When did Christianity change?

Question

Christianity was about individual enlightenment until the 4th or 5th century. Thanks to Pope Gregory is becomes less about enlightenment and more about controlling the masses.

One of the reasons that gnosticism is considered heresy is because that kind of Christianity gives too much power to the individual.

We see proof of that here everyday. The fundamentalists know nothing about enlightenment.

I watched "The Real Mary Magdalene" on the National Geographic channel this morning. I took notes, which included pausing and rewinding many times.

Am I going to believe a book that makes no sense or scholars who have spent their life studying the bible and Chrustianity?

Answer 1

So you do all your learning from TV programs, pausing and rewinding ? Are you for real ?
Gnosticism and Hinduism were always for enlightenment through knowledge, even if they weren't sure if that knowledge came from what kind of spirit. Any suitably "impressive" knowledge beyond their ability to comprehend got them hooked. That's why they could never agree, even today among themselves even as to what enlightenment was. Read the Bible. Where is Christ teaching enlightenment through knowledge ? His gospel is one of salvation through Him. The Gnostics never died for their beliefs like the Christian martyrs since they could jettison these beliefs at any time. Same with other pagans.
Fundamentalists are atleast aware of good and evil and the message of Christ which is that of salvation and redemption not "enlightenment". The Gnostics live in a make-believe world of only good spirits which logically and through actual observation is false and in one word, incredibly stupid.
You want to go back to your Gospel of Thomas which makes incredible sense ? Feel free to fool yourself. God is not fooled by your games. Here is one of the icredible sensible sayings, lol, probably the Gnostics received while watching Christians being devoured by lions, hiding out in the arena among the Roman spectators:
"Jesus(!!!) said: Blessed is the lion, which the man shall eat, and the lion become man; and cursed is the man whom the lion shall eat, and the lion become man."
lol.

Answer 2

Whoa - you have come back in a fine fettle.
If Christianity was about ind.enl. then why did Jesus preach about the Good Sam., bearing fruit, and loving your neighbor as yourself?
The reasons Gnosticism is considered heresy is a) It denies the all sufficienty of Christ. b) The kind of Christianity robs individuals of power unless they jump through the loops to reach the "In" group. c) Gnosticism based on secret knowledge is elitist based on keeping others ignorant.
What proof GTW? Are you saying fundamentalists are proof that gnosticism is good? They are as closer gnosticism than anyone except scientists studying quantum mechanics. They are in the "know" like gnostics and freeze others out.
Are you refering to the same Nat.GG which has found the Ark?
The real MM? Anachronism to high heaven. A few 2000 year old second and third hand sources make someone real? Oh - the new gnosticism: KNOW THE REAL MM! Tsk.
You done real good here girl. What a hornet's nest.

Answer 3

Please believe the scholars and professionals who have carried the message of Jesus Christ since the beginning. Sacred Writings, non sacred writing, secular writings of the era, and critics of Catholicism during these times. All will point you towards the truth.

Do not be taken by modern silliness! National Geographic TV has been around how long? 30 years maximum? The magazine maybe 100 or 150 years? I am being generous here.

Study the French Revolution, Napoleon, and the Enlightenment Era that is now passing in favor of secularism, and Modernity. Study history not fads.

Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Answer 4

I think people change, partly because of their surroundings and culture. But one thing I believe totally is that God does not change. He is faithful and true, we can count on His love and goodness to us all. I did not see the story of Mary Magdalene that you spoke of, am not sure I would want to. Who made the story? Was it based on the Bible or some Hollywood image? I think what is more important than enlightenment is truth. Some of the things that people call enlightenment is just a new secular thought or theory. God Bless and have a wonderful New Year.

Answer 5

Well if the National geographic Channel is your source and interpreter of the truth, no wonder you are confused! That's what God gave us the Church and the Scriptures for. Trying to substitute anything else is bound to guide you down the path of falsehood.
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Answer 6

Actually christianity began to change in the first century. Many of the New Testement writings are trying to correct error in the church and Christianity. By the 6th century it no longer resembled the church of the 60 a.d. period. the council of nicea 336 A.D. had a lot to do with it.

Answer 7

All schools of thought are in constant flux. The whole enlightenment thing seem sto be highly out of favor as of late though. Perhaps with all the Eastern thought being the fad, it will come back?

Answer 8

I commend you for your research

this is exactly what I have been doing, it's not quick, it's not simple, but in the end you draw your own conclusions, choose your own spirituality and find peace of heart/mind/soul/body and learn to love others

I watched Rove and Bush do the same with the masses to generate a meelee for war and then be responsible for more than 650,000 deaths thanks to the illegal invasion/crusade and rising

sadly we are now at the 2,999 mark of troops died in Iraq, more than 25,000 total wounded/dead for servicemen in this arena alone, not counting all servicepersons or civilians during same time

Answer 9

Actually, Paul condemns Gnosticism in his letter to the Galatians. Likewise, Jesus let Thomas touch his wound, so as to satisfy his doubts about the flesh. Gnostics generally think the fleshly existence is trapping us and less valid than the spiritual. Christianity has always been against this teaching from Jesus forward.

Answer 10

Do you mean the change from being a very large mob of obnoxious invaders comitting genocide in the name of a loving god into the kind souls on this site?