Here's a theory I've come up with. Note that I've had no formal training in New Testament philosophy. Consider:
The New Testament's four Gospels tell the story of Jesus from four different points of view. The authors, while allegedly "divinely inspired," all had their own agendas.
Perhaps you've seen Akira Kurasawa's masterpiece, Rashomon. This film tells the same story, that of a crime, from four different points of view. Each version of the story differs from the others in significant ways. Each person telling the story believes that his version is "The Truth." Each person telling the story has an agenda.
Back to the New Testament. As I said, the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John tell the story from different points of view, yet the stories differ and are sometimes contradictory. Xtian Fundamentalists (aka the "American Taliban") remind us that the Bible is the Literal Truth, The Word of G-d. Each Gospel is The Truth.
But if the Gospels differ, what is its truth? That's the question posed by Kurasawa. How can this be? The Fundamentalists have no answer, or at least one that makes sense and isn't contradictory.
As Patti Smith once sang, "Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine."
Posted by Andy at December 30, 2005 01:47 AM