Would Christianity benefit from a major update?

This answer's going to be reeeallly long. Sincere apologies in advance.

Yes, I think it would. It does not benefit Christianity at all to keep clinging to old ideas simply because "they're in the Bible!" and other such reasons. The bible is where these problems mostly stem from, in my opinion, because unwritten traditions naturally change and develop anyway.

[My opinions are from a Catholic viewpoint because I am one, and because, let's face it, it's the branch that needs the most updating..]

You would think that it would be obvious that the Bible needs to be read with an analytical mind. especially considering it doesn't even claim to be the direct writings/teachings of God. Apparently even very educated people seem to miss this out completely. Some of it's contents are OBVIOUSLY simply the ideas and customs of the time, but so many people are convinced that they need to be upheld today.

Take the Catholic church's stance on women priests: "No, we can't have them. Jesus chose men for his disciples, so obvs. it would be a travesty to have women doing this job we do so excellently..etc etc". It's so counterproductive. I go to a Catholic church and we have ONE ageing priest to serve this church and two or three others in the area. Every couple of years a young man training to be a priest appears, always seeming to me as if they're just Theology students that didn't really know what else to do. There's a a shortage of priests, and given that it's not an attractive career prospect for the vast majority of people, then they should really let whoever wants to be a priest become one. Regardless of their gender!

Similarly, they should let Catholic priests marry. There wouldn't be any harm in it. That **** at the Vatican(no, not the Pope. Some Cardinal or other. :L) blamed homosexuality for the whole abuse scandal in Ireland. So it didn't cross his mind at all that it might be more likely the forced celibacy? Not to lessen what these awful individuals did, but it must be pretty unpleasant not being allowed to have sex for your whole lifetime. It seems to me a more reasonable explanation than "all these priests happened to be gay and paedophiles" anyway.

That leads on nicely to my next point: homosexuality. I honestly cannot understand why religious people today think condemning homosexuality somehow fits in with the church's teachings. As if it's an exception. Do they honestly think that if he was asked, God would say "Yeah, treat everyone as you would want to be treated, even criminals! Except gay people. Kill them."..?! It's clearly just the mindset of the time being reflected, quite naturally, in the writings of the people.

Jesus himself doesn't even mention homosexuality in the Bible. People have just picked out the quotes that suit them and used them to condemn a certain group. It's nonsense to agree with the quotes on gays, but ignore all the other similar quotes.

"If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately."

^Funny, I don't see this happening nowadays. So why are homosexuals still persecuted by the over-religious?

This doesn't happen either. I'd hope not anyway:

"If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir."

Hmm, I seem to have gone off on a tangent. But to sum up, yes, I think there needs to be some serious updating of the faith. People need to stop treating the Bible as a literal guidebook that needs to be followed to the letter. There's a lot of good stuff in it, ruined by people places so much importance on irrelevant quotes. At this rate, Christianity won't live for much longer. It's a shame because I really do believe in God. It's just sullied buy all this outdated rubbish.

What's you opinion about our constitution? Should it be brought up to date as well? Or, do you think it should form and maintain the basis for our society?

Mao said all policy is dictated at the barrel of a gun. Want all guns removed except those used by the military and the police? I don't think I would.

Want to be able to use free speech? And so on.....

Society, and religion, of needs be are based upon the foundation upon which they are built. To change them may be a mistake in relationship to the overall effect upon its citizens and followers.

Christian Religious Service Pack 2?

Oh don't worry, they're updating the hell out of it (literally). To make it survive they're getting rid of everything Christianity has held dear for the last 1,950 years. Gay people - gone. Hell - gone. Treat women like crap - gone. Let's see what's next...

Well if they could give up the intolerance, hatred, bigotry and persecution to rediscover the idea of a loving god and seek to act like it that would be a major improvement!

I thought Christianity was applying a lot of Marketing principles to make people "convert" to their faith..lol

Like a sick old dog, it would benefit from being put down.

yes, a major overhaul of going away...

if by update you mean extinction? yes