Why does Christianity evolve?

[nobspeople]

Arguably, Christianity was as different, when it originally started amongst the various groups with different ideals, than today's view.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontlin ... rsity.html

Even among modern Christian societies, there are differences (Catholic, Protestant and (Eastern) Orthodox).

If Christianity is so right, so strong, so righteous, so...'God'... one would think it would change its environment and not be changed by its environment.
It seems, at least in America, American society is, in some ways, changing Christianity.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/arti ... he-gospel/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/christia ... t_b_817102 *

So why does it change over time? Is it 'God's will'? Is it just made up mumbo jumbo? Or do people just not care, anymore?

EDIT: * Forgot to include originally

[Difflugia]

It seems, at least in America, American society is, in some ways, changing Christianity.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/arti ... he-gospel/

I'm not sure that article supports the idea of a changing Christianity. It just sounds like the laity believes the same heretical things it always has.

I think your original point is valid (Christians are more accepting of varying sexual and gender identities than they've ever been, for example), but that article just seems to support the idea that the majority of Christians don't understand Christian theology.

[1213]

...
So why does it change over time? ...

I don’t think it is changing, because the message is still the same. What is changing is that people just don’t want to be loyal to it anymore and replace it with their own desired teachings, like said in this:

For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables.
2 Tim. 4:3-4

[nobspeople]

It seems, at least in America, American society is, in some ways, changing Christianity.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/arti ... he-gospel/

I'm not sure that article supports the idea of a changing Christianity. It just sounds like the laity believes the same heretical things it always has.

I think your original point is valid (Christians are more accepting of varying sexual and gender identities than they've ever been, for example), but that article just seems to support the idea that the majority of Christians don't understand Christian theology.

From my experience, the teachings of Christianity has evolved over my long life. I remember when my grandparents were taught, directly from the bible (the same one used today) that interracial marriage is wrong and sinful. Now, it's not taught nearly as much. That, over time, is an evolving of a pillar of teaching of a belief.
More current teachings were that playing cards, dancing, men with long hair, women with short hair - all taught at various Christian churches either I've attended or have had friends who attended - that these things were wrong and sinful. Now, not so much with some churches looking around at society and saying "ya' know what? X isn't sinful so we're not teaching that anymore!'
Rather they were teaching right and now aren't, or weren't teaching right and now are, it's a change in the fundamental teaching of said belief.
Once this is taught and accepted as 'correct', it's thus, evolved.
The 'core' teaching doesn't have to change in order for a belief system to evolve, as there's more to this belief system than the core belief.

I forgot to attach this article in the OP. I will correct that, but also include it here for reference
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/christia ... t_b_817102

[Miles]

...
So why does it change over time? ...

I don’t think it is changing, because the message is still the same. What is changing is that people just don’t want to be loyal to it anymore and replace it with their own desired teachings, like said in this:

For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables.
2 Tim. 4:3-4

Unlike some other pronouncements such as Jesus's "Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place." (Matthew 24:34) that really missed the mark, this one does seem to be somewhat closer. Christianity is definitely loosing its grip on people. Something everyone recognizes.





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[Paul of Tarsus]

So why does it change over time? Is it 'God's will'? Is it just made up mumbo jumbo? Or do people just not care, anymore?

Perhaps the scripture most germane to your questions that I can think of is Malachi 3:6:

For I the Lord do not change...

This passage makes sense assuming that God is perfect. If he's perfect, then any change must be a change for the worse. His interactions with humanity, if he interacts with us at all, would similarly be perfect, and any changes in the way he deals with us would also be a step in the wrong direction.

Christianity has changed from a small apocalyptic sect in the Middle East that surreptitiously opposed the Roman Empire to a cultural world power with billions of members and thousands of different sects. So why does Christianity, presumably the one way to God through Christ, change this way? Time is a powerful force in the cosmos, and nothing can escape its imposed changes except a perfect God, of course. All that's subject to time's changes includes everything we people do. So Christianity can then be understood as something we people do rather than what God does, and the human origin of Christianity explains its many changes.

I should in fairness point out that the core beliefs of Christianity have been remarkably constant over the last twenty centuries. Christians still worship the same God and Christ and still seek the same eternal life promised to them long ago. I think these unyielding beliefs and practices reflect the fact that we humans, despite all we have accomplished, are still subject to suffering, dying, and death. As long as this human condition remains our reality, we will seek help from God when we cannot find it elsewhere.

[Paul of Tarsus]

Unlike some other pronouncements such as Jesus's "Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place." (Matthew 24:34) that really missed the mark, this one does seem to be somewhat closer. Christianity is definitely loosing its grip on people. Something everyone recognizes.

I remember when it lost its grip on me, I thought my case was an isolated one. Now I see that the same basic experience is very common. I've found that if something happens to me, then chances are it's happening to others too. I just hope that whatever replaces Christianity is a change for the better.

[Paul of Tarsus]

What is changing is that people just don’t want to be loyal to it anymore and replace it with their own desired teachings, like said in this:

For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables.
2 Tim. 4:3-4

If Paul said other people "turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables," then what makes you so sure that Paul was not one of them? What's so special about him that he is to be trusted beyond question and that he is not a "teacher after his own lust"? And for that matter, how do we know you have not turned your itching ears away from the truth?

That's Christian apologetics for you--it's always the other guy who's wrong or lying.

[nobspeople]

So why does it change over time? Is it 'God's will'? Is it just made up mumbo jumbo? Or do people just not care, anymore?

Perhaps the scripture most germane to your questions that I can think of is Malachi 3:6:

For I the Lord do not change...

This passage makes sense assuming that God is perfect. If he's perfect, then any change must be a change for the worse. His interactions with humanity, if he interacts with us at all, would similarly be perfect, and any changes in the way he deals with us would also be a step in the wrong direction.

Christianity has changed from a small apocalyptic sect in the Middle East that surreptitiously opposed the Roman Empire to a cultural world power with billions of members and thousands of different sects. So why does Christianity, presumably the one way to God through Christ, change this way? Time is a powerful force in the cosmos, and nothing can escape its imposed changes except a perfect God, of course. All that's subject to time's changes includes everything we people do. So Christianity can then be understood as something we people do rather than what God does, and the human origin of Christianity explains its many changes.

I should in fairness point out that the core beliefs of Christianity have been remarkably constant over the last twenty centuries. Christians still worship the same God and Christ and still seek the same eternal life promised to them long ago. I think these unyielding beliefs and practices reflect the fact that we humans, despite all we have accomplished, are still subject to suffering, dying, and death. As long as this human condition remains our reality, we will seek help from God when we cannot find it elsewhere.

Aside from the fact that (the quoted verse) is what someone said God said, let's assume it's true.
I don't deny God said that, in that sense. But Christianity is a religion. Religions are created and 'ran' by people. People change over time. So, while the core values may stay the same (which is debatable by some, but expected for such a religion to have a long life span) there are areas of the religion that's seemed to have changed because people's POVs have changed. And when these areas change and are taught to successive generations, it seems pretty clear that the religion - a man made and ran concept - evolves.

[1213]

... And for that matter, how do we know you have not turned your itching ears away from the truth?
...

I think it should be easy to know, just check have I ignored the Bible and replaced it’s teachings by my own, or someone else’s teachings.