I watched it. Interesting though that in Alberta it was advertised to be on Friday, Saturday, AND Sunday and then Saturday and Sunday it just was not on.

There was nothing on it that I did not know before.

"There was nothing on it that I did not know before."

Why does it not surprise me that you would say that?

Well maybe, Klaatu, you have finally accepted the FACT that I know everything. ;)

Well I don't believe that Alberta would not get the same CNN feed as Ontario because it aired on both Friday and Saturday, which I watched and taped.

I thought it was fascinating on how easily the messages changed and developed and how the system was controlled by men. ANd how there is no known fact that the gospels got it right, and how Christmas was not celebrated until the 4th century A.D.

"Well maybe, Klaatu, you have finally accepted the FACT that I know everything."

Serena, you got me there. I surrender.

If you were keen on the CNN program, you might want to read When Jesus Became God, by Richard Rubenstein. It will give a sense of what the third and fourth centuries looked like from the perspective of an outsider, though a man of faith. It gives aid and comfort to those of us who have moved away from strict orthodoxy as a fiction that was foisted on the community of faith buy a clutch of power-hungry bishops. Things like Papal authority are a sense of where strict orthodoxy gets you!

For those interested in the early days of the Christian church, check out John Dominic Crossan's "The Birth of Christianity."

Have any of you read the Pagan Christ by Tom Harper, Years ago I read the history books, can't remember their names, published by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. They told how the Bible was put together.

Crossan's good, although largely orthodox. We've been getting the orthodox perspective all our lives; there are others, you know.Harpur's a bit weird even for me. Also try Bart Ehrman, Lost Christianities; the battles for scripture and the faiths we never knew. It's a whole new world out there, once you get past the holy bishops! Oh, I'm sure God was motivating them. But I think they got God's will mixed up with their desires for being "top of the heap." Any responses to this?

I couldn't agree with you more.
Christianity was hijacked by the power brokers.
I am a female theologian. We've been operativng underground for centuries!!!
Female bishops help, but only if their exercise of power is to empower others. Hierarchical power always corrupts!
When they tried to give Jesus all the power he refused. He said "You will do even greater things."
Hmmmmm.

Pagen Christ now that was a good read. I base alot of my views on that book.

Reminds me of when I read a book titled "Christianity" (I can't remember the author) about 10 years ago or so. Was very much like a history book. Really got me thinking about the basis of Christianity. This is why I'm so thankful that I'm hearing about many resources and information which points closer to the time just after Jesus' death (within the first hundred years or so). I've just taken an interest in reading the book of Thomas, which I haven't gotten to yet. It's supposedly different than the other gospels because it was written from a more eastern perspective, where society was relatively peaceful and commerce was thriving.

Thanks for all the other titles everyone! So much to read and so little time!!

Many resources indeed! Think of the evidence slowly emerging that Mary of Magdala was, in fact, the leading disciple, and the wife of Jesus. Peter - good old impetuous, "I'm a real man" Peter elbowed her aside, threatened her so much that she escaped to Egypt with her child!!! and there wrote The Gospel of Mary! The icon on the book's cover is fascinating; a dark woman, holding an egg. Powerful symbolism. Women, be sure to read Mary's Gospel, or at least the fragments of it we have.

I live with a female theologian. It's a great trip!

UP2 --- I thought we have put the "Da Vinci Code" thing to the rest some time ago?? What with all the historical inaccuracies and the person agendas by Dan Brown against everything about Christianity?? Come on --- we should be better informed than that.

Peeloo "Christianity was hijacked by the power brokers."

Well, not really --- actually JESUS and his teachings were misrepresented by many after him - and grossely trivialized by Euro-American Christians. Remember, Jesus did not start the religion Christianity. And you are right - power issue was and is still the center of all those extreme-makeovers in Christianity.

For all of you who want some sane perspectives in Christianity from evangelical minds - I encourage you to read "a Generous Orthodoxy" by Brian D. McLaren and any of his books. You might find a like minded soul and seeker.

I will keep quite now ---

Soulcast:

Do you really think that the ONLY source of such "radical" ideas comes from Dan Brown? Get over it! There are a number of reputable and SCHOLARLY writers who raise the same questions that I have mentioned. For example. Bart Ehrman (whom I've already mentioned), Michael Baigent (his name will probably freak you out because he wrote "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" some years back!), Robert Eisenman, Laurence Gardner. I can name others, but this list should keep you busy awhile, IF you choose to read any. I somehow doubt that you will. But I'll be ready if you do!

Now there's a novel concept - a generous evangelical mind! The only person like that I've read is Philip Yancey; I enjoyed him. Any more like him?

This is not a Da Vinci code thread, it's a disussion about the program and othe various informative historical sources on early Christianity.

Da Vinci code is a fictional story but based on a few loose ideas from Gnostics. Try wikiing that and you'll get a better understanding of what we are talking about. Using Da Vinci code as the base of ideas from Gnostisism is like using Narnia to document Christianity.

UP2 "Michael Baigent (his name will probably freak you out because he wrote "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" some years back!),"

Well --- if you have been following "Da Vinci Code" mania in the last year - you would probably knew that, most of Dan Brown's supposedly facts and stories were from the book "Holy Blood, Holy Grail", which the author, Michael Baigent, later admitted as a false and fictional story - just thought you might want to know. I will try to read other authors you mentioned.

if you liked Philipp Yancy --- you would love Brian Maclaren. I would recommand you to read him - even search for some of his articles in the internet would be a good starting point (like www.emergentvillage.com).

Blessings!

"Using Da Vinci code as the base of ideas from Gnostisism is like using Narnia to document Christianity."

Believerornot, for a person who claims that faith is difficult, you certainly sport a wide defensive streak!! The practitioners of Gnostic Christianity were, after all, Christians until the powerful orthodox bishops decided they were "choosing wrong." (Heretic, after all, means, "those who choose") For the orthodox party, choosing anything but their way was choosing wrong. Gnostics were to Orthodox Christians what Protestants were to Catholics, back in Luther's day.

What did some of you think of the program, those who've posted but not said anything. I'm curious what you thought.