Do Christians in general, tend to have too much variance amongst themselves with their interpretation of their scripture?

“Christians” in general don’t have much knowledge of scripture. It’s more a tribal affiliation than a philosophy.

In the US, atheists tend to know more.

Anecdotally, I was raised without religion. My family wasn’t actively anti-religion, it simply was not part of our lives. My first year of college was at a church-affiliated school and I was appalled at the lack of religious interest and religious knowledge.

I thought the subject was interesting and simple curiosity had led me to do a fair amount of reading.

The professors were great and I enjoyed the lectures, but most of the students had the intellectual awareness of cows. I know that applies to most college freshmen, but at a church school I expected more when the subject was their church history and teachings.

I think so. Why are there so many variations of Christian faith? Isn’t there only one Bible?

As much as I don’t like generalizations, I’m going to say “yes”.

I think the reason is that Christianity is so lost from its original teachings. The actual Jesus was very different from what the Bible and the Church were about, and that got worse and worse with the bad medieval popes, who were often just political pawns chosen to support one rival family political group or another, or even terrible nasty people in some cases. The church practices became not just misunderstandings of scriptures which were themselves misunderstood, but ways to legitimize the accumulation of wealth (e.g. selling indulgences) and power (e.g. giving church positions to family, endorsing lords against each other), and to destroy enemies (e.g. by excommunication). That of course led to the breaking off into factions, and now we have wacko factions, violence against gays, Mormons preaching about offering apotheosis and overlordship of other planets, etc. I think it stems from the basic failure of most to get that the Apostles were actually examples of people NOT really getting what Jesus was saying, but their gospels seem to be taken as inspiration for authoritarian rules… which is backwards and misses Jesus’ teachings. Meanwhile the person who did get it, Mary Magdalene, is largely ignored, gospels about her are treated as heretical, etc. (If interested, check out The Wisdom Jesus ).

Sunni and Shiite?
Orthodox, Conservative and Reformed Jews?

I don’t think it’s limited to Christianity.

You haven’t experienced anything until you’ve heard two ministers from the same church argue whether a scripture discouraging “broided” hair means women should be forbidden from braiding ribbons into their hair, or from braiding their hair at all.

@Seek Wow what hot issues they are hitting haha

Another reason I came to the conclusion that religion is a man-made institution, often used to control the masses, and it has no higher meaning than that.

Well, gotta have something to say to keep the modest Pentecostal housewives thinking they’re still sinners.

The whole institution thrives on guilt. If you’re not feeling the threat of hell on your heels, you’re not Jesusing right, according to the UPCI.

Since I’m not a Christian, and don’t plan to be one, and since they don’t seem to be murdering each other or causing violent civil unrest over any religious differences that they have with each other, it doesn’t seem to be an issue worth my getting involved with. I have no opinion on the question.

I wish them all a peaceful and fruitful discussion over long lives, and all the joy of it.

But they are murdering, if not each other, then the infidels. George Tiller, Jonestown, the Crusades…..

What’s your point?

No. Too much? No. Who is to say what is too much? I try to tell some of my Christian friends they can vary when they feel they can’t.

@Jak lack of consistency

It seems that way to me. Ask 1000 Christians (or whatever specific group) what their idea of their religion/belief system is and you’ll get 1000 different answers.

^^^And they’re all the right answers.

@Dutchess_III Yes exactly my point.

Although this song is about various religions, I believe it is relevant to my point (and I believe yours)

Total lack of consistency and clear consensus.

@NerdyKeith. I understand that. To what end do you persist with this line of questioning? You’ve already made abundantly clear your contempt for all things Christian. With every question you ask about Christians now, it seems but a variation on the same theme. I get that you don’t like Christianity and have decided upon a different path. That’s fine. There are a thousand different paths up the mountain. So I don’t get why you don’t just walk your own path rather than say “Here’s what I don’t like about Christians. And here’s something else about those stupid Christians. And another thing that I see about Christians that makes them hypocrites is this. And here’s yet another reason why my way of thinking is superior to those sheep Christians.” So instead of focusing on walking your path, you are now one of those runnning around at the bottom shouting “You’re on the wrong path!” “You’re not doing it right!” I get it, I’ve noticed it myself, there is hypocrisy, strife, discord and division in the Christian church. I was raised in a Pentecostal home and saw firsthand the hypocrisy, backbiting and completely fake Christian syndrome. So I walked away. I didn’t waste my time beating my gums about it because ultimately, I have to find my own way. The fallability of humans can’t take away from the basic truths, which are to love each other without condition. And to do unto others as we would have done unto ourselves. I believe the Jews are just as divided in their interpretations, as are the adherents to the faith of Islam, and probably Hindus and Buddhists as well. You don’t know their divisions as well because you are not a part of those cultures. And if you think that your “group” is any better, I will posit that you all don’t have weekly meetings and a common book to argue about so you get to avoid that particular failing. Having been part of the Wiccan community I can vouch that there are arguments abounding on points of interpretation of all sorts so in that respect I must submit to you that this is a human failing, not a “Christian” failing in particular.
So my point to you is that you seem intent on submitting a constant stream of a repeating theme of questions and comments about how horrible Christians are. You have made that point over and over. I would suggest to you that you examine yourself and determine why and find a way to release your anger and other negative emotions towards Christians and Christianity. If you are unable to see any good thing at all then you truly have missed the point. But you are taking poison in with your words and actions and the ones you are railing against remain unharmed. You are the only one being hurt by your negativity. I can’t tell you what to do, but I respectfully suggeswt that you put that fine brain of yours to something that lifts you up and raises your vibrations rather than weighting yourself down and lowering your vibrations. The same goes to everyone who responds to your posts so enthusiastically in the unending stream of Christian bashing. You’ve made the point over and over and over. Be better than you keep saying the Christians aren’t. Because currently you are no better, just different. Hypocrisy wears many faces and sometimes is undetectable to the wearer.

@NerdyKeith I don’t understand your problem with varying interpretations of Christianity? I’m Jewish. We have Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Jews. Each group has some atheists and some theists. The Conservative movement seems the most hypocritical at first glance. They usually keep kosher at home, but don’t worry about it out. Most Conservative Jews don’t stick to sabbath rules, some of them. The Orthodox have several groups, each with their own slant on interpreting the religion.

So what? Is that different than different sects and interpretations of Christianity?

@Jak, I have issues with all organized religions, not just Christianity. If this was Yahoo Answers, I’d focus on Islam too. Since there are no Muslims here, I don’t see any point in asking specific questions about Islam. There is also the fact that I used to be a Christian once upon a time. As the good old expression goes “write what you know.”. Amd I agree with you on your point that members of other religions are just as divided.

I was very much part of Christian culture. For 18 years I went to catholic mass every Sunday. I was baptised, made first communion, made conformation. I was educated in catholic schools (primary amd secondary). And believe me the Catholic Church has had more than its share of corruption and hypocrisy.

Just to clarify, I do not think Christians are horrible people as a whole. My objections and issues are mostly with institution and clergy. While I made the point that there is a lack of consistency with the Christian faith. Not once dos I even imply that all Christians are bad people. I know you are not all like Kim Davis.

I’m not attacking people’s choices, I just questioning everything without exception. I just ask that people think about these issues that I raise. I’m not planning to reconvert the masses, I have no interest in that. And this alleged anger you are talking about is a misconception. I am not angry at Christians as a whole.

You seem to be taking my question personally. I have a suggestion for you. Try to look at my questions objectively and just answer them directly, instead of getting so defensive.

This question is a question out of suspicious, not anger. I’ll continue to question everything thanks very much. And I will remind you, that many of my questions are revisited content from Yahoo Answers, I intend migrate a significant bulk of it.

^^You are mistaken, and I feel no anger or defensiveness at all. Your questions mention only Christians, so I would have no reason to think you were attacking any other religion. You are not questioning “everything”, only Christianity and the fact that Christians aren’t acting in accordance with how you think they should act. Your stream of questions concerns a very limited group of topics, which easily define you and your place in your evolution as a person. Five years from now you will, hopefully, have a completely new set of interests and will be able to look back and see clearly how much you have changed. That is the nature of human growth and there is nothing wrong with it.
So as I said, I can not tell you what to do, I only made a suggestion which you are of course free to ignore. I am certainly not a Christian. And why should everyone think about the issue that you raise, because it certainly is the same one, over and over? You imply that people are where you are spiritually speaking and have not perhaps already moved past that point and you seem to be unaware of that simple fact.
Whether you have anger or not is not something I can debate with you, but your emotions are clearly negative, whatever you choose to call them. You say you are not angry with Christians, but your questions and comments are not in any way flattering or positive, so what else could one conclude? And if you believe that my answer was not “direct”, that is your choice. I addressed what I believe to be the spirit of your question, and all the one’s asked previously regarding christians, the bible, pastors, atheism and others which I have ignored, and hereafter will again refrain from commenting.
I wish you well in your search. JAK out.

My questions, do not only cover religion. I have covered quite a lot of varied topics. You are welcome to visit my profile page and see this for yourself. THIS question mentions Christians, not all of my questions do this.

I do not agree that I have discussed the same issues over and over again. I may have some follow up questions. But any similarities are simply taking all sides of similar issues. For example when I asked a question about the origins of karma, I eventually asked a separate question regarding if people believe in karma.

Claiming that I have “anger” is not even a debate it’s idle speculation at best. You don’t know my emotions, in fact you clearly don’t know me at all as a person.

I’m not angry at Christians, that doesn’t mean I have to sugar coat things and be dishonest, if I have an opinion on something, I’ll be honest about it. They are honest observations. Honesty can lead to positivity. Honesty is the best policy.

When I ask a specific question and you answer with a question; that is not an answer at all. I was actually being generous by saying you didn’t answer directly. I’m basing this on your first response.

You are clearly uncomfortable with my line of questioning. So you are probably better off not participating in the discussions. No matter, plenty of other users here willing to objectively respond to my questions.

Thank you, I wish you well in your… umm… whatever it is you are planning to do here.

I can see that you don’t like for anyone to disagree with you or have a differing opinion. As I said, good luck. Namaste.

@Jak I think if you take a step back and look at it more like the OP is curious and trying to understand Christians and Christianity you won’t feel so attacked. The OP is asking a question. You read it as though he has already decided or made presumptions. Even if he does have an idea or opinion on it already he is asking a question, which gives everyone a chance to give their opinion on the topic. Just asking creates opportunity for discussion, and discussion can lead to new information and sometimes changing minds.

@Jak Thats not true at all, I love a good debate. I have never shut anyone down for disagreeing with me. Freedom of speech is not freedom of criticism. I have no problem people disagreeing with. But for future reference, expect counter disagreements.

But no hard feelings, may the gift of reason light your way!

And @JLeslie, you hit the nail on the head.

Well, questions about religions do make for interesting conversations. I don’t see that he’s asked anything out of line or insulting in any of his original question. The thread may devolve into that, but the questions themselves seem fine to me.

@Dutchess_III Thanks I appreciate that!