| Whilst Paul was probably the founder of Christianity, the creeds and doctrines were developed later by synods of bishops within the early Roman Church. It was St Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430) a bishop and philosopher, who is considered by many to be the founder Christian theology, amongst other things he established the official canon, defended the concept of hell and formulated as to who would be sent there, endorsed warfare providing it was done in the name of Christ and contended that the original sin of Adam was of a sexual nature and that this sin would be inherited by mankind, (he seems to have been somewhat obsessed with sex and had guilt feelings about his own early sexual exploits.)
For anyone interested in the origins of Christianity, then St Augustine and these early synods are well worth looking at.
If there were in the world today any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have paradise in a few years.
Bertrand Russell
Last edited by Walrus; May 1, 2008 at 05:52 am.
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