Christianity with one change

[Kitsune]

A little alternate history speculation. How would Christianity change if "Pauls" writings never found their way into the bible?

[Darth Wong]

A little alternate history speculation. How would Christianity change if "Pauls" writings never found their way into the bible?

It would have died out in the first century. Paul took Jesus' teachings and tacked on a whole lot of shit which was necessary to popularize the belief system. His most important doctrine was that your own personal moral behaviour is totally irrelevant to salvation; this provided a "get out of jail free" card which is still used as a recruiting tool today. The second doctrine was to bring it more in line with existing Jewish mythologies; Paul quotes the Old Testament extensively in his writings, but he never directly quotes Jesus even once. This helped broaden its support base, since Jesus' teachings, when taken at face value, were basically heresy (and it's not as if Pagans rushed to this belief system at first glance either).

Jesus' teachings would not have taken hold if Paul didn't alter them for marketing purposes. Assuming Jesus existed at all, of course.

[Crown]

I think Mike makes some excellent points, but honestly, I don't think it would have been any different. It was Constantine's political motives which forced Christianity upon the Roman Empire, I think he still could have pulled it off, Paul's teachings or not.

[Kitsune]

I think Mike makes some excellent points, but honestly, I don't think it would have been any different. It was Constantine's political motives which forced Christianity upon the Roman Empire, I think he still could have pulled it off, Paul's teachings or not.

In your thinking, woudl it evolved into a more acceptable religion?

[Crown]

I think Mike makes some excellent points, but honestly, I don't think it would have been any different. It was Constantine's political motives which forced Christianity upon the Roman Empire, I think he still could have pulled it off, Paul's teachings or not.

In your thinking, woudl it evolved into a more acceptable religion?

I'm not sure, IIRC it was John who really went to town on; Jews and women and you know introduced 'fianl rapture' and all that, so ... *shrug* I'm not a biblical scholar, far from it.

[RedImperator]

Paul's biggest contribution was successfully arguing (against James and Peter) that the New Covenant invalidated much of the old Law, so converting Gentiles didn't need to adopt dietary law, or celebrate Jewish holidays, or, perhaps most importantly, get circumcised. It gave the religion a universal appeal it wouldn't have had as a splinter sect of Judaism.

[Imperial Overlord]

Constantine may have pushed it onto the Empire in general, but that was in the early 4th Century when Christian denominations could be found throughout the Empire. It was one of the most popular mystery cults of the time (and Constantine's wife was a Christian). If Christianity hadn't been as popular, his wife would have probably been a member of a different religion and he would have pushed another mystery cult instead.

[TimothyC]

Christianity splits early in it's history due to a lack of early unification. As a result it fails to gain popularity in Europe, and thus is religated to a minor foot note in history. Islam develops slightly differently as a result, and possibly becomes the dominate religion in Europe.

[Kitsune]

So if I understand correctly, Paul is likely more important to Christianity than Christ?

Also, my understanding in none of the books are suppose to have been written by the people who they are associated with? If so, the letter which Paul is suppose to have written are basically someone else imagination on what these letters contained?

Finally, is there any reasonable evidence that Paul did actually exist?

[wolveraptor]

No. If there was no Messiah figure, like Jebus, there would be no basis for the New Testament. Paul was more important for Christianity's survival and eventual domination than Christ.

As for reasonable evidence, wasn't there an entire frickin' book by him? Whether the author was actually called Paul/Saul, or was a group of people, is irrelavent. it still indicates that he/she/they did exist.