It struck me one day that no one was talking about the 28 some years that Jesus lived. Better than 85% of the life of Jesus is unaccounted for and no one questions why? Few question where or how? We know of His birth, an event at the age of 12, and then with John the baptizer a age 30 ish. So, where was Jesus in those two major GAPS in His life?
It’s almost as IF there is a fear of knowing.
Don’t ask, don’t tell!
Well, I have been asking and I am going to tell what I think. I’ve picked up many a book and put it back down because my prejudices were offended. I’ve been afraid to even discuss similarities between Jesus and others (can you say Buddha) because it would offend people. Hey, it used to offend me! 
Ten years ago, Marcus Borg wrote a book entitled Jesus & Buddha. I bought it. I let it sit on the shelf. I read a few pages. I put it down. It was if I was somehow compromising Jesus. How? I couldn’t tell you, but others around me could. I was even warned not to quote Buddha too much- like not at all.
Why?
No one had a logical or reasonable answer (for me). I have since come up with what I think are more than reasonable, logical, and supportable answers. I have come to believe that Jesus spent most, if not all of 16-18 years in and around India. And I am going to dedicate the next few weeks to a month (posting every 3rd or 4th day) writing why I think such if so.
There’s just too many similarities between what Jesus is quoted as having said that is exactly or nearly the same as what Buddha said 550 years prior. For me, this in no way demeans or diminishes Jesus, and I’ll relate why as we go, but enhances His teachings and brings the truth of abba Father to the forefront.
With so much concentration on Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, and the Middle East, knowing their history is more than important.
I will go into a comparison of many of those parables and stories as we go, hoping this sinks in and bears witness with your spirit. There are more than 100 amazingly close stories, verses, parables found in the teachings of Buddha that are repeated in the Gospels, as well as many Hindu parables and stories.
So, Liminal Space has now found it’s (current) legs and purpose: walking the hallway between what we believe and are sure we know about Jesus and what history seems to tell us that the church doesn’t want to talk about.
God IS Spirit! (John 4:24)
A worthwhile topic, Ernie. My aunt and uncle believe that, too. I am a bit hesitant to go with you down the “there’s no record so there must be a coverup” trail, though. The fact that there is any record of Jesus’ life at all is pretty remarkable, given how few lives from that time were recorded in any way.
I am sad to have to agree that a lot of religious people would refuse to look into where Jesus spent his middle years (middle to him, not the same as middle age). Butu there is no reason for this; whether (as I tend to think) Jesus spent his youth in a nowhere town in North Nowhere, Israel, or whether he went to India and learned about Buddhism, it doesn’t invalidate the central claims of Christianity: that Jesus was the unique son of God, and that he died for sins and rose from the dead in his physical body.
How much tandoori Jesus consumed in his youth, or whether he was an apt polo player, are less important than whether he rose from the dead.
Thanks for the feedback. A couple of follow up points.
1-As I said in this first post, I am NOT invalidating any claims of Jesus, but taking the life of Christ and Christianity to a higher level as I see these “years of absence”.
2-When we fall in love with someone, we want to KNOW ALL we can about them. Remember those early days, those first loves? I want to know ALL I can about this one I love and am giving my life to- Jesus the Christ: not just what RELIGION wants me to know.
Cheers!
Sure. I see your point. I am curious which statements of Jesus you think are similar or identical to Buddhist teachings.