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7B RELIGIONAI^ CSstI«ttt $Mlt Wednesday, December 31 2003 Harvard professor joins buzz about Maiy Magdalene By Richard Ostling THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Imagine that alongside Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, your New Tfestament includes a fifth Gospel where “seven Powers of Wrath” interrogate the human soul, accusing it of being a “human-killer” and “space- conqueror.” Imagine fiuther that the soul responds, “I was set loose from a world and in a type, from a type which is above and finm the chain of forgetfulness in time” to enter silent rest during “the time of the due season of the aeon.” And how about a Jesus who says “matter gave birth to a passion which has no image” and that “there is no such thing as sin”? There actually was a Gospel that said these things. Although the words sound like musings from some 1960s New Age guru, they appeared in an ancient text known as the “Gospel of Mary.” The title referred to the disciple Mary Magdalene, not to Jesus’ mother. The text, rediscovered in 1896 and published in 1941, came fium secret-knowledge (“Gnostic”) sects that rejected biblical Judaism and ortho- Pope laments ‘ that is disturbs By Nicole Winfield THE ASSOCIATED PRESS VATICAN CITY - Pressing his campaign against gay unions. Pope John Paul II lamented Sunday what he called the “misunderstood” sense of rights that was alter ing the true sense of mar riage and family these days. In his traditional Sunday greeting, John Paul called for increased support from all those who believe “in the importance of the family based on matrimony,” which he said was a “human and divine” gift that should be defended by sodefy. The Vatican defines matri mony as a divine union between man and woman, and in July it launched a global campaign to stem the tide of widening legal recog nition for same-sex mar riages. dox Christianity. The quotes appear in “The Gospel of Mary of Magdala; Jesus and the First Woman Apostle” by Karen L. King of Harvard Divinity School. The publisher is Polebridge Press, allied with the left-wing Jesus Seminar in which King participates. Since most of the original “Mary” text vanished. King’s translations of the surviving fragments fill only five pages. Mary Magdalene is fash ionable at the moment thanks to the odd pseudo-his torical thriller “The Da Wnd Code.” It promotes the ludi crous rumor — developed many centuries after Jesus’ lifetime - that he married Magdalene and had children who migrated to France. Newsweek ran a cover story on the Magdalene fad with the misleading headline “The Bible’s Lost Stories.” Gnostidsm is also hot, due to “Beyond Behef,” a book about the “Gospel of Thomas” by King’s Princeton soulmate Elaine Pagels. Like Pagels with “Thomas,” King would like to beheve that “Mary” was a lull com petitor alongside the New Tbstament Gospels, though chinch leaders judged it late and fraudulent. Dating is crudal forjudging authenticity. King’s first paragraph states flatly that “Mary” was written “early in the second century” but she waits until Page 183 to explore the debate. Facts: Most of the “Mary” material that survived is found in a partial manuscript in Egypt’s Coptic language, written in the fifth century. We also have two fragments in Greek from the early third century. 'Though King doesn’t say so, those fragments came a cen tury later than the earliest scrrviving fragment from the New Testament Gospels. Most scholars conclude that “Mary” originated in the late second century as a Gnostic attack on the earher New Testament. King mentions that consensus only in her final pages. What is King’s argument for leaping backward a centu ry and putting “Mary” in the time the New 'testament was written (as Pagels attempts with “Thomas”)? King says the “Mary” topics “fit best in an early second century con text,” things like women’s roles and the meaning of Jesus’ life and teachings. But misunderstood’ sense of rights meaning of matrimony, family A document from the Vati can’s orthodoxy watchdog, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said Catholic pohticians had a “moral duty” to oppose laws granting legal rights to gay couples, and that non- Catholics shorrld follow then- lead since the issue concerns “natural moral law.” John Paul raised the issue Sunday, noting that Christ mas was a time to remember the “holy family” of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, whose birth is celebrated by the church on Dec. 25. "In our times, a misunder stood sense of rights has sometimes disturbed the nature of the family institu tion and conjugal bond itself,” John Paul said. “It is necessary that at every level, the efforts of those who believe in the importance of the family based on matri mony unite.” Marriage, he added, "con cerns a human and divine reality that is defended and promoted as a fimdamental good of society,” John Paul has been a staimch promoter of the institution of marriage, as well as of the family. He strongly opposes abortion as well as artificial birth con trol. 'The Vatican’s opposition to condoms recently came under renewed fire after a top cardinal, Alfonso Lopez 'Trujillo, said condoms don’t protect against AIDS, 'The U.N. World Health Organi zation, among other groups, called his comments “dan gerous” and “totally wrong.” The Vatican maintains that chastity is the best method of HIV prevention. Church drafts gay marriage license THE ASSOCIATED PRESS POR'TSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) _ te promote the legalization of same-sex marriages, the pastors at South Church plan to sign marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples they wed and mail them to City HaU for approval. Following a practice accept ed in the Unitarian Universal- ist faith, the church has per formed marriage ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples for more than 15 years, even though the unions are not rec ognized by law. 'The move departs from a rebellious approach taken by other Unitarian Universalist ministries. Parishes as far as California and as close as Exeter have refused to many straight couples until same- sex marriages are recognized by law. Saunders said that protest, while admirable, is not the best way to effect change. A marriage strike, he said, has the potential to “anger het erosexuals who just want to marry.” Saunders said that he and his wife, the Rev. Marta Flanagan, will address the issue from the pulpit Jan. 11. 'The church ad-vises same- sex couples to hire a lawyer to ensure that they get aU the legal privileges available, which are significantly fewer than those granted to straight couples. The next gay or lesbian cou ple to schedule a wedding there, he said, can fill out the new certificate designed from the template used for hetero sexual couples. Last fall, the Rev. Kendra Ford of the First Unitarian Society of Exeter announced that while she will continue to perform ceremonies for both straight and same-sex couples, she will sign mar riage certificates for neither until marriages of all couples are recognized by law. Julia Rodriguez, a South Church parishioner from Durham, said different con gregations must choose how strong they make their state ment. “What were seeing now is a tension between taking a gradual or more rapid approach to change,” Rodriguez said. “Do we speak out or do we disrupt?” Cross on a cap causes controversy By Dennis P. Connor Religion News Service and Benfit.com Cincinnati, Dec. 29—(RNS) Sometimes there is no better marketing than word of mouth. 'That has been espe cially true in this southwest Ohio city in the wake of a controversial call by the National Football League, which fined Cincinnati Ben- gals quarterback Jon Kitna $5,000 for wearing unautho rized headgear too close to game time during a televi sion interview. Kitna’s cap was embla zoned with a simple cross—a symbol of the Pro Bowl quar terback’s devotion to Jesus. 'The NFL told the Bengals Kitna was in violation of a rule requiring all merchan dise worn by players or other team personnel to be approved and licensed by the football league. 'The cross cap was not a licensed item. 'The news hit hard in the Queen City, and upon learn ing of the NFL’s decision, owners of 'The Catholic Shop in a northern suburb decided they would begin selling the caps for $5 a pop. Since Dec. 22, they’ve sold more than 4,000 of the black caps with a white embroidered cross, and they anticipate seUing up to 1,000 a day “as long as we can get them in,” said Catholic Shop co-owner Dan Giroux. Giroux’s wife, Ann, had been a guest on a local radio talk show, originally sched uled to discuss Mel Gibson’s new movie, “The Passion,” when the hat controversy emerged. “She and the talk-show host got talking about how Jon Kitna was such a great guy, a good quarterback and a really dedicated Christian, and by the end of the show. she announced over the air that we were going to sell the caps with the cross on it,” Giroux said. Now dubbed “Kitna caps,” the items have attracted buy ers from as far away as Chicago, Indianapolis and Wheeling, W.Va., he said. “The phone’s been ringing off the hook, and we quit taking pre-orders because of all the out-of-town folks who said they weren’t going to leave without a cap,” Giroux said. Just before Christmas, Giroux said Kitna visited the store to thank the entrepre neurs for their support. “He just showed up, unan nounced, very shyly and reached out to shake my hand,” Giroux said. “Then he just walked away.” As the quarterback walked away, Giroux decided he wanted to get one of his caps autographed for his wife. “He those issues, were equally pertinent a century later. Whatever agenda “Marji” originally promoted, it obvi ously meets 21st-century desires for a feminist and “spiritual” faith, unshackled from traditional churches and doctrines. The Gnostic Magdalene was the queen of apostles who supposedly preserved Jesus’ secret revelations and told the male apostles what’s what. Poor befuddled St. Peter asks, did Jesus “speak with a woman in private without our knowing about it” and did he “choose her over us?” In the “Mary” version of reality, Jesus and his follow ers despised material reality and other aspects of their Jewish heritage, sought inner enlightenment without external rules, and preached the future dissolution of mat ter, the “modeled form” of cre ated beings, the soul’s ascending powers and the extermination of desire. 'The ”Mary” circle saw no saving value in Jesus’ death on the cross or his bodily res urrection from the grave, and considered early church lead ers illegitimate. In other words, the Gospel according to “Mary” claimed the New 'Ibstament was a big he. rRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH ‘^Tellins and Livins the Good News of Jesus Chrisf^ - Outreach & Nurture Ministries For All Ages - Spirit-led Sunday Worship: 11 am Sunday School; 9:30am Wed. Prayer, Praise & Bible Study: 7pm Radio Ministry: Fri. 10am, WGSP 1310 AM - Rev. Quentin G. Poulson, Pastor - 3001 Beatties Fd. Rd.. Charlotte, NC 28216-3731 704-392-6098 • E-mail: POPAX@bcllsouth.net ^ Phone Website: www.LutheranOutTeach.org/Prince of Peace, htm Greater Providence Baptist Church “Learning to Seek God First” 2000 Milton Road. Charlotte. NC 28215 704-532-6228 704-532-7568/or Dr. Fred Gibson, Pastor ~Come Join Us in Worship & Praise~ Sunday Worship 8:00 AM & 11:00 AM Sunday School 9:45 AM Hour of Power 12 Moon - Wednesdays Spiritual Renewal/Bible Study 7:00 PM Wednesdays (Adult, Teen, & Youth classes) REEDER MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH Come and share "The Journey" with us. Sunday Morning Worship - 8 am and 10:45 am Sunday School -9:30 am Tuesday Bible Study-7:30 pm ; A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY MmO CONNECTIONS WITH YOUR FUTURE s 3725 Beatties Ford Rd.‘704-398-2914 .\ ini oru cordialU] iin iucl li> Pruning of HlarH iinipui'-saiy Ti'ihutu to Xgit '({emh A Celubhation Of Educationai. Exceu-ence BtNEH'riNc; The Untijed Negro College Fund Ai.so ii AittRiNtit Smokii. Nciitt.Ki. • Mo’NiQi.i. • Mi.siQ 'Tur O’Jav.s • l>i lutit- Ai i.rN • BAiiviwti SiUJ*iAK MoouL • Glrali> LttVJUtr • iK'AVNt BRAity • Quincy Junes ♦ P.vt n LaBiiIxl • Vivian Crlijn t-Rfiii Hammond » s>h««-ey Caks-mi ♦ Marr-yn McCoo & Biuv 1Mvis,jk. ‘Jayne Kenneijy and mant more,... Tune in January 9 on Channel 3 at 9 p.rn. Pledge Your Support In Advance! i 800-527-5222 www.uncf.org ■'JPMorganChase ©target TOYOTA “A V\ford From Our F^rlrm” ZHw .Season for oCivina During the days of Christmas, despite the all the excitement, it seems that many of us are left with unresolved feelings of disappointment and disillusionment. This cycle seems to repeat itself each year? Have we simply adopted the world's expectation and view of what Christmas is supposed to be? Perhaps as we come to the end of the "holiday and prepare, for the New Year, we might retain some of the excitement about the Christ Child. There are so many factors to consider that impact our spirits during this time of year. Yet, we go through the motions of celebrating, feeling less than we would like to feel. Although our mood threatens to permeate the inner essence of our being, we Don Steoar Ph D suppress or ignore that feeling within, the feeling that reminds Paow nf Roortar ’ Something is missing. Perhaps this year its not to late to identify wfiat it is...and capture something to resolve it. Pastor of Reeder Memorial Church There is resolution—a means to let go of your troubled feelings and enhance your frame of mind. Like the angels that descended to earth to tell ot Jesus' birth, there is good news to lighten your burden and otter hope to overcome anything affecting your joy. No matter what your mood may indicate is lacking from your life, regardless of anything you are facing or experiencing, there is good news not just for the season, but for every day of your life. There is Good News! “For a child will be born, a son will be given; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful counselor, mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6). His birth was meant to be the beginning of the abundant life. May we seek diligently to find that abundant life as we go forward from this season and make a “new beginning.” A life complete in the knowledge that you are loved, and through God's love for you, you can have eternal peace. He has promised that He will never leave you, nor forsake you. He has promised you the company of a counselor within you, and he will guide you along your journey. This is one of so many promises God has made to His children. All that is required to receive Him and connect with the Spirit of the Baby bom long ago, is to study His word, and ask tor help to live in Christ’s peace and compassion. Develop a loving and giving heart. Release your hurts, fears, and sorrows to God. In doing so, you will develop the faith needed to trust Him in meeting all your needs and to fulfill your heart’s desires. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The things you have learned and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4: 6-7, 9). God’s gift to us, "the Christ child," the greatest equalizer this world will ever know to compensate for whatever is lacking or missing from your life. The greatest gift to ourselves is a connection with Him. You can achieve complete restoration, and be made whole in the process, for God has given us an opportunity to live beyond our shortcomings and losses. At this season, and with each day that follows in the New Year, accept and acknowledge God’s perfect gift. Accept God’s forgiveness and love for you, and share this gift with others. Accept God’s healing for your hurts and disappointments. Connect and maintain your connection with Him. Trust Him...your greatest gift to God! May this be your season tor living, and may it last all year long. Let the Joy and peace that came to fill our lives with knowing and trusting be yours today, and for as long as you live. Furthermore, may all that you resolve to be and do last all year long. L
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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