Does the book change your religeous beliefs?

[Crazyreader01]

To be honest, I still haven't made up my mind about Judas so I don't know if this book changed it or not. I agree with him being the traitor but in the end, it had to be somebody.

[OliviaLouise]

My pastor once proposed that beliefs can be divided into one of two categories: essential and non-essential. The idea is that there are some beliefs which are essential to thriving in the Christian faith and some which are helpful in clarifying our understanding of the faith, but which ultimately do not determine our standing with a God.
I would argue that Judas’ betrayal is a non-essential belief. The author goes into great detail and presents a convincing argument; however, there is no knowing for certain. That said, my beliefs remain unchanged, but I am open to more possibilities than I was before.

[maharhunain]

No it does not change anything for me. The aurthor of the book put some great facts but still it doest not make any breaking point for me and i think a person who truely belive in his religion nothing can change him a book or thoughs of a person can not bend his thoughts to change his religion.

[Ferdinand_Otieno]

My pastor once proposed that beliefs can be divided into one of two categories: essential and non-essential. The idea is that there are some beliefs which are essential to thriving in the Christian faith and some which are helpful in clarifying our understanding of the faith, but which ultimately do not determine our standing with a God.
I would argue that Judas’ betrayal is a non-essential belief. The author goes into great detail and presents a convincing argument; however, there is no knowing for certain. That said, my beliefs remain unchanged, but I am open to more possibilities than I was before.

Interesting bit of information.

[NIRUPAMA JHA]

i don't follow Christianity but still i am questioning some of my beliefs after reading this book. I hope that i am not persuaded by wrong beliefs.

[Sahansdal]

My answer to this question would have to be a resounding no. This book never once challenged my belief or faith, either in God or in the Bible. It did offend me on many points. The name-calling of prophets and apostles and of Jesus Himself, I found to be totally reprehensible. Misreading Judas was not very well-written as far as providing any concrete proofs or evidence and it seemed more like mad rants from an unhinged perspective than any kind of sober , or reflective presentation.
Gnostic writings have always been a bit of a problem when it comes to proofs, and this book certainly doesn't shine a good light on them either, in spite of the fact that the author tries to use them to back up his arguments.
His switching characters was a big problem for me.Jesus is James? Then...Judas is James? This book didn't challenge my faith, but it was a challenge to read because normally when I start a book like this I put it down after the first page. This one I finished and reviewed very carefully.Thanks for your question, this is a great conversation!

In what name-calling of prophets and apostles did I engage? I don't recall doing so. I tried to prove, and obviously failed in some cases, to show conclusively to readers that through careful comparisons of texts one to the other, gnostic to orthodox, that one has to agree the orthodox narrative of 'Betrayal' derived from inverting the gnostic succession narrative. That's very important information.

[Sahansdal]

I was of the same opinion but that changed when I was removed from the review team for that exact reason.

Hmmm. That's interesting. I am sorry to hear that you are no longer a part of the review team.

Still do reviews, just not for OBC. You take who wants you and move on.

And now that you have repeatedly shown just how little you regard me and my motives for writing the book, do you think you could find something more constructive to do than bash my book to every one who posts, Ferdinand? Some people have expressed appreciation for my tackling a difficult and fraught discovery, and your repetitive posting is not going to outweigh them.

[Sahansdal]

I was of the same opinion but that changed when I was removed from the review team for that exact reason.

Hmmm. That's interesting. I am sorry to hear that you are no longer a part of the review team.

Still do reviews, just not for OBC. You take who wants you and move on.

And now that you have repeatedly shown just how little you regard me and my motives for writing the book, do you think you could find something more constructive to do than bash my book to every one who posts, Ferdinand? Some people have expressed appreciation for my tackling a difficult and fraught discovery, and your repetitive posting is not going to outweigh them.

i don't follow Christianity but still i am questioning some of my beliefs after reading this book. I hope that i am not persuaded by wrong beliefs.

My book has nothing to do with belief. It is a TEXTUAL ANALYSIS.

[Harley-Panda]

If I'm honest, I've never been 100% sure about all of my religious beliefs because there are so many unexplained things in life. However, it's always good to learn more and see things from a different perspective. This book hasn't changed my religious beliefs completely, but I feel that any new knowledge can shape the way you think.

[chiefsimplex]

No, not at all.In fact, after reading the arguments in this book i felt even stronger in my belief that Judas was a traitor. In challenging such a grand and immutable fact, the author's attempt was pathetic.

[danielleamy]

I do not have Christian beliefs, so this book has not affected my beliefs.

[Brandy C]

If one book could change your religious outlook then, in my opinion you are not strong in your faith. So, the answer to the question, for me, is no.

I totally agree! If the book changes your beliefs then you already had doubts and were leaning that way. If your faith is strong nothing will change or shake it.

I SECOND! Anyone can write and research about anything nowadays. We must stand firm. It wont be the first time something is said or written that contradicts THE TRUTH and it won't be the last.

There will always be different opinions and ”truths”. How we react to them is the key. Either we stand firm in our beliefs or fall to public opinion. In my opinion, if you fall then you weren't strong in your faith to begin with.

[nooregano]

I think that it's always good to create some compassion/see in a new light vilified religious figures and ideas, since they present the part of humanity that we don't like to see in ourselves and hence "otherise," dividing people more and more.

[C-obi]

No, it doesn't. There are facts we can never change, irrespective of what anyone or school of thought says about it.

[Katherine Smith]

My religious beliefs were not changed because I consider myself to be religiously unaffiliated. I think that more conservative Christian groups would consider this book to be blasphemy or the work of the Devil. The reason why the Bible is arranged the way that it is was due to priests many years after Jesus's death deciding which books would be allowed in and which would be discarded.