Everyone is a False Teacher But Me


The title here is satire of Christians. It is different, however, because it was published by a Christian blogger and is satire of herself and other Christians. She is referring to the absolute certainty much of the faith has in its own opinions. As she says, all Christians look at themselves "in a mirror dimly lit."

It would be easy to say, "Why don't all these groups unit under one banner of the ultimate truth? Then the faith would be on the move."

That is impossible because there are many millions of Christians. Each person has his/her own version of the truth. As I harp about here on and on, religion is created by cultures. Even after a culture creates a god each person modifies the god to approve of that person. The phrase, "My God" is not hypothetical, it is operational. 

What's fun about politics is that candidates are often pushed to reveal their religious beliefs. We've learned from several Republicans their "beliefs" are calibrated to appeal to the broadest possible electorate. We've heard from the Hindu that Hinduism marches in lock step with right wing Christianity against gays and abortion. Desantes says he is a Catholic but he doesn't reveal what kind of Catholic he is. Trump used to say he was a Presbyterian but he never says that anymore. 

To a leader in a denomination, the motive is different. To look down on others by claiming only you and yours is the real faith is a money maker.

The most consistent thing in Christianity is not some thread of belief. It is splitting up and slicing off members of one denomination into to new denominations. This slicing and dicing worked well to keep the faith contemporary enough for changes over several centuries. Now, however, change in society has began to move so fast slicing and dicing of denominations is not even close to keeping up. What are called "nones" should be called "to each his own." It is the fastest growing demographic in all of religion. There is no need for a "teaching pastor" because everyone teaches themselves.

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