Similar with the popularity of
the “anti-hero” or the new spins on classic stories, (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) it seems like everyone is looking
for a new way to look at the classics we all know and love. While some will use
the non-canonical texts in order to contradict the Bible – as seen in the idea
floated around of “Did Jesus have a twin brother”? – I believe that an emphasis
on these newer texts actually can be good for promoting not just understanding
from a scholarly perspective, but also for understanding from a religious one.
It can hardly be debated that whether you
believe these scriptures are true or not, the non-canonical writings can
provide insight on many issues and ideas that were prevalent in society during
their writing. For scholars, this new light can help provide better details
about the way the world worked, about the issues people were debating over, as
well as a whole host of things we haven’t even considered yet. But from a
religious perspective, a deeper evaluation into say the PGJ can simulate a
deeper discussion, and critical analysis of the stories in the Bible. Grounded
in many of the same questions that scholars are likely to ask, a deeper
appreciation for these texts could also open doors religiously that were
previously less likely to be open: could Mary also have been born from an immaculate
conception, for example. In all, it seems somewhat silly to deny these newly
found scriptures their time simply because they aren’t as old as some others.
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