Reading Between The Lines Of The Bible

My mind is on Christianity at the moment. It must have been quite nice before all the dogma and canon set in.(Besides the persecution that is.)  I'm certain there was a time when none of the followers of The Way looked to a set of texts and said, "This is word of God, unchangeable." I can't imagine Jesus ever said anything like, "Listen up! After I'm gone some dudes are going to get together and decide what I was all about. You better read and obey their books or else!" I just don't see that as what went down. I think Jesus probably taught basic spiritual truths in language those contemporary to him could begin to understand. It's my belief that people were so identified with their message at the time, that he may have actually told people he was the only way. It's possible no one would have taken him seriously unless he used such language. They would have realized what he meant. That some people take it mean something so very literal now appears to me a mistake. That we could gain from the message, even it were proven the man never even existed strikes me as the truth. Everything exists on some level.