capable of understanding GOD or his Bible. The failing is not with GOD, but with those scholars.

Adder_Astros
Powerful Member of the House of Light.
[]xxxxx[];;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;>.
adderastros.com is temporarily down for renovation.