Religion 347 - What Didn't Make the New Test.

Hundreds of ancient Christian texts did not make it into the New Testament. What Didn't Make It in the New Testament examines some of these excluded writings. We will explore Gnostic gospels, hear of a five-year-old Jesus killing (and later resurrecting) his classmates, peruse ancient Christian romance novels, tour heaven and hell, read the garden of Eden story told from the perspective of the snake, and learn how the world will end. In critically examining these ancient narratives, we will better appreciate the diversity of formative Christianity, better understand the historical context of the early church, and explore the politics behind what did and did not make it into the bible.