Sidney, two thousand years ago there were established trading routes all over the inhabited world, and much exchange of ideas and philosophies. It is true that people tended to walk or ride donkeys or camels, or go in boats, so it took them awhile to get from one place to another. But India was a center of religion because of Buddhism, and definitely had pilgrims from other countries. There is absolutely no reason Jesus could not have travelled there, or indeed spend many years there. Are you familiar with the ancient Silk Route, or the white European people who settled in China whose mummies were found recently, with long blonde and red braided hair and Celtic-type handwoven plaid woolen clothing, or the Bay of Jars off of South America where a Roman ship sank, leaving its cargo on the ocean floor? There was much more early long distance travel than most people are aware of, and I think maybe you should read some history before you conclude otherwise.
Jesus was not a Christian. He was a very forward-thinking Jewish rabbi. I think that if you read the book I referred you to, on the similarities between his sayings and those of the Buddha, you might be struck with the similarities between the two. Jesus is highly respected by the other major religions, for his ideas, and I would think most Christians would be flattered by this. Certainly, his followers labelling him as a Christian after his death does not limit his appeal or narrow his ideology or his vision. |
