Okay, Noah, that was one of the best posts we've seen thus far. Nice stuff.
When you touch on Marcion of Sinope, I can't help but get excited because the era in which he lived (150 yrs. prior to 200 yrs. after) is the time that cranks my tractor!
The cool thing about Marcion is that most all we know of him comes from those who hated him. His main infraction was the recreation of a NT text that only contained the supposed words of Christ and the Pauline texts. He didn't reject the God of the OT, but he did see that God as a separate God from the NT's. The Catholic church, in its early stages, separated from him after his father excommunicated him for sexual sins. This religious ouctast was already in hot water by the time his rogue views found parchment.
This biggest problem with Marcionism is the lack of creedence given to supposed prophecy fulfillment. I don't have a clue what is true, but I do know that the only way for Jesus to have credibility as "savior" is through prophecy. The Jews who followed and the Gentiles who proselyted did so because of the supposed fulfillment of prophecy in the OT. If the two, Christianity and Judaism, are in staunch contrast, as Marcion believed, then Marcion would have to establish a new list of criteria for Jesus' validity. It's not that that can't be done, it's that Marcion didn't do it. That left Christianity, in Marcion's structure, as no better than any other religion that began in the 1st century of the Common Era. Obviously, that does not sit well with anyone who wants to view his/her belief system on a continuum that ascribes critical importance to every point and event.
Enough of my babbling. I'll save it for another class.
Again, nice post, Noah.
