Religious views differ on Gospel of Judas (Belleville News-Democrat | 04/23/2006 )

'n Interessante perspektief op die Evangelie van Judas van hedendaagse Gnostici, die groep wat die evangelie in die eerste plek geproduseer het.

When National Geographic unveiled the Gospel of Judas earlier in April, the narrator in the accompanying television documentary announced: "It tells a different story. One that could challenge our deepest beliefs."

The gospel portrayed a Judas who simply carried out his master's orders -- and did not betray him.

But for Gnostics, a small branch of Christianity, that so-called revelation was a confirmation of a long-held belief that there was more to Judas and the crucifixion story than the four Gospels of the New Testament suggest.

"Gnostics were inclined in this direction for a long, long time," said Bishop Stephan Hoeller, of the Gnostic Society.

The society was founded in 1923, he said, and the church, Ecclesia Gnostica, was started in 1956.

"The notion that Judas was this terrible villain ... that has never really been accepted in Gnosticism," Hoeller said.