what is your opinion of this article?
2006-11-30 08:07:45 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No Christian should feel in the least threatened by the “revelation” brought to light in the Gospel of Judas. The four biblical Gospels stand tall and unchallenged: they give us the story from those who actually saw and heard the Master.
The one aspect of the Gospel of Judas that bothers me is the part played by those involved in its publication. The Gospel, which was supposedly found by an illiterate garlic farmer in a remote burial cave in Egypt, has an odor about it. Its history is murky, replete with smuggling and thievery. The eventual owners could not sell it for a profit because it was an illegally acquired antiquity, so they needed another plan.
“They lit upon the idea of selling the (publication rights). The National Geographic Society bit book, line and sinker to publish (on) the Easter season”, notes James Robinson, an expert in ancient Coptic texts. “They sold the public a bill of goods.”*
This is the real story behind this ancient document.
2006-11-30 08:11:46 · answer #1 · answered by Damian 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Of course it was not written by Judas but by those who felt he was portrayed wrongly in other scriptures. Now even the books that made it in to the bible were not necessarily written by those they are attributed to, and they were written after the events describe, 40 to 100 years or so. So the original gospel of Judas may have been a contemporary of some of the later biblical texts. One of the discovery channel documentaries on the bible, which came out before all the gospel of Judas stuff, actually had some of the bible scholars with similar views. That when Jesus told Judas to go do what you must he was actually asking Judas to turn him in, as Judas had been one of the most trusted and would do what Jesus asked. the 40 pieces of silver was simply what was given to anyone who turned in someone, not the motive at all. I find the little research i have done at all of the Gnostic gospels very interesting. If I were somehow to go towards being a Christian i would be a Gnostic (although I guess that isn't Christianity really either)
2016-05-23 05:45:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Damian on this one. I have a great deal of respect for the National Geographic. On the other hand, seems to me that the article is more or a publicity stunt than serious scholarship. Keep in mind the article was published at the same time the DaVinci Code movie came out.
On a similar subject, I have never quite followed the reasoning behind the hatred for Judas. Wasn't he just fulfilling the scriptures, same as Jesus? Isn't it a good thing (for Christians) that Christ was crucified? Didn't Jesus die on GOOD Friday? Same goes when people put down Jews by saying "They killed Christ".
2006-11-30 08:19:22 · answer #3 · answered by Adoptive Father 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
New information about this new gospel are coming to light daily. Gnosticism isn't just a fad either, as one responder says. It is an invaluable tool in understanding the differing thoughts, ideas, and sects of early Christianity. And the Gnostics are but one of these sects with sacred texts.
The lasting impact that the Gospel of Judas will have, I think, on modern scholarship is the differing viewpoint of the G.O.J. as it concerns martyrdom. Those who approve of it are lampooned in this book. Apparently, the author of the gospel of Judas used the Jesus story as the medium through which to challenge the proto-orthodox's priority on martyrdom. The author of the Gospel of Judas is not terribly keen on the practice of giving up one's life for Jesus, they saw it is rediculous and wasteful (not to mention that God wouldn't want people to do such a thing).
Anyway, the book is proving invaluable to scholarship as are many of the other Gnostic texts, Dead Sea Scrolls, etc. Hope that helped a bit.
2006-11-30 08:32:25 · answer #4 · answered by Tukiki 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's very interesting. The National Geographic isn't just publishing articles--they are actively working to translate and date this find! I'm sure a few Christian readers got their knickers tied up in knots.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lostgospel/
2006-11-30 08:16:04 · answer #5 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Bible is a wonderful book. I am a Christian and think that this is another perspective on the life and times of Jesus. While it will be controversial, I think, with an open mind, it could give and interesting side to the teachings of Jesus.
As for it being in National Geographic, it is a little strange. I thought they were opposed to anything associated with the Christian God.
2006-11-30 08:15:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Didnt read the article. Read the Gospel though. Its nothing special, and nothing for Christians to get wound up about. Alot of its missing.
2006-11-30 08:10:54 · answer #7 · answered by sweetie_baby 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I thought it was a publicity stunt trying to cash in on The Da Vinci Code, and a discredit to National Geographic.
It's just another vehicle for Elaine Pagels, whose academic prowess is overrated. See source below.
2006-11-30 09:10:55 · answer #8 · answered by Blaargh_42 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well, since you didn't provide a link to the article and I don't subscribe to NGM, I can't comment on it.
But the Gospel of Judas is a fake, and Gnosticism is the latest fad.
2006-11-30 08:11:57 · answer #9 · answered by Br. Dymphna S.F.O 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
There is no book of Judah in the bible, so that's the only thing that matters to me.
2006-11-30 09:16:36 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋