Ancient Christianity

[Summer]

I am a firm believer in what Jesus Christ taught. I also believe unfortunately that they edited some of the origional books of the New Testament out of the King James version of the bible. I have been studying Theology for 20 years now, and believe that the Catholics actually omitted some of the New Testament's origional books to suit themselves somehow. Although a lot of the gnostic gospels are beginning to show up in various desert parts of the world, and people are beginning to decipher them. Any opinions on this or on ancient Christianity or Christianity in general?

[jimmyRRpage]

I also believe in what we are taught by the story of Jesus. However (and if I offend anyone with this view, I truly apologize), I also believe that many Christian sects (including Catholicism) have forgotten many of these teachings. For instance, proselytizing is a sin, as it is anti-tolerance, and tolerance is one of the teachings of the story. This is the most prominent example.

A friend of mine once said:

"If they want me to believe Christianity, then find me a gospel written by either Jesus or one of his disciples. But how much you want to bet that if or when it is found, it will be rejected by not just the Catholic Church, but most, if not all, sects of Christianity, because the story told will be so radically different from what is in the New Testament these days."

The Gnostic gospels intrigue me, and there are times when I think they are closer to what might have been teh truth surrounding Jesus than the accepted New Testament. Why? Because the Gnostic Gospels make Jesus seem human. There is one about Jesus as a child. In this, Jesus is nothing less than a little brat. He is mishevious. He builds clay birds on the (Jewish) Sabbath, and when caught, makes them fly away, and he plays pranks on others. This gospel shows Jesus learn the childhood lessons all human children must learn to grow up.

So, if Jesus existed, and he truly was the messiah, then I believe the Gnostic Gospels are much closer to the truth of the kind of person Jesus was than the accepted New Testament.

As far as Ancient Christianity, I can tell you that until 40 to 60 years after Jesus's death, there was no Christianity. During his life and just after hid death, there were what we call today Jews for Jesus. They were Jewish and celebrated all the Jewish holidays, but believed Jesus was the Messiah. It was many years after Jesus's death that Christianity as we know it today was formed.

And the New Testament (as well as the Old Testament and the Torah), note, was written by men. I do not believe the accepted gospels are accurate simply because the story was written down after passing through thousands of ears over 40-60 years in what I believe to be the longest game of Telephone in history.

These are my thoughts, and I mean no offense to anyone.

[Summer]

Oh my gawd! We have precisely the same view up on this subject. I am so happy to have met someone who believes what I do. I am so glad that you joined the board, JRRP! Thanks for your post!

[Summer]

I also believe that when Christ disappeared from the New Testaments, that he had gone on a journey through India and parts of the far East in search of spiritual knowledge! I believe that Christ believed in reincarnation, and in marriage. I also believe that he was married himself, and think that when he turned the water into wine at the wedding, that it was his wedding that he did it for, and he did it because his Mom was worried because they had run out of wine, LOL!

[casilda]

I am very intrigued by the Gnostic Gospels and intend to learn all I can about them......I am so glad I was made aware of this forum...

[Summer]

I am so glad that you made it here, Fairlady! ;D