cgs1246
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Registered: 03-2005
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Our Mythical Religions
It would certainly be comforting to believe that our religion, whatever choice we have made, is solid, unchanging and secure. We develop the concept that if our religion has been the same for several hundred years, it must be right. That reinforces our belief that our faith is true and just. Dream on.
There have been, in the popular magazines lately, several articles on the faiths of Abraham and their development. Ther most recent was in Newsweek: "How Jesus Became Christ." Each of these articles, without realizing they are doing so, has flagrantly demonstrated how each of these religions has changed drastically over time, according to the needs of their societies at each time. All religions evolve, developing their own myths which are integrated into our societies - which themselves are always evolving.
For the first two centuries, Christianity was an ecumenical religion, welcoming women and slaves. It had multiple factions, struggling over issues of circumcision, mysticism, deification, salvation. Then the priests took over, leading to male domination, oppression, opposition to learning, and the dark ages. The Christian church was opposed to marriage until a few hundred centuries ago, suppporting the subjugation and abuse of women. Now it supports marriage fervently - but only one kind. The church will continue to change - but it may take it a while to beome more moral.
The only thing we don't want religion to evolve into is a part of our government. That would be a disaster.
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4/1/2005, 12:02 am
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