Should religion change with times?

Question

Yesterday this Yahoo Answers user asked this question. and these are her details:

"A few years ago i traveled to Scotland and met bishop Richard Holloway who told me that if religions don't change to suit changing times that religion is dead."

Now I want to ask you if you agree or not? Many people think that Islam is a backward religion and it has not changed its 14th century thinking....

Yet we believe in a religion because we think those are the laws and rules God sent to us and we have to obey them. It does not matter which religion your from its the same thinking all over except Atheist of course.
Now God has not changed those rules and laws since there has not been a prophet for Jews after David (pbuh), no Prophet or father for Christians after Jesus (pbuh) and no prophet for Muslims after Mohamed (pbuh)....
So If God has not changed those rules who gives us the right to change them?

For example ( no offense) it says in bible not to eat pig because they are dirty!

Yet in todays world many people say oh well it applied to them but it does not apply to me.....or this time....
Does Bible say that it will apply till 1780 then not afterwards? NO!
Same thing with many other religions.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

(insert creative nam…: Sorry I am already a member.. I got 8 people to join then it became too much of a hassle lol

Answer 1

If the religion is right, it should be valid all the time.

If it is true, not time, nor place should change it.



Peace.

Answer 2

Anything that is static stagnates, so everything must change or die.
As for religions, all religions have some flexibility and some rigidity. Take Islam; When it says, there's no god but God, this part can't be changed. It's an absolute truth, according to Islam. On the other hand, it says break your fast in the evening with maghrib prayer when the sun sets. There are places where even at night the sun doesn't set (poles). Now this is the part which can be changed. Islam has flexibilty to this extent by means of Ijtehad.
Islamic beliefs, unfortunately, are no more the same as they were during the time of the Prophet. The theory of Naskh has totally destroyed whatever was left with the Muslims. Now you can't even ask a legitimate question as mullahs have no problems declaring people apostate and therefore liable to be killed. Islam has changed but in much parts, for worse.

Answer 3

depends! And that is what is islam is all about, not a backward culture, because our dress codes mostly has not changed? But islam also allow modernization as long as it does not contradict the religion.That statement by the bishop is unfounded. Does that mean that bikini outfit is in, and their young shapely nuns wear them always to attract people for the church?
Is it wrong that the prophet taught that we should only use at the maximum, a litre of water for wudu because they were in the desert and water is scarce and we can now use water unlimited because there is abundance?
Without the encouragement by islamic authorities back in history, computers would not be possibly been invented.How, the numerals we use facilitate it all,the 1,2,3....versus their roman numerals I,II,III?
Discussing about this " modern" period,has it done good for this world or it accelerate the destruction of this earth. This global warming issue, the return of ice age, the drastic climate change, the pollution, nuclear holocoast abnormal birth is now rampant. Islam is not a backward religion, it is a moderate religion.
about the pig, i read a book by an anthropologist stating that pig is not the only animal that can give humans disease, but others too.That the best reason it was shunned in the middle east because it was not adapted to desert region, that they compete with humans in the food sources, in short ecologically not feasible.However, i saw from another article by "discovery channel" that state the flu that killed millions more than all the wars combined was from the strain of PIG.The consumption of pig also oxidized our system subjecting our immune system to deteriorate more easily. Professional athletes are not allowed to eat it as they tire easily.

Answer 4

absolutley. as equality becomes more prominent, technology advances, and other aspects change, religions should be modified. for example, the point of being kosher back then was because certain unkosher animals could contain desieses and the proper way to prepare them was not known yet. now we have cleansing methods and ways, but some still stay kosher. main concepts and values should remain the same, and i am not saying at all that people should stop being kosher. if they feel the need to do it and like it, it is no harm to anybody, especially some animals, and therefore there is no reaosn to get rid of it. however, lots of things about divorce, marrige, etc shoudl and have been changed. this is a society that lets people grow and gives equality to both sexes. i think its important that we keep in touch with our relgion, but if we are following practices or ideas only relevant 200 years ago, it may be time to reword some aspects.

Answer 5

Religion changes also with times. However, these changes are so minimal that some of them are not noticeable. Yet most people think that there are no changes in their religion. What they are actually thinking is that there is no change in what they believe to.

Religion also compasses the clergy and the priests, doesn't it? Take Roman Catholicism as an example. Isn't it that Pope Benedict XVI substituted Pope John Paul II? That is a change in religion, but not in faith.

Answer 6

Some on the liberal end of the religious spectrum believe that religion should change with the times. There are others Who believe that while worship styles and such can change but our beliefs can not because God does not change. I presume from some of your phrasing that you are Muslim Could you explain the meaning of pbuh? When I see it it looks like you are being insulting and I amsure you aren't but it appears that way when typed. I mean no offense I just would like it explained.

Answer 7

God sent Messengers to the people to teach them how to live and how to be successful in this life and the Hereafter.

All Messengers came with the same belief. But different Messengers were revealed to with different rules for the changing times.

Prophet MuHammad is the last Messenger and the rules revealed to Him are relevant for the rest of time on this earth.

God is the One Who Knows best.

Answer 8

Religions always change with the times. But...God does not. Religions are made by man and the Bible is interpreted by man. A person must have a personal relationship with God. He will lead you to what you need to do to follow Him. It may or may not be by practicing a particular religion. Seek him first, and the rest will come.

Answer 9

a very good question..The old testament says allot of things though that all three major religions ignore. If you really read the old testament it's a sin to take a dump. It's all in the way we interupt the book.

Answer 10

No offense, but I'm frankly amazed that this question is even being asked. Religions have always adjusted themselves to the cultural environment they wish to influence. Religions are about power rather than spirituality.

Answer 11

I would depart from such denominational religon of Chrsitianity..and learn of them, who has prophets among them. you have much to learn. www.cfaith.com is an ISP christian site. that bishop is very wrong..about changing with the time..it actually has change with time..as noted aobut gay leaders willful sinners being preachers of anointed words of GOD..(anointed words is livng words) there are lots of prophets and apostles among you. as JESUS was saying about john the baptist.is the spirit of ELIJAH..that the jews MISS..and waited for that spirit of a man..yet..a prophet..can't BOAST OF SELf as a prophet..yet KNOW they are one..(still learning why of that, self protection i think.spiritually that is) if you notice evolution of christianity..you'll see..what church/denomination has spiritual power and faith is ALIVE.vs faith is dead..and love is dead..in traditional churches..faith is POWER to move mountain..cast out demons..curse cancer and tell it to leave..this is what your looking for..where the anointing of GOD>.is....is where you want/need to be. we're not saved by doctrine..we're saved by FAITH..in His GRACE.and GRACE..empower us..to be conquer and overcomer..of evil spirits roaming the earth..CHRIST.is a spirit man.and we IN HIM..by confessing that..we inherited that righteousness to rule with Christ..here on earth..(romans 5:17+, Isaiah54:14.17, 2cor.5:17) righteousness.is where power lay.
seek kingdom of gOD & HIS righteousnes.not ours.THEN..all these other things.will be added to YOU..life and abundant life. religion has stray FAR FAR AWAY from GOD..till 1904=6 pentecost came..SEEK THAT..you'll find riches of His glory. catch tbn, 700club, daystar, church channel.word channel.you'll see power of GOD..there.by faith.