What are your thoughts in reading the Apocrypha [View all]

I’m asking those who believe what do you think so far I’ve read.
The book of Mary
Enoch
Wisdom of Solomon
And now The Gospel of Thomas and in reading Thomas i think i understand why it was excluded. In that it teaches we’re it is already inside of us.

And there is no need for organized church in our quest alls we need to do is look within ourselves and will find what we are looking for.

This is not assault on the early church or believers i was raised in church. Yet I have questions especially growing older i often think am i superstitious from being exposed as child to Christianity in that you have to believe because of the afterlife.

One question why were these books excluded did the early church know of them or did they not align with the early churches views and tossed aside.
The early church had two options either exalt women or oppress them and they chose option two.

I have been told by a pastor that the Apocrypha were not deemed legitimate then i ask why in asking him the book of Mary teaches us once again that salvation comes from within us no church no offering plate no middleman.

His reply was the same answer you have to have faith it’s ok to ask and have questions yet you must not stray to far I’m like huh.


And this pastor is a friend and he goes on that our God is a loving kind God.
I’m like huh God is a Narcissistic tyrant example if you do not love me then you will burn in eternity what kind of father would do that to his children.

And is eternal damnation another construct of early church to control us. And In early Hebrew when you’re dead that’s it nothing no afterlife if I’m correct in understanding what I have read both good and bad your gone and your children live on.

I have motivation in that if there is afterlife then i want in because I am in no rush to get there yet i want to see my wife again.

And in now looking to go to new church I'm thinking after reading do we need to attend church I was thinking of going to Unitarian church a friend of mine who truly does have compassion empathy love for others is quite the example and I’m impressed with her in knowing her these last two years.

A dyslexic bad punctuation ramble over coffee yet once again in closing as all of us i have questions yet no answers.