Judas may have been set up by Jesus. What's up with that Jesus?

An ancient manuscript rediscovered after 1,700 years may shed new light on the relationship between Jesus and Judas, the disciple who betrayed him.

Rather than the traitor Judas is portrayed as in the New Testament, this document — the "Gospel of Judas" — indicates that he acted at the request of Jesus to help him shed his earthly body.

I have written about the "Gospel of Judas" before. It is not new to those of us who have studied religions. However many people are not aware how many different gospels were competing for space in the original bible. Much of what Christians believe to be the unfettered word of God was only placed in the bible due to the political maneuvering of its supporters. If other gospel supporters could have garnered more support, we may have had the "Book of Mary" as well as the "Book of Judas". It makes the critical mind do cartwheels to imagine how the most powerful religion on this planet may have been altered by the inclusion of these differing interpretations, as well as if some of the others were excluded.

If you want to read more on this topic let me suggest that you start with the book "Who Wrote the Bible?" by Richard Elliot Friedman. It is one of my favorites.