One of my favorite History Channel shows is on right now

[Khephra]

Banned Books from the Bible. It's a great intro to the non-Canonical books, if you've never seen it.

[Khephra]

1. Ah...now they're on the Gnostics

My people.

:evilgrin:

[On the Road]

2. Thanks -- Just Turned it On

I didn't realize the Apocolypse of Peter almost became part of the Bible.

[Khephra]

3. I've seen a lot of people talk down on the History Channel

But they've done some great freaking shows on non-traditional Christianity.

Oh, how I wish the Gospel of Mary had been a part of the Bible. I think our entire culture would have been changed by that action.

[madrchsod]

6. you mean paul

would`nt have been able to put women in "their place"?

[Khephra]

8. Damn straight

I'm a man, but I was raised by a single mother. Where do you think my sympathy lies?

Oh, and I was going to be a bastard if she didn't marry before I was born. I think my sympathies lie fully in the Court of the Female, even though I'm a man.

[On the Road]

9. I Hope That Some of the Lost Books Will Still be Discovered

especially the Gospel of the Hebrews and the Ascents of James.

Also some of the writings from the Eastern church that was outside the Roman Empire -- Armenia, Arabia, Ethiopia, etc. The type of Chrisianity that was around when Mohammed came on the scene. Not influenced by Paul so much and much more like Messianic Jusaism,

[Khephra]

11. I think they're "encoded" to be found at various periods of time

It's one of my more mystical thoughts, but it seems like we keep on re-discovering these important ancient works (or languages) at later times. When we are ready more will be revealed.

(or at least that's my Romantic view on the situation. My more realistic way is to realize what we've lost....all the Libraries burned, all the knowledge lost....that's me on a downmood ;-) )

[On the Road]

13. Well, We Discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls About 50 Years Ago

and still can't even put them in the right context. People think they were written by some sort of purist cult. They were probably part of the general library of the Temple, or of a significant Jewish group in Jerusalem, which were picked up and put in a cave for safekeeping during the uprising from 66-74 AD.

The Nag Hammadi scrolls almost suffered the same misinterpretation, but luckily they were discovered by a neophyte who had no influence, and he was quickly attacked for thinking they belonged to some sort of cult. Instead, it was correctly divined that they were a collection of heretical texts used by an orthodox group in order to understand and refute them.

[Khephra]

14. Zoroaster

[Khephra]

4. BTW, don't tune out yet

I've seen these next few shows and they offer a great unbiased view of Biblical topics.

[madrchsod]

5. watched last night about pilate-herod and jesus

my take is that mel gibsons movie was a crock of shit. jesus would have been pissed.. seen most of it tonight-i lost the remote to my daughter....

[Khephra]

7. I fall asleep to the History Channel

And I've come to one conclusion:

On the Bible and WW2 (and Roman Times), they're SPOT ON.

When it comes to modern times, well, they're a bit spotty. I hear occasionally things I don't seem to expect from them (like Rumsfeld meeting with Saddam) but that material is sandwiched between too much pro-war propaganda to make it worth it.

[madrchsod]

10. mopaul should glue his

mother to the chair and make her watch these programs..probaly wouldn`t do any good. you can`t change fundie`s beliefs, i know i`ve tried,they just turn away...

[Khephra]

12. Maybe not fundies...but you can open the mind of those more moderate

I had two hells waiting for me in teenage-hood. I had to "come out" twice.

Once was when I decided that I wasn't a Christian and had to tell my mom that I felt more in common with Crowley. (For those who know Crowley, you understand what sort of a major "outing" that is to your Christian Parent.)

Twice was when I decided that I wasn't on the hetero/Homo scale. I just loved people for themselves....

I can't figure out which was the worst reaction from mom.

But she loved me, stuck by me, and is now closer to my beliefs that of her parents.

:shrug:

Sometimes it's worth it all.