<p>As I said, I’m not an expert. I’d read up some on Thomasines, and the ones I read described themselves as a kind of gnostics. i’d assumed since you traced them to Thomas that they connect to the Thomas gospel–I see that is not correct.</p>
<p>I pretty much base my “religious” view on the Sermon on the Mount, also. I think I would resist the story which says that Jesus didn’t really die, but actually moved away, as a little deflating (I don’t need a death, but I’d be disturbed by a deception). His followers, esp close friends like Peter, would then have been heartbreakenly misled. It just doesn’t seem to fit his character.</p>