'Just as the Judas Gospel doesn't ...' : OK, top this: Chicago's Ray Hanania links the 'Judas Gospel' to the Iraq War, Scooter Libby, President Bush and Dick Cheney. Note: Ray is modestly described as an award-winning journalist, columnist, quasi-Middle East expert and a 'standup comedian,' among other things. So maybe I'm missing something and this is meant to be a combination of light analysis and humor. But I don't think I'm missing anything: A.) Ray's not very funny and B.) It shows how he connects dots. ... I know of Ray from my cub reporter days out in Illinois. In case you can't tell, I haven't missed his work since leaving Illinois. ... BTW: I've actually gone out and bought a copy of 'The Lost Gospel.' As a Cafeteria Catholic and history buff, I find the whole subject of the Gospels fascinating. For all I know, Gnosticism is merely the forerunner of Scientology. Sounds plausible to me. ... Question: Didn't Judas immediately hang himself after the betrayal? Just wondering. Maybe he was keeping a journal. But the mere fact scholars found the document is cool and reveals much about early debates within a religion that shaped our world. ... BTW II: Got to tip my hat to the National Geographic folks for revving people up on the subject. Their PR campaign sure hooked me. I shelled out $27 for the damn book.

P.S. -- There's probably a great story behind how the National Geographic Society timed the announcement of the manuscript's 'discovery' and 'The Lost Gospel,' etc. Another case of life imitating art? In the novel 'The Word' -- granddaddy of 'The Da Vinci Code' -- the plot centers around an evil cabal of scholars, German book publishers and a PR expert hired to manage the release of a newly discovered biblical document. ...  ¶ 8:28 AM