John Toland is one of those authors that has a desideratum and compathy for sophistry but at the same time claiming that he is a pursuer of truth. He is the type of person who lives on the fringe of truth; but knowingly never wants to fully accept it.

Author

John Toland is a very complicated individual, he is ambivalent and is seldom overtaken by synesthesia. In all of his writings we feel that he is talking about one subject but feeling something completely different and is being compelled by an ectoplasmic force to write indifferent and detached from reality.

Publication notes

This book is a translation and was published by Stuttgart-Bad Cannstaat in 1964.

Book cover

Introduction

We read that this book got John ostracized; the book produced much hue and cry. The end result being that John had to flee to greener pastures; away from the marauding book burning mobs.

Summary of content

The book is a summary of all that is absurd, unreasonable and scatological. There is quite a lot of this in the New Testament where one story is told four times; all in completely opposite ways than before, but still insist that they have only one Gospel. John points out these flaws and it seems that the general public did not like anachronisms, errata, and bumf pointed out.

Analysis

Q. What is the best method of communicating the truth to others?

A. Page ix. Share the method, which you yourself used to learn the truth, with others.

Q. What were the sects of Jews?

A. Page xxi. For the Jewish Rabbies, divided at that time into Stoick, Platonick, and Pythagorean sects.

Q. What does John not follow?

A. Page xxviii. Neither Paul, nor Cephas [Peter], nor of Apollos, but of Jesus.

Q. What do people mostly talk about?

A. Page 1. Connoisseur of ignorance makes an expert in knowledge. We must adore what we cannot comprehend.

Q. What excuses are used to deter the incomprehension of Christian scripture?

A. Page 4. You need to have the holy spirit to under stand. Only the early Fathers could undertenant this.

Q. What are the four ways to obtain information?

A. Page 16. The experience of the senses, the experience of the mind, human and divine revelation.

Q. What is a contradiction?

A. Page 39. To say something is extended and not extended, something is round and square at the same time. How can something be god and man at the same time?

Q. What two things are needed?

A. Page 41. Divine wisdom and sound reason.

Q. What type of mysteries were introduced into Christianity?

A. Page 72. Mysteries were introduced by Epopt and the most famous were the Samothracian, the Eleusinian, the Egyptian, and those of Bacchus. A true doctrine cannot ever be called a mystery.

Q. Paul used mystery but did Jesus also use mystery?

A. Page 107. Yes, Mat 13:10-11, Mark 4:11, Luke 8:10.

Q. What does John say about the book?

A. Page 113. It is a very dangerous book; he’s a dangerous man that wrote it ; he’s for believing nothing but what agrees with his own purblind, proud and carnal reason.

Q. What were Jews and Greeks after?

A. Page 127. The Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, 1 Cor 1:22.

Q. Is the New Testament against using reason and mind?

A. Page 128. The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be, (Rom 8:7).

Q. How did God promise and command Abraham?

A. Page 136. God promised Abraham that his seed will multiply but before it could even multiply God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son. Did Abraham not think that if he sacrifices the child then God’s promise will not be fulfilled?

Q. What was added to the ceremony of Baptism?

A. Page 169. After the second and third century, taking of milk and honey were added to the Baptism. Sign of the cross and white garments were also added. Fasting, anointing, kissing and set times for administration. Injection of salt and wine into the mouths of the Baptized. Later lights, exorcisms, insufflation, and many other extravagances of heathen original. From this source sprang not only belief in omens, presages, apparitions, and other vulgar observations among Christians; but also images, alters, music, dedications of Churches, and in them distinct places for laity, and the clergy. There is nothing like these in the writings of the Apostles, but they are all plainly contained in the books of the Gentiles, and was the substance of their worship.

Q. What new people and titles emerged from the Gentile books and practices?

A. Page 170. Sub-Deacons, Readers/Lectors, Popes, Cardinals, Patriarchs, Metropolitans, Archbishops, Primates (head of bishops), Suffragans, Archdeacons, Deans, Chancellors, Vicars, Rectors. All these are laborers in the Lord’s vineyard. This was all done to increase the splendor of this new state.

Conclusion

John has declared a war against all the mysteries of Christianity. His conclusion is that all these mysteries were adopted from the pagan region of the Gentiles and the Gentiles are the ones to incorporate them into the faith.