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The Times of London reported last week on a high-level scheme afoot to rehabilitate Judas, traditionally reviled as the traitor — a mole at the Last Supper — who finked out Jesus, fingering him for Roman soldiers.

One Monsignor Walter Brandmuller, head of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Science, appears to be spearheading the campaign, with the rumoured support of prominent Catholic scholars close to both Pope Benedict XVI and the late John Paul II.

This comes as the Church braces itself for the publication of a "forbidden" Gospel of Judas by both National Geographic magazine and a Swiss foundation specializing in the culture of antiquity.

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http://tinyurl.com/93dnr

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This was a stitch-up, jurors; Judas was a scapegoat, an innocent victim of religious persecution, racial prejudice, political animus, wilful mistranslation and mistaken identity. So far from being the traitor of myth, my client was a man who simply did what was asked of him. The charges against him are hearsay: circumstantial, illogical and frankly unbelievable.

For 1,967 years, Judas Iscariot has stood convicted of the most heinous crimes: betrayal of the Son of God, an accessory to state murder without trial and accepting blood money. My client cannot defend himself in person because he is currently serving a sentence of eternal damnation in the seventh circle of hell, having his head gnawed off by a three-headed monster.

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Framed, he says, framed!

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Originally posted by Michelle:
I've often thought Judas got a bit of a raw deal.

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Avenge Sodom!

Do any of the others?

How come we don't revile the guy who denied Christ three times?

If Christ hadn't been crucified...what? People would be declaring war in the name of WHO? Sam? Tom?

And how accurate is the story of Lot's wife, who became a pillar of salt?

The entire Bible is very suspect when it comes to accuracy. I've never had much faith in the loaves and fishes story, or in the changing water into wine...although it does kinda sorta explain why Paul told Timothy "take a little wine for the sake of thy stomach" when Tim pointed out that they were supposed to avoid "the fruit of the vine"...

Then there's David and Bathsheba... which one of them knew the other went up onto the roof every evening? Did he take a sudden interest in sunsets or did she take her bath up there knowing the King would see her alabaster beauty?

Judas did his part. Jesus told him to do his part. If he hadn't people might be saying I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth and in Elmer, His only Son, Our Lord...

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he was simply a tool of prophecy if you believe the supernatural aspects of the story. How could he do differently than God ordained? If he hadn't played his part (and during the Last Supper, Jesus TELLS him to do so), then the prophecy would not have been fulfilled

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Originally posted by Doug:
My client cannot defend himself in person because he is currently serving a sentence of eternal damnation in the seventh circle of hell, having his head gnawed off by a three-headed monster.

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Fact-checker: 'Uh, we've looked at the Bible as requested, and found a total of 31,485 factual errors, such as "6000 year old earth", "Man lives to 900", "Woman turned to salt", "Boat contains 2 of every animal" and 31,481 more...'

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Thanks so much for the Catholic link though.

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The Romans were the masters when Jesus walked the land
In Judea and in Galilee they ruled with an iron hand
And the poor were sick with hunger and the rich were clothed in splendour
And the rebels whipped and crucified hung rotting as a warning
And Jesus knew the answer
Said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's", said, "Love your enemies"
But Judas was a Zealot and he wanted to be free
"Resist", he said, "The Romans' tyranny"
...
Now Jesus brought division where none had been before
Not the slaves against their masters but the poor against the poor
Set son to rise up against father, and brother to fight against brother
For he that is not with me is against me, was his teaching
Said Jesus, "I am the answer"
"You unbelievers shall burn forever, shall die in your sins"
"Not sheep and goats", said Judas, "But together we may dare
Shake off the chains of misery we share"

Jesus stood upon the mountain with a distance in his eyes
"I am the way, the life", he cried, "The light that never dies"
So renounce all earthly treasures and pray to your heavenly father
And he pacified the hopeless with the hope of life eternal
Said Jesus, "I am the answer"
And you who hunger, only remember your reward's in Heaven
So Jesus preached the other world but Judas wanted this
And he betrayed his master with a kiss

By sword and gun and crucifix Christ's gospel has been spread
And 2.000 cruel years have shown the way that Jesus led
The heretics burned and tortured, and the butchering, bloody crusaders
The bombs and rockets sanctified that rain down death from heaven
They followed Jesus, they knew the answer
All non-believers must be believers or else be broken
So put no trust in Saviours, Judas said, For everyone
Must be to his or her own self - a sun

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Originally posted by Michelle:
Oooh! This sounds toothsome!

I've often thought Judas got a bit of a raw deal. I mean, he was simply a tool of prophecy if you believe the supernatural aspects of the story. How could he do differently than God ordained? If he hadn't played his part (and during the Last Supper, Jesus TELLS him to do so), then the prophecy would not have been fulfilled. And how could those who believe that God is omniscient and omnipotent think that Judas could have gone a way other than where God had foreordained as his purpose?

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So yeah, I feel Judas got a raw deal. He had to do what he had to do, which was the worst job in the whole world!

[ 17 January 2006: Message edited by: ceti ]

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The Romans were the masters when Jesus walked the land
In Judea and in Galilee they ruled with an iron hand

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Reg:

All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?

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Originally posted by Michelle:
Oooh! This sounds toothsome!

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another thing what interests me, is why did they never release this "Gospel of Judas" before, are they releasing it now that they think it is safe?? or do they fear that people are moving away from the church and they need something fresh, to add a twist??

i would like you to post your views in the "Dawkins: Is religion the root of all evil?" thread on how u feel about the matter and express your belief in this inate "certain knowledge" it is more apropriate for the statements u have made.

this inate felling u refer to is the psychological urge to be part of a group. deeply seeded in survival, groups get more food, make bigger kills, are we are safer in larger numbers etc...

the fact that this "gospel of judas" exists is suspicious, in the early stages of christianity the main church gave the order to destroy certain "volumes" of the bible, in a sense "editing" it to keep and remove the views and interests of the current church as it were.

here is an article with a few facts on it, its not poking fun at the the bible but showing clear facts about its discrepancies.

i dont mean to be seen as attacking u in any way, but saying that people have inate beliefs built into them is a dangerous statement. that can lead to people saying they are not responsible for their actions due to their "genetic programing".[][]

[ 24 January 2006: Message edited by: jonomab ]