Mary, Judas, and Other Maverick Gospels
Charles W. Hedrick
At least thirty-four gospels were composed in the first and second centuries. Some we only know by name. Those that have survived offer different perspectives on Jesus of Nazareth. In the second century, one wing of the many groups tracing their origins to Jesus designated four gospels as authoritative for faith. These Christians styled themselves as "orthodox"—meaning their confession was "right." The other gospels were discredited, and the groups using these "maverick" gospels were described as "heretics"—meaning their confession was "warped," and hence wrong. But were these gospels "warped"? This workshop will focus on the gospels of Mary, Judas and Secret Mark, assessing their significance for understanding Christian origins.
Charles Hedrick is Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at Missouri State University. A member of the UNESCO team of scholars who reconstructed and translated the Nag Hammadi Codices, he is the author of several books, including The Gospel of the Savior (with Paul Mirecki, 1999).
Wednesday, October 18
9–10, 10:30–11:30 am, 1–2, 2:30–3:30 pm
October 18–21, 2006
Flamingo Hotel, Santa Rosa, California
