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  <title><![CDATA[Reading Judas]]></title>
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  <description><![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]></description>
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    <![CDATA[Reading Judas]]>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[An interesting book on a fascinating subject. The discovery and publication of (relatively) recently discovered works of early Christianity quite literally force anyone who has every thought about popular Christianity as it exists today to think again. However, as the Gospel of Judas (included in th...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/29240390">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
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  <read_at>Fri Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
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    <body><![CDATA[<strong>This book reads a little like a conspiracy theory and the authors seem so convinced of the merits of their subject that they gloss over the inconsistencies and hypocrisies of Gnostic thought.</strong><br/><br/>&quot;The author of the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> could not reconcile his beleif in a deeply loving, good G...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/60250491">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[I did not like this as much as Misquoting Jesus, as it required having more of a technical background on Biblical text.  I loved the premise of having a different perspective of the resurrection, but the execution was disappointing.  This book raises questions I'd always had but never voiced (or tho...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/44755069">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
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  <read_at>Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
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    <body><![CDATA[Profressor Pagels joined the rush to publish after the translation of the Book of Judas manuscript was made public. Although the condition of the papyrus was terrible and the manuscript become enbroiled in a lurid plot of greed and scholastic primacy, the ultimate outcome was to give the world yet a...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/38873118">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[The reader of an Elaine Pagels book learns that that much of early Christian literature--whether canonical or gnostic--has an agenda, an idea that the author is trying to promote or argue against.  The pseudonymous author of the Gospel of Judas was dismayed by the way the early church fathers celebr...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/64522107">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[Jenna]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun May 31 20:22:13 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jul 15 19:13:09 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I'm always surprised by how compelling non-fiction is when I actually give it a chance--especially non-fiction about Jesus and such.<br/><br/>I appreciated the way this book used the Gospel of Judas to shed light on the controversies, politics, and agendas of the early Church leaders. But I think ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/58014305">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/58014305]]></url>
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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  <average_rating>3.57</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
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  <date_added>Wed Mar 25 06:35:48 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Mar 25 06:37:23 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[King and Pagels together?! Great pairing for a good read however, if you have already read Pagels's work on the Gnostic gospels or on Judas specifically you may find much of the material in this book to be repeating. Still, as I can't translate this work myself I appreciate any and all literature on...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50391055">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
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  <read_at>Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jun 12 12:02:00 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Jun 30 20:37:58 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This book emphasizes a compelling point: Judas was Jesus' favorite of his disciples. And if God has a plan, and Jesus knew Judas would betray him, doesn't that mean the lost gospel of Judas, one of the earliest Christian writings, excised from the bible at the Nicene counsel, deserves another glance...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/24339055">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[It has been suggested that the translation was incorrect and that Judas still is the demon/betrayer he wasalways purported to be. See research by April DeConick. ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70525563]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70525563]]></link>
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
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  <read_at>Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Jan 18 09:08:08 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Jan 18 09:09:19 -0800 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[A little light.  Easy reading.  Fascinating introduction to gnostics and what they might have actually believed.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/43457891]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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  <average_rating>3.57</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
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  <read_at>Sun Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Mar 07 14:49:55 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Mar 07 14:54:59 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This was the first selection of the book club I started at work; we had some great conversations about it, which says more about the people who come to book club than about the quality of the book itself. Pagels and King have a great reputation, but I was somewhat disappointed with <em>Reading Judas</em>. It...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17260588">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17260588]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
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  <date_added>Tue Dec 22 12:33:21 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Dec 22 12:34:13 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[another borrowed from library today. 12/22/09.  will begin reading before weekend most likely. ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/81777379]]></url>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.57</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>166</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
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  <date_added>Sat Feb 14 19:07:10 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Feb 14 19:08:31 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[great read  very scholarly  written  intersting  Gnostic gospel  a favorite of mine]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/46372315]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/46372315]]></link>
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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  <average_rating>3.57</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>166</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Sun Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Mar 23 10:38:29 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Apr 06 20:18:54 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This was a very easy book to read and follow. I can see why it is controversial but it has a very important point to make. It argues that Judas was wrongly vilified for the role he played in Christian history and explores plausible reasons for and against. It came across to me that the gospel of Jud...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18442287">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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  <average_rating>3.57</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>166</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
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    <rating>3</rating>
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  <read_at>Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Aug 15 17:43:24 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 17 05:24:46 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Somewhat repetetive - at times, it seemed like they just needed to keep writing in order to have enough material for a book, rather than just a long essay. The text itself is fascinating, and their analysis is, of course, very good. It's not going to change the face of Christianity as we know it, bu...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4612788">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4612788]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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  <average_rating>3.57</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>166</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Jan 19 15:01:29 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Jan 19 15:09:42 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[&quot;What would so trouble a loyal disciple, after a long and arduous time devoted to his teache, that he would betray him to the enemies who for years wanted to kill him?&quot;<br/><br/>From the Gospel of Judas:  &quot;As for you, you will sacrifice them all.  For you will sacrifice the human be...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12921020">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12921020]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Janet]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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  <average_rating>3.57</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>166</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
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    <rating>3</rating>
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  <read_at>Fri Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Mar 24 00:40:37 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun May 17 15:16:00 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[in a wierd way, i respect the early christian church for how they were able to suppress all voices and unify.   the gospel itself is strange (well all of them are if you take a step back) because the stories are not part of our collective canon.  the analysis by pagel was an easy read, then the gosp...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50261017">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50261017]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>878641</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Sherry]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.57</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>166</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Apr 25 10:47:25 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Apr 25 10:54:27 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[An excellent explanation of the concept of <em>The Book of Judas</em> and a nice translation. Reading the notes to the translation takes longer than reading the work itself because of all the dropouts from the manuscript and the arcane meanings of the text. Still, worthwhile if you're interested in the histo...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/878641">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/878641]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/878641]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Robert]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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  <average_rating>3.57</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>166</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
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  <read_at>Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Sep 08 20:33:30 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 17 09:40:32 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[&quot;The Gospel of Judas&quot; is a difficult text which reveals much about the internal struggles among Christians in the earliest days of the religion. I found it almost incomprehensible when i read an earlier edition, but Pagels and King provide the context and analysis for understanding this un...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5922327">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5922327]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5922327]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
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  <isbn>0670038458</isbn>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity]]>
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  <average_rating>3.57</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>166</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<strong>The two leading, bestselling experts on the Gnostic Gospels weigh in on the meaning of the controversial newly discovered <em>Gospel of Judas</em></strong> <p> When the <em>Gospel of Judas</em> was published by the National Geographic Society in April 2006, it received extraordinary media attention and was immediately heralded as a major biblical discovery that rocked the world of scholars and laypeople alike. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are the first to reflect on this newfound text and its ramifications for telling the story of early Christianity. In <em>Reading Judas</em>, the two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered text provides a window onto understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. <p> Most contemporary readers will find passages in the ancient <em>Gospel of Judas</em> difficult to comprehend outside of its context in the ancient world. <em>Reading Judas</em> illuminates the intellectual assumptions behind Jesus' teaching to Judas and shows how conflict among the disciples was a tool frequently used by early Christian authors to explore matters of doubt and disagreement. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audience both. Pagels's five previous books, including <em>The New York Times</em> bestseller <em>Beyond Belief</em>, and King's <em>The Gospel of Mary of Magdala</em> prove that there is a considerable audience eager for this kind of informed and engaging writing.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
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  <read_at>Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Nov 30 10:39:17 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Nov 30 10:39:17 -0800 2007</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Terribly fascinating and though some of it is all a bit unusual (we all --christians, jews and muslims are really worshiping  flawed Angel not the 'real God'?), I did find it inspiring in that we lost the real lessons and the explanation for Jesus's death more logical to my way of thinking.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9763810]]></url>
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