In John chapter 20, Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me..” and delegates forgiveness of sins to his disciplines? Apparently so.

[Scooter]

Google's Ai tells me this:
Me: was the first church the one in jerusalem? Then why is Peter considered the first pope?

Google: Catholic tradition holds that Jesus gave Peter preeminent authority over the other apostles, and that this authority was not personal but was meant to be passed down.

Again, Peter was not in charge. James was. Catholics put more emphasis on their traditions than they do Biblical teachings.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Buddhism by country - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

As an analogy —

Buddhism originated in India, but that’s not where it found most of its followers.

Similarly —

Christianity originated in Israel, but that’s not where it found most of its followers. [back then, Israel was several different countries such as Galilee, Samaria, Judea, and more, much or all colonized by Rome]

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Jesus was the originator of the ideas and the new message.

Paul was the transmitter of the ideas.

Jesus obviously, but also Paul, were far more important than either Peter or James. After all, Paul wrote 7 books of the New Testament, and some Christians think more.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Most Catholics in richer countries pick-and-choose which doctrines they take more or less seriously. And most human beings have learned to take religion medium seriously, no more. And in poorer countries, well, these days low-income persons have access to mass media and social, cough, cough, I mean, anti-social media, at least through one or two random intermediaries. And therefore, I conclude that most people in general pick-and-choose.

I agree. I remember that Pew Research poll you posted where close to half of Christians don't take the Bible literally. Your point here seems to fit with that.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Again, Peter was not in charge. James was. Catholics put more emphasis on their traditions than they do Biblical teachings.

Can't both be true? Peter was a leader in other regions while James led the Church in Jerusalem?

I don't buy myself that Peter was the leader of all the apostles and Church. I can see why Catholics would say that though.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

I remember that Pew Research poll you posted where close to half of Christians don't take the Bible literally.

This type of Christian person still takes the Bible seriously. The phrase was “inspired, not literal.”

 

[AgnosticBoy]

This type of Christian person still takes the Bible seriously. The phrase was “inspired, not literal.”

I see that as the tide turning and for the better. Even I take the Bible seriously, and I'm a non-believer. I don't go as far as viewing it as being connected to God, but I do think that Jesus was an authentic spiritual person that was willing to die for what he believed. I apply a lot of the Bible in my own life.