Judas = Neo-Con's Christ
JUDAS = NEO-CON’s Christ.
A Gospel of Judas?
-Or: Political Wiseacring at Christians’ expense, big time.
A lengthy (but still too short) discussion of what’s up in the Spiritual Border War Zone
Now this generation has lived to see Judas Iscariot exonerated. Not such a metaphysical miscreant after all, the newly published text indicates. In fact, by accepting history’s condemnation for betraying Jesus, when he was only carrying out his pre-assigned role in the Gethsemane arrest, he may even be said to be morally equal or superior. That’s if you put Jesus on the same level as the disciples, like a brotherhood whose members had different roles to play in arranging the great salvation drama.
If, however, Jesus is put on a separate metaphysical plane, a distinct type of entity with status among a celestial hierarchy of surplanetary beings -- human flesh, but with a higher-grade of consciousness -- this attempt to rehabilitate Judas makes no sense. In the canonical Gospels he is the one who cunningly exploits his membership among the twelve apostles to hustle money from the Sanhedrin, then leads the Roman soldiers to Gethsemane to identify Jesus with a kiss. This depicts a form of humanity than which no lower or more despicable can be conceived. Andrew Cockburn, writing the liner notes for the National Geographic on-line site characterizes the archetypal feeling toward Judas. “He is the ultimate symbol of treachery. Stockyards call the goat that leads other animals to slaughter the Judas goat. In Germany, officials can forbid new parents from choosing the name Judas. Guides at the historical Coptic Hanging Church in Old Cairo point out one black column in the church’s while colonnades – Judas, of course.”
And now…? a document arrives with great fanfare announcing itself to be “The secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot,” dated from the third century, linked to an earlier reference by Iraneaus, authenticity of its lexographic bona fides vouched for by experts, threatening to put an end to this part of the old, old story of salvation. The story transmitted by through the 17 centuries by the faith of all who called themselves “Christian” is to be radically revised? ?! And in what way? – by elevating Judas to a rank equal to Christ’s, privy to information others are denied.
Having pondered over the document for several days, while not claiming to be to unify all its exuberant symbolic content in a single story, I can certify certain things stand out against the interpretation of him as Jesus’ closest ally. .
One is the unlawfulness of Judas’ access to “the great and holy generation” scene. What he witnessed was not for humans. “Judas, your star has led you astray,” he is told. “No person of mortal birth is worthy to enter the house you have seen, for that place is reserved for the holy.” Far from its being a blessing, as the commentators male out, this assignment of a star (mission) to Judas (interpreting “the star that leads the way is your star”), it is a curse; his cross. It nowhere denies that he hung himself, bursting open at the middle with intestines (Matthew 27.5; Acts 1.18) He is told “You will become the thirteenth, and you will be cursed by the other generations—and you will come to rule over them.” But this promised rule does not include happiness. It will not bring a “great day of light dawning for the generation,” Judas expects. “But when he said this, Jesus left him.” Instead: For to the human generations it has been said, “Look, God has received your sacrifice from the hands of a priest – that is, a minister of error. But it is the Lord, the Lord of the universe, who commands, “On the last day they will be put to shame.”” There is nothing in this that points to Judas being the “best” among the disciples. (“This is really exciting. This explains why Judas is singled out by Jesus as the best of the disciples. The others didn’t get it.” – pure fabrication.)
The fragment “but you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me” is cited out of context by the National Geographic commentator to support the idea that he was “favored”. He helped the “mystic” devotee of Gnosticism escape the body. Actually, in context, which is broken, it appears to be part of the curse.
It follow a line apparently identifying the “them” he will “exceed” with “those who offer sacrifices to Saklas….everything that is evil”. The enormity of his treachery is what others cannot exceed. He is lower than those who sacrifice to false gods.
The New Testament repeatedly has Jesus condemning him. “And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed.” (Luke 22.22) And “The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26.24, Mark 14.21). Finally, he says to Pilate: “You could have no power at all against me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” (John 19.11) Nothing in the text of the gospel of Judas to reverse this utter condemnation. If anything, it is taken further.
That follows from a second major these that stands out. A segment of “scene 2” titled “The Disciples See the Temple and Discuss it.”, reads, in part:
”They said “We have seen a great house with a large altar in it and twelve men—they are priests we would say—and a name, and a crowd of people waiting at that altar…until the priests receive their offering.”
This is very important because a. there is a smack of reality to the “great house with a large altar”, considering the monumental plain of Baalbek was nearby and could have been visited. And b., on a symbolic plane, if Jesus role is to end, by fulfilling, the teaching that sacrifice is required for salvation (“in all their deeds of deficiency, the sacrifices are brought to completion”), the priests should not be receiving sacrifices in his name. Yet, that is what they are doing, he declares, bringing shame: “Truly I say unto you, all the priests who stand before the altar invoke my name. Again I say unto you, my name has been written on this ( …) of the generations of the stars through the human generations. And they have planted trees without fruit, in my name, in shameful manner.” This prospect, that he is describing the work of the apostles is a thunderous critique by its Author. “Those you have seen receiving the offerings at the altar—that is who you are. That is the god you serve, and you are those twelve men you have seen.”
One commentator takes this strange reference to “your god”, as reflecting Cainite sect that regarded the Hebrew’s YHWH as an evil creator. Jesus is distancing himself from this, even laughing at them. He is condemning their continuation of the Jews sacrificers in his name. They mislead. “The cattle you have seen brought to sacrifice are the many people you lead astray,” This is as if spoken before his own death, which perhaps Judas does not yet anticipate, but it appears to also look down the line to those who will receive sacifices in his name – “shear his sheep,” in more colloquial terms—AFTER his own sacrificial death. Generations of the pious will remain loyal to him., he says, but “After (…), another man will stand there from the fornicators, and another will stand there from the slayers of children, and another from those who sleep with men, and those who abstain, and the rest of the people of pollution and lawlessness and error , and those who say “We are like angels’: they are the stars that bring everything to its conclusion.”
The upshot: “Jesus said to them, “Stop sacrificing…which you have over the altar, since they are over your stars and your angels and have already come to their conclusions there.”
If the term “revelation” has meaning, it apples here. This vignette show the existence side-by-side of the two fundamental and profoundly incompatible views of the meaning of ritual sacrifice for humanity: that of Jesus, whose act, according to the book of Hebrews, would end it.
“11. But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, and the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
12. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13. For it the blood of bulls and boats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
14. how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Sprit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15. And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the internal inheritance…
…
24. For Christ has not entered into the holy places made with hands which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
25. not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest eners the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—
26. He then would have had to suffer often since th foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
….. (If following sacrifices according to the law, “having the shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things” 10.1) could cleanse of sin, …)
2. Would not they have ceased to be offered? For the worshippers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
3. But in those sacririces there is a reminder of sins every year.”
This is the conclusive argument that what His life and death represent to followers of the new covenant is fundamentally and profoundly incompatible with the way of the ancient Jews. Therefore, when Jesus said “you are the twelve men” seen sacrificing in the great temple, an absolute metaphysical line is draw that will play out through the centuries.
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS
Judas is the Neo-cons Jesus, their Messiah.
Just as the favorable way of spinning the real message of the Codex Tchacos is blatant attempt to reduce the sense of guilt for those identified by name, if not commitment, with “Jude”, “Judah,” “Judas,” “Judism”, “Jew”.
For it recurs in the relation between Israel and America. As Judas dealt behind the back of the others to hook up Jesus’ capture at Gethsemane, so The Neo-con Lobby” (see Mearsheimer and Wald) has dealt behind the bacls of public Americans, their would-be saviors, to hang them on the cross of Iraq. And it is the same Jews: the one’s who would perpetuate the way of sacrifice forever, side-by-side with the One(s) who would end it.
“Judas Rising.” This is the lead title of the band Judas Priest’s 2004 album “Angel of Retribution”. Its lyrics go: “The burden of sin Echoes the prophecy …Ascending from hell…Forever despising…Judas is Rising. Their faith is revealed, Deceivers are crying by Crucified steel Evangelising Judas is rising.”
Is that what Andrew Cockburn sees, writing the last line in his National Geographic article: “Judas, reborn, is about to face the world”? If so, let him see what comes next
From DEAL WITH THE DEVIL – what’s happening -- “Gotta deal with the devil ‘Cause you know that it’s real…Done a deal with the devil From a heart made of steel. Watched the movement grow, Into One voice, Took on all the World, It had no choice”
From REVOLUTION -- picking up the 60’s Beatles beat “If you think it’s over better think again .. If you think I’d back down or accept defeat, brace for aftershock ..Here comes the Revolution, time for retribution.
From DEMONIZER – Birth of his’their new spirit. “Born of the sun, crashed to earth, Tormented reviled Engorged Hate from Birth … The beast of a god, Regaled of his race, Prepared to Onslaught and Bare face to face…The scream of the demon, There’s evil about, They’ve come to possess us, Out Demon Out. Blade of the wheel Cuts to deep to the bone, It’s Gideon’s quest To take Satan’s throne. The critical mass and power that the weild Exterminate all when vermin rebel”
From ANGEL – redemption -- “Angel – put sad wings around me now, Protect me from the world of sin, So that we can rise again. …Oh Angel – We can find our way somehow, Escaping from the world we’re in, To a place where we began.”
From EULOGY - end of days -- “And so now it comes to pass, By the Eventide on Mass, See them Gather Yet alas, They remain still as stained glass.
For they know only too well That the story they will tell, Conjures Up an ageless spell Guarded by the Sentinel.
So it goes forevermore, Ever steady to the core That the Sign that they came for waves majestic from the floor.”
From LOCHNESS – emerging from the primal waters, the Uroboric Monster –
“Grey mist drifts upon the water, The mirrored surface moves, Awakened of this presence, Dispelling legend’s proof…This legend lives through centuries evoking histo4y’s memories prevailing in eternities on and an on:
Elaboration and Analysis
The official spin put on The Gospel of Judas as redemptive, I charge, is a displacement, in psychoanalytic terms, of the (conscious or) unconscious sense of guilt felt by Jews on account of Israel’s dealings with America, onto the archetypal New Testament drama. Judas gaining exoneration for betrayal, by learning of a secret deal allegedly made with Jesus behind the other disciple’s backs carried over, by the displacement, to exoneration of the neocon/Zionist Lobby for having manipulated the system here to bring war. The political motive for this spin on “the Gospel of Judas” is thus to prevent this unconscious, potentially devastating dream/fantasy content from becoming conscious.
The write-up by David Gibson in the New York Times virtually said as much. .
“(T)hose same experts believe that the current debates provoked by the Judas Gospel, whle not undoing a painful history, could help Christian-Jewish relations now and in the future. “Maybe if Judas can be ‘rehabilitated,’ then perhaps some of those old issues could be set aside,” said Marvin Meyer, a bible scholar at Chapman University.”” (April 9, 2006 sub-titled “Anti-Semitism’s Muse”) These represent the world-view that accepts this story as semi-factual, without revising certain accepted Christological ideas. But this is not tenable. The “old issues” Meyer would set aside are traceable to different answers given to the question of what “divinity” or “Christhood” attribute to the man Jesus in the confessional.
For instance, concerning the issue of sacrifice, the bone of contention between between early Christians and Jews, this document relates that in a vision the disciples see a great house with a great altar and 12 men, a priesthood of 12, receive sacrificies in his name. If the spirit which they earlier attributed by “You are the son of our god”, and if he is to be the sacrifice that completes the time of ritual sacrificing, itself, in the cosmological transition from the age of Aries to Pisces, then the act of continuing to receive sacrifices in his name demonstrates utter lack of connection to the inner meaning of his death, alongside an entrepreneurial willingness to use the picture of his grotesque suffering as a gig, if that is what people want to see.
Call this “The Judas Priest hustle”. It is a miracle that “their god”, as he says to them, should reveal it now, just when humanity most sorely needs some good news of salvation.
In form, it is a three-phase process: getting him crucified; encouraging other’s adulation of him as “God”, linked to their soul’s eternal salvation; followed up by receiving the sacrifices of those who believe. This is admittedly an interpretative application. In broad terms, the text reads to me as saying:
“Judas’s vision concerns the work the 12 Apostles will continue in Jesus’ name. He was numbered among them for a while, then replaced “in order that the twelve may come again to completion with their god.” The work of the 12 is completed in this generation, the Judas Generation, with the revelation of his “Gospel.” What began with his bringing to earth the result of defiling a holy place to gain knowledge forbidden to mortal persons has played out into the present as the other side of Christianity.”
The symbolic line is in the “J-“ word sign-uses: Judas, Judah, Judaism, Jewish, leading by application to the state of Israel. The article “The Israeli Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy” by Mearsheimer and Wald documents the objective ground for following these token associations. This article and the Gospel of Judas appared at roughly the same time, Easter season, in April ’06. The article argues, roughly, that far from Israel being strategic and moral asset to the United States, it is a liability. It threatens, more than it helps protect American interests. That would make the neocon WHIG’s (“White House Iraq Group” meeting in Dick Cheney’s chambers to plot out The Sacrifice) Judases, and brand this era, their legacy, the Judas Generation, even as prophesied in the Gospel.
The juxtaposition of the two views of sacrifice, begun at a “Y” point historically 2000 years ago, now existing side-by-side in TokenSpace of contemporary communication, raises this burning question to a metaphysical level: what does “Christ” stands for?
A Gospel of Judas?
-Or: Political Wiseacring at Christians’ expense, big time.
A lengthy (but still too short) discussion of what’s up in the Spiritual Border War Zone
Now this generation has lived to see Judas Iscariot exonerated. Not such a metaphysical miscreant after all, the newly published text indicates. In fact, by accepting history’s condemnation for betraying Jesus, when he was only carrying out his pre-assigned role in the Gethsemane arrest, he may even be said to be morally equal or superior. That’s if you put Jesus on the same level as the disciples, like a brotherhood whose members had different roles to play in arranging the great salvation drama.
If, however, Jesus is put on a separate metaphysical plane, a distinct type of entity with status among a celestial hierarchy of surplanetary beings -- human flesh, but with a higher-grade of consciousness -- this attempt to rehabilitate Judas makes no sense. In the canonical Gospels he is the one who cunningly exploits his membership among the twelve apostles to hustle money from the Sanhedrin, then leads the Roman soldiers to Gethsemane to identify Jesus with a kiss. This depicts a form of humanity than which no lower or more despicable can be conceived. Andrew Cockburn, writing the liner notes for the National Geographic on-line site characterizes the archetypal feeling toward Judas. “He is the ultimate symbol of treachery. Stockyards call the goat that leads other animals to slaughter the Judas goat. In Germany, officials can forbid new parents from choosing the name Judas. Guides at the historical Coptic Hanging Church in Old Cairo point out one black column in the church’s while colonnades – Judas, of course.”
And now…? a document arrives with great fanfare announcing itself to be “The secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot,” dated from the third century, linked to an earlier reference by Iraneaus, authenticity of its lexographic bona fides vouched for by experts, threatening to put an end to this part of the old, old story of salvation. The story transmitted by through the 17 centuries by the faith of all who called themselves “Christian” is to be radically revised? ?! And in what way? – by elevating Judas to a rank equal to Christ’s, privy to information others are denied.
Having pondered over the document for several days, while not claiming to be to unify all its exuberant symbolic content in a single story, I can certify certain things stand out against the interpretation of him as Jesus’ closest ally. .
One is the unlawfulness of Judas’ access to “the great and holy generation” scene. What he witnessed was not for humans. “Judas, your star has led you astray,” he is told. “No person of mortal birth is worthy to enter the house you have seen, for that place is reserved for the holy.” Far from its being a blessing, as the commentators male out, this assignment of a star (mission) to Judas (interpreting “the star that leads the way is your star”), it is a curse; his cross. It nowhere denies that he hung himself, bursting open at the middle with intestines (Matthew 27.5; Acts 1.18) He is told “You will become the thirteenth, and you will be cursed by the other generations—and you will come to rule over them.” But this promised rule does not include happiness. It will not bring a “great day of light dawning for the generation,” Judas expects. “But when he said this, Jesus left him.” Instead: For to the human generations it has been said, “Look, God has received your sacrifice from the hands of a priest – that is, a minister of error. But it is the Lord, the Lord of the universe, who commands, “On the last day they will be put to shame.”” There is nothing in this that points to Judas being the “best” among the disciples. (“This is really exciting. This explains why Judas is singled out by Jesus as the best of the disciples. The others didn’t get it.” – pure fabrication.)
The fragment “but you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me” is cited out of context by the National Geographic commentator to support the idea that he was “favored”. He helped the “mystic” devotee of Gnosticism escape the body. Actually, in context, which is broken, it appears to be part of the curse.
It follow a line apparently identifying the “them” he will “exceed” with “those who offer sacrifices to Saklas….everything that is evil”. The enormity of his treachery is what others cannot exceed. He is lower than those who sacrifice to false gods.
The New Testament repeatedly has Jesus condemning him. “And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed.” (Luke 22.22) And “The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26.24, Mark 14.21). Finally, he says to Pilate: “You could have no power at all against me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” (John 19.11) Nothing in the text of the gospel of Judas to reverse this utter condemnation. If anything, it is taken further.
That follows from a second major these that stands out. A segment of “scene 2” titled “The Disciples See the Temple and Discuss it.”, reads, in part:
”They said “We have seen a great house with a large altar in it and twelve men—they are priests we would say—and a name, and a crowd of people waiting at that altar…until the priests receive their offering.”
This is very important because a. there is a smack of reality to the “great house with a large altar”, considering the monumental plain of Baalbek was nearby and could have been visited. And b., on a symbolic plane, if Jesus role is to end, by fulfilling, the teaching that sacrifice is required for salvation (“in all their deeds of deficiency, the sacrifices are brought to completion”), the priests should not be receiving sacrifices in his name. Yet, that is what they are doing, he declares, bringing shame: “Truly I say unto you, all the priests who stand before the altar invoke my name. Again I say unto you, my name has been written on this ( …) of the generations of the stars through the human generations. And they have planted trees without fruit, in my name, in shameful manner.” This prospect, that he is describing the work of the apostles is a thunderous critique by its Author. “Those you have seen receiving the offerings at the altar—that is who you are. That is the god you serve, and you are those twelve men you have seen.”
One commentator takes this strange reference to “your god”, as reflecting Cainite sect that regarded the Hebrew’s YHWH as an evil creator. Jesus is distancing himself from this, even laughing at them. He is condemning their continuation of the Jews sacrificers in his name. They mislead. “The cattle you have seen brought to sacrifice are the many people you lead astray,” This is as if spoken before his own death, which perhaps Judas does not yet anticipate, but it appears to also look down the line to those who will receive sacifices in his name – “shear his sheep,” in more colloquial terms—AFTER his own sacrificial death. Generations of the pious will remain loyal to him., he says, but “After (…), another man will stand there from the fornicators, and another will stand there from the slayers of children, and another from those who sleep with men, and those who abstain, and the rest of the people of pollution and lawlessness and error , and those who say “We are like angels’: they are the stars that bring everything to its conclusion.”
The upshot: “Jesus said to them, “Stop sacrificing…which you have over the altar, since they are over your stars and your angels and have already come to their conclusions there.”
If the term “revelation” has meaning, it apples here. This vignette show the existence side-by-side of the two fundamental and profoundly incompatible views of the meaning of ritual sacrifice for humanity: that of Jesus, whose act, according to the book of Hebrews, would end it.
“11. But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, and the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
12. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13. For it the blood of bulls and boats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
14. how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Sprit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15. And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the internal inheritance…
…
24. For Christ has not entered into the holy places made with hands which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
25. not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest eners the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—
26. He then would have had to suffer often since th foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
….. (If following sacrifices according to the law, “having the shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things” 10.1) could cleanse of sin, …)
2. Would not they have ceased to be offered? For the worshippers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
3. But in those sacririces there is a reminder of sins every year.”
This is the conclusive argument that what His life and death represent to followers of the new covenant is fundamentally and profoundly incompatible with the way of the ancient Jews. Therefore, when Jesus said “you are the twelve men” seen sacrificing in the great temple, an absolute metaphysical line is draw that will play out through the centuries.
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS
Judas is the Neo-cons Jesus, their Messiah.
Just as the favorable way of spinning the real message of the Codex Tchacos is blatant attempt to reduce the sense of guilt for those identified by name, if not commitment, with “Jude”, “Judah,” “Judas,” “Judism”, “Jew”.
For it recurs in the relation between Israel and America. As Judas dealt behind the back of the others to hook up Jesus’ capture at Gethsemane, so The Neo-con Lobby” (see Mearsheimer and Wald) has dealt behind the bacls of public Americans, their would-be saviors, to hang them on the cross of Iraq. And it is the same Jews: the one’s who would perpetuate the way of sacrifice forever, side-by-side with the One(s) who would end it.
“Judas Rising.” This is the lead title of the band Judas Priest’s 2004 album “Angel of Retribution”. Its lyrics go: “The burden of sin Echoes the prophecy …Ascending from hell…Forever despising…Judas is Rising. Their faith is revealed, Deceivers are crying by Crucified steel Evangelising Judas is rising.”
Is that what Andrew Cockburn sees, writing the last line in his National Geographic article: “Judas, reborn, is about to face the world”? If so, let him see what comes next
From DEAL WITH THE DEVIL – what’s happening -- “Gotta deal with the devil ‘Cause you know that it’s real…Done a deal with the devil From a heart made of steel. Watched the movement grow, Into One voice, Took on all the World, It had no choice”
From REVOLUTION -- picking up the 60’s Beatles beat “If you think it’s over better think again .. If you think I’d back down or accept defeat, brace for aftershock ..Here comes the Revolution, time for retribution.
From DEMONIZER – Birth of his’their new spirit. “Born of the sun, crashed to earth, Tormented reviled Engorged Hate from Birth … The beast of a god, Regaled of his race, Prepared to Onslaught and Bare face to face…The scream of the demon, There’s evil about, They’ve come to possess us, Out Demon Out. Blade of the wheel Cuts to deep to the bone, It’s Gideon’s quest To take Satan’s throne. The critical mass and power that the weild Exterminate all when vermin rebel”
From ANGEL – redemption -- “Angel – put sad wings around me now, Protect me from the world of sin, So that we can rise again. …Oh Angel – We can find our way somehow, Escaping from the world we’re in, To a place where we began.”
From EULOGY - end of days -- “And so now it comes to pass, By the Eventide on Mass, See them Gather Yet alas, They remain still as stained glass.
For they know only too well That the story they will tell, Conjures Up an ageless spell Guarded by the Sentinel.
So it goes forevermore, Ever steady to the core That the Sign that they came for waves majestic from the floor.”
From LOCHNESS – emerging from the primal waters, the Uroboric Monster –
“Grey mist drifts upon the water, The mirrored surface moves, Awakened of this presence, Dispelling legend’s proof…This legend lives through centuries evoking histo4y’s memories prevailing in eternities on and an on:
Elaboration and Analysis
The official spin put on The Gospel of Judas as redemptive, I charge, is a displacement, in psychoanalytic terms, of the (conscious or) unconscious sense of guilt felt by Jews on account of Israel’s dealings with America, onto the archetypal New Testament drama. Judas gaining exoneration for betrayal, by learning of a secret deal allegedly made with Jesus behind the other disciple’s backs carried over, by the displacement, to exoneration of the neocon/Zionist Lobby for having manipulated the system here to bring war. The political motive for this spin on “the Gospel of Judas” is thus to prevent this unconscious, potentially devastating dream/fantasy content from becoming conscious.
The write-up by David Gibson in the New York Times virtually said as much. .
“(T)hose same experts believe that the current debates provoked by the Judas Gospel, whle not undoing a painful history, could help Christian-Jewish relations now and in the future. “Maybe if Judas can be ‘rehabilitated,’ then perhaps some of those old issues could be set aside,” said Marvin Meyer, a bible scholar at Chapman University.”” (April 9, 2006 sub-titled “Anti-Semitism’s Muse”) These represent the world-view that accepts this story as semi-factual, without revising certain accepted Christological ideas. But this is not tenable. The “old issues” Meyer would set aside are traceable to different answers given to the question of what “divinity” or “Christhood” attribute to the man Jesus in the confessional.
For instance, concerning the issue of sacrifice, the bone of contention between between early Christians and Jews, this document relates that in a vision the disciples see a great house with a great altar and 12 men, a priesthood of 12, receive sacrificies in his name. If the spirit which they earlier attributed by “You are the son of our god”, and if he is to be the sacrifice that completes the time of ritual sacrificing, itself, in the cosmological transition from the age of Aries to Pisces, then the act of continuing to receive sacrifices in his name demonstrates utter lack of connection to the inner meaning of his death, alongside an entrepreneurial willingness to use the picture of his grotesque suffering as a gig, if that is what people want to see.
Call this “The Judas Priest hustle”. It is a miracle that “their god”, as he says to them, should reveal it now, just when humanity most sorely needs some good news of salvation.
In form, it is a three-phase process: getting him crucified; encouraging other’s adulation of him as “God”, linked to their soul’s eternal salvation; followed up by receiving the sacrifices of those who believe. This is admittedly an interpretative application. In broad terms, the text reads to me as saying:
“Judas’s vision concerns the work the 12 Apostles will continue in Jesus’ name. He was numbered among them for a while, then replaced “in order that the twelve may come again to completion with their god.” The work of the 12 is completed in this generation, the Judas Generation, with the revelation of his “Gospel.” What began with his bringing to earth the result of defiling a holy place to gain knowledge forbidden to mortal persons has played out into the present as the other side of Christianity.”
The symbolic line is in the “J-“ word sign-uses: Judas, Judah, Judaism, Jewish, leading by application to the state of Israel. The article “The Israeli Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy” by Mearsheimer and Wald documents the objective ground for following these token associations. This article and the Gospel of Judas appared at roughly the same time, Easter season, in April ’06. The article argues, roughly, that far from Israel being strategic and moral asset to the United States, it is a liability. It threatens, more than it helps protect American interests. That would make the neocon WHIG’s (“White House Iraq Group” meeting in Dick Cheney’s chambers to plot out The Sacrifice) Judases, and brand this era, their legacy, the Judas Generation, even as prophesied in the Gospel.
The juxtaposition of the two views of sacrifice, begun at a “Y” point historically 2000 years ago, now existing side-by-side in TokenSpace of contemporary communication, raises this burning question to a metaphysical level: what does “Christ” stands for?
posted by Sid Thomas | 6:12 PM
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