Freethought & Rationalism Archive

DBT · 09-26-2004, 05:14 AM

I don't know if this has already been covered in previous threads.

Is there any merit to the story of the St Thomas journey to India?
If it did happen as claimed It would seem to support the the idea that there was a literal 'Jesus', a preacher /prophet with disciples,etc as the basis of christianity?

Quote;
There are people who doubt about the apostolate of St. Thomas in India. However, according to the tradition, St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, came to India in 52 A.D., and landed at Kodungallur on the Malabar (presently Kerala) coast. He preached the Gospel to the Brahmin families of Kerala, many of whom received the faith.

This tradition is confirmed by the testimonies of many of the Fathers of the Church. It was not difficult for the Apostle to come to India, because extensive trade relations existed between Malabar and the Mediterranean countries even before the Christian Era. There is nothing to contradict this tradition

Toto · 09-26-2004, 10:14 AM

The official Catholic story

Quote:

. . .On the other hand, though the tradition that St. Thomas preached in "India" was widely spread in both East and West and is to be found in such writers as Ephraem Syrus, Ambrose, Paulinus, Jerome, and, later Gregory of Tours and others, still it is difficult to discover any adequate support for the long-accepted belief that St. Thomas pushed his missionary journeys as far south as Mylapore, not far from Madras, and there suffered martyrdom. . . .

DBT · 09-26-2004, 06:10 PM

Toto,

Thanks for the link.
Pfff,yet another story from religion for which it is "difficult to discover any adequate support for the long-accepted belief" :angry:

judge · 09-27-2004, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBT

I don't know if this has already been covered in previous threads.

Is there any merit to the story of the St Thomas journey to India?
If it did happen as claimed It would seem to support the the idea that there was a literal 'Jesus', a preacher /prophet with disciples,etc as the basis of christianity?

Recently some in China have suggested there is evidence of Christians there in 86 C.E. . I wish there was some more deatil to this story as i can't see what makes the designs specifically Christian.
Anyone know of this?

Quote:

Studies show that as early as 86 A.D., or the third year under the reign of "Yuanhe" of Eastern Han, Dynasty Christianity entered into China, 550 years earlier than the world accepted time.

When studying a batch of stone carvings of Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 A.D.) stored and exhibited in the Museum of Xuzhou Han Stone Carvings, Christian theology professor Wang Weifan was greatly surprised by some stone engravings demonstrating the Bible stories and designs of early Christian times.

Further studies showed that some of these engravings were made in 86 A.D., or the third year under the reign of "Yuanhe" of Eastern Han Dynasty, 550 years earlier than the world accepted time of Christianity's entrance into China

Toto · 09-27-2004, 06:00 PM

It looks like the Christian professor saw what he wanted to, but I'll pass to Vork on this one.

Tombstone Carvings from AD 86: Did Christianity Reach China In the First Century?

09-26-2004, 05:14 AM	#1
DBT Contributor Join Date: May 2003 Location: ɹǝpunuʍop puɐן ǝɥʇ Posts: 17,906	The St Thomas journey to India. I don't know if this has already been covered in previous threads. Is there any merit to the story of the St Thomas journey to India? If it did happen as claimed It would seem to support the the idea that there was a literal 'Jesus', a preacher /prophet with disciples,etc as the basis of christianity? Quote; There are people who doubt about the apostolate of St. Thomas in India. However, according to the tradition, St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, came to India in 52 A.D., and landed at Kodungallur on the Malabar (presently Kerala) coast. He preached the Gospel to the Brahmin families of Kerala, many of whom received the faith. This tradition is confirmed by the testimonies of many of the Fathers of the Church. It was not difficult for the Apostle to come to India, because extensive trade relations existed between Malabar and the Mediterranean countries even before the Christian Era. There is nothing to contradict this tradition

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09-26-2004, 06:10 PM	#3
DBT Contributor Join Date: May 2003 Location: ɹǝpunuʍop puɐן ǝɥʇ Posts: 17,906	Toto, Thanks for the link. Pfff,yet another story from religion for which it is "difficult to discover any adequate support for the long-accepted belief" :angry:

09-27-2004, 06:00 PM	#5
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	It looks like the Christian professor saw what he wanted to, but I'll pass to Vork on this one. Tombstone Carvings from AD 86: Did Christianity Reach China In the First Century?

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