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The human pathos of the Gospels is dependent upon Judas--and other betrayals Date published: 4/21/2006
THE ARTICLE BY Reg Henry ["Gno way, gno The word "Gnostic" in Greek does not mean "troublemaker"--rather, it means "pertaining to knowledge." A spiritual fusion of Christianity From the Pythagorean doctrine of the pagan philosophy, the Gnostics inherited the idea of reincarnations of the soul, wandering in search Gnostic mythology has a female counterpart of the Christ--the Soul of the World, the Holy Wisdom (Sophia)--the ultimate source of life (not unlike Shekhinah of the Jewish Cabbalistic tradition). The Gnostic trend, sublime and profound, reverberates in the centuries of religious search, philosophy and literature, deserving more respect than the giddy "Gno way, gno how." Having disparaged the Gnostics, the author makes his case against the universal culprit: "Judas has to be the villain of the New Testament because being betrayed by a friend adds a human poignancy to the story that eternally touches us all. I cannot believe Jesus conspired in his own death." And yet, reducing the story of Jesus to that of a good guy betrayed by his buddy obliterates the Gospels' essential message. It does not take a believer--much less a religious scholar--to see Jesus is well aware of his destiny: "Jesus said unto them, the Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of men" (Matthew 17: 22-23). Moreover, Jesus knows the exact time of the forthcoming betrayal: "After two days is the feast He even knows that the traitor will be one of the apostles: "Assuredly I say to you, one of you who eats with Me shall betray Me." (Mark 14:18).
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