Trisha-

I'll respond in depth later this weekend when I have more time, but no, I'm
speaking of what one of the authors in you link referred to as "Pauline"
Christians--at least during that timeframe.  The Gnostics were later down
the line.

I think the authors raise a red herring about the schisms in the first
century church, but I'll address that in detail later--and I promise I won't
use someone else's opinion to support my own.  Since I profess the Bible to
be true, it would be hypocritical of me to rest my assertions on the
scholarly work of another.  I think the "law and the prophets" and the other
writings found in what we call the "bible" are strong enough to stand on
their own without a Rabbi, Priest or Theo Ph.D. telling us what it all
means.

Kyle

-----Original Message-----
From: Trisha Cummings [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 1:50 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: religion and politics (long-ish); was RE: Brother in Law


Hi Kyle,

   The ancient Eypytians are more the contemporaries of the Jews in the
beginning. As are the Babylonians and such - these civilzations pre-date
writing, also pre-date The Greeks and Romans. The Romans are contemporaries
of the early Christians. I am talking about the 3 "in the Beginning stories"
foround in the Bible. These existed before the writing time - when they sat
around the fires and handed down the stories.

I think maybe we are both talking about the early Gnostic Christians - here
a link to that.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/first/diversity.html

The early Christians were against war -
http://www.users.voicenet.com/~kuenning/qhp/dymond.html

We don't need to change each others minds - I am speaking of centuries
before the ones you are. Christianity has its roots in the Jewish past. They
go back before writting. Lets face it the oldest real religious artifacts go
back 9,000 years ago, and they are Pagan and we conjecture about it -
becasue no one survives and they had no writing. The very roots of ancient
Jews - are also lost - what we have is what has survived thru oral tradition
until we had writing.

I am sorry you are not doing well. I will think really good thoughts

                                 Trisha