Thomas was condemned by the early church because he questioned whether the other apostles had actually seen Jesus after the crucifixion. He continued to doubt until he saw Jesus with his own eyes.
The early church fathers identified Mary Magdalene as a prostitute, although there is nothing in the Gospels that says so.
John, perhaps you shouldn't just write off these scholars without learning a bit more about them, what they've written, and what they say. Most of them have spent their lives in theological study.