Does the book change your religeous beliefs?

Claudia DL · Post by **Claudia DL** » 26 May 2019, 15:37

I never understood how suicide was seen as such a sin in Christianity when one of the disciples had committed it himself in his despair. Although, his suicide on the tree now recalls to mind the suicide and hanging of Odin, which was meant as rebirth. But why would you blame Judas for suicide when he felt so guilty and awful about what he did? And then blame him about what he did to cause the guilt as well. It just seems like Judas is a bit of a punching bag. And I mean, I get it. The person we love went through something awful and we want to be mad at someone, we want to blame someone. It's human, and extraordinarily Christian too, weirdly enough. Blaming is strictly advised against, and yet Christians do it incessantly in their everyday lives...

unidhi05 · Post by **unidhi05** » 27 May 2019, 01:08

Definitely not. If a book can influence your religious beliefs, then you're questioning your faith in God. So, my reply would be "No".

Ronel_Steyn · Post by **Ronel_Steyn** » 27 May 2019, 03:36

I started reading the official review posted. I read halfway through the first paragraph and stopped. I wasn't interested anymore. I disagree with the idea, the concept, everything. I don't believe this book would influence true believers.

Zeix · Post by **Zeix** » 27 May 2019, 04:03

No the book would not change anything for me. Judas has nothing to do with how I view or my believes in my religion

Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha · Post by **Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha** » 27 May 2019, 12:20

The book does not in any way shake my religious belief. Judas was human like all of us. Like us, he was faced with the temptation and choice of betraying his master and he chose to do so. We make choices as well every day. It did not have to be Judas. He chose to fill that role. That was not a sacrifice. It was a choice.

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 27 May 2019, 13:11

CambaReviewer wrote: ↑27 May 2019, 12:20 The book does not in any way shake my religious belief. Judas was human like all of us. Like us, he was faced with the temptation and choice of betraying his master and he chose to do so. We make choices as well every day. It did not have to be Judas. He chose to fill that role. That was not a sacrifice. It was a choice.

Nicely put. He had the freevwill to make a choice and he chose the worst possible outcome for his master. I wonder how everyone's religious beliefs would fare should the author verify a NEW piece of information that affirms that Judas was threatened into betraying Jesus. How would your religious beliefs on the Betrayal of Judas change? What if the threat was to someone close to him, a child even?

dragonet07 · Post by **dragonet07** » 27 May 2019, 18:25

As I am agnostic myself, I can honestly say that it does not. The book provides some interesting and compelling points, but there are a couple which I do not entirely buy into which would cause me to not change my beliefs even if I were Christian. While I feel that Wahler makes many close readings of the passages (in my opinion, at least), the couple which I disagree with are flimsy enough in their logic that I have to take the whole thing with a grain of salt. There's also the fact that he throws in lines which border too much on authorial intent and conspiracy theory for me, such as "Jesus and Judas are inventions of clever writers of the first century to make James disappear from history for the selfish ends of a few". The book is a great point to start a conversation about history, literary interpretation, and religion, but I don't think that it is strong enough to change anyone's belief system on its own.

AntonelaMaria · Post by **AntonelaMaria** » 28 May 2019, 05:01

Balazon2000 wrote: ↑01 May 2019, 10:56 If one book could change your religious outlook then, in my opinion you are not strong in your faith. So, the answer to the question, for me, is no.

I have to agree 100%, this is my opinion too.

hugogomez · Post by **hugogomez** » 28 May 2019, 13:52

No. It did not. I think it is no possible that just one book can change any religeous beliefs, at least when these ones are strong. Anyway, I think the author shows very interesting points of view about the topic of religion in human beings.

Post by **Kourtney Bradley** » 28 May 2019, 14:44

Although I haven't read this one yet, I'm intrigued by the idea that a book could change your religious beliefs. Seems unlikely to me, but I guess anything is possible.

vivalatianne · Post by **vivalatianne** » 28 May 2019, 22:56

I believed that if you have a strong faith to your religion whatever books or information you get it will never change or alter your belief but if you have doubts that when you start to question your beliefs.

beccabecky · Post by **beccabecky** » 29 May 2019, 00:34

It's an interesting text but it doesn't change my religious view.

Renee_Prior1995 · Post by **Renee_Prior1995** » 29 May 2019, 14:49

I am currently reading this book. I for one have never really been religious. So far this story has not changed my opinions on anything religious. I will always be spiritual.

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 29 May 2019, 14:59

Ronel_Steyn wrote: ↑27 May 2019, 03:36 I started reading the official review posted. I read halfway through the first paragraph and stopped. I wasn't interested anymore. I disagree with the idea, the concept, everything. I don't believe this book would influence true believers.

The question I want to ask you is what guides "true believers?" A booķ, just like this whose only advantage is that it was written first, as as such had enough time to garner global followers. One's religious beliefs should instinctual, intimate- like the beloef of right versus wrong, light against dark. This book has made me question the foundation of basing religious beliefs in books.