Alternative Christianities Volume I

Alternative Christianities Volume I is the first of a three or more volume set about the history of early Christianity and the wide array of Christianities and beliefs that existed. Vince Nicolas is not the originator of these facts but has drawn from the aired and published works of prominent Biblical scholars, theologians, ministers, authors, and professors at the best universities in the United States. This was written as a “treatise” or an in-depth discussion or dissertation of a specific subject towards a pre-stated point(s). The purpose is to show how Christianity from its very beginnings veered off in the wrong direction which continued to be compounded as the centuries and millennia progressed. The “real” Christianity could possibly be found in some Alternative Christianities which were suppressed and banned. Often, the research leads to discussions of the ancient “Gnostics,” “Gnosticism,” and the “Gnostic Gospels.” The “Gnostic Christians” were one of the very popular Alternative Christian sects of the first centuries whom were a primary target for criticism and suppression. Slowly and methodically the Church of Rome became the sole official Christian Church from the 2nd through 4th centuries A.D. Any unsanctioned Gospels, Epistles, Acts, and Apocrypha by them were banned and “ordered destroyed” by the new universal (catholic) Christian Church. This caused a major riff with the Eastern Christian Churches in the Middle East, Africa, and the Far East who were most effected by the banning and destruction of the “Sacred Scriptures” passed down from the Disciples who convert them into Christianity. Vince is a historian, NOT a theologian. He is a teacher, not a preacher. He is a lifelong, well-educated, and practicing mainline Christian. He is not an “evangelist,” a religious fanatic, an agnostic, nor is he the devil (as he will be accused). He believes that Jesus Christ came to this Earth as our Lord and Savior. He preached a wonderful message of love, good works, compassion, and everything that is good. Jesus was arrested, prosecuted, and executed... BUT FROM THIS POINT ON, IT GETS VERY “FUZZY!” The Bible-thumpers will argue it but all four published Gospels relay completely different stories about His trial, passion, death, and resurrection. Then, if that is not “fuzzy” enough, read the Gospels, Epistles, Acts, and Apocrypha not published in the Christian Bible which are just as valid and are attributed to Jesus’ other Disciples: Peter, James, Philip, Thomas, Judas, and Mary Magdalene. These writings were held in equal reverence by many ancient Christianities. Although they were diverse in their liturgical practices and ceremonies, they were unified in their fundamental beliefs. This was due to the “Apostles’ Creed” which is said to have been agreed upon by “The Twelve” and needed to be professed sincerely from memory to be baptized as a “Christian.” This book will explain the historical formation and evolution of the various Christian “Bibles” of today, as well as being the source of innumerable religions, denominations, and sects who all call themselves “Christians” (who all consider themselves to be the “real” Christians) while differing in doctrines and beliefs (unlike Judaism and Islam). This book will explain why only FOUR GOSPELS (out of ten Gospels) were “chosen” by a few church fathers in the early centuries (based on one self-serving, self-proclaimed heresiologist in A.D. 180) to be the only ones included in the New Testament. All were written at the same time and are just as authentic, or in some cases prove to be even more authentic, than Matthew, Mark(?), Luke(?), and John. Also 40 or more other Epistles, Acts, Apocrypha, etc. also were written by these six Disciples but were not included in the New Testament. Why can’t we read everything written by a Disciple? Then the newly converted emperor of the Roman Empire, Constantine, politically used his new faith to unite the Roman Empire under his rule. He called together all the bishops from around the Roman Empire to Nicaea, Turkey, in order to come to an agreement and unify all the differing “Christian” beliefs (e.g., Was Jesus God or man or both? Was Jesus the human and Christ the divine spirit in him? Did he really physically die on the cross? Did he really rise from the dead?). He wanted there to be one set of common Christian beliefs. In 325 A.D., under Constantine’s supervision, these bishops expanded the long-standing “Apostles’ Creed” and issued the “Nicene Creed” which established the “One, Holy, Catholic (meaning “universal”), and Apostolic Church” with one set of beliefs going forward. Not all the Christian Churches, especially in the eastern Roman Empire, agreed which started causing friction and schisms from Rome. Then as mandated by the Council of Nicaea that council reconvened to establish the New Testament and which Sacred Scriptures would be included. This was completed by the end of the 4th century. It was basically the same list of the four Gospels and the selected Epistles documented in A.D. 180 (with many debated but few changes). All other “Sacred Scriptures” were banned and ordered destroyed by the “new” Christian (Catholic) Church along with the practice of any other “Alternative Christianity.” Other councils ensued to the point that the Eastern Churches split from Rome in 1054 while considering themselves dogmatically to be Orthodox (true) Christian Churches. Then In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation placed more emphasis and faith in these “selected” Gospels and the Epistles of Paul; some ignoring the Nicene Creed. This steered Christianity more in the wrong direction. An offshoot in the early 20th century, the evangelical “Great Awakening” preaching the New Testament is irrefutably the 100% inerrant, directly inspired word of God—willfully blind to its obvious discrepancies, contradictions, historical inaccuracies, and inconsistencies. They put MORE emphasize on preaching from the Epistles of Paul which they considered to be infallible in his (not Jesus’) teachings. They effectively “drove Christianity completely off the cliff.” Another major point of this treatise is that the Bible is a very human-book.” The Protestant evangelicals believe in the strict interpretation of the “inspired word of God” considering it as if it was hand-delivered by God personally to us here on Earth in a shrink-wrapped, tamper-proof package (like Tylenol ©) written entirely by Him and must be believed and followed to the letter and under penalty of eternal damnation. Ignored is the FACT the Gospels in the New Testament were passed down from generation to generation solely from memory only by word of mouth for decades, if not a whole century, before they were eventually written down; with no author indicated. Thus ignoring that when it came to forming the New Testament in the 4th century, Gospels were assigned the “best guess” or “most probable” originating Apostles’ name. So at best they can be called the “alleged words” passed down “allegedly from” Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Mark and Luke NOT being Disciples also were subject to an uneducated guess as to allegedly they were) “allegedly said by Jesus.” To that point, this treatise discusses the innumerable fallacies, inconsistencies, discrepancies, and outright contradictions in the Gospels. Consequently, many Christians today believe that it is not right to follow a “Christian” sect that is explicitly or implicitly solely a “Bible-based Christian religion;” one whose focus, faith, and salvation is based 100% on this circa 75% inaccurate book. It is a good and holy book, but it should not be raised to the level of a God and worshipped as a First Commandment “false idol.” There is more to “Christianity.” Some Christianities simply believe that Jesus came to show us that our earthly body will die but our spirit and soul will live on forever with Him; which was not belief of Judaism at that time.