It’s not that the “assemblers of the Bible didn’t like the secular teachings of Thomas, and so banned it and ordered its destruction” – but the fact is, the “book” was proven to be untrue because it made Yeshua (Jesus) sound “secular”. That in itself, would nullify Yeshua’s reason for existing in the first place, which was to be our Divine, Final Sin Sacrifice. The things that Thomas supposedly espoused about “his brother”, and the way he expressed them clearly show that this “book” was completely made up, because any REAL brother of our Savior would do everything in his power to ensure that the world would know the Truth. The Book of Thomas simply doesn’t fit the REAL and Biblical story of Yeshua which reveals Him to be a Torah-observant, tallit-wearing, feast and Sabbath-keeping, kosher JEW.

In other words, somebody is trying to pool the wool over the world’s eyes – and it seems to be working…..

Only two of the reviewers in antiquity (1st thru 3rd centuries people who reviewed these documents) -in this case, Origen and Eusebius of Caesarea – who reviewed the books to decide whether or not they were valid, BOTH felt that the Book of Thomas was heretical or just plain false.

And, you WANT it to be true. Well, as an atheist, I doubt that you are qualified to decide that the “god of the Christians is a farce”.

The bottom line is, just because YOU don’t believe in Christ doesn’t mean He didn’t exist or do the things the Bible tells us He did. The recent events of the world (natural disasters of Biblical proportions, terrorists attacks and activities, strange diseases that have the medical people on the edge of their seats, etc) are proof that the Bible isn’t a book of fairy tales. Take a look at events in the Middle East; they are occurring EXACTLY as the Bible outlined.

I always find it amusing that atheists insist they don’t believe, yet they seem to have this constant need to talk or write about God and the Bible. The internet is full of atheists talking about God! If you don’t believe, why don’t you just ignore the whole issue? Don’t talk about it; let it be. If you think believers are a bunch of kooks who believe in the bogey man, don’t associate with them; just leave them to their little, imaginery worlds. Why do you HAVE to talk about them?

The other thing that always makes me break out in a grin is the things atheists say about God and the Bible. EVERYTHING they say points to the fact that they don’t have a clue, yet they feel the need to espouse an opinion about it, anyway. Why would anyone want to show the world how much they DON’T know? (Well, I guess the answer to that is, they have a support group of other atheists who also don’t have a clue, and so like piranhas, they feed off each other.)

Amazing.

Carmen @ The Refiner’s Fire.

Because:
1. The christians are always shoving their religion in our faces.
2. You want to force your religion onto our children.
3. The christians want to control what we do in our lives.
4. The christians are constantly trying to change history to support their religion.
5. The christians are obnoxious, self righteous and arrogant.

Personally, I have no problem with what anyone believes in. Just stop shoving it down our throats. The only religion I see in this country that is trying to impose their crap on everyone else is christianity.

Let me ask you, why are you here?

the “book” was proven to be untrue because it made Yeshua (Jesus) sound “secular”.

Wow, what a delightful example of backwards, ad hoc reasoning.

BOTH felt that the Book of Thomas was heretical or just plain false.

Believe and you will believe.

Well, as an atheist, I doubt that you are qualified to decide that the “god of the Christians is a farce”.

What if the atheist was once a christian? And what exactly makes you qualified to judge our qualifications?

The recent events of the world (natural disasters of Biblical proportions, terrorists attacks and activities, strange diseases that have the medical people on the edge of their seats, etc) are proof that the Bible isn’t a book of fairy tales.

Another delicious non-sequitur.

Take a look at events in the Middle East; they are occurring EXACTLY as the Bible outlined.

Funny, I have yet to read anything in the papers about seven-headed dragons.

I always find it amusing that atheists insist they don’t believe, yet they seem to have this constant need to talk or write about God and the Bible.

Because you force us to with your oppressive evangelical cultural pushiness.

The internet is full of atheists talking about God! If you don’t believe, why don’t you just ignore the whole issue? Don’t talk about it; let it be.

In other words “get out of the way and let us run your lives.” Nice.

If you think believers are a bunch of kooks who believe in the bogey man, don’t associate with them; just leave them to their little, imaginery worlds. Why do you HAVE to talk about them?

Because we live in time when a guy who hears voices in his head also has the ability to wipe out all of civilization in a single nuclear volley.

The other thing that always makes me break out in a grin is the things atheists say about God and the Bible. EVERYTHING they say points to the fact that they don’t have a clue, yet they feel the need to espouse an opinion about it, anyway.

Funny, my experience has always been that it is the non-believers who more often take the time to actually read the bible, while the average church-goer, especially the fanatical ones, only repeat what the pastor tells them and neglect to read the context.

Why would anyone want to show the world how much they DON’T know?

Perhaps so they could finally know. But it is not atheists who insist on spreading the ‘good news’ – whether that means going door to door, participating in missionary trips to ‘heathen’ lands, or accosting random people on the street.

(Well, I guess the answer to that is, they have a support group of other atheists who also don’t have a clue, and so like piranhas, they feed off each other.)

I have no idea what this is supposed to mean.

Amazing.

You are welcome. Glad to have had the opportunity to entertain your sense of wonder.

I really don’t know much of anything about the gospel of Thomas. Just that it’s gnostic.

Which issue of the New Yorker did that article appear? I just got a subscription for xmas.

After all, “Teach the Controversy.”

I know Elaine Pagels wrote for the New Yorker. Go to Amazon and type in Gnostic gospels. You will see that she wrote the articles… I think. Pagels is one of my favorite authors. She wrote “Beyond belief” and “Gnostic Gospels”. As you might guess, I eat this kind of stuff up for breakfast, but haven’t gotten to these books just yet. They’re on my list. I like her well researched approach and her helping me put the bible in historic context.

Carmen started out interesting, but fell into the accusational trap. Oh well. I was hoping she could help me understand how the essene’s beliefs converged with gnosticism and even cabala. All this stuff fascinates me, but I’m afraid I don’t have time for all the reading I would like.

I personally think that there is ample evidense that Jesus existed, but it is obvious that all the miraculas deeds were mad up to show that Jesus was greater than the Roman Gods.