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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unconventional View of the Origins of Christianity,
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This review is from: The Origin of Christianity: The Pacifism, Communalism and Vegetarianism of Primi (Paperback)
For anyone wanting to know the real history of early Christianity, this book is both an essential and a "fun" read. First published in 1986 with the title "The Vegetarianism of Jesus Christ," this second edition has much additional material and substantial revisions which have made the book more interesting, more provocative, and more persuasive.Vaclavik (pronounced "vah-SLAH-vik") does not mince words or conclusions. The current so-called Christianity is at best a pale imitation of the real views of Jesus, and at worst an outright betrayal of its leader. Jesus was interested in promoting pacifism (nonviolence towards enemies), communalism (sharing of possessions), and vegetarianism (nonviolence towards animals). Vaclavik's book is important and valuable: I have read his book and profited from it. Moreover, I believe that in his important conclusions, he is absolutely right: pacifism, communalism, and vegetarianism were important parts of the message of Jesus. Vaclavik identifies three strains in early Christianity: Judaic Christianity, Gnostic Christianity, and Catholic Christianity. The Judaic Christians derived from Jesus himself and believed in the original tenets of Jesus: vegetarianism, pacifism, and communalism. But the origins of Jesus' ideas go back even further -- back, in fact, to Pythagoras, who held many of the same ideas. Pythagoras was thus, amazingly enough, a prophet of Christianity. The ancient Hebrews included both the priestly faction which advocated and practiced animal sacrifice, and the prophets who condemned animal sacrifice. The Judaic Christians rejected the priestly faction. They were called Nazarenes, an offshoot of the Essenes, and aligned themselves with the prophets and the Judaic Pythagoreans. Gnostic Christianity got its start with Paul. Paul preached a diluted message that did not include vegetarianism to Pagan gnostics, who were converted to become Christian gnostics. Catholic Christianity is even more derivative: it is an offshoot of Gnostic Christianity, and is thus "a heresy of a heresy." Catholic Christianity originated not with Paul, nor even with Peter, but with John "the beloved disciple" who was a Judaic priest who converted to follow Jesus as a young man. Vaclavik's book does not stick to the tried and true formulas. He is really heading off into uncharted territory, and his book is full of new and unconventional interpretations of the data. To cite just a few examples: the Nazarenes were an offshoot of the Essenes; Paul is the origin of Christian gnosticism; John the Priest (the "beloved disciple" of the gospel of John) originated the priesthood -- and with it, Catholic Christianity -- late in the first century; Jesus was probably born much earlier than usually thought, and was crucified in the year 36 at the age of 59, and may have survived his crucifixion by 18 months and met Paul personally and physically on the road to Damascus. I am not sure that I agree with all of these ideas, but on the central questions of importance to his book -- pacifism, communalism, and vegetarianism -- Vaclavik is right. In engaging Vaclavik's ideas -- and his data, which I'm willing to bet most scholars are unfamiliar with -- you will be challenged to examine both your own ideas about the historical Jesus, and your own decision whether or not to follow the personal example of this great religious leader. The future of Christianity rests on our ability to shake up traditional Christianity (and secular society too), and shake it at the foundations. Vaclavik's book is an important contribution to these tasks.
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