Religion has always intrigued me. I distinctly remember playing in my backyard at the age of 9, with my friend Megen (the daughter of a preacher), "You're going to hell" she said. I asked why and she responded with the words of her Father, "Because you don't believe in Jesus Christ. So when judgment day comes the world is going to blow up and Jesus will take all the Christians to Heaven and the rest will burn in hell." I didn't cry or run to a church in fear for my life. I calmly went to my mother and asked if this was true, "You tell her and her family we don't believe in hell," my Mother explained. It was smooth sailing after that. No hell for me.
I find it fascinating that a great majority of the world live according to scriptures and ancient laws, without question. Religions have been passed down for centuries, through unknown hands, twisted and tainted by institutions and theorists. How could you possibly take it for face value? The fact is, it's all interpretation. I believe that what we follow today is scarcley true to the intententions of the original religious movements. I mean, have you ever heard of the game "telephone"?
A recent discovery was made in Egypt that could potentially turn "fact" into fiction. A scripture was uncovered, about Jesus and Judas, implying that the 'ultimate betrayal' was more of an agreement between the two friends. Yesterday's article in The New York Times said:
The account goes on to relate that Jesus refers to the other disciples, telling Judas "you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me." By that, scholars familiar with Gnostic thinking said, Jesus meant that by helping him get rid of his physical flesh, Judas will act to liberate the true spiritual self or divine being within Jesus.
Another piece of the puzzle I suppose...but even if Jesus himself came back to earth, and told us the Church was all a sham, who knows if we'd believe him.
Read the whole article, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/science/06cnd-judas.html?ex=1144555200&en=d59683ca1c4d906d&ei=5087
3 comments:
Fascinating...i too follow the theory that religion is indeed interpretion. It's amazing to me how many wars and how much turmoil has existed due to religious beliefs. To me, religion is precisely that, what you believe and how you choose to believe. Your religious path is your own to follow. Though cliched, I do credit Da Vinci Code for re-awakening my fascination with Christianity and religious theories in general. The Gospel of Judas certainly seems to be an extension of all the controversy.
On another note, Rakhee, your writing is brilliant, entertaining, and truly inspiring. I can't wait to read more!
Marx described religion as a study for the poor and desperate. National Geographic's TV documentary on the Gospel of Judas (aired last night) seemed to surmise that the Gospel did in fact exist, and that Judas was labeled a traitor merely to give Christians a solid justification to persecute Jews. To think - "Judas" (a name that is illegal in Germany) - could have in fact been a close friend of Jesus can strengthen Marx's "ridiculous" worldview that religion is fabricated by the desperate.
Unfortunately, the Marxist theory makes a lot of sense. I also think religion is used by the those in power to manipulate and instill fear in the poor and desperate (another Marxist-Proletariat portrait 'the rich stay rich, the poor get poorer'). We all want something to believe in -- especially when life goes utterly and unexplainably wrong. What better to turn to then religion: a completely malleable, nearly abstract "thing."
But as Libby said, it is what and how you choose to believe. If it makes you a humbled and better person then that's a beautiful thing. Alas, a neverending and always fascinating debate...
(Thanks for the compliment L! :-)
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