Originally posted by shunyadragon
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Perhaps some others would be startled by such information but is seems a normal process and the idea of reading it back into the earlier history is also not unusual. What interests me is did the early Christian communities specifically look for polytheistic images to 'justify' Jesus? We have a better grasp of the scope of history from our vantage point but did 1st C CE Jesus followers even know about the polytheism to monotheism path of their faith?
A more sympathetic view and perhaps a recognition of how humans work is that they looked to their scriptures for help explaining how this crucified criminal, experienced to be 'risen' and exalted by God, could be the Messiah.
I never took the stories of the spirit or the word of God as 'other Gods' ( did 1st C Jews?) but as descriptions of the one God at work.
Still, interesting reading.
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