Gospels of Thomas and Philip and Truth - Syriac Christian Church

Bertrand Russell, ‘An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish’ (1943): Tobacco ... is not
prohibited in the Scriptures, though, as Samuel Butler pointed out, St Paul would no
doubt have denounced it if he had known of it.
Will Durant, Caesar and Christ (1944): Paul created a theology of which none
but the vaguest warrants can be found in the words of Christ... Through these
interpretations Paul could neglect the actual life and sayings of Jesus, which he had
not directly known.... He had replaced conduct with creed as the test of virtue. It was
a tragic change.
Shaw Desmond, ‘Religion in the Postwar World’ (Oxford University Socratic
Club, 1946): Paul taught the opposite of Jesus.
Paul Schubert, ‘Urgent Tasks for New Testament Research’, in H.R. Willoughby
(ed.), The Study of the Bible Today and Tomorrow (1947): As regards Paul and his
letters there is no notable agreement [among modern theologians] on any major
issue.
Robert Frost, A Masque of Mercy (1947): Paul: he's in the Bible too. He is the
fellow who theologized Christ almost out of Christianity. Look out for him.
Frank Harris, My Life and Loves (vol.3, 1949): Christianity, mainly because of
Paul, has attacked the sexual desire and has tried to condemn it root and branch.
Herbert J. Muller, The Uses of the Past (1952): Saul of Tarsus, who became St
Paul,... knew Jesus only by hearsay, and rarely referred to his human life.... Paul
preached a gospel about Jesus that was not taught by the Jesus of the synoptic
Gospels.... Setting himself against [the] other disciples,... he was largely responsible
for the violent break with Judaism.... He contributed a radical dualism of flesh and
spirit unwarranted by the teachings of Jesus.
Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex (1953): St Paul enjoined self-effacement
and discretion upon women.... In a religion that holds the flesh accursed, woman
becomes the devil's most fearful temptation.
Federico Fellini, La Strada (1954): ‘Where are we?’ ‘In Rome. That’s St Paul’s.’
‘Then we’re joining the Circus?’
Nikos Kazantzakis, The Last Temptation of Christ (1955): The door opened. A
squat, fat hunchback, still young, but bald, stood on the threshold. His eyes were
spitting fire.... ‘Are you Saul?’, Jesus asked, horrified.... ‘I am Paul. I was saved—
glory be to God!— and now I've set out to save the world....’ ‘My fine lad,’ Jesus
replied, ‘I've already come back from where you're headed.... Did you see this
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