I’m not big on conspiracy theories, or other “out” there stuff.
I don’t deny the possibility that we have been visited by an alien race from afar, but I don’t think that near space is crawling with alien spies all gathering up random humans to probe and poke them.
I watched the Divinci Code, but didn’t read the book. I thought it was an okay movie, never got it confused with reality, and still have no clue what all the hoopla was about. All I know is that certain religious groups sure helped make it a cinematic success by all their boycotting and wringing of hands. I would say that I have bothered to look around a little bit to find out about Opus Dei, and well, frankly, I find them a bit creepy, but certainly not masterminds of some conspiracy.
So, anyway, I ran across this report about a new movie coming out I guess soon. It’s called Jesus in India, and purports to explain the “hidden years” of Jesus’ life, those between the years of 12-30. It purports to be a well researched documentation of Jesus travels to India and what happened while he was there.
This is not new to me. I’ve read of this before, oddly enough in my foray into “New Thought” spirituality commonly referred to wrongly as “New Age.” Some NT philosophies believe that Jesus was not divine, at least any more so that we all are, but that he had achieved an extraordinary oneness with God, and that as such, he is a prophet to be emulated.
I recall reading in some book or other that there was some evidence at least that suggested that he might have traveled East and resided for some time in a monastery of either Buddhist or Hindu origin. There are claims of writings in India that support this idea that a very wise man came from the Middle East during the appropriate time frame, and lived with them for a time.
This seems to be essentially along the same lines. I haven’t a clue how good the evidence is. But it has always been a mystery, why none of the Gospels speaks to Jesus’ whereabouts all those years. It’s as if he dropped off the face of the earth, disappearing after being found at the Temple at age 12, and then suddenly reappearing at the Jordon to be baptized by John at age 30.
For some reason, this raises the ire and of course fear in the hearts of the religious right. I have no clue why this would be so, but you can expect the usual renting of clothes and flinging of ashes when this movie hits the screen. Somehow the “secularists” will be trying to do something evil and grotesque, though what that will be will never quite be explained. Just be sure it is awful, mostly because it doesn’t come from them, or apparently the only reliable Hollywood type, Mel Gibson, that Jew hating but very loyal orthodox Christian.
I think that if Jesus were determined to have spent some time in the East, it might explain a few things. The lost time of course would be one. Why the Magi (all considered to be Eastern astrologers) came to the Middle East to see him, why some of the gnostic Gospels sound oh so Eastern in their viewpoints at times. Things like that.
Like I said, I haven’t a clue whether any of this is tenable or not. The Shroud of Turin seemed so for hundreds of years, yet now is mostly considered to be something created centuries after Christ. If there turns up any actual writing, it too will be subjected to a plethora of scientific examinations to determine its age and authenticity. And of course, as science progresses in its capabilities to determine age and that sort of thing, no doubt the controversy would continue.
It remains an interesting theory, one that I can see generating a lot of discussion. Read the article and see what you think. And if you have heard of this before and have other information, please do tell!
Existential Ennui 
Jesus came from beyond the stars, but when Plan 8 didn’t work, we were stuck with Ed Wood and Plan 9, and we all know how THAT turned out.
Either that or JC was enjoying some good stuff for a while. Why not!
Yes I think Jesus was probably vacationing in India and like Elvis, can’t do anything without someone finding out about it.
Nothing odd about Opus Dei, except weird things some say about it. It is Very Religious, demanding of effort.
Christ in India is Extremely Odd Figment of Someone’s publicity, Money sweeking imagination. Christ took no vacations, was never a Student. He Taught the Wisest at Temple at age 12.
And Da Vinci Code is Bizarre Fiction, of extremly deceptive sort. Even the directions of travelling through Paris are wrong. The trouble is too many believe bizarre fictions, because they are not “Connected”.
Jesus in India? Figments SEEL. I don’t buy it, or waste my time on them.
Figments SELL (Sic above 🙂
I find this a very interesting idea and didn’t know about this theory before. Thanks for posting this. I don’t believe Jesus was divine and am not even sure there’s a God, but I have always been fascinated with Jesus, his teachings (which I do believe in) and his life. It actually would make a lot of sense to me if he spent time in India. Very interesting.
I have read about this possibility that Jesus spent time in India and other places eastward, and that he was known as “Issa”. Fascinating possibility. Would love to see the evidence sometime.
I love it when you go exploring, Sherry; you never fail to raise provocative issues! (And apologies in advance for the length)
The so-called “missing years” of the life of Jesus aren’t missing for Urantia Book readers, because they are covered in great detail in the Papers. Although Jesus never went to India, there most definitely is an “India” connection. But only one human being, John Zebedee, knew of this trip, and as Jesus requested he told no one. Jesus’ immediate family believed he was in Alexandria during this time.
During Passover in March of A.D. 22, Jesus met— by apparent chance— a wealthy Indian merchant and his 17 year old son, who was seeking an interpreter for both and tutor for his son, during their visit to Rome and other parts of the Mediterranean. It was the advance of a year’s salary that persuaded Jesus to make the trip, the funds being applied for the support of his Nazareth family. (Jesus had picked up the rudiments of the language spoken by the two Indians while working in Damascus.)
This tour of the Roman world took most of the 28th and the entire 29th year of Jesus’ life. Jesus and the two natives from India— Gonod and his son Ganid— left Jerusalem on a Sunday morning, April 26, A.D. 22. They parted company in the city of Charax on the Persian Gulf on the 10th of December the following year, A.D. 23. Jesus’ relationship with Ganid, the brilliant teenage son of this merchant, is a remarkable story, and it was this same young man who did so much to spread the words and teachings of the “Scribe of Damascus” during the rest of his life in India.
Here in a brief direct quote, is their journey:
“From Jerusalem they went to Caesarea by way of Joppa. At Caesarea they took a boat for Alexandria. From Alexandria they sailed for Lasea in Crete. From Crete they sailed for Carthage, touching at Cyrene. At Carthage they took a boat for Naples, stopping at Malta, Syracuse, and Messina. From Naples they went to Capua, whence they traveled by the Appian Way to Rome.
“After their stay in Rome they went overland to Tarentum, where they set sail for Athens in Greece, stopping at Nicopolis and Corinth. From Athens they went to Ephesus by way of Troas. From Ephesus they sailed for Cyprus, putting in at Rhodes on the way. They spent considerable time visiting and resting on Cyprus and then sailed for Antioch in Syria.
From Antioch they journeyed south to Sidon and then went over to Damascus. From there they traveled by caravan to Mesopotamia, passing through Thapsacus and Larissa. They spent some time in Babylon, visited Ur and other places, and then went to Susa. From Susa they journeyed to Charax, from which place Gonod and Ganid embarked for India.
“On this Mediterranean tour Jesus spent about half of each day teaching Ganid and acting as interpreter during Gonod’s business conferences and social contacts. The remainder of each day, which was at his disposal, he devoted to making those close personal contacts with his fellow men, those intimate associations with the mortals of the realm, which so characterized his activities during these years that just preceded his public ministry.
“The real purpose of his trip around the Mediterranean basin was to know men. He came very close to hundreds of humankind on this journey. He met and loved all manner of men, rich and poor, high and low, black and white, educated and uneducated, cultured and uncultured, animalistic and spiritual, religious and irreligious, moral and immoral.”
This fascinating period of Jesus’ human experience was really the culmination of his personal ministry as the Son of God. But. To think that a fictional film about Jesus in India “…has the potential to revolutionize Christianity”… when the truth about his life is waiting quietly in the pages of The Urantia Book, is not at all as strange as how the truth actually unfolds on our weird little planet. 😉
Randal, I love ED wood movies. LOL. For an atheist, you are not bad Randal. I usually like atheists. Erudite would be the word I’d choose.
Vicki, went for the ambiance, stayed for the food! lol.
Sailka, too may believe all kinds of crap for no good reason. Movies are only one vehicle. Websites, books, newspapers, talk radio, cheesy networks also spew garbage eaten up by the unknowing.
I tend to think that ultra orthodox right wing religion is about as dangerous as anarchists are, so I don’t like either of them.
I still fail to see what would be bad about Jesus visiting India and other wise folks. No one said he had to learn anything, he may have taught. But there was a human side remember, and he did learn a thing or two even from the biblical stories. Remember the woman who asked for scraps?
Maui, I think it would be fascinating. As I said, some of the gnostic gospels have an Eastern flair, expecially the Gospel of Mary Magdalen. I think it would clear up some things as well.
Of course, we shall soon be hearing about what the evidence is or is not. So far, it’s always been a “wild theory” I think. It may remain so no doubt, or not.
I have no preference really, just like sound solid information.
Yep Jeannelle, I never heard the “Issa” thing nor related that to Warren’s benediction, but hey I’m open minded to whatever the evidence actually shows.
Terry, my “sense of order” means I start at the beginning. So, I haven’t got quite to the Jesus section yet. And I admit I’ve been a bit sidetracked lately. But I shall continue reading. I find your explanation fascinating as well.
I deny no possibilities, and in many ways it makes perfect sense. If Jesus desired that his beliefs and teachings have as wide a range as possible, then of course, disseminating it widely to various peoples, would help insure that.
As you no doubt know, ideas often have their time. Before, they are disregarded, and often violently opposed. We shall see what the future has in store.
Blessings dear friend, I continue to enjoy your blog so much.