An alternative theory of the history of christianity
Article 70: Index of exceptions against the theory
Web Publication by Mountain Man Graphics, Australia

Introduction

At the basis of the alternative theory of the history of christinianity is the Eusebian Fiction Postulate, which is elsewhere defined. One of the implications of this postulate is that christianity is a Constantinian phenomenom, and that all references to "the tribe of christians" in the literature of antiquity were "doctored" under the supreme imperial sponsorship of Constantine, and the editorship of Eusebius of Caesarea, or by subsequent imperially tenured "Ecclesiastial Writers" of the later 4th and 5th, and subsequent, centuries.

Therefore, the theory of history which relies upon the Eusebian Fiction postulate must necessarily require there to be no historical trace of christianity before 312 CE, when Constantine took Rome, or if there appears to be evidence, it must seek an alternative but reasonable explanation of that evidence.

Evidence such as reference to the literature of Josephus, Pliny, Tacitus and other earlier often quoted citations is excluded on the basis that this alternative theory of history uses the Eusebian Fiction Postulate; that the references to "the tribe of christians" was interploated into these early writers in the time of Constantine, or later.

The following list of exceptions have been raised against the postulate and the theory, and I have responded to these perceived exceptions as appropriate. I wish to thank all people concerned with these discussions, and for their contribution to the clarification of these issues of history.

In addition to the listed exceptions below I have conducted reviews of the following:

Robert Lane-Fox Exceptions: A critical review (Part 2) of the evidence in "Pagans and Christians" (1996)

Summary of Inscriptions and Papyri: Early Christian "Epigraphic Habit" and some Papyri

CRITICAL Review of Ante pacem: archaeological evidence of church life before Constantine -- by Graydon F. Snyder (2003)

Things pertaining to the "tribe of christians" before Constantine:

Exception 1: Dating of old christian papyrus manuscripts & fragments [c.120 CE] sourced from Oxyrhynchus, Egypt.
Exception 2: The (presumed via "Mural Motifs") christian church of Dura Europos [c.256 CE] & papyrii fragments
Exception 3: The Inscription of Abercius, presumed christian [c.216 CE]
Exception 4: The Christians for Christians Inscriptions of Phrygia, presumed prenicene.
Exception 5: The Catacombs of Rome; and especially the Catacombs of St.Callixtus.
Exception 6: The recent archeological diggings at Megiddo, Israel.






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