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I would estimate that there is (at minimum) one website for every point-of-view that anyone with internet access possesses.
The gospel of Thomas is part of the "Acts of the Apostles". These are largely folklore regarding the 12 apostles' adventures following Christ's death. If I am not mistaken, each one of them (with some possible exceptions) died a martyr's death, each gorier than the last, almost like a competition to see who can top the others.
------------------ EXPERIENCE, n. The wisdom that enables us to recognize as an undesirable old acquaintance the folly that we have already embraced. --Ambrose Bierce Come Hither and Yawn...[/B]
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If my studies in church history are accurate, there were many sects that sprang up around the figures of the apostles after they died. "Thomas sects" were among the most prolific.
Incidentally, many of the New Testament epistles were written to counter the Gnostic heresy, which claimed that spirit is entirely good and matter is entirely evil. Five errors came out of the Gnostic teachings:
1. Man's body (matter) is entirely evil. 2. Salvation is escape from the evil body, achieved not by faith in Christ but by special knowledge. 3. Christ's true humanity was denied (because there was no sin in him -- according to the Bible -- and yet he had flesh -- evil according to the Gnostics). 4. The body should be treated harshly, since it is evil. 5. Paradoxically, this led to licentiousness. The reasoning was that since matter (not breaking God's commandments) is the center of wickedness, then breaking the commandments had no moral consequence.
Basically, the Gnostic teachings were rejected by the church (and by Peter, John, and Paul specifically in the Bible) as heresy, and they were therefore excluded from mainstream Christian theology.
------------------ Dane
"...and there was war in heaven..." The Bible, Revelation 12:7
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Baloo: If I am not mistaken, each one of them (with some possible exceptions) died a martyr's death, each gorier than the last, almost like a competition to see who can top the others.
*Cough, cough* John didn't die a Martyr's death, he died of natural causes (well relatively natural causes ).
------------------ "Think of all the delightful aspects of the reproductive process: menstruation, pregnancy, labor. And the part we're trying to eliminate is sex?" Cecil Adams the guy who does Straight Dope.
quote:*Cough, cough* John didn't die a Martyr's death, he died of natural causes (well relatively natural causes ).
I now quote myself, with added emphasis:
quote:If I am not mistaken, each one of them (with some possible exceptions) died a martyr's death, each gorier than the last, almost like a competition to see who can top the others.
SHEESH!
------------------ "Politicians and diapers should be changed regularly, for the same reason." --(Unknown) Come Hither and Yawn...
[This message has been edited by Baloo (edited January 07, 2000).]
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Sorry Baloo I was kind of tried when I wrote that my job keeps me up until 4:30am at in the morning working, and it kind of shot my brain in the mean time, It's going to take me some time to adjust, sorry.
------------------ "Think of all the delightful aspects of the reproductive process: menstruation, pregnancy, labor. And the part we're trying to eliminate is sex?" Cecil Adams the guy who does Straight Dope.
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