Christianity created out of purely political goals

[seayakin]

I could pose the same for Islam. Both religions, in some sense seem to have been created for political goal: Christianity as part of the Jewish resistence movement to Rome and Islam as a method for Muhammed to unite disparate Arab tribes.

What do you think?

[Darat]

I think it is very hard to attempt at such a distance in time to provide a definitive answer. I suspect using modern instances that to me look quite parallel is that the answer is that the religious and political motivations were merely two faces of the same coin.

[Bikewer]

From reading Bart Ehrman's books, Lost Christianities and Misquoting Jesus, it appears that the variety of Jesus cults that popped up after that fellow's death were religiously motivated. The invention of a "spiritual" Messiah instead of a temporal one would seem to reinforce that notion.

However, the gradual reduction of the other sects and the eventual movement towards a sort of Christian orthodoxy was distinctly political.

[Foster Zygote]

From reading Bart Ehrman's books, Lost Christianities and Misquoting Jesus, it appears that the variety of Jesus cults that popped up after that fellow's death were religiously motivated. The invention of a "spiritual" Messiah instead of a temporal one would seem to reinforce that notion.

However, the gradual reduction of the other sects and the eventual movement towards a sort of Christian orthodoxy was distinctly political.

I second this. It all depends on what one means by "created" since Christianity has been both created and re-created numerous times. It's very possible that Jesus (whom I strongly suspect to have been an apocalyptic Jewish Rabbi) had no intent to create "Christianity" at all. He was probably spiritual with political undertones. Constantine on the other hand was looking for a religion, any religion, that could unite his empire. This was definitely political with religious undertones. =0)

Steven

[seayakin]

I second this. It all depends on what one means by "created" since Christianity has been both created and re-created numerous times. It's very possible that Jesus (whom I strongly suspect to have been an apocalyptic Jewish Rabbi) had no intent to create "Christianity" at all. He was probably spiritual with political undertones. Constantine on the other hand was looking for a religion, any religion, that could unite his empire. This was definitely political with religious undertones. =0)

Steven

I was thinking more regarding the actions of Jesus not followers after his death. Some of the things I have read also point to the possibility that he was an apocolyptic Jewish Rabbi and had less an interest in politics. Unfortunately, there seems to be no reliable evidence about who he was or even if he existed. I hold the possibility that he was simply a manufactured person. In the end, all we can do is speculate unless some scrolls are found lying about.

[Foster Zygote]

I hold the possibility that he was simply a manufactured person.

On many occasions a believer has been greatly distressed to hear me say "Jesus, if he really existed...".

Steven

[Dave1001]

I think Jesus, if he really existed, created christianity to maximize his odds of future technology based ressurection. Think about it, he's got 2 to 3 billion (the last billion is if you count muslims) votes to ressurect him when technology gets good enough, and the world's biggest fortune in trust for him. If I wanted to live in the future when the problem of mortality had been solved, and I was stuck in an era with Galenic medical technology, and if I was smart enough, I'd do the same. Jesus is indeed coming back (if anyone from the distant past is) and the clever bastard may indeed rule us all.

[Z]

Dave: Stop procrastinating, and get back to work. You're welcome.

[jjramsey]

I voted for "Planet Y." The only proper answer to the "What percentage of Christianity's creators motivations were political?" is mu (http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/M/mu.html), since it assumes that the political issues are even separable from the religious ones. For the Jews, Roman rule was a religious issue.

[Dave1001]

Dave: Stop procrastinating, and get back to work. You're welcome.

Thanks, friend.;)

[Z]

I think, on retrospect, I'd have to have changed my answer as well.

At first, I went with 80% - but, of course, as JJ pointed out, religion and politics have only become separate issues over the last few centuries.

The question alone, of course, would engender a different response - since the earliest religions most likely were more an attempt to understand a world full of unpredictable natural occurances. But the OP asks specifically about Christianity, so that really becomes a different question.

[Foster Zygote]

For the Jews, Roman rule was a religious issue.

Good point.

Steven