The development of Christianity shows a gradual takeover by…

The development of Christianity shows a gradual takeover by Platonists in a manner similar to that envisioned by Plato, in which the original idea is gradually replaced. In Plato's vision, the philosophers do not believe what they are saying. With Christianity, we do not have any direct admissions from the gospel writers or the church fathers of making stuff up, but can see a progression from an ascetic esoteric sect to a mass political movement with esoteric elements eliminated and with a greater influence from Greek philosophy.