NOTE: Due to a date change for our previous book, you will have six weeks to read the May book plus two supplemental updated articles but only three weeks to read this June book, which is slightly more demanding, although not long. You may want to start your reading for it in late May. _______________________________
The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels, June 18 (facilitated by Tracy). Gnosticism consisted of several related sects, all branches of the earliest Christianity although many were derived from Judaism and are an alternative interpretation of the Old Testament and the Old Testament God.
Note: More gnostic texts have been translated and dozens of interpretative books have been published since this book was published in 1989. Many people, therefore, view the Gnostic Gospels as outdated, although it as a classic in the field. It is one of the first books published about the dozens of gnostic texts unearthed to become the Nag Hammadi library, and Elaine Pagels was one of the first translators.
I, Tracy, will be providing links (and/or asking Smith to send to members) two additional articles that update and clarify our reading. Only one of these gnostic subjects is addressed in The Gnostic Gospels and then again, very briefly. (I will also indicate two chapters that you might wish to skip if you are unable to read everything).
Additional articles will be on these subjects:
1) the Gnostic interpretation of Genesis and the nature of God (the various levels of God's eminences, as indicated in several of the Gnostic gospels). YHWH, the God of the Old Testament, is a lower manifestation. Sophia at another level attempts to right the imbalance initially created by YHWH, by sending the serpent to enlighten Eve.
2) an article on the Gospel of Judas (not translated until the 21st century) which is of considerable importance to both Jews and Christians. According to this Gospel, Judas not Peter is most favored by Jesus. God asks Judas to do the most difficult task of all (and be maligned forever as a result) — to betray Jesus to the Romans so that he may die and return to the Spirit and the hierarchy of God.
It is important to note that the New Testament gospels were written during decades in which Rome was (off and on) at war with the Jews. With newly developing Christianity at risk of being persecuted by the state, the Christians who over time developed the New Testament canon (choosinh which books to include) had to convince the empire that it supported the state. This meant clearly indicating that Jews (Judas means Jew) were also their enemy.
Maligning Judas, therefore, was maligning Jews. Thus gospels that were written and included in the first New Testament canon during the 2nd century (in contrast to the dozens of gnostic gospels) portrayed Judas negatively.
_______________________________
The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels, June 18 (facilitated by Tracy). Gnosticism consisted of several related sects, all branches of the earliest Christianity although many were derived from Judaism and are an alternative interpretation of the Old Testament and the Old Testament God.
Note: More gnostic texts have been translated and dozens of interpretative books have been published since this book was published in 1989. Many people, therefore, view the Gnostic Gospels as outdated, although it as a classic in the field. It is one of the first books published about the dozens of gnostic texts unearthed to become the Nag Hammadi library, and Elaine Pagels was one of the first translators.
I, Tracy, will be providing links (and/or asking Smith to send to members) two additional articles that update and clarify our reading. Only one of these gnostic subjects is addressed in The Gnostic Gospels and then again, very briefly. (I will also indicate two chapters that you might wish to skip if you are unable to read everything).
Additional articles will be on these subjects:
1) the Gnostic interpretation of Genesis and the nature of God (the various levels of God's eminences, as indicated in several of the Gnostic gospels). YHWH, the God of the Old Testament, is a lower manifestation. Sophia at another level attempts to right the imbalance initially created by YHWH, by sending the serpent to enlighten Eve.
2) an article on the Gospel of Judas (not translated until the 21st century) which is of considerable importance to both Jews and Christians. According to this Gospel, Judas not Peter is most favored by Jesus. God asks Judas to do the most difficult task of all (and be maligned forever as a result) — to betray Jesus to the Romans so that he may die and return to the Spirit and the hierarchy of God.
It is important to note that the New Testament gospels were written during decades in which Rome was (off and on) at war with the Jews. With newly developing Christianity at risk of being persecuted by the state, the Christians who over time developed the New Testament canon (choosinh which books to include) had to convince the empire that it supported the state. This meant clearly indicating that Jews (Judas means Jew) were also their enemy.
Maligning Judas, therefore, was maligning Jews. Thus gospels that were written and included in the first New Testament canon during the 2nd century (in contrast to the dozens of gnostic gospels) portrayed Judas negatively.