Originally posted by twhitehead
So you admit your original claim was false?
[b]anyhow, they couldnt stop the followers of christ growing, so instead of fighting them, they joined them, and thats when the bible was written, under the governaance of King Constintene.
Surely you don't believe that? Where did you get that information, and why did you believe it? Or did you make it u ...[text shortened]... uld I take advice from someone who thinks that the Bible was written in English 2000 years ago.[/b]
vishvahetu has his history wrong but his points are an echo of something valid.
The Gospels were written somewhere close to 100AD. The idea of collecting together a definitive collection of approved texts came more than a century later - becoming the Bible as we know it over another century. Those who object to the Church claiming authority in relation to the Bible are sadly confronted with the reality that it only exists because the early Church put it together - selecting for example only four from a great many candidate versions of the Gospels.
The Emperor Constantine - in the second half of the Fourth Century (say 350 on - I could check) - had experience of attempts to suppress the Christians by violence and concluded it could not succeed. So he afforded to Christians the same tolerance available to pagan religion, including money to build churches and tax relief for clerics. In return he required the Bishops to assist in secular administration and in managing the civil disorder frequently associated with religious disputes and rivalries. He himself did not become Christian though he was baptised on his deathbed. Naturally, any state supported church had to find ways - and quickly - to incorporate warfare into its practices.
Constantine and his officials then hit a problem. There were not only many Christian sects, each seeking tax relief and other benefits, but also they were in violent, intolerant dispute with each other, using the most offensive terms to accuse their rivals of being the pawns of Satan. Clearly the emperor had to determine who could and who could not enjoy the benefits of state support. Besides he regarded these unpleasant disputes as a scandal. His early impression of Christians had turned out to be naive and ill informed (but his officials might have told him that in a democracy).
One way he did this was to attempt, through councils of bishops under his supervision, to establish and enforce some agreement on what was Christian doctrine and to establish some firm authority among the bishops. From this same process emerged the importance of suppressing heresy and reportedly over 50 major heresies were identified, reflecting the great diversity of Christian beliefs and theology. The decisions in matters of faith were frequently determined through bribery and violence, in which the role of divine inspiration and guidance can only be perceived with the greatest imaginative contrivance.
The Erroneous Islam
09 Jun '10 14:591 edit
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