Often when children are taught history in schools the information studied is rarely questioned regarding the objectiveness of its source. Having recently watched a program on the search for the family of Jesus Christ, it occured to me how being selective in what is written can change readers perception of these events and alter the truth.

For example the four Gospels used in Christianity are and always have been Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Other Gospels exist and many more would most definitely have existed at some point and have since disappeared. Millions of people follow these four Gospels and presume them to be the truth. However the decision to recommend only these four came down to one man and one man only, Irenaeus, the Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul. This man shaped the future of Christian study solely on what he decided was appropriate. He argued that since there were four corners of the world inhabited and as there are only four main winds, then there could only be four true Gospels. His selective decision making removed peoples knowledge of the availability of all source material for those keen to understand fully the given subject matter.

Gospels not included with these four include the Gospels of Thomas, Judas and Mary Magdalene.

Learn more about this author, David Houston.
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