What if Judas didn't do it?

[Belacqua]

So, how does this happen? How does Judas sell his good friend, this good guy named Jesus, who goes around and spends his time bringing people to life, casts out demons, heals the sick and also Jesus is god.

You are asking the questions that the text invites you to ask. So that's a start. 

Since you're aware that people are adept at justifying bad behavior, it shouldn't be difficult to accept that a person could justify this action as well. People have been offering explanations for Judas's decision for close to two millennia, so you could read some of those, I guess. None is definitive, but as a myth intended to prompt discussions about ethics none needs to be definitive. 

How often in world religions do you have this kind of situation?

And more importantly, how big a moron is Judas?

I don't know why it would be important that the same situation appears in other religions. There are similarities and differences among all of them. 

And I think everyone agrees that Judas made a stupid choice. 

The unwise behavior of the protagonists actually constitutes a main reason why we read Proust or Dostoevsky or Iris Murdoch

I haven’t read it. Tell me about it.

Have you read any serious fiction? I suspect that a lack of awareness about fiction may be a significant factor in how some people criticize the Bible. If you assume that all texts should express simple empirical truths the way science books or history books do, then you will be entirely unequipped to deal with the Bible. 

It's not really reasonable for me to tell you about Proust or Dostoevsky or Iris Murdoch novels in a post on a discussion site. The methods and structure of fiction is a big topic. One of the reasons that European literature is so rich is that biblical hermeneutics developed so many ideas about methods of expression.

You think the Bible stories’ goal is to just read it and to learn about yourself?

That is one of the main purposes of the Bible, yes. Though since the whole thing is a collection of texts by various authors written for various reasons, it's far from being the only purpose.

But in reading a story about what Job or David or Jesus does, it absolutely should prompt the reader to ponder what he would have done in similar circumstances. One of the main functions of Christianity is to address questions like "how should one live?" or "what are my responsibilities to others?" Since no single book can write down a rule for all the infinite situations that people may find themselves in, Bible stories are meant to prompt reflection and deepen ethical thought. Would you have stoned the woman taken in adultery? Why doesn't Jesus? What does this tell you about dealing with people today? 

Yes, we keep running into this.
If anyone wants to declare themselves as non literalists, they can.
I have no problem with that.
I would just ask other questions. You can ask me other questions.

Right, you keep running into this because the majority of educated Christians in history have been very comfortable with non-literal readings.  

Neo-Scholastic and John 6IX are comfortable with non-literal readings, for at least some of the Bible. Which Christians on this forum demand nothing but literalism?