God or the Girl; Gospel of Judas

In Monday’s RNS report, Cecile S. Holmes looks at a new A&E series that depicts the struggle of men who could be priests: Always fraught with difficult choices, the call to the Catholic priesthood becomes a minidrama of men struggling within themselves and within an increasingly secularized world in the Arts and Entertainment Network’s series, […]

In Monday’s RNS report, Cecile S. Holmes looks at a new A&E series that depicts the struggle of men who could be priests: Always fraught with difficult choices, the call to the Catholic priesthood becomes a minidrama of men struggling within themselves and within an increasingly secularized world in the Arts and Entertainment Network’s series, “God or the Girl,” which begins Easter Sunday (April 16). The young men in the A&E five-part series are all-American fellows. They’re intelligent and bright with diverse interests and multiple talents. Each-in different ways-fits the profile of the sort of men church leaders usually say they want to attract to the Roman Catholic priesthood. Deep down, though, each man is almost at war with himself.

David Gibson offers and analysis of why the “Gospel of Judas” won’t change history: Any effort to rewrite the Christian story will incite passions on all sides. National Geographic‘s claim that its Gospel of Judas “threatens to change religious history” is sure to fire the imagination of those who already think the New Testament is nothing more than a conspiracy perpetrated on credulous generations. On the other hand, many traditionalists will see the rehabilitation of Judas as another secular effort to undermine the culpability of a despicable turncoat and the belief in eternal punishment. In reality, while the Gospel of Judas is undeniably fascinating as a historical document, its ideas are neither as new as its supporters would claim, nor as inimical to the faith as many believers may fear.

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