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Alternative Gospels

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Good Morning,

   This morning [on Elaine Pagel's Birthday] I am thinking about the varied alternative gospels that have been unearthed, and how people often react to their existence...my main question is, what do you think the value of these is, if any? From where I stand, if the people who are the founding members of a religion exclude alternative writings, and have detailed in their own works what the tenets of the religion are to be, I cannot see how it becomes allowable for ANY alternative document to supplant the "authorized" works...for example, "Jesus died and rose from the dead" is a primary belief of the original Christian church...should an alternative view [Jesus was only a man...alternative gospels suggest this is true]be allowed to be called "Christian?"

Comments

Colleen said…
In my opinion, if a document is in direct opposition to beliefs shared by the majority of those espousing a religious label, e.g. Christian, then it should not be considered an important part of that religion's discussions. This is not to say that dissenting ideas have no value in religious discussion, because of course they are helpful for forming those essential beliefs. However, it can be damaging to include ever more polarizing concepts.
February 13, 2011 at 9:50 AM
David said…
Jesus as "only a man" is not the fulfillment of the Gospel. No mere man could conquer death, providing atonement for our sins. Jesus existing as fully human AND fully Divine is essential to the tenets of Christianity. Any alternative to this serves only to undermine the very pillars of our faith.
February 13, 2011 at 9:57 AM
mtspace said…
I think the question about how to view the works depends on what you are seeking. If you are seeking to understand the contemporary works that surround a person and are trying to understand the thinking that framed religious ideas, I think the works are very important. If you are seeking to understand alternative views of people in the early Church, the works can be helpful. If, on the other hand, a person is interested in maintaining a particular point of view and finds opposing points of view uncomfortable or even threatening, then - of course - challenging points of view "undermine pillars of faith."

I think it goes back to the question of what one finds valuable in the faith - what one finds to be "true." I think it is possible to find much of what Christ says to be quite compelling, but much of what the Church holds about his divinity to be quite unhelpful. To paraphrase Ghandi "Christ I like. Christians... no so much."
February 13, 2011 at 11:05 AM
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