The Gospel of the Holy Twelve, first serialised in The Lindsey and Lincolnshire Star newspaper between July 30, 1898 and March 10, 1901, [1] presents vegetarian versions of traditional teachings and events described in the canonical New Testament.
In subsequent editions, released during the early 1900s, the anonymous Editors revised their claim by stating that the text was "communicated" by departed mystics "in dreams and visions of the night".
The work remains unrecognised by academic Biblical scholars and has been dismissed by modern theologians and historians of the animal rights movement.
In response to a campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals which claimed "Jesus was a Vegetarian", the Reverend Professor Andrew Linzey referred to The Gospel of the Holy Twelve and similar publications, stating, "try as I may, I can find no evidence for their antiquity and I deeply fear that they are works of fiction.
"[3] Richard Alan Young, a Professor of New Testament Studies has similarly stated, "It appears that Ouseley created The Gospel of the Holy Twelve in support of animal welfare and vegetarianism.