The evidence we have indicates that Christianity was strongly opposed by Jews and the Romans in the first, the second and the third centuries. Constantine is said to have ended government opposition to Christianity in the fourth century. By the time he did, Christian doctrine was fully developed, and a canon had long before emerged. All the books from which Christian doctrine derives were written in the first century. Those who believe that Christianity was constructed, and that it was constructed for social control seem to base those beliefs on blind faith. Is there anyone who can provide any evidence that Christianity was constructed, or that it was used to control any social group in the first, second or third centuries?
I believe Christianity began with Paul who wanted to start a new religion and then was picked up by the Romans and turned into something used for social control. Here are the first chapters to a great book I used to have on the subject (unfortunately I loaned it to a friend and never saw it again. =/ ) http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/maccoby2.htm
Organized religion period is social control. If you control how and what people think, you control what they do.
