I don’t know of a lot of the folks on Krew07’s list, but here a some things I am acquainted with:
Irenaeus was one of the Church fathers. He wrote a book called Against Heresies. In it he advocated that there ought to be four gospels because there were four corners of the Earth, four winds, and four seasons. The final decision about which of the many books and gospels circulating until then were to be officially in the Bible was made in the fourth century by a group of largely illiterate and ignorant churchmen. They voted as to which were ti be included and designated them as “inspired.” That is similarly the case with other bibles.
Justin Martyr pooh-poohed the similarities of christianism to paganism and called them forshadowings. He said that what was correct among the pagans was “now the property of the Christians.” In addressing his pagan critics, Martyr pointed out that in “declaring the Logos, the first begotten Lord, our master Jesus Christ, to be born of a virgin mother, without any human mixture,and to be crucified, and dead, and to be risen again and ascended into heaven, we say no more than what you say of those whom you style the sons of Jove.”
Origen said “It’s allowed by all who have knowledge of the scritptures that everything there is conveyed enigmatically, ie, esoterically.” Once the literalists of the Church took over, Origen’s books were declared heretical and burned.
Origen confessed that in his history of the Church he omitted all those things which would discredit her leaders, and magnified those things that would exalt her.
Those are a few and minuscule notes on the matter. There is much more, if one cares to look behind the veil. There is an entire library of work whose work points inexorably to the fact that a working, practical, and mostly secret teaching was usurped by the early christianists and made into an exoteric, dogmatized, canon castrated of its actual and age old meanings. in order to ensure this new cannon’s public face, everything from book burnings to murders were committed. Therein is the origin of the Bible as we know it today. Jesus, Jeheshoua, Iesu, whatever one might name Him, would freak. But similarly to other situations, the church has too much invested and at stake to tip its hand.
Don’t believe me; go do the research. At least you will have some material to think with. You might actually discover something of meaning beyond belief.
