The Comparative Religion Discussion Group will meet on Sunday October 25, 2026 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm at the Church (and on Zoom). Zoom address to be sent out on October 24, 2026 by separate email.
Topic: Is there a controversy and is it important? Do we know “who” authored the books of the New Testament Bible and “who” selected which texts were to be included in or specifically excluded from the New Testament and why?
The Christian Bible is widely accepted by the Christian Faith as accurate and authoritative but how many people know the sources and history of its content. Were the gospels actually written by the apostles, or are their authors unknown? And what about the other books of the New Testament? Scholars have long argued that some of them were not written by the authors whose names are attached to them, that, for example, some of the letters allegedly by Paul and Peter were not actually written by Paul and Peter. We will examine the available information on who actually wrote the books of the New Testament Bible and who selected which texts were included in or specifically excluded from the New Testament Bible.
This topic of discussion benefits from reading the foundational reading material (1 paper) that is provided upon request. The primary source material is the The Great Courses “The Greatest Controversies of Early Christian History” by Professor Bart D. Ehrman from the University of North Carolina and other Great Courses and religious historical sources. For further information please contact Bob Wunderlich at comparativereligion@dupageuuchurch.org