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The Flatland Chronicles for Saturday, July 8
JOURNAL. So it's my stepdaughter's birthday; HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMMA! She is 22. Amazing. She was just a little English rosebud of 17 when I met her; now she is all grown up!
In other news: I just finished reading The Jesus Papers by Michael Baigeant (one of the three authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail which served, to say the least, as Dan Brown's inspiration for The Da Vinci Code). The gist of the book----which draws on a multitude of sources---is that the religion which Jesus taught was a mystical brand of Judaism which he learned while growing up in Egypt. It involved the use of "incubation" and other initiation ceremonies during which the participant.
He further concludes that Jesus did not die on the cross but was taken down prior to his actual death and---perhaps---subsequently revived. This interpretation is consistent, according to Baigeant and others, with the actual words of the original Greek text of the Bible.
Neither of these two conclusions appears to depend on the other.
I found the book really interesting and after I've thought about it further, will doubtless have more to say.
But the most interesting aspect to me of this sudden rash of interest in 'alternative Christianity' is the apparent hunger of people for more information about Christ and the origins of Christianity. This is likely to create significant long-term change. NO intelligent person who understands the history of the church and especially the Early church can POSSIBLY fail to question some of his or her least questioned articles of faith.
And this explains why though many people seem unduly excited by this latest think piece on the life of Christ, many others are completely unwilling to let it on board. None of the information in Baigeant's book is new (other than his claim to have seen a letter that may have been written by Jesus to the Sanhedrin which---if it could be authenticated---would DEFINITELY create radical changes).
It's just a shame that so few Christians seem to be aware of the Gnostic gospels or Elaine Pagels, or interested in them. I was really surprised that the Da Vinci Code caused all the excitement it did since its central theme and its account of 'history' was essentially similar to Holy Blood, Holy Grail and to another book on the Turin Shroud and the author's (completely spurious; this I'm fairly sure of) theory that it was created by Da Vinci.
Not that either of those books is history, but HBHG at least contains references to other works that someone who is really curious about the life of Christ could procure (particularly the Gnostic Gospels). Furthermore, it presents in a concise (relatively) and designed-for-popular consumption the history of Christianity and of the Bible. That information alone should prompt people to let go of some of their certainties in favor of learning more about the real Jesus.
It's just a pity that so much conventional Christianity teaches this unquestioning faith and identifies doubt with sin. The questions are so fascinating and yet even educated people don't seem to be interested in discussing them.
Today's offerings:
Digest for Today
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ALLIGATORS! Yes, I know about the attacks, but I love alligators anyway. Some gator-related discussion, a link to an excellent Florida website, and a couple of photographs. Floridiana Gloridana
RELATED LINKS
A baby alligator in the woods near the University of Florida
Alligators at Silver Springs Parks
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SECOND-HAND BOOKSTORE GOLD! (OR FREE ONLINE!): THE SHORT STORIES OF H. H. MUNRO (SAKI). Excerpts, recommendations, and well-known quotes. In Just Eat the Damn Peach.
Images © 2006 Jupiterimages Corporation. Used pursuant to license from Animation Factory.com.
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