Reply #9: In the early days of Christianity

[DoYouEverWonder]

there were 100's of different sects. However, there emerged 3 major groups. First the Jewish Christians, which included the original apostles.

From there some of Jesus' followers went down a more mystical path and became gnostic christians. Their beliefs about Jesus and god are now considered 'radical'.

Then along came Saul of Tarsus, who was converted on the road to Damascus and became Paul. He combined the teachings of Jesus with his pagan god Mithras and this is the 'god' that most modern day christians are following. He has little to do with the real Jesus at this point.

Has the Pauline Christians became more powerful and became accepted by the Romans, they decided that the gnostic teachings were heretical and needed to be suppressed. The Paulines persecuted and killed the gnostic christians, just about wiping them out by 400 AD.