Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Newly documented gospel is just adding to my *religious* confusion

ShaniFaye · 04-13-2006, 04:32 AM

For many many years I have often wondered why my religion is based on bible books that were decided on centuries ago. There were over 30 gospels written, yet only 4 were chosen. The Gospel of people such as Thomas, Phillip, Mary and Judas (to name a few) were discounted or called heretical by the Romans.

Why am I *forced*, for lack of a better word, to trust in what Constantine decided we should read? Why is it that the Christian bible, Catholic bible and the Greek Orthodox bible dont all include the same books? The catholic and greek bibles have WAY more books than we do.

As time goes by, and more and more things come to light, the knowledge I was given in church as a child seems to be challenged all time, and Im not talking about the non believers.

I know the Davinci Code is a fiction book....but the ideas presented were not new ones, yet when I read it, it was the first time I EVER heard anything of Mary Magdalene in the way she was talked about. I was raised believing she was a sinner prostitute that Jesus protected from the crowds and that she was at the crucifixtion and resurrection.

I was raised believing that Judas was just about worse than Satan himself, because of the gosepls that were chosen to be included. Now we have an authenticated *Gospel of Judas* which paints a much different picture, and quite frankly one that I have NO problem believing.

I almost dont want to hear anymore about *great findings* related to the bible or Jesus because it adds to my confusion. I have long felt that organized religion was not much more than a group of people that, no matter how well intentioned, form their own churches based on what they WANT to believe and how they can make it conform to the ways of life they dont really want to give up. When something goes wrong in that group....it splinters off into another group and so forth.

I have always gone on faith. I have faith that if Im doing something God doesnt like, he lets me know it.....its always worked that way with me and I guess I wont know until I die if *instinct* was right or wrong, until then Im stuck because I really wonder just how much was lost as the gospel stories were diluted, rearragned, rewritten or left out completely.

*sigh*

does anyone else feel this way? Does anyone else just want to throw up their hands and say "I give up" anytime a new *biblical* discovery is made?

How much history did we lose when the ancient gospels were declared heretical? How much history did we lose when some *head of the church* decided what someone 2000 years down the road should believe?

Does anyone else feel the same frustration? If so how do you deal with it?

04-13-2006, 04:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	*Newly documented gospel is just adding to my religious* confusion** For many many years I have often wondered why my religion is based on bible books that were decided on centuries ago. There were over 30 gospels written, yet only 4 were chosen. The Gospel of people such as Thomas, Phillip, Mary and Judas (to name a few) were discounted or called heretical by the Romans. Why am I forced, for lack of a better word, to trust in what Constantine decided we should read? Why is it that the Christian bible, Catholic bible and the Greek Orthodox bible dont all include the same books? The catholic and greek bibles have WAY more books than we do. As time goes by, and more and more things come to light, the knowledge I was given in church as a child seems to be challenged all time, and Im not talking about the non believers. I know the Davinci Code is a fiction book....but the ideas presented were not new ones, yet when I read it, it was the first time I EVER heard anything of Mary Magdalene in the way she was talked about. I was raised believing she was a sinner prostitute that Jesus protected from the crowds and that she was at the crucifixtion and resurrection. I was raised believing that Judas was just about worse than Satan himself, because of the gosepls that were chosen to be included. Now we have an authenticated Gospel of Judas which paints a much different picture, and quite frankly one that I have NO problem believing. I almost dont want to hear anymore about great findings related to the bible or Jesus because it adds to my confusion. I have long felt that organized religion was not much more than a group of people that, no matter how well intentioned, form their own churches based on what they WANT to believe and how they can make it conform to the ways of life they dont really want to give up. When something goes wrong in that group....it splinters off into another group and so forth. I have always gone on faith. I have faith that if Im doing something God doesnt like, he lets me know it.....its always worked that way with me and I guess I wont know until I die if instinct was right or wrong, until then Im stuck because I really wonder just how much was lost as the gospel stories were diluted, rearragned, rewritten or left out completely. sigh does anyone else feel this way? Does anyone else just want to throw up their hands and say "I give up" anytime a new biblical discovery is made? How much history did we lose when the ancient gospels were declared heretical? How much history did we lose when some head of the church decided what someone 2000 years down the road should believe? Does anyone else feel the same frustration? If so how do you deal with it? __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*