Judas, Redactors, and Non-Biblical wanderings

   As I was the New Testament, I wondered if Judas was really the traitor history has portrayed, or if he was actually helping Jesus. Okay, I know it sounds a bit odd. Really, I thought that Peter's actions were worse. Yes, I have the characters straight. Peter denied Jesus 3 times, Judas turned Jesus in to the soldiers which led to his death. Knowing that all the books did not make it into the Bible, I decided to dig a bit. Since I am sick (yes again; that whole curse God and die thing had to have been pretty tempting to Job), I decided to check out Netflix and there is was: National Geographic: The Gospel of Judas. This is an interesting documentary about how the gospel was found and the work that has taken place. It turns out that this story makes Judas into the good guy; the favored one.
  So, why is it left out of the canon? It was labeled as heresy during a time when Christians were being used as gory entertainment for the Romans. One of the most interesting parts of this documentary, for me, was learning more about the redactor. Can you imagine having to make the choice about what is and is not allowed to be in the Bible? People sacrifice their lives for their religion. As the film points out, he had to make it clear what they were giving their lives for. Redactors, I am beginning to see you in a better light. Maybe you were not all out to only accomplish your own questionable agenda. Some may have actually been trying to strengthen people's faith and give them a better idea of what is important to their religion. This does not mean I completely agree with them. I would really like to see every story that was omitted from the canon.
   The gospel of Judas was nearly destroyed by placing it in a bank vault in the 1990's. How many other books have been destroyed? I have come to the conclusion that this is just part of what happens with the Bible. So many people have translated, added, subtracted, and twisted this one book or library of books depending on how you look at it. There has been so much living and dying over these words and these questions. I am completely fascinated by it. The journey this one book has led me on just over the course of a few months is amazing. Of course, many books have led me to read others and have caught my interest and taught me things beyond their pages, but not like this. My curiosity is at an all time high. When I am feeling better, I plan to do more research into the other books. I can't wait to see where the Bible leads me next.

Looking back and forward and around me -or- what I like about the Bible

      If you have read my past blog entries then you know I do not agree with a lot of the ideas that are put forth, I got really sick of the violence, and at one point I was just plain disappointed. Having had a few days to step away from reading the Bible and having the weight of the assignment lifted off my shoulders, I feel I have gained a new perspective. This is my list of things I really like about reading the Bible (in random order):

• I love that God and the Word all sort of came from each other, yet are one, and that it/they formed everything.
• I really appreciated that God chose the last person anyone would have picked as the hero to complete his tasks. 
• The fact that people were able to talk back to God and even have him change his mind was great. 
• Just knowing that people have studied, changed, and built their worlds around this text is very interesting. How many other books are like this? I don't remember anyone changing Moby Dick and calling it the original and getting away with it. Quoting it or borrowing from it, yes, but saying it is still the same book would not be accepted. 
• There are many surprises in the Bible. From images of unicorns to Jesus not coming to bring peace as I had always heard, this was not the book I expected. 
• I knew full well that I had not read the Bible. I found a copy one of my best friends in high school gave me that I had read bits and parts of. The funny thing was that I did not remember having it much less reading parts. The thing is, I had a sort of arrogant preconception that I actually knew a few things that were in the Bible. When I got to the parts I thought I knew, I was just as clueless as I was about parts I had never heard of. 
• In doing a project for another class that concerns banned books, I realized that the author's use of disturbing images was necessary. If the author of The Giver had not included the image of the baby dying and of the young girl committing suicide, the lesson would have been watered down and lost. It is the same with The Bible. No one really wants to think about babies having their heads smashed against rocks, or someone's firstborn son being killed, but it leaves a powerful message.
• The Bible can lead readers on paths beyond its covers. I, for example, started wondering about Enoch and I found a book that was not included in the canon. Reading The Book of Enoch (the part I allotted time for) gave me an entirely new perspective on Genesis. 
• I think I may now be able to experience other literature in an entirely new light. Just as Enoch shed light on the story of the flood, the Bible has given me a new perspective on The Byrds. (Just one example)
• I like that there are books in the Bible that are so completely unexpected and seemingly out of place. The first few books seem to follow a path, but then you get to something out of the blue like Song of Solomon or Ruth or Revelations that just don't seem like the others. 
• Reading The Bible brought up so many thoughts and feelings that I had to sort out. There is so much in our culture and in my family that comes from this book that when I had to look at the actual text and the misconceptions it really was interesting, but it was also disturbing at times. 

  I could go on with my list, but for now, I will stop there. The first day of class I seriously considered dropping. Now, I am glad I didn't. I really thought I should read the Bible, but I doubt I would have. So even if I did miss a few details with my quick reading I still feel that it was completely worth my time. Truly, I can't wait to start reading it again at a much slower pace.

The Sleeping Beauty Moment

     

      I have missed a few classes, so please forgive me if this has already been noted.
     As I was reading Luke 8:52 I noticed something familiar. In case you have not read it, or have forgotten, it says, "And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, "Weep not, she is not dead, but sleepeth".
    Remember The Sleeping Beauty In the Woods? The last fairy says, "...instead of dying, she shall only fall into a deep sleep" (Perrault). Another version I read as a child said something closer to "she is not dead, she only sleeps". If you really really really need a source for this one, I will call and bother my 82 year old Mother and ask her if she still has the book that has probably been passed down by now. Better yet, I will give you her number. While you are speaking with her, please explain to her why I am studying Literature instead of Economics.
    Isn't that exciting or at least interesting that those words are used in both stories? I mean, we all thought it was great when Shakespeare plagiarized The Bible. So, humor me for a moment. Actually, I am not sure why I find this interesting; I just do. There you have it.
   To make up for my ramblings I will leave you with my favorite quote from Sleeping Beauty, "...for where there is much love there is little eloquence"(Perrault).

I finished it, but I'm not done with it.

   I finished reading the Bible. I really do not suggest reading it this quickly. When just trying to get to the end, I became impatient. The parts with repetition like the refrain of a song became monotonous instead of reinforcement of an idea or situation. The language became an obstacle instead of a melody. I truly wish I were still back in the Old Testament enjoying what this majestic work has has offer. I know there were parts I did not pay enough attention to given that my goal was to finish and not to savor the book. There is so much in the Bible, it is difficult enough to keep everything in order when reading it at a reasonable pace. I wonder now how much I have missed.
   Knowing this was the case, that I was not reading the book in the best possible way, why did I go on? It's simple; it was assigned and it was a challenge. I have never failed to complete an assignment, even through the great personal physical and emotional pain I have endured in the last few years. I could not just fail now; the task had to be completed.
   I do not have regret for my action; just a bit of disappointment that I was not able to allow more time for the book. I feel that I learned quite a bit about the Bible and about myself during this reading. In addition, this is not the only opportunity I have to see what this book has to offer. I own a copy; to not look at it more than once would be like having a Monet hanging in my living room and only glancing at it one time. So, I did finish reading the Bible once, but I am not finished reading the Bible.

The New Testament --or--I dwell in the land of disappointment

 

  Maybe I was hoping for a shinier happier version of the Old Testament or at least something more familiar. Either way I was wrong about what I would find. Okay, so there are some good things in Matthew. Jesus tells them that is not what they eat but what they say and believe that matters; I am all for that one. (Let them eat cheeseburgers) And I like that there is a lot of healing going on instead of war (I am sure this will not last long). Anyway, here are a few quotes that did not play into my shiny happy version of Jesus:

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother........" Matthew 10:34-39

"Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" 19:23-24. This seems a bit narrow minded when recalling that Job was very rich and successful. Besides, there goes any hope of a good windows based computer program in heaven. And think of it-no Google.

   Then there is the griping about divorce. Honestly, this is what kept good people in bad or dangerous marriages. This bit of camel dung keeps people feeling guilty from the time he spouted it until the present. It does seem that people are finally getting over it. Let's hope.

  Additionally, I just honestly do not like the way Jesus speaks to his followers. You can hear the eye roll as he says for the millionth time, "Oh ye of little faith". Mostly, they are trying to follow the teachings they were given before. They are attempting to be faithful. Instead of teaching them a new way by pointing out the new rules he gets his pompous attitude and acts as if they should know better. Personally, I would have ditched him.

  I am hoping to get through Acts today (at least). Wish me luck.


Frazer quote for today comes from page 446:

"The most probable answer seems to be that the chiming of the holy bells was thought to drive far off the envious and wicked spirits who lurked abut the door of the sanctuary, ready to pounce on and carry off the richly apparelled minister as he stepped across the threshold in the discharge of his sacred office. "

Is God a bully?

     I was at my Mom's a few weeks ago when Jack asked me, "What do you call someone who only fights battles he can win?" I have no idea what led to this (a discussion of Vietnam maybe), but then he answered, "A bully." I started thinking about the Bible with this thought. Did God ever lose a battle? Was there ever a question that He would? He tests Job, smites entire civilizations, sends plagues, and generally does not like disobedience. With all this power can he lose? I think He does. No, not the battles; that is His strong point. He does, however lose a few arguments. I suppose the fact that He is intelligent enough to know when someone else has a better argument and concede is a bit comforting. Besides, who knows what goes on behind the scenes. Maybe He is out there fighting other battles that are unrecorded by people. There could be a book that is not in the accepted cannon about Him losing battles in the heavens. Maybe He does not want His followers to know about his losses.That could reduce their confidence in their protector. It is more important to lose an argument than a battle. In combat the loser comes out angry and hurt; in an argument both parties can end more enlightened.

Lit for Children and Adolescents, fruit, goblins, and serpents

  "At the entrance of a Bayaka village, in the valley of the Congo, Mr. Torday saw a roughly constructed gallows, on which hung a dead dog. He learned that as a notorious thiefwho had been in the habit of making predatory raids among the fowls, the animal had been strung up to serve as a public example" (Frazer Chapter VI page 419).

Tempting Fruit

  We were discussing the poem "Goblin Market" today in another class and there were several people who brought up the story of the forbidden fruit from the Bible. It is a great poem about goblins, young maidens, fruit, and desire. What's not to like? If you would like to read it, the text is online at:
 http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/crossetti/bl-crossetti-goblin.htm . In addition, if you really like the story you may also want to read the story Goblin Fruit from  Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor.
 
  Talking about the three stories together gave me a new perspective about the Bible story. There are, of course, very few details in the Bible story. The poem and short story tell about the great want and desire to have what is dangerous or forbidden. The Bible story makes more sense to me now. The idea of Eve going against God's wishes seemed a little odd. I mean, what reason would she have to purposely disobey Him? He was allowing her to live in paradise; her every need was cared for. As we were discussing the Goblin stories I got it. Looking back at Genesis 3 the serpent made her want the fruit. Okay, I knew that, but it did not click until I read the other stories. In this new context I can understand that the serpent evoked a powerful desire in Eve; he made her WANT the fruit. It's so obvious now.