GrandizerII[spoiler Wrote:pid='2172191' dateline='1696392847']
Alright, so I've just gone through all this text, but not sure I understood all key points here. What is the takeaway exactly? What is the relevance exactly to what we've been arguing about here? Or is this just sharing something from what you previously wrote up for a lecture or something that you thought would be an interesting read? Was Saul of Tarsus real or not?
Off-topic, I didn't understand what your issue was with Thomas being one of the "Twelve"? If there were 11 in the room, and Thomas was away, what's the problem exactly here? Nevermind, I see what you mean. 11 at that point, as in Paul wasn't an item then. Still, there were 12 at that point, per "John", and Paul is overlooked/ignored there. ETA: Also, forgot about Judas.
I copied it in, to demonstrate ONE point. I am not a Paul mythicist.
That's the only "takeaway".
Obviously someone wrote the damn letters, .. someone who had familiarity with other sources.
And that someone was an Apocalyptic Jew, who remained an Apocalyptic Jew, who was and remained in the Jewish Apocalyptic tradition, even after "conversion".
Every religion is true one way or another. It is true when understood metaphorically. But when it gets stuck in its own metaphors, interpreting them as facts, then you are in trouble. - Joseph Campbell 
Militant Atheist Commie Evolutionist
Militant Atheist Commie Evolutionist
