What were Jesus and early Christians like?

[watchamadoodle]

I imagine indoctrination might be the key force that moderates new religious movements. The first generation of believers make a choice, so they are loony. The second generation of believers are indoctrinated from birth. Many of them are biologically normal - even if they are raised in a cult environment. Maybe this second generation begins to moderate the religion they inherit?

The Didache might give a glimpse at some of the earliest believers. It seems pretty rough and uninspiring to me.

One theory I have is that the Christians existed in the generations before Jesus was born (similar to Qumran, the Essenes, or the Theraputae). Maybe Jesus was bipolar or had delusional disorder grandiose. When Jesus was crucified, the early Christians were disappointed, but moved on. Later when the temple was destroyed, the crucifixion of Jesus was dredged-up to explain the event. They could claim Jesus prophesied the event, and that the "sacrifice" of Jesus eliminated the need for future sacrifice. (I don't know how to fit Paul into this theory. He made Jesus the center before the temple was destroyed. I guess my idea doesn't work. )

The Mormon's are a great example too. Some guy supposedly pulls the religion out of his magic hat. Now the LDS church is big and respectable.