The Gospel According to Judas
Seeing as its Sunday today it would seem appropriate to get onto my pedestal and give a sermon about this week’s news that the translation of the gospel according to Judas is soon to be available. Now in my youth I read the bible from cover to cover (OK I skipped Numbers) on more than one occasion, not out of piety but because I could see that this was an important book that a lot of people take quite seriously and it would give me some insight into the point of view of these people. It became quite a habit of my Mother to usher me to the door whenever the evangelicals came to call and she would hide in the shadows and giggle as I stood on the door-step and philosophically pulped these hapless believers with my knowledge of the gospels leaving them to beat a hasty retreat with their tail between their legs. In all honesty I regret my youthful arrogance now and I have forgotten almost everything.
What I find odd about the stories in the press this week is they talk about this new gospel as some sort of revelation that Judas was simply doing his duty as an instrument of God and fulfilling the prophesy that Jesus must die. To be honest, that is how I always read it. The whole narrative is quite clear that it was all predestined and that each player was an instrument of God. Lets face it, Jesus was doing his best to bait the Jewish religious leaders and the Romans and he knew what he was doing only too well. So suggesting that Judas betrayed Jesus or even that the Jews killed Jesus is plainly ridiculous and a disingenuous interpretation of the gospels.
So I’m not that sure this new document really brings much new information to the narrative of the life of Jesus. Only perhaps it lends a little more weight to the idea that he was a historical figure rather than Judean reformist cult fabrication, but not proof. Anyway I look forward to getting my hands on a copy of the translation at some point so I can decide for myself.
Talking Aside :
A.A. Gill on cracking form today - Happiness is a French Riot.
I will let you off your heresy of commenting on something I commented on months ago
http://www.xoggoth.org/bloggoth4.html#judas
It seems to me that once you start absolving Judas because he was part of god’s plan you open the door to anyone claiming the same thing.
Hello Xogg,
I’m glad you mentioned that because that is exactly why the church get so hot under the collar over this letting Judas off the hook business but only because people don’t understand the timeline properly. It wasn’t until Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection that the contract between man and God was signed. Prior to this event redemption was only through piety and afterwards through belief and acceptance of Christ. The pre-ordained script comes to a close at the point of resurrection, from that point onwards its our choice.
Jesus talks about this :
So anyone claiming pre-ordination post resurrection is just blowing smoke in your eyes.
I don’t believe any of that personally, but if you consider the bible is real then how can you argue the pre-ordained script has ended when there is the Book Of Revelations that some take so seriously? What about the false prophet or the beast? Presumably they have a let out to be as false or as beastly as they like and still get to heaven.
That’s a good point and I must admit that the Revelations is the “joker in the pack” and even though I suspect that is was just the lunatic ravings of St John after spending too long in exile on Patmos. I’ve had a nasty Metaxa experience there myself. It could also be a forgery. There are many views to this work ranging from it being about 1st century politics to a futuristic prophesy (listed in wikipedia here) but what is most important is that it in no way relates to the life of Christ or his teachings and secondly is sufficiently vague and cryptic to not exactly be a prophesy in the way that the life of Christ was quite meticulously foretold. Its not a script, its a few vague hints.
Anyway, if anyone starts using Revelations in an argument its time to make your excuses and leave - they might bite.
Of course the bible is real. My buttocks are real and considering their construction, are also holy. (sp) Equally holy to as the bible anyway, or koran or any other book that believer types fawn over. The whole point of the Roman priests making a traitor out of Judas was to make a martyr out of Jesus. Let’s not forget it was the Romans who snatched up and absconded with Christianity, they who always knew a good thing when they saw it and were the masters of the Jews at that time anyway. I mean, let the Jews complain, screw ‘em. The rabbis were only too happy to denounce Christianity anyway.
It makes perfect sense that the fave disciple would be the one to take on the most dangerous task. After all, think how pissed off all the other disciples must have been at Judas, if they weren’t in on the arrangement. Dangerous to be Judas after that kiss. Maybe he didn’t hang himself, maybe some friends of Jesus did that “for” him. It’s all just historical hoohah, God had nothing to do with it.
There is a difference I wish the world would figure out, between Spirituality and Religion.
Religion is special clothing and books and buildings and trappings and songs and rituals and special words and special teachers. Religious people who believe in God have never been in the presence of God.
Spirituality is talking directly to God.
Spiritual people are in the presence of God anytime they want to be.
There is a God. Religions are all bullshit.
I reckon the judas excuss explains a lot about our business leaders and politions behaviour