will the circle be unbroken?
After much hullabaloo over its authenticity--a debate that will never be fully complete, accepted, or denied, and will probably burn out of the public''s awareness to make room for popular sentiment, belief, and comfort level--, a cocktail of radiocarbon dating, ink analysis, multispecteral imaging, and studies of the script and linguistic style has been mixed to date this document known to be 1,700 years old. This is the Gospel of Judas.
Most religious affiliation posits the qualities and bravado inherent during the Superbowl, World Cup, and World Series. Religion is a source of identity and provides a sense of community. It is a product of geography. If i were born in Tibet i am sure i would be a Buddhist; If i were born in Utah, had 15 moms, i might be a Mormon; Were i to be born in New Delhi, i might be a Sikh or a Muslim. But being born in Iowa, i identify with a Christian narrative more than the others simply becasue i have been around it more. I have come to understand the names and the principles found in the Bible. To me the Bible is a big book of principle. I do not believe it is literal truth, though some do. Fine with me. Believe in something, i say! What i do get though is the universal truth found in all spiritual movements. Their foundation is love; In most cases the movement is pure; it is the people who are not. The followers mess it up. Religion in the best of hands is a wonderful source of power, hope, redemption; in the worst of hands it is a devastating and ugly mess. So, the bravado of belonging to this camp or that camp is for the birds; it is trite and unneccesary. Though i probably live in a fictional reality, no religion is right and no religion is wrong. It is what you identify with as a human that gives faith strength. It is the belief that allows the faith to exist...like currency: worth nothing on its own, but when you put the people's faith in it and everyone allows it to circulate, it means something.
Christian narrative is a great story. Even if you can't believe in its miracles, at least concede that the story is solid. Judas' innocence makes the Gospels come full circle.
Somebody had to do it. Somebody had to betray Jesus in order for this religion to survive. If Christ never gave his life there would be no sacrifice.
Jesus trusted Judas the most, asked him for a favor, and when the hour came Judas obeyed because he loved Jesus and believed in his divinity. Judas sacrificed his own name for nearly 2,000 years; believers of the faith hold Judas as the betrayer of Christ; imagine being the one who betrayed Jesus.
Noah gets the flood. Job gets the physical maladies. Abraham was to sacrifice his only child. Judas now joins the crowd, and perhaps gives the ultimate sacrifice. Kind of puts giving up chocolate or T.V. for Lent in a new light, huh?
Most religious affiliation posits the qualities and bravado inherent during the Superbowl, World Cup, and World Series. Religion is a source of identity and provides a sense of community. It is a product of geography. If i were born in Tibet i am sure i would be a Buddhist; If i were born in Utah, had 15 moms, i might be a Mormon; Were i to be born in New Delhi, i might be a Sikh or a Muslim. But being born in Iowa, i identify with a Christian narrative more than the others simply becasue i have been around it more. I have come to understand the names and the principles found in the Bible. To me the Bible is a big book of principle. I do not believe it is literal truth, though some do. Fine with me. Believe in something, i say! What i do get though is the universal truth found in all spiritual movements. Their foundation is love; In most cases the movement is pure; it is the people who are not. The followers mess it up. Religion in the best of hands is a wonderful source of power, hope, redemption; in the worst of hands it is a devastating and ugly mess. So, the bravado of belonging to this camp or that camp is for the birds; it is trite and unneccesary. Though i probably live in a fictional reality, no religion is right and no religion is wrong. It is what you identify with as a human that gives faith strength. It is the belief that allows the faith to exist...like currency: worth nothing on its own, but when you put the people's faith in it and everyone allows it to circulate, it means something.
Christian narrative is a great story. Even if you can't believe in its miracles, at least concede that the story is solid. Judas' innocence makes the Gospels come full circle.
Somebody had to do it. Somebody had to betray Jesus in order for this religion to survive. If Christ never gave his life there would be no sacrifice.
Jesus trusted Judas the most, asked him for a favor, and when the hour came Judas obeyed because he loved Jesus and believed in his divinity. Judas sacrificed his own name for nearly 2,000 years; believers of the faith hold Judas as the betrayer of Christ; imagine being the one who betrayed Jesus.
Noah gets the flood. Job gets the physical maladies. Abraham was to sacrifice his only child. Judas now joins the crowd, and perhaps gives the ultimate sacrifice. Kind of puts giving up chocolate or T.V. for Lent in a new light, huh?
