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Shedding New Light on the Relationship Between Jesus and Judas; Checking In at the Masters

Aired April 06, 2006 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: An ancient manuscript is getting some attention today. Scholars say the Gospel of Judas is 1,700 years old and they say it sheds new light on the relationship between Jesus and Judas, the apostle who betrayed him.
CNN's faith and values correspondent Delia Gallagher joins us with the very latest.

And so what is this all about, Delia?

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN FAITH & VALUES CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, this is a document which surfaced in Egypt in the '70s and then sort of took a circuitous route through art dealers and bank vaults and the like, until it landed in the hands of some scholars who were able to transcribe and translate it.

And what they discovered in the translation is that it paints a picture of a Judas who had a sort of favored relationship, secretive knowledge of Jesus' life and was, in fact, told by Jesus that he should betray him.

Now, to understand this, you have to understand that this was written by a group of people called the Gnostics in about the third or fourth century, and they believed that Jesus was a good spirit but he was in an evil body, because they believe that the material things, the body and all the creative material world was sort of created by lesser gods and was, therefore, evil.

So, in this context, what Judas did was betray Jesus, therefore, Jesus was crucified, Jesus died, and this good spirit of Jesus could then be released and become the Christ that was able to save the world. So, it is a very different world view and a very different portrayal of the Judas that most of the people are used to in the gospels of the Bible.

WHITFIELD: So then what does the Vatican or perhaps even other scholars have to say about all of this?

GALLAGHER: Well, actually, it's hotly debated among scholars as to how significant this is in terms of its impact on the traditional gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Everybody will admit, and the Vatican will admit, that it's of historical importance, but scholars say they have known about it for quite some time.

It's not new. It was even written about the early centuries of Christianity that this gospel existed and, indeed, that many Gnostic gospels existed. But they say that it represents a different view of the world. And one of the things which traditional Christianity holds very important is the whole idea of the material world as created by God and, therefore, as a good thing and that includes our body.

So the Gnostic viewpoint and the viewpoint expounded by this gospel of Judas would represent a different viewpoint from the traditional one. And therefore, many of the traditional scholars say it's really not going have an impact on the level of the believers.

It's of important historical importance and it's important for the scientists to continue to look at it because it sheds light on those communities of the second and third centuries, but it doesn't shed light on the historical reality that's written about in the Bible.

WHITFIELD: It's interesting stuff. All right. Delia Gallagher, thank you so much.

GALLAGHER: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, the gospel say Jesus walked on water, and a Florida State Professor is now saying the water -- guess what -- may have been frozen. Doron Nof is a professor of oceanography. He says lengthy time periods, starting more than 1,500 years, ago might have been cold enough for ice to form on the Sea of Galilee.

Nof says that he's not trying to confirm or deny accounts in the Bible, he says he only considered what he called the natural process. Food for thought for all of us.

Well, a changing of the guard as one personality replaces another at the peacock's anchor deck. The news keeps coming, and we'll keep bringing it to you. More LIVE FROM next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: We want to show you some pictures just now coming in out of Sacramento, California, where at this school, they thought it would be a good idea to have a horse -- a 12-year-old horse on display, but it turned into an injurious mess when something spooked the horse and then the horse began trampling people. In all, nine people were injured, including three adults and six kids. And in all of this, not only did the kids see that the horse got spooked and kind of went a little crazy there, but also saw it drag the owner around. The owner is among the adults who have been injured. This taking place at the Bradshaw Christian School in Sacramento, California.

Now, meantime, what not to do when you come across a flooded creek, attempt to drive across it. This man in Jefferson County, Missouri, thought he could, but his car got stuck and he quickly found himself surrounded by rushing water. Our affiliate KTVI was on the scene as fire crews gave him a helping hand there, extending him a ladder and then guiding him back to dry ground. Lucky man in the end.

A stormy afternoon is in the works for the middle part of the country. If you live there, you're already keeping one eye on the sky, keeping the other trained right here on CNN.

Our Rob Marciano is in the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, which issues all of those alerts.

Rob, how's it looking?

MARCIANO: Well, hi, Fredricka. They just popped out a tornado watch box, actually two of them, that are going to be effect until (INAUDIBLE) or 9:00 p.m. local, 10:00 p.m. Eastern time, for the potential of seeing strong thunderstorms that could have tornadoes. We've been talking about the high risk category that they issued this morning, which means a good probability of seeing not only tornadoes, but strong ones that could be long lasting.

What's happening right now, after they issued that watch -- they just got off a conference call with the local weather offices in that watch box, to kind of tell them what's up, what to keep their heads up for. And then as we go through the afternoon, those local offices will then be issuing warnings.

Lots of things happening also right now. In another room just across the hall, there's an interesting map discussion going on, basically a technical discussion between the folks here at the Storms Prediction Center and the National Severe Storms Lab folks. So there's researchers and forecasters working together in this room.

Let's listen in, if we can.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... showing up here...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It looks like the clear air signature is changing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, that would indicate, with that rotation of the thing to the south and west, somehow the winds are changing. And I guess that would mean the winds are backing. Because the zero line is...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Well, that's the thing, is look it. Early on -- let's go here

MARCIANO: OK, just to kind of give you a little bit of perspective there. They're talking about winds. Backing winds means winds that actually go counterclockwise or back across a clock with high -- that's -- well, that's one of the many things that they talk about over there in order get a grasp on what technically is going on. Not always as exciting for TV as you would think. But it's a matter of two, three, four, five, six heads better than one to exchange information.

And this is the spot where the experts in this field gather. So it's been an incredible day for me in that regard. I don't know how time -- more time we have left. I wanted to talk to one more gentleman. This is Chris (ph). He's a forecaster. But you're in charge of not only talking about the convective outlook for today, but also tomorrow. So it looks like tomorrow may very well be a bad day, as well?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Actually, tomorrow has some indications it may be worse than today. It looks like the sheer environment's going to be very favorable for even long track strong tornadoes. We may even have a violent tornado or two. The area of concern is northern Alabama, northeast Mississippi, far northwest Georgia and south central Tennessee.

If you're in that area -- OK, this is the high risk we've got right now. If you live, like, in this area, there's a very good chance of seeing a significant tornado, say, in the Tupelo, Mississippi area, Huntsville, Alabama area, along that corridor. From about late afternoon through early evening.

Looks like super cells with potential for strong or damaging tornadoes are going to develop, possibly as far north as southern Tennessee and then developing back into the late afternoon, early evening hours toward Mississippi and Alabama. So if you're in the high risk area, you really need to pay attention to media coverage.

MARCIANO: Good advice. Thanks very much, Chris. So not only an active day today, and it's going to be get more active as we go on through the afternoon, Fredricka. But day two or tomorrow as this storm system shifts off to the east, also a high risk and possibly even a greater risk than today of seeing tornadoes on the ground across the southeast. Back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Rob Marciano, thanks for the warnings out of Norman, Oklahoma.

Well, forget Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan, Wilma. You will not be hearing those names associated with an Atlantic hurricane again. The World Meteorological Organization has retired those five names because of all of the deaths, the damage, that those storms have caused. Potential storm names are recycled every six years. So now look for Don, Katia, Rena, Sea and Whitney to make the list in 2011.

Tiger Woods and the rest of the world's best golfers have teed off in the year's first major tournament. Our Larry Smith is standing by in Augusta, Georgia, with a look at one of the unique events that makes the Masters, oh, so special. Larry?

LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, Fredricka, it is so special. As you mentioned, not only the first major of the year, but also the only of golf's majors that's always played in the same location year, here at Augusta National in Georgia.

Some big names we're hearing right now, names like Rocco and Ben. The older gentlemen having their way early on. Forty-three-year-old Rocco Mediate is the clubhouse leader. A bogey free round of four under par 68. Ben Crenshaw is 54 years old, two time Masters champion, but hasn't made a cut here since 1997. But he is in a one under par 71.

Every score under par is so key, because this course is playing so very difficult, more changes in the off-season since last year's Masters. And so if Crenshaw can hold this up -- a long way from that, we'll see if he can -- he will become the oldest Masters champion ever at 54 years old. Jack Nicklaus at 46 in 1986 currently holds the record. But again, a long way from that.

Speaking of Nicklaus, he is not competing here, for the first time since 1959. Not an active participant. Though he did miss a couple of years due to injury along the way. Now, retired, but still taking part in the par three tournaments on Wednesday. And it was his grandson, 11 years old, who caddied for him and also hit a putt for him as well. Just like the Golden Bear used to. All this during Wednesday's par three tournament.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACK NICKLAUS, SIX MASTERS TITLES: I've never had my grandchildren ask me anything except can you get me a popsicle out of the refrigerator? Grandkids don't have a clue what's going on. I put my big bag on the airplane last night, and I told him I was going to put rocks in and it everything else. He -- oh, God, you brought your big bag. Well, Charlie I don't have a small bag.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: But he did just fine, no question. Jack Nicklaus, the record six green jackets. Speaking of a couple of former champions, the current defending champion, Tiger Woods, four green jackets, trying to get to Jack's total of six, just eagled on 14. He's at one under par. Vijay Singh, the 2000 champion, right now tied for the lead, still on the course at four under par. But still an afternoon of golf to go. Let's go back to you.

WHITFIELD: Wow, that's incredible. Well, it's always nice to see a little fun being had out there, too. Of course, we know the athletes are having a great time when they're on the greens there. But it's good to see all the other fun stuff that happens on the sidelines.

SMITH: Yes. And the weather is so great here, 82 degrees, not a cloud in the sky.

WHITFIELD: Perfect.

SMITH: Perfect weather, perfect weather.

WHITFIELD: Ooh, and all those azaleas blooming. I know it's gorgeous.

SMITH: Yes.

WHITFIELD: All right, Larry Smith, thanks so much, in Augusta.

SMITH: OK. WHITFIELD: Well, the news keeps coming. We'll keep bringing it right to you. More of LIVE FROM right after this.

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WHITFIELD: So one day after Katie Couric confirmed she's leaving the "Today Show," NBC has announced her replacement, Meredith Vieira, from ABC's "The View." A.J. Hammer is the host of "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on CNN's Headline News. And A.J., there was a lot of competition for Couric's job. So why Meredith?

A.J. HAMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Well I think she got the nod really because she was the perfect candidate, Fredricka. You know, she alluded to the fact this morning when she announced her leaving for the "Today Show" on her show "The View" to the idea that nine years ago, when she first started at "The View," she wouldn't have been right for a show like "Today Show."

And she really has spent the last nine years sitting with those other ladies on that talk show, developing her skills as a talk show host, which is a big component of being on the anchor couch for the "Today Show."

Of course, the fact that Meredith has more than 20 years an Emmy Award winning journalist behind her, she was on shows like "60 Minutes" and other CBS shows before that, is a big part of the equation as well.

And CEO Jeff Zucker, Fredricka, even terms Meredith as a hall of famer. And when you have the opportunity, he said at a press conference, just a short time ago, when you have the opportunity to add a hall of famer to your team, you go for it.

WHITFIELD: Wow. Well, it would seem like a real perfect fit. Is there any real reaction coming from anyone outside the NBC brass?

HAMMER: I'm not hearing outside anybody saying anything other than yes, this makes sense, it's a good move, why not? And there really is no reason to think otherwise.

Everybody was wondering, well what about the insiders at NBC, why not Campbell Brown from the "Today Show" or Natalie Morales or even Ann Curry, who's the daily news reader on the show.

And CEO of NBC Jeff Zucker went on record saying, "They're all hall of famers and this is just another great addition to our team." So I'm hearing nothing but positive reaction so far.

WHITFIELD: All right, very good. A.J. Hammer, thanks so much. And of course we'll be watching you tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT."

Well we know teenagers like to spend money, but how much do they actually know about how money works? Susan Lisovicz is live from the New York Stock Exchange with some answers on that. Some good teaching of the kids on their greenbacks, huh? SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN ANCHOR: I'll tell you -- you know, Fred, it's a little disappointing the results that we've seen from the Federal Reserve. More than half of the students who took this test would get an F on this particular test. The average score of high school seniors on a test about personal finance and economics, more than half of them flunked. That's virtually unchanged from 2004 and up slightly from 2002. Shows that many teenagers don't have the knowledge they'll need to make sound financial decisions as adults. Fred?

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, so what are some of the questions they were asked?

LISOVICZ: There's 51 of them. We're going to start with an easy one. Fred, are you going to play along?

WHITFIELD: I'll listen.

LISOVICZ: I'll help you. Which type of investment tends to have the highest growth over a long period of time? A U.S. government savings bond, a savings account, a checking account, D, stocks?

WHITFIELD: I'm going to go with bonds.

LISOVICZ: It's stocks. It is stocks. You know, there are -- it's good to save money, it's good to put them in those places, but stocks over the long period of time, typically get a better answer.

WHITFIELD: I thought that was being discouraged recently. OK.

LISOVICZ: Yes. The market's doing pretty well this year. We're going to throw another one out. If your credit card is stolen and $1,000 is charged on it, what will your liability be? Now there's a whole bunch of choices on this one. OK, well, that was -- it was a different one.

WHITFIELD: It went away.

LISOVICZ: I can go with that one. Which of these savings programs is not protected by the federal government against loss? A, a bond issued by one of the 50 states. B, a U.S. treasury bond, U.S. savings bond or D, a certificate of deposit. And the key word here is, Fred, federal government.

WHITFIELD: I go -- oh, gee, your state issued bond.

LISOVICZ: A, a state-issued bond because the federal government isn't involved here. And that one, lots of people got that one wrong. Nearly 50 percent guessed that a C.D. is not protected.

WHITFIELD: I need to go back to school. Back to money school.

LISOVICZ: You're in good company. You know what, there are 51 questions with this Fred and I have to tell you, I've been doing this for a long time and some of them were a little confusing. So you're in good company. WHITFIELD: All right, well what about the market? How are we doing on that?

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

LISOVICZ: Stay with us, LIVE FROM will be right back.

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