4 out of 4 stars
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Misreading Judas: How Biblical Scholars Missed the Biggest Story of All Time by Robert Wahler was an interesting read. Wahler challenges the idea that the betrayer Judas story is the full story. Rather, he suggests that there is much more going on than presented by the present-day Bible. He bases these assertions partly on the context of The Gnostic Gospel of Judas. This text first surfaced publicly in 1970. Wahler suggests that the Gospel of Judas wasn't interpreted properly because traditional Christian scholars did not take the Gnostic view points into enough account.
This book is more of a comparative analysis that draws from the Gnostic texts, the New Testament, and the Eastern spiritual work of Maharaj Charan Singh. The book is split up into 4 parts, an introduction, and a conclusion/summary. I found that this sectioning works well so that the reader can follow Wahler's thought processes. The most striking assertion to me was Wahler's discussion about Judas being the same person as James.
I grew up in a stricter Christian household, so this book intrigued me. As I grew up, I started questioning the interpretations of the Bible I had read and if there might be more to the story. I found Wahler's analysis both interesting and easy to follow. This book would be better for those with an open mind and those interested in learning more about religion. It would be best for those who have some background in reading and understanding the Bible. I wouldn't recommend this book to those who are very strict in their beliefs or younger audiences. It might be a bit too much for them to take on without further research.
I am rating this book 4 out of 4 stars. I am giving it this rating because it is edited well and easy to understand. Any sort of assertive essay is useless unless the intended audience can understand what is being said. Wahler does a good job at explaining his points. The pacing can be a bit fast, but I found that I understood much better if I just took a few moments to read more carefully and by taking time to reflect on what I had just read.
I was also inspired by Wahler's statements in the conclusion of the book. He mentions that this book might not be appreciated right away, but he hopes that someday scholars will come to share his views. I find this optimism to be refreshing. Having the courage to speak up when you have different views can be an amazing thing! I found that I was able to take his words more seriously since I knew just how sincere Wahler is being. Overall, I enjoyed this read and would want to check out other texts by this author.
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Misreading Judas
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