Between 10 BCE and 10 CE there began much discord in the Roman Empire. This was especially true in Judea, three decades after Herod had invited the Romans to come into the small country to aid him in gaining the throne. During this period that the Essenes, a monastic order located around Qumran, near the Dead Sea began to spark the coals of activism. Throughout the reign of Herod, and after, the Essenes were a shadow force of resistance to the Roman occupation of Judea. It was also a time when a young man called Joshua became caught up in his country's patriotic struggle for freedom. There is little or nothing known of Joshua, whose name in Greek is Jesus, between his 13th and his 30th year when he began his short-lived ministry of three years after which he supposedly died the death of a criminal. At the age of 13 a Jewish male becomes an adult. This was even more significant in the time in which Joshua lived. Life was hard and the average life span was around 35 years. Joshua was past middle age at 33 and approaching old age. Where was he doing those 17 years? An examination of his teachings strongly suggests that he spent time in the East. There are evidences of Persian, Indian and Chinese influence. One needs only to examine the Babylonian captivity of the Jews in the Old Testament to understand how he might have become influenced by the teachings of Zoroaster. Cyrus, the Persian, conquered the Babylonians. A Zoroastern, Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Israel, and even gave them money with which to rebuild the temple. Zoroastern teachings were incorporated into Judaism. A modified version called Zionism came into being. But, what about the Hindu and Buddhist thought that crept into his ministry? The best explanation is that he was there. He saw and talked with the people of China, India and Persia. What was he doing in these places? Why was he there? What kind of person was he during those formative years? This story is a possible and plausible explanation.
About the Author: The author has practiced law in southeast Georgia for over 50 years and has been involved with all sorts of characters and situations, including but not limited to a number of murder cases and other criminal cases, while carrying on a general law practice His hobbies are hunting, fishing, sailing and boat-building. He is an avid reader and has traveled extensively and been on every continent in the world, except two, Australia and Antarctica. He has a Master's License issued by the United States Coast Guard. While in high school he worked approximately four years in his father's hospital as an orderly and lab and x-ray assistant. He graduated from Georgia Military Academy and attended Oglethorpe University, Florida State University, Atlanta Art Institute and spent two years on active duty in the United States Coast Guard where he was stationed in New England on a search and rescue cutter and a cable layer. After being released from active duty, he attended and graduated from Atlanta Law School in Atlanta, Georgia and began to practice law. Most of his writings center around Coastal Georgia. He and his wife, Beverly, live in Coastal Georgia at Shellman Bluff.