Do our spiritual beliefs also evolve?

Answer 1

Mine do. I don't change from my belief in God, but you could say there is a "micro-evolution" within my faith! lol

Answer 2

Yes, of course! They evolve for individuals over their lifetime, and they evolve for specific churches, over centuries of experience.

I think that it's inevitable that religious beliefs evolve as politics evolve, and as scientific discovery evolves, etc. (And I don't mean these things cancel out any beliefs, they just change them.)

For example, what the Christian church believed in the middle ages, in a time when it was deeply involved in government and politics, and when much of Europe was reeling from centuries of Muslim conquest, and the Crusades were launched, - is necessarily very different from what it believes in today's world.

Some Christians will tell you it never changed; that's nonsense. In fact it last changed in 1968 (69?) with the Second Vatican Council, in which it was decided that many things would change. This came after many other such 'councils' and 'synods' through the centuries. Each time, the church adjusted to changing ways of thinking and the changing world around it.

I think that some religions resist evolution more than others. It seems that Islam for example has trouble evolving. Many ex-Muslims say that this is because Islam doesn't allow its follower to question. When people can't question, nothing gets challenged, and so there is no change. . . .

While some Christian groups discourage questions and exchange of ideas, those are the least healthy, in my opinion. The best of them encourage study, questions and debate. There are plenty of those too, and as long as there is the Church will continue to evolve.

Hopefully, the evolution over the benefit of centuries brings us all closer to wisdom and real truth.

Answer 3

Oh, definately. They evolve on a personal and a societal level. when we are young, we have one set of beliefs, normally, as we mature and gain wisdom, we start to evolve a more encompassing set of beliefs, sometimes we change what we believe in altogether. We have done the same as a race and society (although the benefits are somewhat less clear). We started out matriarchal and believed in a Mother Goddess...then we created patriarchal male hunter-god, then we began to believe in one god, and then his son...while there were some benefits to all this, it is a known anthropological fact that the matriarchal led tribes were less warlike and more equal in their treatment of men and women.

Answer 4

if you let them. our ideas, laws, and social constructs, and our spirituality- are meant to grow and evolve along with us.

there is nothing you can do to stop the evolution process, however you can slow it down quite a bit. the confindes of a strict religion does that. they often throw out new ideas and experiences because it doesn't go by the book (insert your fav holy book here) mainly because the people in power don't want you to find out how truly powerful you really are. they want to keep their obedient flock, to be used at their will, for things like electing a president, supporting a war, etc....

spiritual beliefs are r-evolutionary if you allow yourself the freedom to open your mind, open your heart, and fear nothing.

~no fool here

Answer 5

They do, but they shouldn't.
Our beliefs were presented whole and complete.
We have indeed skewered them.
However, the teacher teaches and the student should simply listen and learn.

Answer 6

Yes. As we grow and mature, our beliefs can deepen as we learn and fine-tune what we believe in.

Answer 7

No, only our understanding of spiritual matters.

Answer 8

Yes.

Answer 9

Yes peoples delusions change.

However unless they discard delusions and embrace reality they are not waking up just shifting fantasies!

Answer 10

I think they have to because we evolve so why not our beleifs.