Re Paul the apostle: he was evidently pretty much influenced by ortodox old testament teachings.
If we stick to my original observation, those letters you cited, even though not a sign of massive social enlightenment, do not incite to cruelty or violence.
We should know also the context. Maybe there had been bloody riots within slaves and Paul was trying to avoid violence.
Also, slavery in those times was an accepted part of life.
Also, the condition of women was to be very subdued.
Since the main of all Jesus disciples was a woman, Mary Magdalene, to whom Jesus manifested after resurrection before the Others, we should be wary in jumping to conclusions. The truth is that Jesus highly esteemed Magdalene, a woman. More than most male disciples. Whatever else the skeptics want to say, they are forgetting this basic fact.
If anything but the gospels is disturbing in the new testament it may be easily removed. The gospels are the only fundamental part.
Since we appear to have similar views Mccoy perhaps we should start a new topic on Jesus. This-the man that changed everything... everything!
