How Christian Beliefs have changed.
By Pose123
@Pose123 (21635)
Canada
May 3, 2009 9:25pm CST
Christianity is two thousand years old and during that time have seen many changes in it's teachings. Many of the big changes have however,come about in the last hundred or so years. It is hard to believe that many Christians in the early 1900's believed that a child who died without being baptised went to hell and most churches refused to bury such infants. I think that we would be hard pressed to find many who felt that way today. The "Speaking in tongues" so common in the Pentecostal and some other fundamentalists churches today was almost unheard of little more than one hundred years ago. For more than a thousand years it was taught that the church alone could correctly interpret the scriptures while today nearly everyone who reads it seeks to know the meaning for themselves. Something that many find it hard to believe today is that the doctrine of Reincarnation was taught in some Christian churches for the first five hundred years, yet the proof is there for all who wish to read it. All that is necessary is to ask in what year the church finally ruled against the teaching. It is clear that much of the teachings of the early church were destroyed. Good works were considered by many as the means for entering heaven, while many today stress that it is faith alone. Fasting was once considered very important but little attention is paid to it today. Should the world and the church survive for another hundred years, what teachings will have fallen by the wayside and what new ones will be added?
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6 responses
@urbandekay (18278)
•
5 May 09
No, speaking in tongues has a history almost as old as the Christian Church.
"...it hard to believe today is that the doctrine of Reincarnation was taught in some Christian churches for the first five hundred years, yet the proof is there for all who wish to read it."
Where? Cite your reference, please.
Besides which, should we believe you, who it is clear, from other discussions has an axe to grind?
all the best urban
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@urbandekay (18278)
•
7 May 09
So then, at least as far as speaking in tongues goes, the recent changes you claim have taken place take the Church back to a more original form
all the best urban
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@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
11 May 09
Hi urbandekay, That's correct, speaking in tongues was common in the early church but when Paul speaks of it, there is a different meaning put on it then what happened on the day of Pentecost. It disappeared as I said from the mainline church and that's what I was talking about as no one appeared to practice it for at least 1700 years. Blessings.
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@urbandekay (18278)
•
11 May 09
And what is the different meaning that Paul gives it?
Just to correct an error you suggest, there is a gap in recorded instances of speaking in tongues but that gap is from 500 to 1300 a gap approximately half that you suggest. Followers of Montanus during the first 500 years and then next recorded instances being Clarenus in 1300, St. Dominick, St. Vincent Ferrier (b. 1347), and Francis Xavier (b.1506)
It seems, at least conceivable, that the 800 year gap may be no more than a gap in recording of instances.
all the best urban
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@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
4 May 09
Pose-
You seem to have covered a great many of them. There are a lot of traditions that were added to the church that were originally Pagan. A great many early Christians in American didn't attend church on Christmas for "Christmas Mass". At one time singing in church was considered against God. (You'd not see that in some of the more evangelical churches today lol).
I always love teaching Chaucer because of the Pardoner and Summoner. The Summoner would trap people into "sinning" and charge them a fee, and along would come the Pardoner who would then charge them a fee to forgive them.
I personally feel that the entire teachings of Christ have been so miscontrued, changed, and deconstructed that much of what we have today is nothing what he taught.
Namaste-Anora
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@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
4 May 09
Hi Anora, Thank you for commenting. I haven't read much of Chaucer but the story of the Summoner and the Pardoner is humorous to say the least. Around the time of the reformation, the church was selling indulgences and people would pay according to how great was the sin that they wished to commit. I seem to remember hearing that singing in church was once considered a sin but must have forgotten it, thanks for adding it to the list. I know too that many Christian traditions were adopted from the pagans but I'm not sure that's bad. I like the teachings of Christ, especially that found in the Sermon on the Mount but feel that we are missing most of his teachings. His followers did not understand him and instead of teaching a way of life, set up a church with formal worship. I wonder how many would attend church today if they knew that it was a sin to sing in church, much less bring a musical instrument LOL. Blessings friend.
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@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
14 May 09
Pose-
Thanks for the BR. I hope I didn't come across as saying that the teachings of Christ were not credible. I just think that it's been so watered down as the various sects broke away that we've not the true doctrine of Christ. Though, I will say that many of the mystery traditions seem to have been teaching his message for some time. Those are the beliefs that I follow, and the ones I think are most in line with the teachings of the Christ.
I do watch a great deal of the History Channel when I can, and I love anything they do on the bible. I find it fascinating the number of changes in dogma/doctrine over the years, and the little things within the Christian church that have come and gone. As always, I truly enjoyed this conversation.
Namaste-Anora
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@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
13 Sep 09
I hope that in my lifetime (and I'd like to live another 100 years) that women will no longer be seen as second class, that the man isn't necessarily the head of the family, and that everything is different for each individual family. I am bothered that in some faiths wives must still "submit" to their husbands. I don't believe in that at all.
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@savypat (20216)
• United States
5 May 09
All these teachings are the product of man, not God. To predict what will come in the future you need only read science fiction. God, spirit, life force however you want to refer to it has no concern with human rules and regulations. It just is and in what ever form is available will always be, even without form.
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@worldbestwriter2008 (1633)
• Philippines
4 May 09
there are a lot of people who interpreted the bible differently..there are lot of scholars who do their own way of thinking and interpretation about the holy scripture..they built churches do their own doctrine which is not sometimes called a man made doctrine but i will go to a church where doctrines is seen in the holy scripture..the bible.
@John4Christ (1597)
• India
4 May 09
Well i agree with what you say my friend.....and you are true when you say many things have changed these days........
I have come across many people when questioned about fasting...."god wants a clean heart....he does not want us to hurt us by fasting"
I just don't understand that instead of confessing that they cant fast......why do they have to give such excuses.....i personally feel that fasting really makes you strong......and when you fast and pray....you certainly feel the difference.....i don't do it so that my prayers would be answered fast.....i just feel god did so much for us.....cant i not eat one time meal and pray for people in need.....is it that difficult....off course not.....the bible gives us clear guidelines about fasting and its importance.....
if we read 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 & 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 it speaks about the various gifts of god to us and among that is the "spirit of tongues" so speaking in tongue is an inspired bible scripture given to us....it is definitely not a natural ability of a human being but a spiritual gift given by god....
In Mark 16:17 it says --- “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues”
there are many places where the gift of tongue is mentioned so it is there right from the time the bible was written and not just 100 years ago......but i think not all are gifted by this gift.......
Have a blessed day !!!!
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