Replies

I watched it over the weekend. It is interesting in that it places the document being written around 260 AD to 380 AD via carbon dating. It also talks about the documents journey since being found in the 80s. Basically it proves fairly convincingly that it is most likely the document that St. Irenaeus of Lyon (Asia Minor) debunks in his writings.

St. Irenaeus was most influenced by St. Polycarp. (The documentary doesn't go into that - just says he was a bishop of Lyon. St. Polycarp knew the Apostles or their direct disciples personally. He speaks of John in his writings quite a bit. So, Irenaeus isn't just flying off the handle as a clueless bishop when he condemns the Gospel of Judas. But, the documentary does its best to paint St. Irenaeus's writing as based on nothing but that "there are 4 corners of the earth, four directions on a compass and therefore 4 gospels" ... until the last few minutes of the documentary. Finally the documentary states what was the kernel of St. Irenaeus's writing against the heretical writing.

The documentary spends only the last 15 minutes or so of the 2 hour show actually discussing the content of the actual document (The Gospel of Judas.) It does link it to the other Gnostic writings and the Gnostic movement. It says that the Gnostics were called heretics. But, it definitely leaves it up in the air why the gnostic Gospels and other writings were rejected by the church. The documentary works to show that the selection of the 4 Gospels was more random and that Christianity was more diverse and that many of the Christians used the 30 or so Gnostic Gospels in services and study.

It is not a danger to solid Catholics. Actually parts of it are so blatant in its Christian hate, that even Christian haters may wonder why it is so jagged. The documentary even asks if Judas should be made into a saint. National Geographic didn't make a convincing case for the Gospel. And it even unmasks some of the Gnostic ideas, such as their disbelief in the Resurrection. It was interesting though and some one who is clueless might be led astray. But if you want a good laugh or see a pathetic attempt to elevate Judas to the level of saint ... watch it.

Like you, I watched the documentary last night - portions of it.

It is not a danger to solid Catholics. Actually parts of it are so blatant in its Christian hate, that even Christian haters may wonder why it is so jagged. The documentary even asks if Judas should be made into a saint.

You're right. But the majority of lapsed catholics or fallen away christians will use this documentary to justify their behavior. That was my original point. The DaVinci Code should prove to be far worse.

Over the past several months, the media have focused their laser beams on stories such as these and they seem to be emerging faster than anyone can counteract them.