Did anyone get to see this program on Channel 4 (UK, Christmas Day)
www.channel4.com/believe/
It was a very well developed look into modern day religion and where it comes from. The theologian did a wonderful job of not so much expressing an exact answer to the question but pulled at as much evidence as he could to get a persons own opinion to shape.
From the program I realise that the past was filled with large cities that had many different cults/religions attempting to gain power. In the generation of power this meant that they would have to create a church in each of the cities their followers would move to. You could suggest that such churches in turn would ask for money from the patrons that visited which would then be pooled together and allow the religious beliefs to be taken to new cities.
Basically the Money collected and the Religious growth generated power for those running their sects. However the governing bodies of the day didn't take kindly to the attempt to gain power and admittedly on occasion would destroy these sects and their followers.
From what was suggested, there were many variants of text generated at this point in time. To me those texts would suggest that their slight differences were to appeal to the different lands, and the different people of different cities. This is why the Bible itself has so many contradicting chapters.
It's even suggested that from such writings identifying one man as being the head of their organisation, it would have caused the authorities at the time to seek him out and deal with him appropiately to set an example for all those that would mock their power.
The Theologian also did a very good job of examining how the differing Kings from 1000BC to 1600-1700AD utilised Religion to control the people.
I would be interested to see what other opinions people drew from the evidence that was presented.
www.channel4.com/believe/
It was a very well developed look into modern day religion and where it comes from. The theologian did a wonderful job of not so much expressing an exact answer to the question but pulled at as much evidence as he could to get a persons own opinion to shape.
From the program I realise that the past was filled with large cities that had many different cults/religions attempting to gain power. In the generation of power this meant that they would have to create a church in each of the cities their followers would move to. You could suggest that such churches in turn would ask for money from the patrons that visited which would then be pooled together and allow the religious beliefs to be taken to new cities.
Basically the Money collected and the Religious growth generated power for those running their sects. However the governing bodies of the day didn't take kindly to the attempt to gain power and admittedly on occasion would destroy these sects and their followers.
From what was suggested, there were many variants of text generated at this point in time. To me those texts would suggest that their slight differences were to appeal to the different lands, and the different people of different cities. This is why the Bible itself has so many contradicting chapters.
It's even suggested that from such writings identifying one man as being the head of their organisation, it would have caused the authorities at the time to seek him out and deal with him appropiately to set an example for all those that would mock their power.
The Theologian also did a very good job of examining how the differing Kings from 1000BC to 1600-1700AD utilised Religion to control the people.
I would be interested to see what other opinions people drew from the evidence that was presented.