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COURSE OVERVIEW The recent unveiling of the single known copy of the Gospel of Judas has turned a great deal of the central beliefs of Christianity on their head and shone the spotlight on how erroneous the assessment of Judas as the betrayer actually was, and how it spawned a whole panorama of hatred against those who were perceived to have been betrayers, when the greatest loyalty can often demand what seems an opposition and an abandonment. The suffering and death of Jesus had nothing to do with appeasing the anger of a vengeful God, but had everything to do with undergoing a very powerful initiation, which blazed a trail for every human being to follow in uncovering the power and glory that is within them. This teleconference series focuses on three of the central figures who were companions of Jesus during those crucial final three years of his life. The world-wide reaction to the publication of the Judas Gospel demonstrates how intensely people are asking questions about fundamental matters today, and will not be put off with platitudes. None of his companions were more central and more controversial than the three that are looked at in this series. The antagonism between Peter and Mary Magdalene has now become legendary, and the whole issues of what status Mary actually had among the Apostles has captured the imagination of the world, as it has the capacity to overturn so many diehard beliefs. Did Peter really function as leader of the early community and eventually assume a status as head of the Church, or was there an entirely different situation that we now come to perceive? This series examines the historical facts and the legends of these three centrally important figures and how the early Christian process of interpretation came to bear on them, and to mould them to its own presuppositions. It unravels the facts from the legends and in so doing illuminates what the true message of Jesus was. Hot on the heel of the release of The Da Vinci Code movie and the publication of the Gospel of Judas, this series examines who these centrally important figures were, what they taught and how they believed as foundational figures in the movement that followed Jesus before it became the religion of the Roman Empire and eventually the most powerful political, economic and religious institution in the history of the Christian West. ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
He was a member of the International Theological Commission, a small group of theologians of international standing, charged with advising the Holy See on theological matters. He also served as Chairman of the Committee of Heads of the Irish Universities and as a member of the governing Bureau of the Conference of European University Presidents (CRE). He has lectured extensively throughout Europe, South Africa, Japan, Australia, Mexico, and North America. His forthcoming books are entitled The Message Whose Time Has Come Again and The Ascent to God: The Soul’s Journey Within. Dr. Ledwith has been a member of Ramtha's School of Ancient Wisdom for many years, and has been invited to speak at the major events held by the School all over the United States and throughout the world.
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Miceal Ledwith, L.Ph., B.A., L.D., D.D., was Professor of Systematic Theology for sixteen years at Maynooth College in Ireland and subsequently served for ten years as President of the University.