We believe quite easily whatever we are fed. Who digs old manuscripts and ancient records to know the truth? Probably next to none.
The church takes advantage of this ignorance and leads us to believe anything. They have gone to unbelievable extents to establish bogus ideas in collective psyche. And history stands testimony that the church becomes quite cruel and ruthless if anyone ( even wise Galileo Galilei ) dares to shake those beliefs. Their merciless ( opposite to Jesus's teachings ) nature comes into action immediately.
In this age of science and anti-feudal democratic environment, the church has wrapped itself up in a harmless (sort of ) garb.