Was Paul the inventor of Christianity as suggested by Hyam Maccoby in The Mythmaker?

Answer 1

Mudcat,

The problem with the answers you'll get is that you and I (and my hubby) may be the only people here who have read that book.

So mostly you'll get answers based in NOT knowing what Maccoby wrote.

I thought it was a well-reasoned argument.

And, based on how often Paul is quoted rather than Jesus, many people who call themselves Christians ought to really call themselves Paulists.

Answer 2

No. Moses based Judaism, Christ Christianity, and Muhammad Islam. Samuel and David might have helped to stipulate Judaism like Peter and Paul helped to stipulate Christianity, yet those grownup men are no longer to any extent further the founders. In some techniques, Christ is the start and Paul is the interior decorator. Or indoors the least, the wallpaper.

Answer 3

No. Moses founded Judaism, Christ Christianity, and Muhammad Islam. Samuel and David may have helped to define Judaism like Peter and Paul helped to define Christianity, but those men are not the founders.

In some ways, Christ is the foundation and Paul is the interior decorator. Or in the least, the wallpaper.

Answer 4

i haven't read the book but i came up with that theory myself.

It seems to me that there is a christianity that was invented by jesus which involves love, forgivenes, prayer and faith.

And there is a christianity that was invented by paul which involves worshipping jesus and accepting that he died for our sins etc.

Most people seem to be more into pauls style, but i consider myself christian and i completely ignore paul and just follow jesus's teachings. They work better for me.

One interesting thing here is that similar things happened in buddhism. Later buddhists actually created gods and worship and prayer which had nothing to do with Buddhas teachings. What it makes me think is that there is a group of people in society who really need or want worship and some divine godly figure to rely on, and perhaps it is important that we let them go about their strange practices in peace.

But we can look at the writings and understand what was really meant.

Answer 5

The answer is no.
1 Corinthians 11:1 has Paul saying:
"Become imitators of me, even as I am of the Christ."
He followed Jesus.
He did quite a bit to spread the word, but he took his lead from Jesus.

Answer 6

Would it really make a difference to them whether it was Paul, Judas, L. Ron Hubbard, or Joseph Smith? It's certainly a possibility, but it won't change anyone's adherence to these myths.

Answer 7

Well, the bible does give the appearance of showing what Paul thought Jesus said rather than what Jesus of Nazareth said. Many decrees seem to come from his teachings.

Answer 8

No Paul was the proclaimer of the Gospel to the Gentile nations. He took the Gospel of Christ thoughout the known world and offered it as it was suppose to be to everyone. He didnt create it but it did mass produce it.

Answer 9

No. God in the Person of Jesus Christ was the inventor of Christianity. St. Paul was merely his Apostle.

Answer 10

christianity means to be a follower of Christ or one who knows him. paul was only tyrying to help those who wonted to follow Christ but we must remember he had a jewish back ground.