What do christians mean when they say christianity has "evolved"?

Question

I point out christians of the past used biblical scripture to burn witches, kill heretics, convert jews under threat of death, own slaves, wage holy wars, kill jews, and oppose women's rights, interracial marriage, birth control pills, and invitro fertilization.

How can christianity evolve if the word of God is supposedly eternal?

If you say christians of the past interpreted scriptures incorrectly, how can you be so sure you are interpreting them correctly today?

Answer 1

The word of God isn't the issue. It's the interpretation of His word and the evil in men's hearts that is the issue.

Answer 2

Some Christians are more reasonable, and understand that language and customs and culture change with the times.

They also understand that some things which were prohibited (or acts committed) by religion in the past are not possible under the modern laws. So, they accept the laws of the country they live in, then make a choice whether to follow only the laws, or add their own restrictions based on their religious beliefs.

Just because the word of God may be eternal, doesn't mean that it always applies the same in every situation. And just because they might want to do some of those things, that doesn't mean they are going to ignore the standing laws to do them.

Some do -- and you can find proof of that every time a clinic is bombed in the name of religion, or people protest the equal rights other religions. But the majority of Christianity is reasonable, and understands that this is not a theocracy and they cannot just do what their religion demands when those actions are otherwise illegal.

Answer 3

"How can Christianity evolve if the word of God is supposedly eternal?"

You've answered your own question. "Christianity" is made up of people, who are flawed. Just because Christians make mistakes doesn't mean that the word of God is flawed. As long as humans are involved in anything there will be imperfection.

It is also useful to point out that none of the things you mentioned were perpetrated based on scripture. Witches were burned because of superstitious beliefs (none of which were derived from scripture). "Heretics" were killed because of the political interests of a self-appointed popes, not for any scriptural reasons. Jews were converted under threat of death by warriors, who were under the command of the pope.

All of this was made possible by the Roman Catholic church, which forbade translations of the Bible in any language but Latin, so only the most learned people could even read the Bible.

So what you really have is a manipulation of the population of Europe by political leaders. It's impossible to blame the Bible for all of these things since a vast majority of people (even most knights) couldn't read it.

But to more pointedly answer your question, when Christians say that Christianity has evolved they mean that our understanding of scripture has changed over the years. The Bible has always been there (at least, when the Catholic church wasn't burning it) waiting for us to completely understand it. I don't believe that we fully understand it yet.

Answer 4

I would presume the usual meaning of the word: Changed slowy and incrementally over a long period of time.

Christianity can 'evolve' even if you accept some of it's writings as the word of god, and the word of god as perfect and eternal - because that Word must still be understood and interpreted by fallible mortals.

You can't be certain that modern interpretations are right, nor that older ones were wrong. Good thing Humility is one of the Christian virtues.

Answer 5

Interesting that you do not include in your treatise that "Christians of the past used biblical scripture to" throw off communism, treat the sick, house and clothe the poor, free slaves, negotiate peaceful solutions, protect Jews, empower women (and men...by the way), enable the sacrament of marriage, and protect the unborn from those who would discard them as irrelevant.

Why do you suggest that Christianity needs to "evolve"? How would you "evolve" the concept of loving your god, and your neighbor as yourself?

Maybe...just maybe...people are the issue.

How can *YOU* say anything about Christians of the past, other than to acknowledge that All Have Sinned and Fall Short of the Glory of God?

The only point I can derive from your question is one that I have mentioned before...you hate Christians.

Answer 6

1: That isn't what people mean when they say Christianity has evolved (if that is what they meant, they are using the phrase incorrectly).

2: The words of the Bible have been used improperly throughout history. If you ignore the context of the scripture, you can make it say nearly anything (this is true of any statement or written work).

3: Throughout most of the periods you describe, the only people who had access to the Bible where Catholic priests. Catholics are well-known for (1) not reading the Bible at all, (2) adding things that suit their needs, and (3) lying to the public about scripture's true meanings.

4: Many people today don't interpret scripture correctly (that's why we have so many atheists).

5: The Bible is very clear on how you are to read it (yes it gives instructions on how to interpret itself). If these instructions are followed, meanings and interpretations are obvious - provided you aren't TRYING to screw it up.

Answer 7

Like you said, the Word of God is eternal and unchanging. Its the people that are imperfect and sinful, all of them.
There won't be any Christians in hell. god forgives his children. There will be a lot of christians (those that pretend to be) in hell, along with most everybody else.
God doesn't need anything from anybody. He made and owns everything in the universe. Its an act of worship to give back some of what God has given you.

Answer 8

Like any great document to be used by people for centuries and possibly eons the Bible is written in a very general manner. That leaves interpretation to those of all centuries. As times change and more science is discovering things and as technology advances the need to interpret great documents changes. A document, if rigid, would only be relevant in the time written and soon would be obsolete. A document which is very general is open for interpretation today and tomorrow and beyond.

Answer 9

usa hasn't been "stimulated and guided" via Christian techniques, as you place it. usa has been "stimulated and guided" via the techniques that "all men have been created equivalent", and that everyone has the best to "existence, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". the place slavery suits into all that, i do no longer understand. I wasn't there. you have have been given to endure in techniques, nevertheless, like Joseph from the Bible, many slaves that have been transported to the Colonies from Africa, have been bought into slavery via their own households. No, that doesn't make it top on everyone's section, yet even nevertheless the white men could shoulder the almost all the blame, somebody bought them into slavery, and that they could could own component to it.

Answer 10

Christianity has evolved by way of the creation of new religions, but the original teachings via Catholicism have not changed. The bible has not had any ammendments added since shortly after Christ was crucified, and the Catholics added those. Certain people did not like rules, so they created religions with less rules. I would call it "digressed", not evolved.