from Joseph Dias, President, Catholic Secular Forum
Mumbai, Apr 9: In a press release, the Catholic Secular Forum has states as follows:
This has reference to the widespread coverage given to the most exclusive archaeological find of the last 5 decades at least - the Fifth Gospel or the Gospel of Judas. The same seeks to put forth the idea that Judas was not a betrayer, as is commonly believed over the last 2000 years.
However, there are many lacunae in the National Geographic (NG) story, which need to be highlighted alongside, proving the find more of historical value, rather than of any religious / theological significance. The Dead Sea Scrolls & the Nag Hammadi monastery collection of Gnostic writings discovered in the 1940s, are still being studied & findings remain inconclusive. It's too early to rush into making statements, as NG does, claiming its information, contrary to the traditional Gospels.
The Catholic Secular Forum has in a memorandum to the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, sent to Cardinal T Toppo, CBCI President, to come out with a statement on the NG report & present the official Church stand.
The loopholes are as follows :-
1) The Gospel of Judas provides us more insights into ancient Gnosticism, of which it is an integral part, as mention of such a record is found in the writings of Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons in 180 AD - almost 2 centuries after Christ. He speaks of the same as heresy by Gnostics, who were looked upon suspiciously by not just the early Christians, but also the Jews & others of the time.
2) However, this does not seem to Gospel of Judas that NG talks of, since at least 2 centuries later, another teacher, Epiphanius, talks of a different Gospel of Judas. This seems closer, because Irenaeus refers to a more mythologically elaborate teaching, involving Judas with Cain, Esau, Korah, and the Sodomites.
3) The release says the document was "copied down in Coptic probably around A.D. 300," although later that is changed to "let's say around the year 400." Thus, even assuming without admitting that the Gospel of Judas is indeed the one that Irenaeus refers to, it is a well 400 years after Christ. Further, it is also a copy of an original that is unsure & nowhere to be found.
4) What were the beliefs of the Gnostics - Gnostics believed that their direct knowledge of heaven permitted them to understand what no one else knew, or could know from the regular sources of knowledge. For ancient Gnostics to believe in their own powers of divination is charming & normal. For their flights of imagination to be passed off as historical knowledge in our time is dishonest & deceiving.
5) After being discovered in Egypt in the 1970s, NG's manuscript was badly damaged, a result of repeated attempts by earlier owners to sell it - sometimes at a high price, which it never fetched over the last 3 decades. As late as last February, NG reports, "a missing half-page of the gospel resurfaced in New York City." This does not inspire confidence & credibility, in the chain of custody or the document itself. The whole episode smacks of a conspiracy to make a fast buck & cheap titillation where, NG has resorted to creating a sensation to sell, not the physical remains, but their own dubious findings & conclusions.
6) In this Gospel, Judas is supposed to act with Jesus's advice and encouragement. That is precisely what is portrayed in the New Testament, especially in John 13 : 21 - 30. So what's surprising, as the fact is not disputed - only a false motive is being suggested & is being sought to be justified, through this document, written at least 400 years later.
7) A large number of knowledgeable experts in the field who studied "The Gospel of Judas," including James Robinson and Charles Hedrick, were not consulted for some reason. Why did NG want to keep some Coptic scholars away from this document ? All of which makes one wonder, whether NG was really serious about contributing its mite to the study of scripture. Could be that they were just interested in a few more eyeballs & going about it in a rather cheap way.
8) The Gnostics were so critical of Jesus & hero-worshiped Judas. The Christians on the other hand were vice versa. Hence, the many "Gospels" that existed then couldn't have said anything different. However, the 4 biblical Gospels were selected after much debate, where the Church rejected the others. This happened just about 50 years after the resurrection of Christ. The Gospel of Judas is like saying something that was written as recently as 50 years after a person died, by his own followers was wrong. And ridiculously, now we are expected to believe that something written 400 years after is the gospel truth.
9) At most one can safely grant is that the parchment is authentically 300 years old & nothing more with respect to its content; Much less, attempt imputations about the real Gospels being wrong. Today, with a rash of such books being profitably published, with Da Vinci Code leading the pack of lies; it is not surprising if more such "exclusives" are found.
10) Even the Gospels as they are, do not hide things that might be uncomfortable. A spat between Peter & Paul, with disagreements over issues, being faithfully reported. Difference s of opinion, we are told, existed even on the role Ravana in the Ramayan - it would depend on whether one was an Indian Hindu or a Sri Lankan, where Ravana is looked upon more kindly. Does this give a licence to anyone to write or film it and make millions of dollars on the story?
Read the background:
Judas Betrayed Jesus at His Request, According to Ancient Document Newly Translated
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