[conspiracy theory follows]
Saul forced his binding social contracts [epistles] upon posterity. I've read of the young Christian communities in Ephesis and other places beating him up for his shit. Still, he prevailed, because he knew that the first written documents would weigh heavily in the public traditions.
I may be wrong here, but wasn't he a magistrate's advocate working with Pilate toward Jesus' execution?
And when JC's followers failed to disperse after the execution, he saw a continuing threat in their presence.
Being a good agent of the empire, or whatever, he feigned his conversion, so that he could pump poison into the christian community from within.
Here's another debatable point: Does the number of the beast derive from 'Saul of Tarsus' [aramaic, greek, whatever] in numerology? Was that the code for trouble among the believers? If so, that explains his new name...
Another point: Saul introduced the proleptic myth of the second coming to the masses, didn't he? And basically told everyone to stand around with their feet apart, so when good ol' Jesus came through again, kicking ass and taking names, they could stick their heads between their legs and kiss their asses goodbye...
He introduced the paranoia that prevails in the church. He put the poisons of Guilt, Shame, Doubt and Fear into the public consciousness. He instructed Timothy in the finer points of keeping human souls in thrall.
This is the "Christian" legacy that has been passed down, through the centuries, through the generations, from parents and preachers to young children, whose pure souls became tainted and twisted through exposure.
Imagine that. Clean God-given souls, the Spirit-light shining brightly within...corrupted for life.
Children are taught to lie first, then they grow into the bad habits of cruelty, prejudice, xenophobia -- all in the name of Jesus.
I'm going to plug the gospel of Thomas at this point, I hope you don't mind my little bit o'proselytizing here.
There had been some discussion by scholars over the synoptic gospels (Mk, Lk, Mt), concerning which one came first, and the hypothesis arose that there was a source document that fed all three. The hypothetical text was named the Q Gospel.
The gospel of Thomas, from Coptic codices found in 1945, fits neatly into that niche. Furthermore, there are some other more important sayings from Jesus therein, that if broadcast and understood, presents much good evidence *against* the existence of any church.
If you're good with Thomas, you're good with Jesus. If you are wise with yourself, the wisdom of the great Spirit will recognize you.
That's what Jesus told Didymos Judas Thomas, anyway.
