Religious (specifically Christian) question

[dcentity2000]

What do we make of the Gospel of Judas? I know stuff all about it. I mean, is it even in the Bible?



Rich::

 

[mickeyfan2]

No it is not one of the books of the Bible. I thought that the translation would be released later this month.

 

[JoyG]

Never heard of it?

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I just watched an ABC news thing about this. I don't think it's real and furthermore, it has no bearing on my relationship with God.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I believe there is going to be something on Dateline about it tonight. The "copy" they have is dated fromt he 300 AD - 400 AD, so this "copy" was not written by Judas.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Mickeyfan, it's going to be on Primetime

 

[mickeyfan2]

Mickeyfan, it's going to be on Primetime

Oops, wrong show. Thank you for correcting me.

 

[donnajon]

It doesn't make any sense to me. It was not written by Judas but rather 300 years later. Plus, if this were true, why would Judas have committed suicide?

 

[palmtreegirl]

I think it's really interesting.

 

[MzDiz]

Misquoting Jesus is a really interesting book about how many times the bible's been rewritten and how it's changed (I'm reading it right now). Copies of gospels written hundreds of years after that person has died isn't surprising.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

There are lots of gnostic writings from around this era (2nd and 3rd century CE), and most all have some ideas in common. Such as...

- Being close to God is a matter of gaining the "right" knowledge. Very popular in Greek culture (think of all the famous philosophers), and you betcha its a big deal with New Age enthusiasts and adherents today. The fascination with knowledge being the key to salvation is attractive to many

- The idea that Jesus was a spiritual being that needed to be set free from the fleshy prison he inhabited. I haven't read the gospel of Judas yet, but I think there is some mention of this in there. Anyhow, this dichotomy is far from Jesus Jewish identity, roots, beliefs, and practices.

Basically, the gospel of Judas is something scholars have known about for a while, but there is nothing too shocking in there to many. I am sure it will get lots of play thanks to the timeliness of Dan Brown's little potboiler.