Jim Willis

Censoring God (eBook, ePUB)

The History of the Lost Books (and other Excluded Scriptures)

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

Why isn't the Book of Enoch in the Holy Bible, even though Enoch is referenced multiple times? Why were texts considered sacred by many, excluded by others? Who made the decisions and why?

There are more than 50 books-some of which exist only in fragments while others are complete and whole-that are not included in the biblical canon. Why were they discarded? Most Protestant denominations settled on 66 canonical books of the Bible, while there are 73 for Roman Catholics and 78 for Eastern Orthodox adherents. Why are there these differences of opinion?

We are often taught that the Bible is, in the words of many religious catechisms, "the infallible word of faith and practice." In reality, the Bible can also be seen as a political document as much as a spiritual one. Ordained minister and theologian Jim Willis examines the historical, political, and social climates that influenced the redactors and editors of the Bible and other sacred texts in Censoring God: The History of the Lost Books (and other Excluded Scriptures). In analyzing why texts were censored, he uncovers sometimes surprising biases. He investigates enigmatic hints of Bible codes and ancient wisdom that implies a greater spiritual force might have been at work. Willis explores the importance of the Book of Enoch, its disappearance, and how it was rediscovered in Ethiopia. He analyzes over two dozen excluded texts, such as Jubilees and the Gospel of Thomas, along with the many references to books that we know about from fragments but remain lost.

Thought-provoking and provocative, Censoring God scrutinizes how sacred texts might have been used to justify the power of the powerful, including the destruction of sacred writings of conquered indigenous cultures because they did not agree with the finished version of the Bible accepted by the Church establishment. This important book looks at the human failings in interpreting God's words, and through a compassionate examination it brings a deeper understanding of the power and importance of the lost words. With more than 120 photos and graphics, this tome is richly illustrated. Its helpful bibliography provides sources for further exploration, and an extensive index adds to its usefulness.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Visible Ink Press
• Erscheinungstermin: 1. April 2021
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781578597451
• Artikelnr.: 61126606

Autorenporträt

Jim Willis earned his master's degree in theology from Andover Newton Theological School, and he has been an ordained minister for over forty years. He has also taught college courses in comparative religion and cross-cultural studies. His background in theology and education led to his writing more than a dozen books on religion, the apocalypse, cross-cultural spirituality, and the mysteries of the unknown. His books include Visible Ink Press' Ancient Gods: Lost Histories, Hidden Truths, and the Conspiracy of Silence; Supernatural Gods: Spiritual Mysteries, Psychic Experiences, and Scientific Truths; The Religion Book; Hidden History: Ancient Aliens and the Suppressed Origins of Civilization; and Lost Civilizations: The Secret Histories and Suppressed Technologies of the Ancients. Willis resides in the woods of South Carolina with his wife, Barbara.

Inhaltsangabe

About the Author
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
Part I: From the Lands of the Bible: Books that Didn't Make the Final Cut
Who Wrote the Bible?
The "Old" Testament
How Did the Old Testament become "Old"?
The Bible Code: Hidden Messages from Another Realm?
Hiding in Plain Sight: The Apocrypha
A Genesis Apocryphon
Enoch and the Watchers
Pseudepigrapha and Other Disguises
Other Gems from the Dead Sea Scrolls
The Lost Books of Eden
There Were Giants in the Land
The Great Flood
The Journeys of Abraham
Chariots of Fire
The New Testament
The Shadow of the Fourth Century
Treasures of Nag Hammadi
Out of Egypt
The Protoevangelium of James
The Gospel of Thomas
The Mysterious Mary of Magdalene
The Censored Gospel in Item 17,202
The Hidden Years
Shrouded in Mystery: The Enigmatic Shroud of Turin
Conclusions: A Personal Confession
Part II: Lost Texts from Forgotten Lands
The Mysterious Maya
The Aztec Story as Told by the Victors
Hopi Renaissance
Peru in the Mists of Time
Nature Reclaims the Amazon
Conclusions
Part III: The Song of Distant Voices
Corpus Hermeticum-The Lament of Hermes the Egyptian
Daniel's Dream
II Timothy-Saint Paul's Final Warning
The Apocalypse of Saint John
Conclusions
Of Gatekeepers and Censorship: Final Thoughts
Bibliography
Index