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The answer to this question is complex and nuanced, and probably not something I’m prepared to answer in a short statement here, but I’ll do my best. I think Christianity has a best fit dogma. Because it’s old, and has had branches follow debunked methodology, it has used natural selection to focus the theology on those parts of our existence science hasn’t been able to quantify yet. Death and the afterlife are constant concerns, and I think Jesus, like Buddha, Mohammad, and countless others meant well, and captured some piece of the human condition. Our existence is massive and difficult to comprehend, never stop searching. As long as I live I will be looking for understanding in whatever form it approaches me with an open heart. I have faith that if some universal deity exists we will cross paths. I’ve been around a long, long time, long enough to see bullshit clearly.

MichaelJ 2y ago

That's an interesting theory, but, I think, an oversimplification. Far from refraining itself merely to questions of origins and the mechanisms of nature such as scientific tools might help us answer; Christian dogma teaches us about the nature of man, the nature of God, how man ought to relate to God and nature, how God relates to us, how we ought to live, and so on.

Far from merely filling in gaps in knowledge, Christianity presents a comprehensive way of understanding the world and our place in it.

Furthermore, another account of this "best fit" effect you point out is that the Church is always emphasizing this or that aspect of its dogma to teach what the world needs to hear at each point of history. It's not trying out different strategies to stay relevant, but rather giving different emphases to respond to the needs of the human condition.

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Jac 2y ago

Really? Different strategies don’t include teaching that black people were descended from Cain? Putting women in the pulpit? Allowing homosexual people to be members of the Christian church, the figurative body of Christ? This has nothing to do with accommodating the human condition and you know it. Modern religion has become a culturally irrelevant abomination in the eyes of the very deity dictated text it claims to adhere to. It’s attaching historical relevancy to a faith that has little to do with the tenets established 2023 years ago. Either adhere to the text in the Bible or strike out on your own with a new “sacred” codex, but the hypocrisy in modern Christianity is intolerable. At least the Muslim and Judaic faiths stand their ground, stupid as that is. Of course my statement is an oversimplification, the point of this exercise is rhetorical, for the benefit of those reading. While I won’t address the myriad technical difficulties Christianity has, the macro view from outside the religious box should be a clear enough view of the flawed logic in the whole system, unless there is some mitigating factor making a person need the structure and security of a religious framework. I have no problem with the function of religious dogma, just don’t assert this ideal as factual truth, and certainly don’t condemn others for not buying into your faith.

MichaelJ 2y ago

I'm going to respectfully bow out at this point. We've shifted topics too much to cover any point of contention in sufficient detail to be worthwhile. I hope we can get into some of those specific points in more depth again in the future.

Thanks for taking the time to discuss!

Jac 2y ago

Yes, thank you for your time and efforts toward the discussion as well. I appreciate and respect your views.