Why do Christians constantly attempt to create religious doctrine and dogma?

Question

Since at least the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea) Christians have been attempting to standardize beliefs and impress these pigeon-holed concepts on other believers while at the same time assimilating pagan beliefs of native converts. The result has been a multitude of different versions of Christianity from Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe, to the Roman Catholic Church, to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Africa, to Evangelical Christianity in North America. When will Christians recognize that there is no standardization of religion and it is hypocritical to claim that one's beliefs are the "correct" beliefs for whatever reasons? Why don't more Christians practice the tolerance, prudence, and pacifism of Jesus Christ, whom they love so dear, or is it just that the christian voices that are heard are the most radical?

Answer 1

The Devil invents heresies and apostasies and many people fall to them for whatever purposes - the followers of Martin Luther destoryed Catholic altars and churches which pained Luther grealtly because he was not teaching violence.

Tolerance is an abused and overused word. Jesus did not tolerate anyone - he ministered to the lost sheep.

Answer 2

Christianity...[has become] the most perverted system that ever shone on man....Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and imposters led by Paul, the first great corrupter of the teaching of Jesus." --- Thomas Jefferson

“The son-ship of Jesus Christ is the greatest fiction of human history.” (Lord Bishop of Canterbury Commission, the Spiritual Head of England, 1910.)

“The son-ship of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, the blood sacrifice of the lamb of God, atonement are not the teachings of Jesus. These are all inventions of Saint Paul who never really met Jesus.” (Hastings Rashdall, The Theory of Good and Evil)

"Initially there were 34 gospels that were compiled by word of mouth. Four were chosen for unclear reasons and 30 were left behind [burned]. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

“There is strong reason to believe that St. Paul fabricated the belief system of Christianity from Zoroastrian mythology. In order to hide Paul’s plaigerism… Christians burned the library of Alexandria in 390 A.D. Books in that library kept Mithra’s original story of what Pauline Doctrine is an almost exact copy. (George Sarton , Introduction to History of Sciences) ,

Although Nontrinitarian beliefs continued to multiply, and among some people (such as the Lombards in the West) it was dominant for hundreds of years afterward, the Trinitarians gained the immense power of the Roman Empire. Nontrinitarians typically argue that the primitive beliefs of the Christianity were systematically suppressed (often to the point of death), and that the historical record, perhaps also including the Scriptures of the New Testament, was altered as a consequence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nontrinitarianism

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Answer 3

I think it's the last sentence that nails it. There's no denying that there are many, many different Christian approaches to the same goal. Most of my life, I considered myself Catholic. I still would call myself that before anything else because if I did want to pursue a faith life, their beliefs are the most in line with mine. I think you'd find that a lot of religious people realize there's no standardization of religion.
That's why there's so much less attempt to convert everyone to one religion lately. Most people realize every religion's got something wrong, but most have a lot right. Ttheirs works out best for them. It might not work for everyone, but as none of us have any real proof, who are we to force our learned ways on other people?
I can't speak for all Christians, or even all Catholics. But most people of both groups I know are highly tolerant and usually interested in religions and perspectives beyond their own. The reason you don't hear about these people is because the way they've chosen to live their faith works for them and is the best approximation of the way they think God wants them to live. You don't hear from the tolerant and prudent Christians you mentioned because... they are tolerant and prudent. They don't feel the need to shove anything down your throat. They're doing their best and like it like that. They'll leave you alone to do your best. Like every group though, there are people who are rude, judgmental, cruel, and all around embarassing. I ask you to not judge all Christians based on the ignorance of a few.

Answer 4

The longer time continues the more complicated questions are asked. The New Testament isn't a book with questions and answers to every theological question you can ask. Plus people come along and say they have a new truth or the real version of a religion and causes more problems.

Answer 5

Christians are those who believe that Christ is our Savior. Christians did not make up doctrine and dogma, Jesus did while he was still with us on earth. If one thinks, for example, that Jesus stuttered when he said that this *is* my body and blood or when he said that we must drink his blood and eat his body....well, point out where he said "sort of". That was instituted by Christ himself. If one is not Catholic or is a Catholic who has not done his homework, then read the writings of the Early Fathers. The Apostles' liturgy, as in the Bible, clear as a bell, is what we still celebrate today in our Catholic liturgy. Why have factions fallen away? Simply because they picked and chose what to believe in. And now that there are over 30,000 denominations, which one would YOU believe....any of those who chose to make up their own rules or the one True Church started by the Apostles themselves on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

1 Timothy 4-1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 6If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.