Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 12-20-2006, 06:28 PM

Gnostic Gospels: The Newly Discovered Gospel of Judas
Date: Wednesday January 17, 2007, at 7 pm
Location: Harold M. Williams Auditorium, Getty Center
Admission: Free. Reservation required

reserve tickets here

Toto · 01-20-2007, 01:50 PM

The LA Times has an interview with Pagels: Continued discovery within 'secret gospels'

Quote:

Pagels argues that the truth, like everything else about these papyrus manuscripts, is complicated.

"We're learning new things about them all the time," said Pagels, 53, who lectured at the Getty Center on Wednesday about the newly discovered Gospel of Judas. "In fact, if I was writing it today, I wouldn't use the term 'Gnostic' in the title of my first book.

"I'd use something else, like 'the other Christian gospels,' because what was found in that jar in Egypt was a miscellaneous collection of early Christian gospels and other texts. We can't generalize about them."

The story goes on to note that Pagels is mentioned on the first sentence of the first chapter of The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Gnostic Gospels (The Complete Idiot's Guide) (or via: amazon.co.uk).

Pagel thinks that these other gospels were for the advanced students of early Christianity - after they learned the basic stories in Mark etc., they were given the "higher truth" of these "other gospels."

Clivedurdle · 01-20-2007, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Where do they rank in comparison with the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John?

I think of them now as the other texts that were not included in the canon. Much of what was in the canon was to be used in public church. But, as in Judaism, there were certain secret teachings — or advanced teachings — that were not to be taught publicly or even written down.

They were only to be shared with certain disciples when they were ready. In other words, the New Testament Gospels were the texts students of Christianity began with. Some moved on to the secret teachings.

Would that be a killer discovery to the historicity of Jesus - that MMLJ are introductory primers for students?

12-20-2006, 06:28 PM	#1
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	Elaine Pagels to speak in LA Jan 17 2007 on the Gospel of Judas Gnostic Gospels: The Newly Discovered Gospel of Judas Date: Wednesday January 17, 2007, at 7 pm Location: Harold M. Williams Auditorium, Getty Center Admission: Free. Reservation required reserve tickets here

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