An Easter Blockbuster
by Janet Brazill
At Easter A.D. 367, Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria,
declared that all non-canonical books in Egypt should be destroyed.
|
Just in time for Easter, 2006, Michael Baigent has published
"The Jesus Papers: Exposing the Greatest Cover-Up in History"
- a book the Catholic Church of today will doubtless wish destroyed
as well. |
Using his extensive background as a religious historian,
this author dissects the New Testament and couples it with his knowledge
of ancient texts, archaeological sites and historical facts, to construct
a revised view of history fully as intriguing as the mystery plot
Dan Brown created in "The Da Vinci Code." However, this
book, as an historical account rather than a plot of fiction, may
turn out to be an even greater blockbuster than Brown's book!
|
Michael Baigent is also the co-author of "Holy
Blood, Holy Grail," the 1980 book that Brown has admitted offered
some inspiration for his book. Baigent shows that he has used these
last twenty years to further investigate the tantalizing clues from
ancient texts. One document he was told about claimed that Jesus was
alive in A.D. 45, which would mean that he somehow survived his crucifixion.
|
Baigent's narrative skillfully paints a history of the
world 2000 years ago - its political scene and its religious rivalries.
Those who believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God will learn
that much hinged on the split between James, the brother of Jesus,
who wanted to adhere to Jewish law, and Paul, who wanted to appeal
to the Gentiles. This created a basic fault line that eventually determined
which books, of the many ancient texts, would be included in what
we now know as the New Testament. (The actual New Testament canon
was not settled until the Church Councils of A.D. 393 and A.D. 397,
over 360 years after the events described in the chosen texts.)
|
Many Easter worshippers may be surprised to learn that
it wasn't until the Council of Nicaea, in A.D. 325, that Jesus was
declared divine, a matter decided by a 217-3 vote. Baigent notes that
nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus declare himself divine.
|
Citing ancient texts rejected by the early church, along
with the Dead Sea Scrolls, his access to private collections, and
his interpretation of mysterious passages in the Bible, Baigent explains
the logical deductions that support his beliefs, including that Jesus
was married to Mary Magdalene, and that he survived his crucifixion.
|
This extensive research, along with visits to holy sites
throughout the Mediterranean area, lead Baigent to a completely new
understanding of Jewish/Christian history and a totally different
image of Jesus from the one promoted by the Church - a Jesus more
human, and yet infinitely more spiritual - and herein lies the threat.
Though much of his theory is conjecture at this point, Baigent stresses
that certain ancient documents that are rumored to exist, documents
that could furnish definite proof, have not surfaced yet for fear
the Church will destroy them, and he cites personal knowledge of such
possibilities. He feels sure that these will eventually become known.
|
Until then, as another scholar, Morton Smith, has observed,
"history
is by definition the search for the most probable
explanations of preserved phenomena." Readers can decide for
themselves whether Baigent's history is more probable than the history
the Church preaches. |
|
Send us an Email
Or write to us at:
Freethinkers of Colorado Springs
P.O. Box 62946
Colorado Springs, CO 80962-2946
Phone: 719-594-4506
|