[mike182d]

Uh, the Cathers did. The Menonites do. The Armenian church does as well as the ancient Christian church in India. Claiming descent from an apostle is a common element in the older model Christian churches. The newer models dispense with finding it a necessity ~ particularly those who claim the special guidance of the Holy Spirit.

It is not mere descent that is being lauded, but the lineage in union with the teaching. Despite being a Bishop and successor of one of the Apostles, no one would claim that Arius and his followers were a legitimate branch of Christianity because there teachings diverged from what had been believed since the beginning.

[muawiyah]

Most likely, but the very next generation after Thomas arrived in India was definitely into the "reincarnation" thing.

We can only imagine how other apostles' messages were slightly modified.