"The Hidden Story of Jesus"

[DVB]

A happy Yuletide season to anyone who still pops in here!

An interesting documentary on Christmas Day, which I videoed and have so far watched the first half, on the non-uniqueness of Christianity. A liberal Christian theologian, Robert Beckford (who it seems is best known for putting Christian teachings to dub music-- not my scene), shows some of the similarities between Christianity and other world religions, past and continuing, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Mithraism and the worship of Isis and Osiris. The similarities are in the teachings, the symbols and iconography, and also the core stories -- so this being Christmas, we had the birth narratives of Krishna and Gautama Buddha, for example.

It was very well done -- Beckford is a good presenter -- and sufficiently scholarly, though obviously because it was prime-time TV on Xmas Day it had to be a fairly light and easy skimming along the surface. But full marks to Channel 4 for screening a controversial 2-hour documentary on Christmas Day. (Needless to say, fundamentalist Christians are already fulminating against it, accusing it of being unscholarly. Slight irony there!)

The second half, which I haven't watched yet, goes into Suzanne Olsson's territory, with the stories of Jesus going to India during his life (and so learning from Buddhist teachers) and/or after the crucifixion, showing the tomb at Rosa Bal. He included these ideas in a previous documentary, also fairly light, but quite thought-provoking, a year ago, so it's clearly a subject that interests him -- Suzanne, take note!

David

[Suzanne Olsson]

Hi David,
Very interesting!
I want to point something out that few viewers of the Roza Bal film would be aware of. To understand the background that led to the current situation at Roza Bal we must also understand events that led to the death of Benizir Bhutto, who was assassinated and buried just a few hours ago.

It was actually Benazir's father, Zulfiqar Bhutto, who first declared Ahmaddi Muslims as "non-Muslims" and "heretics". After researching the evidence and the history for Jesus/Issa buried in Roza Bal, they came away with the belief that the claims are true. For a while the entire Islamic world believed them as well. They believed that once the world realized Jesus was a mortal man buried in Roza Bal, the world, or at least the entire Christian world would flock to Islam instead.

But the founder of the Ahmaddis soon claimed that he was also the rebirth of Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammed. At this point the Islamic world rejected him and these claims and turned against him. In a way, that decision not only seriously split the Islamic world but it also changed Pakistan forever.

A friend of mine who was there during Bhutto's assassination sent me an email, part of which appears here:

"(by outlawing Ahmaddis) They declared a humble, progresive and peaceful community "non-Muslims". It will only be a matter of time before they start calling each other "non-Muslims". And that's what eventually happened. Now, everyone in Pakistan is a "believer" and everyone in Pakistan is a "non-Muslim". In a sad terrible way, Benazir was a victim of her father's edict 33 years ago. Her killers were baptized that terrible day in 1974. It should also be mentioned that it was under Benazir's rule 1993 -96 that the Taliban was formed. Her Interior Minister, Naseerullah Babar, was famous for his line "don't worry, they are children..." when asked about the Taliban's slow but deadly gain in Afghanistan. However, I really don't believe Benazir shared the philosophy and views of her father and others in attacking others faiths, nor attacking the sancity of peace for all people, especially in Afghanistan. This is just a terrible sickening game with many players playing on many fronts. However, like I said, she eventually became a victim because of mistakes those close to her made many years before."

This was the beginning of Islamic fundamentalism and intolerance that created the present situation at Roza Bal (and in Pakistan and Afghanistan). This fundamentalist and rigid intolerance of all other faiths also dominates the mindset of Mushareff and the entire Pakistan Army. They are basically fundamentalists at heart. The Director you see on the film inside Roza Bal is the same kind of fundamentalist. He is intolerant of all other religions and beliefs. That is why he has changed the tomb and removed all 'un-Islamic' traces there. His biggest fear is that everyone will come there and worship or praise Issa. That would be un-Islamic and intolerable. This is explained in several ways during the film, especially towards the end of it.

In traditional Islamic views, God rescued Jesus at the last moments before the crucifixion. A substitute was placed on the cross to die instead and fool the Christians and Jews. Jesus was secretly wisked away to Heaven.

There he awaits word from Mohammed when they can return to earth and finish the job of killing the infidels. After this bloodbath, everyone will be Muslim, there will be peace, Jesus will marry and have children and be a mortal again. He will become a mere mortal prophet and will be buried next to Mohammed. This is all mentioned later in the film.

According to this fundamentalist view, Jesus therefore cannot be buried in Roza Bal. During the interview on this film, for those who can understand Urdu, you can just make out the Director explaining this "rumor" was begun by the outlawed Ahmaddis. He claims the lie was begun by this sect. But in the translation to English this is never repeated. Was this a deliberate misquote by the translator? Did he deliberately leave out the speech by the Director accusing Ahmaddi Muslims of lying about the tomb?

The point is this: the same fundamentalist attitude and intolerance towards Ahmaddis exhibited by Bhutto is also the mindset now controling the tomb and preventing further research there..

Does this help explain Islamic world events and how they relate to the situation at the tomb and in Pakistan today?

Sue

[DVB]

The Wikipedia article on Ahmadi Muslims, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmadiyya , explains their origin and how they are regarded by mainstream Islam -- basically, as heretics, hence their persecution in Pakistan (see http://www.thepersecution.org/ ). It's complicated by the fact that there are two branches of Ahmadiyya, with different beliefs; one is closer to mainstream Islam than the other; both claim to be the true Islam.

Cf. the Sunni/Shi'ite divide, or the Twelvers/Seveners divide -- or historically the Catholic/Protestant divide. Basically, I have the Truth, you haven't, and so I'm entitled to beat the sh*t out of you. Ain't religion wonderful.....

Having said that, the Ahmadiyya are strongly opposed to violence in the name of religion.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community's view of Jesus can be found at http://www.alislam.org/topics/jesus/ -- including a mention of the "Tomb of Jesus".

David

[Suzanne Olsson]

Ahhh yes, the Ahmaddis..I am very familiar with them. They are wonderful people who encourage openness and inquirey. They are an intricate part of the modern tomb of Jesus research. Sadly, they are also the reason that all research is halted and everyone under suspicion. That is also why it is so important for others to distance themselves from Ahmaddi claims and take avenues of independent research that has no reference or connections whatever with Ahmadii research and claims...

I don't say this to be unfair to Ahmaddis, but to emphasize research is needed that is completely independent of their claims. In the end if Jesus is proven in Roza Bal tomb, this aspect of their beliefs would also be justified...

The film also asked if Jesus was a Buddhist. Did the Jesus story "copy" the Buddha story, which copied the Osiris-Horus story? No. I don't believe this is how it happened at all! This is a common held view but it is based on totally false assumptions.

Sue