Jesus In India

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 1:16pm

I watched an interesting documentary on cable last night titled Jesus In India. It chronicled a Texas man's journey to investigate the possibility that Jesus travelled to India during his 'missing' years from approximately age 12-29. The combination of Indian folklore, plus the argument that Jesus' teachings seemed to combine Jewish tradition with Hindu passivity made a provocative case. They also hypothesized that Jesus survived the crucifixion, returned to India, and lived out his life there.

This was the first I had ever heard of this. Anyone else familiar with it?

[tazber]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 1:59pm

Jesus, is that you?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 2:02pm

I remember watching a show about it on The History Channel several years ago, and they mentioned that India legend. They also said that Jesus was more likely a stonemason than a carpenter since wood was scarce in his region.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 4:15pm

Yes, I've heard of it though I find it somewhat implausible.

He had enough to learn about Judaism to keep Him busy until His mother suggested it was time to reveal His abilities (turning water into wine at the wedding feast). He also had to learn his trade. There would have been no reason for Him to hide this from His disciples and they do not write of it. It's possible a Hindu holy man or mystic traveled to Israel and met Him, though there would have been a language barrier as Jesus' language would have been Aramaic.

Hinduism, however, in particular the esoteric and somewhat occult (hidden) concepts of Kundalini underlie Judaism as evident in the Book of Genesis. It takes months or years of long hard study to understand this, however. It's not a soundbite or a twitter.

What I find more plausible is a connection of the spirit of various wise or holy men or shamans around the world who perceived His presence and perhaps even saw Him during dreamspace, as there have been reports and studies of inexplicable images of His likeness in remote places around the world during his time period, even in the Americas. Certain African tribes are reputed to have communicated to each other over vast distances during trance or dreamstate. And the Bible recounts leaders who had seers who could reveal the outcomes of remote battles.

Posted: 8/4/09 at 4:18pm

Oh hell, since he is an almost entirely fictional being, can't we say he spent those years on the moon?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 4:20pm

His likeness in remote places around the world during his time period, even in the Americas

Wasn't that an invention of Joseph Smith?

[Q]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 4:22pm

Hey, Joe, you forgot to capitalize 'he'. Twice.

*ahem*

Posted: 8/4/09 at 4:23pm

No. I didn't.

[Q]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 4:25pm

LOL.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 4:29pm

From what I remember, Mary and Joseph had a couple kids, then Joseph died, so he would have had to learn a trade and provide for his family. These people were working class, none of that bullsh*t backpacking through Europe post-grad vacation.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 7:34pm

Phyllis, Joseph Smith may have claimed that but I am not up on the history of the Mormon sect. One would assume if Smith made such claims he was siting the findings in North America, where he lived.

As best I recall from when I encountered the subject, the images carved or painted in caves and such were in South (and perhaps Meso) America, not North.

Yes, same here, orangeskittles, no wealth, but Jesus is noted to be descended from the royal House of David through Mary (Luke), and His human father Joseph also (Matthew). As a king in those days was anointed with oil as significance of divine blessing, so Jesus was before His betrayal and crucifixion, if you will recall.

See:
Davidic (House of David) line

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 9:46am

"He had enough to learn about Judaism to keep Him busy until His mother suggested it was time to reveal His abilities (turning water into wine at the wedding feast). He also had to learn his trade."

You would think God would already know everything there is to know, being God and everything. On the other hand, the way nom describes it, the BVM (that's Blessed Virgin Mary to you) acting like Endora telling Aunt Clara to cook up a spell for some alcohol is pretty entertaining.

[blueroses]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 3:30pm

"These people were working class, none of that bullsh*t backpacking through Europe post-grad vacation."

The original Joseph Six-Pack.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 4:02pm

I always thought it was spelled crucifiction.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 4:08pm

until His mother suggested it was time to reveal His abilities

Which gospel is that from? The Gospel According to NomDePlume?

[Scripps2]

Posted: 8/5/09 at 4:54pm

Some people actually believe The Beatles went to India too.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 2:01am

For the benefit of the poorly read, the non-believers, the doubting Thomases and the google-challenged, see John 2:1 -12:
Water into Wine with commonly understood interpretation all spelled out for those in need

[Q]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 3:51am

For the benefit of the poorly comprehending, the non-rational, the blind Lemmings and the fact-challenged, see "The God Delusion" (no soundbites sighted, as you really should read the entire book):
Water, wine and reality with unfortunately not commonly understood interpretation all spelled out for those in need

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 9:17am

And Jesus saith to her, "Woman, what is that to me and to thee? My hour is not yet come

It sounds like someone wasn't heeding the fifth commandment, taking a tone like that.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 9:31am

To the quite-well-read-thank-you-very-much, this is just about nonsense:

"These words of our Saviour, spoken to his mother, have been understood by some commentators as harsh, they not considering the next following verse . . . besides the manner of speaking the words as to the tone, and the countenance shown at the same time, which could only be known to those who were present, or from what had followed: for words indicating anger in one tone of voice, would be understood quite the reverse in another."

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 9:39am

which could only be known to those who were present

A shame no one present recorded any of it, huh?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 9:43am

I'm just grateful to be directed to the commonly understood interpretation.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 9:47am

I didn't read it as angry, I read it as snippy. I imagine in him with a hand on his hip.

[blueroses]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 9:49am

She should have dragged him through a store on a leash.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/6/09 at 9:51am

"Woman, why hast thou shackled me, as one would shackle a slave? My Fathter permits the shackling, raping, and beating of slaves, but I am not one of them."