Personal Jesus

[Mad Dog]

Does anyone find it weird that Christianity began before the advent of Christ?

I read somewhere that Christianity began sometime around 200 B.C. I wish I could remember what it was I read so I can cite it.

I think you are refering to the "Essenes cult". They were a group of jews that felt the Jewish Leaders had become corrupt, so they formed there own splinter group in the desert. Since copies of the Tora (Jewish Bible) were un available, they were allowed to scribe copies of their own, and they are now known as "The Dead Sea Scrolls" They are the ones who began to baptize or emerse in water people who wanted to join their sect. It is beleived that John the Baptist was an Essene and it is suspected but not proven that Jesus was an Essene as well.