From Julie in Sydney Australia:

Well, that all depends on how we define “value?”  I tend to think they have great value.  They show us how others viewed Christ and how they saw his birth and life.  I personally like the book called “the Infancy.”  In this book we get a picture of how one community of faith viewed the tradition of the lost years of Jesus – remember, there are some 20 years missing in the life of Jesus.  Whether one agrees that this book is actually inspired by God is open for discussion.  The value I place on these “books” is one knowing the hearts of others in relationship to how they were struggling with the reality of a God who wants to interact with us on a regular basis.  I try not judging the “truth” or “untruth” of the books, because for those who wrote the books they “are truth.” 

Another point we need to remember is that some 1,500 years ago a group of men got together and decided that only certain books would be “allowed in the cannon” we call the bible.  They may not have had a copy of the other books to see if they should be allowed in the cannon.  Maybe they had an agenda that these books did not fit?  The possibilities are endless.  I recommend that people read the books and see for themselves.  But remember, to discuss them in community – that’s the cool way of learning. 

pax,

john