Deadat60

Now I apologize that this is going to be loaded with assumptions due to my lack of knowledge of the overwhelmingly excessive amount of various Christian religions spreading like venereal diseases in a college frat house, but my point of query concerns one of the “Evilest Men in the World” (by Christian standards) good old Judas, the man who betrayed Jesus.

He is considered evil because of his betrayal, correct? But from my understanding of Christianity, Jesus needed to be crucified for the sins of the world (I believe that is the common consensus). Now, I’m not sure if the concept behind this is that Judas was tempted by Satan to “betray” Jesus, but if this were the case let us take a moment to look at the biblical literary character of Satan. His purpose is opposition to god and his motivation is to cause people to do evil to keep them from returning to god. So if Jesus needed to be killed to take upon him the sins of the world so people could return to god, why would Satan go against his character and tempt Judas to perpetuate the crucifixion event into becoming a reality instead of just a divine plan? If Satan had no understanding into the plan of god (which seems unlikely) and simply wanted Jesus dead then it would appear that he still did a righteous thing as did Judas. Plus Satan got some person satisfaction from seeing Jesus killed, but it still goes against the purpose of Satan to help gods plan succeed.

But if Judas was not tempted by Satan to do this “evil” act, but did it out of his own volition for 16 pieces of silver, then was not this his reward for righteousness? Because regardless of how you look at it, Judas turning Jesus in to the officials did (according to biblical storytelling) set in motion the crucifixion of Jesus and the salvation of all man kind. Resulting in the opportunity for all Christians to return to god. It would appear that through Judas’s act of betrayal that all Christians can now return to their god. And because of this it would seem that Judas is more a saint than a sinner.


Deadat60

penumbra

(putting on my conspiracy theory hat) How about Judas as an innocent pawn, ordered by Jesus to perform the betrayal in order to fulfill the old prophecies? I guess that scenario would make him a saint, eh?

Amos

Good thinking Deadat60.

Judas is Judaism and if I was Jew I would be immensely proud of the event.

Gabriel got the movement started and the betrayal of Judas was just one small segment of the large picture. But you are correct, without the betrayal of Judas no Resurrection would have followed because faith (Judaism) is not allowed in heaven (because there are no temples in the New Jerusalem).

Maybe your advantage as an outsider is that you can look at this without preconceived notion.

[ October 30, 2002: Message edited by: Amos ]</p>

Simon Magus

You make some good points here, Deadat. As an open-minded Christian, I guess I am forced to abandon one of the following tennents of my religion:

1. Jesus died for our sins.
2. Judas was evil.

I choose to abandon number 1 because Jesus was just put to death by the Romans wasn't he?

As for Judas being evil, there is not that much historical info to corroborate the fact that a character named Judas Iskariot even existed. Therefore I'll abandon number 2 also.

Keep cracking!

Simon.