[MD] The SOM/MOQ discrepancy.

[david buchanan]

Krimel said:> The early Christian church on the other hand was quite a different story.> The Church evolved out of the Gentile ministry of Paul. Here Paul was> seeking to convert non-Jews into the faith. To do so he had to appeal to the> Hellenistic understanding and to reject certain specifically Jewish> practices including Jewish dietary laws and especially circumcision. It is> clear in the New Testament that Paul was at odds with Jesus disciples in> this respect. In Galatians Paul basically cusses out James the Brother of> Jesus, John and Peter for their adherence to Jewish law. In Acts those same> disciples are the ones that threaten to execute Paul, forcing him to appeal> to the Roman authorities.> > The real question for me has always been: what did those in the Hellenistic> world see in Judiasm/Christianity that drew them to it. Elaine Pagels makes> the case that it was the strict moral code of the Jews. dmb says:One of the reasons people doubt the existence of an historical Jesus is the way his story is like so many other dying and rising gods. His ordeal is like a gazillion others. That would be at least one of the things that attracted followers in the Hellenistic world. They could have recognized Mithras, Dionysus and Orpheus in Paul's version of Christianity. I imagine Paul tweaked the story in that direction like a salesman who understands his customer. Following this story pattern would later help it to fit into just about any of the European paganisms.But the thing that really ensured its spread throughout Europe was the Roman Army, beginning with Constantine's Army in particular. The first symbols of Christianity were shepherds, sheep and fish but Constantine a vision of the Cross as a sword. (Actually, his vision included a pile of foreskins in the shape of a squirrel but his speech-writer insisted that part be altered.) "By this sign you will conquer", said a voice in a vision on the battlefield. And really, what could be more "convincing" than a long sharp edge? And that's why the Pope needs such a huge stockpile of nukes.I'd guess that Paul's version of the story fits in with most kinds of European paganism.
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