Most people in Western culture--even those with little interest in religion--are familiar with the four gospels in the Christian New Testament.  Although those four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are the most widely known and accepted, they are by no means the only Gospels which were produced by early Christians.  This collection of documents contains many of the alternative gospels which existed in antiquity.  Nearly all of these gospels were produced by people who self-identified as followers of Christ.  Some of these gospels are dependent upon the gospels in the New Testament, but others offer traditions which are unparalleled in the New Testament.  Some of these documents are relatively early in origin (in some cases, like the Gospel of Thomas, possibly as early as the New Testament gospels), while others are clearly much later in origin.

10/8/05