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Kathrin
Guest
Or could that somehow be considered “dangerous” for spirituality? Does the Church have a teaching about it?
Kathrin
Kathrin
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Church_Militant
Guest
If you read them with the understanding up front that they are not Christian writings then I see no reason not to. I’ve read some of them and frankly it was a :yawn: and a 
Nowhere near as interesting or as good as the real thing.
Nowhere near as interesting or as good as the real thing.
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Easy1213
Guest
The Church teaches that they are not inspired. For a Gospel to be a gospel, it has to have a few key components. It has to tell of Jesus suffering, death, and resurrection. Many of the gnositc accounts are of apparent parts of Jesus’ life, such as childhood, the years of his adolescence, or young adult (pre-ministry) years. Others are of a Jesus that does not suffer on the Cross or one that does not truly die at the Crucifixion. Many gnostic gospels only date back to late second and third centuries at their earliest, generations after the original Gospels were written.
Additionally, gnostic gospels typically exaggerate one of Christ’s two natures, producing a very human, almost animalistic representation of a man, or a mythically and fantastical demigod.
When read in comparison to the four canonical Gospels, these stand out. They cannot even be read as supplementary accounts of Jesus’ life as the New Testament epistles can, because of their neglect and silence on those key points in Christ’s life.
Spiritually dangerous? If you’re looking to the gnostic gospels for answers to questions of faith then yes, of course. Though if you are decently aware of what you believe and familiar with the New Testament, you will see their glaring inconstancies.
Additionally, gnostic gospels typically exaggerate one of Christ’s two natures, producing a very human, almost animalistic representation of a man, or a mythically and fantastical demigod.
When read in comparison to the four canonical Gospels, these stand out. They cannot even be read as supplementary accounts of Jesus’ life as the New Testament epistles can, because of their neglect and silence on those key points in Christ’s life.
Spiritually dangerous? If you’re looking to the gnostic gospels for answers to questions of faith then yes, of course. Though if you are decently aware of what you believe and familiar with the New Testament, you will see their glaring inconstancies.
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puzzleannie
Guest
why would you think of reading them?
for spiritual growth, obviously not, since not only are they NOT gospels, but are not even Christian, and there is no spiritual value, and much potential harm in reading non-Christian writings (other than Sacred Scripture, obviously) for spiritual guidance.
for a class, research, historical or literary interest? possibly, but if it is in the context of a college class be aware that the professor may not be competent to make the distinction, and will make statements about them that are simply not true.
for curiosity? why.
one common complaint people make for not praying more, doing more spiritual reading, doing good works is that they don’t have enough time. if that sounds like your life, there is not a minute to waste on literature that does not advance growth in knowledge, love and service of God.
for spiritual growth, obviously not, since not only are they NOT gospels, but are not even Christian, and there is no spiritual value, and much potential harm in reading non-Christian writings (other than Sacred Scripture, obviously) for spiritual guidance.
for a class, research, historical or literary interest? possibly, but if it is in the context of a college class be aware that the professor may not be competent to make the distinction, and will make statements about them that are simply not true.
for curiosity? why.
one common complaint people make for not praying more, doing more spiritual reading, doing good works is that they don’t have enough time. if that sounds like your life, there is not a minute to waste on literature that does not advance growth in knowledge, love and service of God.
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JimG
Guest
Well, it would be no different than reading The DaVinci Code; it’s just fiction, but what’s the value in it? These were just the sensationalist fiction of their time.
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ibkc
Guest
They’re actually kind of boring.
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Kathrin
Guest
Well, I saw a book at the library that is a collection of the gospels that didn’t make it into the Bible… and I checked it out but I am not sure yet if i want to read it.
Why, you ask. Hm. Curiosity? Maybe. I must admit that I did have the hope that maybe I would find something very “revelatory” in one of them. But from what everybody here says, that would be mistaken and maybe even dangerous.
I HAVE read part of the Gnostic gospel of Thomas, together with a Bible study group, and I found some of the sayings very very interesting. We had some good discussions there.
Kathrin
Why, you ask. Hm. Curiosity? Maybe. I must admit that I did have the hope that maybe I would find something very “revelatory” in one of them. But from what everybody here says, that would be mistaken and maybe even dangerous.
I HAVE read part of the Gnostic gospel of Thomas, together with a Bible study group, and I found some of the sayings very very interesting. We had some good discussions there.
Kathrin
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thistle
Guest
Be very careful. The Gnostics are heretics and their writings were condemned by the Church. The only person who would get anything useful from the Gnostic documents is Dan Brown!!
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revmax
Guest
Yes! ABosultely read the gnostic gospels! It is FASCINATING to read so many other alternate perspectives, and to see where christianity overlaps with contemporary greek and egyptiasn scientific and mystcial ideas and ideals… also, they are extremely humorous and entertaining. In my own case, I can say that they gave me a completely different view of Christianity, and transformed it in my eyes from something dead and dry into something very alive, and vital, and dynamic. So I would recommend them to anyone.
My favorites:
Hypostasis of the Archons
On the origin of the world
Second Treatise of the Great Seh
The Gospel of Truth
Those are my favorites, other popular ones include the Gospel of Philip, the Gospel of Thomas, and the Sophia of Jesus Christ.
Blessings!
Max
My favorites:
Hypostasis of the Archons
On the origin of the world
Second Treatise of the Great Seh
The Gospel of Truth
Those are my favorites, other popular ones include the Gospel of Philip, the Gospel of Thomas, and the Sophia of Jesus Christ.
Blessings!
Max
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thistle
Guest
I repeat: GNOSTICS ARE HERETICS!!!
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revmax
Guest
From the point of view of Judaism, Christianity is a “heresy”
That is not a good reason not to read the New Testament.
That is not a good reason not to read the New Testament.
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Zooey
Guest
Well…First of all, I have read a bunch of thesehttp://bestsmileys.com/yawning/2.gif books.
At one point in my life, I read all of these things I could lay hands on. I ended up very
confused, and quite
depressed.It was a happy day when I realized that some things are best used to prop up the leg of a chair…until they can be permanently consigned to the Circular File.
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scapularkid8
Guest
AGREED… I attempted to read the gospel of Thomas and I couldn’t even make it past the twenty something verse. SO not worth your time.:yawn:
:dts:And to top it all off, all I could think as I read it was:
- This isn’t Jesus the author is referring to, this is a lunatic; which started with…
- This stuff that he’s saying doesn’t make any sense!!!
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Kathrin
Guest
Scapular - :tsktsk:
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