Julian

Regarding Jesus and Mary Magdalene, the Gospel of Philip does report that Jesus kisses her on the mouth. Sounds rather scandalous to me in light of those ubiquitous biblical sexual euphemisms.

Of course, I fall solidly in the MJ school of thought so this whole thing seems rather silly to me...

I liked the book a lot but anyone who can take any of it seriously should have their head examined.

Julian

Toto

Actually, it reports that Jesus kissed her on the . . . but the rest of the sentence has not been recovered. The idea that Jesus kissed her on the mouth is someone's best guess as to how it originally read. The case for Jesus kissing her on the mouth is possibly based on the fact that Jesus was also reputed to kiss James the Just on the mouth, as a sign of passing leadership in the church to James:

Gnostic take on "the Kiss" also here

'

keyser_soze

I think given the content of a majority of the bible, a kiss on the lips is probably the best hope for the conclusion of that sentence.

theturtlemoves

More irony in the reverend cardinal's latest (From BBC News Da Vinci Code fever grips Genoa )

"I think we sounded the alarm too late," says Cardinal Bertone.
"But the book is now so widespread, I don't think the interest will mount. What we can do is arm our believers with critical awareness. I believe and hope in this."

"I want to warn many people who have read or are reading this book, especially young people," said Cardinal Bertone in an interview with the BBC.

"We need to put people who have simple faith and unsophisticated culture on their guard, so they are not bewitched by the lies in this book."

Does he see what he saying? How can he not see what he is saying?

By the way, this is my first post here...hi guys

Peter Kirby

Greetings! I love the name (and the book).

best,
Peter Kirby

Ceverante

An epitomic example of double standard. I don't see these Dan Brown critics, especially the church applying the same criticism to other works of fiction. I don't see public statements made to assert that brooms cannot fly aka Harry Potter. I don't see historians presenting records to show that the One Ring does not exists aka Lord of the Rings, or that Gandalf did NOT have special powers.

Da Vinci Code made the same amount of outrageous claims as in other works of fiction, why is he the only one being critisized?

Diogenes the Cynic

I once read a very strange novel by Philip Jose Farmer called Jesus On Mars which was about exactly what the title would suggest. Someone really ought to debunk that one.

offa

Stinger, "The DaVinci Code"

Well, by golly, sounds like a rewrite of "Holy Blood Holy Grail"! It
may be a distraction from the Truth. In other words, maybe the
Catholic church may want us to get wrapped up in whether or not this
book is true?

Obviously, it is a fiction. Think about it. King Herod was succeeded
by his son Archelaus. Archelaus got exiled to Gaul. We now have a
Jew with sustenance in Gaul. He is later joined by his younger
brother Antipas (along with Herodias). More substantial Jews in Gaul.

If you read the gospels you might perceive, in the power struggle,
that Jesus played a key role in Antipas getting displaced by Agrippa.
In other words, we might have a "holy grail" that is liable to piss on
Christianity! If you read Josephus you may discover an "Aristobulus".

Why would Josephus call him Aristobulus? Hint, there are several
dudes called Aristobulus. Does Aristobulus mean Aristocrat? Did
Josephus invent this name?

Josephus tells us about a Jewish high priest taking a daughter of
Sanballet the Samaritan. Is this the origin of Aristobulus? This
namesake follows down to Herodias. Was she the womb that carried the
"Holy Grail". The Davidic lineage. She was banished to Gaul.

The "Holy Grail" may have been a Davidic blood removed from
Christianity. The books trying to glorify Christ may be to the flavor
of the church because they are misleading.


offa

PhilosopherJay

Hi Toto,

Isn't a lot of this work missing. It is hard to read and get a sense what exactly is going on. It is hard to know who is doing what to whom.

As I recall in the Gospel of Mary, the disciples can't believe that Jesus told Mary things that they weren't told.

This sounds like a scene from that Gospel.

I think from the Gospel of Thomas it is apparent Jesus had both Salome and Mary as lovers and perhaps a couple of others. It is absurd to think nuclear family in Judea in the first century.



Warmly,

Philosopher Jay

Mike Rosoft

I just read The DaVinci Code, from Dan Brown, and loved it. I understand that it is being made into a movie starring Tom Hanks. What is your general opinion of the book? Specifically, how do you feel about:

I never read this book. Supposedly, it contains a number of historical inaccuracies, but - it's a work of fiction after all.

1. Jesus being married to Mary Mag? Did they have children?

Did Jesus have some kind of a relationship with Mary Magdalene? Maybe. Could they have had children? Maybe. And is there any solid evidence for that, or for anything else of Jesus' life for that matter? No.

2. Opus-dei? {it’s a real group, and they sure seem evil}

A conservative Catholic group. Enough said, I guess.

3. The Catholic Church and how they have portrayed women, especially Mary Magedlin?

The Catholic Church has engaged - and engaged - in discrimination of women. Fortunately there are reform groups which challenge this practice. Interestingly, revision of of Mary Magdalene's image has become a trademark of the Catholic reform movement, making her an unofficial patron saint of feminism.


Mike Rosoft