One of my greatest pet peeves has been the dismissal of the Apocrypha by Protestant faiths, the dismissal of the Pseudopigrapha by the entire Christian religion, and now the denial of the Gnostic Gospels and texts found at Nag Hammadi.

I've received emails from people saying "When I read the Bible, it seems like pages are left out" or "it seems like the whole story is not completely there". Then, there is always the great sigh of relief when I tell them that "yes, many of us have always felt this way for a very long time and we just started reading everything we could get out hands on to try to understand the missing aspects of Christianity; especially the aspects that after our peace of mind, warming of the heart, and comfort of the soul."

Why were so many of the books, especially the Gospels left out? Gospel of Thomas, Philip, Peter, Bartholomew, James I & II, the Gospel of Mary, the additional Gospels of Mark, etc. Why were they not important? They walked with Jesus just as Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? Why the favoritism??

Because of the position of women in society, it is understandable why the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene's Gospels were not included . . . after all the Christians in Roman did gather to vote on the issue "do women have souls?"

Things like this you should ask yourself and then you would have a better grasp of why I practice Christianity by Wiccan means based on my beliefs from the Bible, the Lost Books of Eden, The Apocrypha, the Pseudopigrapha . . . I have drawn my own conclusions and have applied them to my own spiritual being.

To fundamental Christians, CHURCH has to be inside a building and you have to be all dressed up to gain audience with God. The Gospel of Thomas tells us "The Kingdom is within You and All around You, Not in a building made of wood or stone. Split a piece of wood and you will find me, turn over a stone and I am there." Perhaps that is just to simple for Fundamentalists to accept. Some people need complications and drama in their life. To love Jesus and to live your life as a testamony to His teachings on this earth is all that is required. Maybe is it simple and to the point - but after 2000 years of war and hate crimes committed in the name of God, the Supreme Being of Love - it's suits me just fine to be as simple as simple can be.

I have tried to explain to many that there are additional books of the Bible and so much more to ready and study - yet people scoff because these books are not in the established Books of the Bible. The additional books of the Bible (or the Missing Books of the Eden) are gospels, acts, apocolypses, and writings that mere mortal men decided if they were spiritually significant or viable to saving our souls. Yes, I am sure they were knowledgable men, scholars of their times, and well versed in all the languages of the original translations. However, knowledge is a valuable thing and can be applied to one's own being in many ways - you should be well versed in the additional books, or versed enough to draw your own conclusions and make your own decisions!!

For so many modern Christians of the Protestant faiths to not agree with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, they certainly listen with a full ear to which books the RCC consider heresy and which they accept.

Currently most of the books of the Dead Sea Scrolls are considered heresy by the Vatican. Of course, they are considered hereticular by the Vatican, the destruction of the Alexandrian Library by the Roman Armies was to insure that these documents never got out and the followers of Christ did not know that there was a such feminine Deity as Sophia, or that the Holy Spirit was considered Jesus' Heavenly Mother, or the other secret teachings of Jesus revealed to the other disciples as well as the infancy gospels and the gospel of Mary Magdalene.

It is very sad that so many words of wisdom by Jesus Christ was lost to His followers until now. One can only imagine the consequences for the individuals who were actually responsible for the elimination of these documents.

One also can not help but wonder what is the affect of the absense of these documents in regards to humankind's collective and individual souls. Will the One Spirit be forgiving to the souls who studied without the knowledge of these books? If one believes in Divine Intervention, is this not a clear cut case of it?? And what of those who reject it now? Will they be held responsible for denying it?

I believe it is impossible for us to know. The Triune God made us very complex - more complex than most fundamentalist Christians give us credit for, actually!! We can only pray, study and hope for a personal sign to each of us

Total of 35 Works: The Lost Books Of The Bible

1.The Gospel of the Birth of Mary

2.Protoevangelion

3.1 The first Gospel of the INFANCY of Jesus Christ

4.2 Thomas's Gospel of the INFANCY of Jesus Christ

5.Epistle of Christ & Abgarus

6.Gospel of Nicodemus (formerly Acts of Pontius Pilate

7.The Apostles' Creed

8.Epistle of Paul to Laodiceans

9.Epistles of Paul & Seneca

10.Acts of Paul & Thecla

11.1 Epistle of Clement to Corinthians

12.2 Epistle of Clement to Corinthians

13.Epistle of Barnabus

14.Epistle of Ignatius to Ephesians

15.Epistle of Ignatius to Magnesians

16.Epistle of Ignatius to Trallians

17.Epistle of Ignatius to Romans

18.Epistle of Ignatius to Philadelphians

19.Epistle of Ignatius to Smyrnaeans

1.1 Enoch (Ethiopic Apocalypse of Enoch) another version

2.2 Baruch (Syriac Apocalypse) new

3.2 Enoch (Slavonic Book of the Secrets of Enoch)

4.3 Baruch (Greek Apocalypse) new

5.4 Baruch (a.k.a Paraleipomena Jeremiou)

6.Adam and Eve, The Books of -- translation of the Latin version

7.Adam and Eve, Life of -- translation of the Slavonic version

8.Adam and Eve, Life of -- translation of the Greek version (a.ka. The Apocalypse of Moses)

9.Adam and Eve Homepage

10.Ahikar, The Story of

11.Apocalypse of Adam, The

12.Apocalypse of Moses, A fragment of the

13.Assumption of Moses, The (a.k.a. Testament of Moses)

14.Joseph and Aseneth another, more modern English translation

15.Jubilees, The Book of

16.Letter of Aristeas, The

17.Martyrdom of Isaiah, The

18.Odes of Solomon new

19.Paraleipomena Jeremiou (a.k.a. 4 Baruch)

20.Psalms of Solomon, The new

21.Revelation of Esdras, The

22.Second Treatise of the Great Seth, The

23.Testament of Abraham, The

24.Testament of Moses, The (a.k.a. (Assumption of Moses) new

25.Testament of Solomon

26.Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

1.1 Enoch (Ethiopic Apocalypse of Enoch) another version

2.2 Baruch (Syriac Apocalypse) new

3.2 Enoch (Slavonic Book of the Secrets of Enoch)

4.3 Baruch (Greek Apocalypse) new

5.4 Baruch (a.k.a Paraleipomena Jeremiou)

6.Adam and Eve, The Books of -- translation of the Latin version

7.Adam and Eve, Life of -- translation of the Slavonic version

8.Adam and Eve, Life of -- translation of the Greek version (a.ka. The Apocalypse of Moses)

9.Adam and Eve Homepage

10.Ahikar, The Story of

11.Apocalypse of Adam, The

12.Apocalypse of Moses, A fragment of the

13.Assumption of Moses, The (a.k.a. Testament of Moses) new

14.Joseph and Aseneth another, more modern English translation

15.Jubilees, The Book of

16.Letter of Aristeas, The

17.Martyrdom of Isaiah, The

18.Odes of Solomon new

19.Paraleipomena Jeremiou (a.k.a. 4 Baruch)

20.Psalms of Solomon, The new

21.Revelation of Esdras, The

22.Second Treatise of the Great Seth, The

23.Testament of Abraham, The

24.Testament of Moses, The (a.k.a. (Assumption of Moses) new

25.Testament of Solomon

26.Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

27.Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp

28.Epistle of Polycarp to Philippians

29.1 Hermas Visions

30.2 Hermas Commands

31.3 Hermas Similitudes

32.Letters of Herod & Pilate

33.The Lost Gospel of Peter

Forgotten Books Of Eden

1.The conflict of ADAM & EVE w/Satan

2.The 2nd book of ADAM & EVE

3.The Book of the Secrets of Enoch

4.The Psalms of Solomon

5.Odes of Solomon

6.Letter of Aristeas

7.4th book of MACCABEES

8.Story of Ahikar

9.Testament of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulum, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph, and Benjamin

The Nag Hammadi Library

Total of 52 Works

1.The Prayer of the Apostle Paul

2.The Apocryphon (secret book) of James

3.The Gospel of Truth

4.The Treatise on Resurrection

5.The Tripartite Tractate

6.The Apocryphon of John

7.The Gospel of Thomas

8.The Gospel of Phillip

9.The Hypostasis of the Archons

10.On the Origin of the World

11.The Exegesis on the Soul

12.The Book of Thomas the Contender

13.The Gospel of the Egyptians

14.Eugnostos of the Blessed

15.The Sophia of Jesus Christ

16.The Dialogue of the Savior

17.The Apocalypse of Paul

18.The First Apocalypse of James

19.The Second Apocalypse of James

20.The Apocalypse of Adam

21.The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles

22.The Thunder, Perfect Mind

23.Authoritative Teaching

24.The Concept of Our Great Power

25.The Discourse on the Eighth and Ninth

26.The Prayer of Thanksgiving (+ scribal note)

27.Asclepius

28.The Paraphrase of Shem

29.The Second Treatise of the Great Seth

30.Apocalypse of Peter

31.The Teachings of Silvanus

32.The Three Steles of Seth

33.Zostrianos

34.The Letter of Peter to Phillip

35.Melchizedek

36.The Thought of Norea

37.The Testimony of Truth

38.Marsanes 39.The Interpretation of Knowledge

40.A Valentinian Exposition

41.On the Anointing

42.On Baptism A

43.On Baptism B

44.On the Eucharist A

45.On the Eucharist B

46.Allogenes

47.Hypsiphrone

48.The Sentences of Sextus

49.The Gospel of Truth

50.Trimorphic Protennoia

51.The Gospel of Mary

52.The Act of Peter A section of Plato's "Republic" was also found together with the above works.

The Books Of The Apocrypha

Total of 15 works

1.1 Esdras

2.2 Esdras

3.Tobit

4.Judith

5.Remaining Chapters of the Book of Esther

6.Wisdom of Solomon

7.Ecclesiasticus (Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach)

8.Baruch

9.A Letter of Jeremiah

10.The Song of Three

11.Daniel and Susanna

12.Daniel, Bel, and the Snake (or Dragon)

13.Prayer of Manasseh

14.1 Maccabees

15.2 Maccabees

Total of 102 non-canonical works in three collections. There are still other works than these! It should be noted here that some of the Apocrypha are recognized as canon by some and are contained in some translations of Bible, usually included between the Old and New Testaments. 06/15/99

Email Nancy Chandler Pittman or write:
Shadows and Light Shoppe, Re: Christian Wicca, 401 8th Avenue S.E., Decatur, AL 35601 ph: 256.466.2374 ~ Blessed Be!!