Originally posted by Outis
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At the time Constantine rolled around, you still had Marcionism, Montanism, and the Valentian-style Gnosticism. These were numerically sufficient to be actual competition, not simply "fringe" movements with few adherents. Indeed, the Marcionist churches survived into the 5th century, even in the face of competition from the "approved" version.
Additionally, even within what would later become "orthodox" Christianity, you had a great deal of theological foment and variance.
Which is a splendid way of dismissing arguments that you disagree with, without having to address the evidence for those arguments.
For those who actually want to examine the evidence, I strongly recommend Eamon Duffy's _Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes_ and Bart Ehrman's _The New Testament: A Historical Introduction_. Ehrman has some able critics, so for a more complete picture, I also recommend Larry W. Hurtado's _Lord Jesus Christ_.
Additionally, even within what would later become "orthodox" Christianity, you had a great deal of theological foment and variance.
Which is a splendid way of dismissing arguments that you disagree with, without having to address the evidence for those arguments.
For those who actually want to examine the evidence, I strongly recommend Eamon Duffy's _Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes_ and Bart Ehrman's _The New Testament: A Historical Introduction_. Ehrman has some able critics, so for a more complete picture, I also recommend Larry W. Hurtado's _Lord Jesus Christ_.
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