A question from an atheist to theists: When it comes to religious concepts, isn't truth constant?

Question

Or does 'religious truth' change?

I don't mean personal beliefs or feelings etc, I mean doctrine.

Answer 1

God never changes

Answer 2

obviously religious truth changes, look at all the sects and interpretations that have developed over the millenia.

The decision that Jesus was god and man took a couple of centuries to be cemented in committee, the false idea that Mary was a virgin (instead of a maiden) took a while to develop, all of these ideas are not from the "original" xianity.

The verses in John chapter 3 about Jesus and the adultress are not found in any of the oldest manuscripts of that chapter and there are about 9 verses at the end of a chapter in Mark (I beleive) that also were not in any of the oldest manuscripts.

And OBVIOUSLY god changes his mind b/c in the OT he says and eye for an eye and in the NT he says turn the other cheek. Where do you people study? come on...

Also the NT repeatedly praises those who give to the poor including Jesus who said give away ALL you own and help the poor. Later churches had to make xianity more palatable to the well-off so they would donate, and began to rationalize how material wealth was ok and in fact, godly so as not to cause too much guilt.

Answer 3

Smart question. I believe (and my church teaches) in absolute truth. Some things are true and will always be true. I'm Catholic, and the Dogmas and Doctrines change the way an acorn changes into an oak tree. The truth unfolds and our understanding is deepened. But that's really us changing, not truth. Disciplines do change (married priests, for instance, is a discipline--my parish has a married priest with children and grandchildren, and he is in good standing with the church). I feel like a lot of other Christian denominations do change their doctrine--Lutherans used to honor Mary,and Luther himself advocated deep devotions to her. Episcopalians were the first denomination to change their doctrine on contraception from socially and morally evil to ok in some circumstances to good in any circumstance. I find this disappointing.

Answer 4

What do you mean by doctrine or consistency...All beliefs of God or Jesus is based on a multitude of viewpoints. Even you or I have differences no matter how slight or how great they are. Whats important is what you are taught from this knowledge or life directions. Since I wasn't there or I at least do not remember. being there information is still lacking. Your beliefs are your alone and no one else's.

Answer 5

Religious truth is in the eye of the believer, which coupled with cultural and regional differences - common ground is so hard to find.

Answer 6

Why is "...are finding for reality in the event that they believe in God or a god..." a demonstration that somebody is finding for the certainty? evaluate that human beings have believed in over 3000 distinctive gods (that all of us understand approximately) throughout the time of background and that each and every faith has offered the comparable evidence (or greater properly: lack thereof), merely how are you able to communicate something in accordance with "concept" to be an hassle-free seek for reality?

Answer 7

They always have to adapt to cultural changes, such as hindu did when the silk road became more popular, thus making the merchants more wealthy than the caste above them (the warriors)

Answer 8

church doctrines change, evolve or devolve, and are altered by their adherents. churches come, churches go...that is the way of all man-made things. but Christ never does. long before ANY church existed, Christ was. and long after all of them are mere footnotes in history, Christ will remain...He is eternal

Answer 9

The truth of the Bible never changes.

Answer 10

Gods word will never change he is the first & the last alpha & omega ;-)