Comments
I enjoyed this programme as it showed that early Christian texts had a different view on the early church. But the programme seemed to wash over their constuction and ideas, as the presenter seemed to justify their disappearance by the fact the modern church wouldn't be here today if they were allowed to flourish - thereby condoning censorship which we in the modern world deplore. I for one would like to know more about these writings and make my mind up as to who may be right in this ever-present puzzle. Would we have had the crusades? Would the Pope during World War Two have spoken out about the fate of the Jews?
Simon Hales, Sutton
I enjoyed this very much. In contrast to some over-heated and over-hyped slanging matches these programmes were informative, calm and reasonable. Well done!
Roy Henderson, Glasgow
An excellent programme. Could we have 'volume 2 for advanced students' taking into account the constructive comments submitted by your viewers?
Ron Riley, Watford
Great programme, at long last some one has explained why these important writings were omitted from the Bible, but more importantly highlighted their existence to the general public. These omitted books are very important for us to properly understand true Christianity but they can not be understood with out the knowledge of Cabbalah (or Kabbalah) as these writings are not meant to be understood without and this is why the early church tried to destroy them.
Jonathan, York
It was a pity that these documents were not reviewed more objectively. The presenter seemed only to be interested in wild speculation about Mary Magdalene while ignoring what could have been a very interesting insight into the ideas of early Christians. The idea that Christians might find salvation by understanding riddles seems a poor alternative to that of finding compassion for one another.
Robin Hassall, Aberlour
I didn't understand the programme The Lost Gospels, shown on Monday at 9pm. The man presenting the programme kept suggesting totally erroneous things, such as that the Church only decided in the fourth century that Jesus was both human and divine. The earliest documents of the New Testament are the letters and not the gospels. All Christian doctrine is contained in these letters, some explicitly, some in embryo. The earliest letter was written around 49AD ie 16 years after the crucifixion; yet the letters were not mentioned. Most Christians who know anything about their faith could have argued Pete Owen-Jones off the screen, as this so-called 'priest' of the C of E is obviously dangerously confused. What's worse, uneducated Christians would perhaps have their faith shaken, whilst unbelievers would have had their prejudices reinforced. Altogether, a bad programme, confused, dangerous and extremely unscholarly.
Chris Lazenby, Silsden
An excellent programme. My compliments to Peter. I believe his conclusion was valid in that there is so much we do not know for sure, all we can say is that if these lost gospels were included in the accepted cannon the result would be so confusing that christianity would have not become the major religion it has done
John Nicholson, Worthing
Whilst covering interesting subject matter, the programme chose to ignore the issue that just because a bit of 1,600-year-old text was found saying it was the Gospel of Peter or Mary or so forth, doesn't mean it was! Quite literally anyone could have written it for any kind of purpose. This should have been mentioned rather than just accepting the documents at face value.
Eric Terilius, London
The whole programme presented by Pete Owen-Jones was compelling. Great work. But I'd like to big up the unsung cameramen heroes. Special thanks to the photography of Johann and Harvey. Superb. Please pass on my thanks for a marvellous piece of work. Virtually every frame would qualify as a top quality still. Brilliant.
Robert, England
For me this was one of the most interesting programmes I have seen in a long time. Having watched Da Vinci Code lunacy grip the nation it was refreshing to see a scholarly, even-handed approach being taken to the early church. I would hope that you could put the program on BBC One or Two to give the ideas in the programme a wider audience. Given that the church has shaped Western morality, thought and culture, an investigation into the development and history of its beliefs is long overdue.
Nicolas Brack, Brighton
A clever and thought-provoking insight into the 27 Gospels that were excluded from the Bible in order to legitimise the power of Rome. The core issue that the programme failed to discuss was 'are the five much-censored gospels in the Bible any more credible than the 27 gospels that were excluded?' What the programme did show was the power of censorship of Pope Leo and the ruling elite in Rome; myths were written as historical fact to secure power and spread an ideology. I look forward to the re-runs on 20 December.
Roger James Grimes, Kimberley
I am very interested in this subject and enjoyed the programme but found it infuriating that Pete did not reach any conclusions, as a Christian priest. Does he or doesn't he think we should take these texts into our Christian heritage, and does he embrace any, or all, that they say? Has his exploration had any bearing on his status as a priest? I am sure I'm not alone in wondering how this has impacted on him.
Alan Thomas, Polruan, Cornwall
Interesting as this was, it was unfortunately approached entirely within the framework of belief. Fundamental issues like the virgin birth, the resurrection, and the likely truth of Mary Magdalene's gospel, were simply danced around. The conclusion seemed to be that the four final gospels were chosen simply because they suited the current religious male patriarchy - sorry, hierarchy, of the time. How is it acceptable, and why is it accepted, that these gospels are true and the word of a god when other gospels were floating around?
No attempt was made to reconcile the two very different gods of the Old and the New testaments. Why not? There was plenty of time to do so (if all the religious music and iconography had been left out). I hoped this would be ground-breaking, that it would show up Christianity to be the myth that it is, and that the seemingly right-on, liberal, up-to-date vicar would actually have something new to tell us.
Mandy, Solihull
I love your documentaries and am eager to see The Lost Gospels. However, I am unable to watch tonight or tomorrow (playing during working hours). Are there other times it will be showing? I can't find any from the website.
Vance Oertel, Harrow
