I have developed my position towards Christianity and Christ through my experience of it – within Christianity and from outside.
For me Christianity has gone through a number of transformations, leading up to the modern complications that have become so disturbing today.
First of all, we have a young man who is immersed in Jewish tradition but also highly influenced by the school of the Cynics, who challenges the religion of the day calling it hypocritical and who shows the crowds a form of faith which is able to be spontaneously compassionate and caring. The duplicity of the Temple leaders lead to his being whisked away as another “terrorist” and crucified.
His followers are concerned that he should be portrayed differently, as the archetype of faith, rather than as a criminal, and after a few generations of spreading his teaching and living in the way the feel he saw fit, various accounts of his life start appearing, which begin idealising and mystifying his presence.
At a later date, the mystification is continued and expanded; so far that he is for many not just metaphorically, but physically “God in disguise”. Many theories of his nature start emerging and each theory is further speculated, so that theology becomes independent of the source and dogmatic.
Various dogmas compete and with the coming to power of Christians, being politically manipulated, Christ becomes more and more like the perfect Emperor and his church like a court of law.
The rest, we all know … or should know.
Therefore, it is quite possible to see Christianity at all of these stages having some valuable message, whereas not ignoring the fact that the idea of a logical continuation is highly unlikely. Especially since in the growth of the West Christianity has been largely influential, it would be difficult to transport moral expression in different terms, and therefore the symbolism of Christianity is widespread – even if the teaching is ignored.
I personally have failed within my lifetime at Christianity, finding it deeply troubling in parts, and highly idealistic, which can also become fanatical. But even idealism, if contradicted by real experience, can be a source of breakdown and depression – something that we are experiencing widespread in Christianity, albeit not admitted by most.
The evangelic syndrome, of seeing devils and angels, is also a result of deep conviction and devotion towards an idealistic religion.