The Gospel of Judas (according to Wordsmith)
I've always held fascination with alternative scriptures (I have the book, "The Other Bible"), Gnostic Gospels, Apocrypha, and anything not recognized by Canon and the orthodox church. No, I've never read the Da Vinci Code (which I realize is a fictionalized novel), but there is evidence there...the idea that Mary Magdalene's role in history has been diminished and intentionally minimized and marginalized by the Roman Catholic Church; and that Judas may have "taken the fall", and been much wrongly maligned.
Don't forget to tune into the 2 hour documentary tonight on the National Geographic Channel. Googling around, I can already see the "true believers" are already dismissive and up-in-arms. Relax. Personally, I think it's odd that so many base their faith solely on the King James interpretation of the Bible.
PebblePie also blogs on this.
Here is a PDF of the translation.
Don't forget to tune into the 2 hour documentary tonight on the National Geographic Channel. Googling around, I can already see the "true believers" are already dismissive and up-in-arms. Relax. Personally, I think it's odd that so many base their faith solely on the King James interpretation of the Bible.
PebblePie also blogs on this.
Here is a PDF of the translation.
Labels: ancient history, Christianity, Gospels, Judas
posted by The WordSmith from Nantucket at 4/09/2006 08:06:00 AM
9 Comments:
The Dead Sea Scrolls, found decades ago, had information that inferred Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and they were immediately discredited by the Catholic church because it went against their whole religious philosophy.
From the introduction in The Other Bible, then, is a book of holy texts that were not included in the Old or New Testaments. It contains creation and Eden myths, psalms and romances, gospels and epistles, prophecies and apocalypses, histories and mystical documents. Every genre of the Bible is represented. It also has works from early Kabbalah, Haggadah, Hermes Trismegistus, and Plotinus.
Why did the specifically Jewish and Christian texts fail to find a place in the Bible? Was it a question of divine authority, period, doctrine? These errant scriptures are often aesthetically and religiously the equal of books in the canon and offer vital information, such as infancy gospels on Jesus' childhood, as well as alternate versions of major biblical stories. In a Manichaean version of Genesis it is Eve who gives life to Adam, while the serpent, the Luminous Jesus, is a liberating figure urging the first couple to take the first step toward salvation by eating from the Tree of Gnosis. The exclusioin of many texts was often as arbitrary and dubious as was the inclusion of such magnficent and dangerous books as Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs.
Hey.. sorry i haven't been around. It is now three weeks and i'm still ill.
Most all Christians will not even watch the show, or read about it. We have been told our wholes lives, we can add nothing to the bible, nor take anything away from it.
About two months ago, I started my first walk through the bible (reading from beginning to end)at home on my own, probably because I've lost my whole family, all left died (3)and all the thoughts you have about where they are, are they all in Heaven, are some in Hell, that thought freaked me out...
As I read along (I'm now in 1 Kings)I know God did not tell these Hebrews to murder, rape and steal, this would even destroy the minds of the Hebrew men (PTSD), I've always heard well God doesn't make mistakes, and the people they killed were Pagans... that's crap, all the things I heard about this can not be true of a loving God, (Not my God)I didn't even know what Gnostic or Canon was till three weeks ago! I'm sure all my pastors know this, why were we not told? Why did they keep us in the dark... isn't it the truth that sets you free?
I'm studying the Book of Thomas now, wow.. it's so cool. Constantine professed to be a Christian but he was actually paganistic, he burned reams and reams of books... He had his scribes change, delete, and rearrange passages... Now I have a whole new world of ancient texts to explore that I never knew existed.
What blows me away the most is, what started all this was my reading the bible on my own, using my brain,not having it taught to me.
I have a long way to go...
I watched it last night....and taped my other programs. Have to admit it was VERY interesting. I prayed while viewing it...on what to think. I have to believe that God had a hand in what was selected to be in the bible.
I believe as the one woman said on the interviews....these other gospels...should be viewed and studied as additional advance learning...instead of it being the Holy Bible. It still was very fascinating...and amazing that they were able to definitely authenticate with radio-carbon to get the approx. dates. I would recommend for ones to watch this 2 hour program. Haven't read the TDCode...and probably won't...but I sure have heard quite a bit about it.
I watched it and I thought it was very fascinating. If we weren't supposed to learn more and God didn't want these other stories known, they wouldn't be found...ever. I realize that people will just blow the whole thing off as forgery despite the proof before their eyes.
Like Pebblepie...my God is not hateful or vengeful.
Me too! Those figures are from 2003.
We always hear 'where their is smoke their is fire' Well when their is that much money inolved, something is amiss. I want to know why, very much.
Thanks for the thoughtful responses. I'm glad you guys don't feel threatened by alternative scriptures to canon. I think it's a sign of security in yourself and in your faith to not be afraid to grow, and to question, and to think for yourself, as PebblePie alludes to. It shows a willingness not to be closeminded, but open to possibilities.
I never did believe that Judas was necessarily an evil man. No more than anyone else really. Also, he had an integral role in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, in that, he was the one that identified Jesus to his captors.
Of course, God could have selected anyone for that responsibilty. Even me. I'm so glad it was Judas and not me, tho.
On this we can agree Wordsmith. Great post! I plan to watch in on Encore Thursday night.
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