Just another everyday resurrection
With over 2 Billion Christians in the world, today is a big day. It’s Easter Sunday: the day that defines the religion. But, in the historical context of the time was Jesus rising from the dead Just another everyday resurrection? Egyptians, Canaanites, Buddhists, and Greeks all had tales of people rising from the dead to take their proper place as “gods”. According to scripture, Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and on the third day rose from the grave. As with many resurrection tales, there was divine intervention in some versions. Matthew describes a shimmering angel in white raiment descending and causing the Earth to quake, removing the stone from Jesus’s crypt. Although, other accounts don’t mention any of those theatrics. Regardless of the details, the theme of resurrection was more common than this story would imply.
According to theological scholars, mystics, and other believers, God enters man from time to time. When this occurs, the person merges with the divine to become a physical manifestation of god. This is the avatar: God in man. Think of it as a metamorphosis. The man needs to shun his human form to become divine. Resurrection is a dramatic representation of that transformation. Egyptians had Osiris and Baal. Greeks had Achilles, Heracles, and several others die as humans, but, return as deities. Some returned in their own physical form. But, some returned bigger than life, such as Asclepius, who was immortalized as a star. Similarly, the Christian bible uses resurrection as a literary trope to prove Jesus’s divinity. Any person can claim divinity. But, going through a metamorphosis Like rising from the dead cements those claims. Follow this with an ascension into the heavens and you have a complete circle.
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Was Jesus story Just another everyday resurrection?
Conflicting stories abound around Jesus Crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Matthew 28 claims an Angel released Jesus from the tomb, and that the Romans tried to cover it up with a story that it was Jesus’s disciples who removed the body. Others don’t specifically call it an angel. And, there are conflicting reports of how many (if any) people witnessed the resurrection. Standard orthodoxy revolves around accounts by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But, those names were given to the authors around the second century CE. Before that, they were anonymous. Plus, these accounts date to somewhere between 66 and 110 CE, long after Jesus’s time. So, these were simply recollections and tales passed down. They are far from an accurate documentation of historical fact.
What was included in the bible was cemented in the council of Nicaea around 325 CE. Any questioning of what was officially included and not was met with accusations of heresy and, often, death or persecution. So, the accounts we know are biased at best. To further complicate the question, Islamic accounts call Jesus a great profit. But, they contend that Jesus did not die on the cross and rise from the dead. In fact, they say he lived a full life, moving to India, where he preached and taught for the rest of his life, and is buried in Kashmir. While the Islamic accounts discount Christ’s divinity, others, like Meher Baba and even Orthodox Christians view the story as symbolic that Jesus didn’t physically die, but attained divinity through a realization, not a miracle. All People have god within them, they just don’t realize it. Jesus discovered this secret.
Jesus in India
In the Christian Bible, Jesus shows up at the temple when he is about 12, and impresses the Rabbis. Then, there are no accounts of his life until he is an adult of 30 years. Where did he go? What did he do in that time period? The common story is that he stayed with his family, picking up his father’s trade as a carpenter. But, many contend he visited India during this period on a mystical journey to develop his spirituality. Whether he was gone the whole time or just “studying abroad”, this makes sense for a couple reasons.
First, if the Virgin birth and resurrection stories are symbolic, the ages of his actions are too. In Jewish tradition, one is Bar Mitzvah’ed at 13, and allowed to become a rabbi at 30. This is the exact period of Jesus’s missing years. Taking a spiritual journey would be a perfect thing to do for that time period, especially for a gifted child like Jesus.
And, don’t forget the wise Magi from his birth story. They came form the east, as far away as India. They brought great riches to Jesus and his families. Doesn’t it make sense that they would have a vested interest in his development? A journey of self discovery at the behest of his benefactors makes perfect sense.
Theories and stories of his journeys to India and the East gained traction over the last couple hundred years. But, most were summarily dismissed by, predominantly christian authorities. The big problem is the conundrum of religion itself: none can prove this happened, and none can prove it didn’t.
Did Christ return?
If Jesus did go to India, wouldn’t it make sense that he would return after facing down the Romans? When a government wants you dead, it’s not safe to stay there. Plus, he would have connections and friends in the east. So, the Muslim account of Jesus faking his death or not being crucified bears out from a human perspective. All agree that Jesus was a great teacher and mentor. You can’t get much mentoring done if you’re dead. The whole concept that he had to die for our sins doesn’t hold water like people pretend. If so, why do we still have a world full of sin? Nothing has changed. Empire after empire flourished at the expense of innocent people. Teaching peace seems like the better option. But, suggesting that Jesus didn’t die, or, if he did, it was Just another everyday resurrection is too controversial.
Why the big controversy?
When people devote themselves to a religion, it consumes them. Some become synonymous with their religion. Being a Christian, Jew, Muslim, etc becomes their identity over all other things. So, to question any dogma is to question one’s own existence? This cognitive dissonance creates an impenetrable psyche that wont allow space for anything outside their perceived orthodoxy. Even suggesting that Jesus went on a spiritual journey outside Jerusalem gets people all riled up. Even though, there is no credible documentation of the time period. At the same time, don’t forget, the gospels were not exactly precise, and were written generations after the vents. They are stories, not actual historical records. Someone once said ‘History is only legend that is agreed upon.’ This definitely holds true to the bible.
When you make someone question their religion, they get really uncomfortable and entrench themselves in their belief. It’s like the scene in something about Mary when Ben Stiller picks up a hitch hiker talking about 7 minute abs. Jesus supposedly met with seven masters on his spiritual journey. And, they helped him realize his connection to god. We see seven is the magic number. So, why is that so hard to accept? Merely because it wasn’t included in one book? Maybe the new bible the former president is selling might refer to it? The point being that people don’t take kindly to alternative theories. And, when Muslims suggest Jesus didn’t actually die, but went to India to continue his preaching, that’s the stuff that wars start over. And, statements like Just another everyday resurrection result in beheading.
Is it so hard to believe that Easter is Just another everyday resurrection
History, like time itself, is not exactly precise. People throw around accusations of revisionist history when inconvenient facts or theories arise. They get downright ornery when their narrative changes. It’s like Columbus discovering the Americas. Yes, he made the whole world accessible and opened new lands to future inhabitants and paved the way for progress. He also brought death, destruction, and horrors to people and lands unprepared and unwitting of the dangers of European life. Both can be true.
The same is true of Jesus. Tales of virgin births and resurrections weren’t new at the time. In Egypt, the Virgin Isis birthed the God Horus. Krishna also claims a virgin birth. We already covered some of the resurrection lore. So, the use of such stories aims to “prove” divinity. But, they aren’t necessary if Jesus is actually a part of the holy trinity. Neither is his ascension into heaven. If he lived a full life after his persecution st the hands of the Romans, isn’t that a better story of perseverance than rising from the dead? Isn’t the hope and belief that Christ, who taught compassion and peace, may have sired children who carry that same love and compassion forward through generations compelling? Think of it, the person sitting next to you could be a descendant of Jesus.
So, what is Easter about?
According to popular culture, it has something to do with Bunnies, eggs, and marshmallow peeps. For the religious, it’s when Jesus proved his divinity. But, to some, it’s Just another everyday resurrection. People get all worked up over minutiae when it comes to religious conversations like this. That’s why we used to have sage advice to not discuss religion or politics in polite conversation. When it comes down to it, though, people fighting over what happened to Jesus is a futile discussion since no one alive was there. And, the facts of the matter came second or third hand at best.
A few years back, my father got into an argument with a guy who wrote a book about Slavic involvement in WWII. When my father told his tale of being taunted by the Slavs, the author told him he was wrong. My father had the perfect Mic drop response: “I was there. Were you?” This put the writer in his place. But, didn’t change his beliefs. Similarly, this discussion about what happened to Jesus isn’t to make people not believe in Jesus , nor his divinity. In fact, it should strengthen one’s belief if you actually believe Christ was divine without the theatrics and recycled tropes of virgin births and resurrections.
We can still celebrate
And, it doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Easter. Easter coincides with the start of Spring, and that itself is a time of rebirth. The trees and the daffodils rise from a dormant state to reclaim the kingdom of the living. Maybe that’s why the authors of the bible made a big deal out of what was really Just another everyday resurrection. Besides, no one actually knows when and if he died. Most agree that it was around Passover time, around 30 AD. But, people used different calendars. And, it depends on whose account you look at. Even in scholarly accounts, approximate dates are opinions. But, Jesus represents hope, love, and peace, all things that spring represents, as well. Therefore, Celebrating Jesus at this joyous time of year is fitting.
So, today, let’s resurrect some old favorite foods for our celebration of Faith, rebirth, and new perspectives. Here are a few Vegan recipes to celebrate the peace and love Jesus taught. Have a Blessed celebration!
Meyer Lemon Edamame Hummus
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Shelled cooked edamame
- 4 Cloves Fresh garlic
- 2 Cups Raw fresh Spinach
- 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Cilantro
- 1/2 Cup Meyer Lemon Juice (preferably, Fresh Squeezed)
- 1 Tbsp Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp Ground Coriander
- 2 Tbsp Tahini Paste
- 1 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pulse garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add Spinach and Herbs, pulse until well chopped.
- Add in the Edamame, and puree until fine.
- Add the tahini and Lemon juice. Continue running the processor until smooth, no lumps. Scrape down sides and continue processing. Add in the spices at this time.
- While the machine is running, drizzle in the oil until it is well incorporated. If it separates, add some more beans. Taste the hummus, and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Refrigerate and serve cold with pita and vegetables. You can drizzle a little olive oil and/or lemon for service, even garnish with fresh chopped herbs and, or chili flakes.
Curried Cous Cous with dried fruit and scallion
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup Large grain Israeli Cous Cous (Do not use the fine grain version. The cooking method and dish are very different.
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup diced red pepper
- 1/4 cup diced dried apricots
- 1/4 cup dried cranberry
- 1/4 cup chopped scallion
- 1/2 tsp curry powder
- 1/4 cup cider or red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup Olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 Tbsp honey
Instructions
- Boil water in a pot like you are making pasta. Add salt. Put in the cous cous and boil for about 5 minutes until soft. This only works for Large grain Israeli cous cous. They are large balls. If you have Moroccan cous cous, the cooking method is different.
- When cooked, drain off the water and run under cold water to stop cooking. Toss in a bowl with a splash of oil to prevent sticking.
- Mix together curry, oil, vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper in a separate mixing bowl to make a loose dressing.
- Fold the dressing and all other ingredients into the couscous, and mix well. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
Vegan Black Cumin And Red Lentil Ragout
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Red Lentils
- 1 Cup Diced Sweet Onion
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Garlic
- 1 tsp Chopped Fresh Ginger
- 1 Cup Fresh Grape Tomatoes, Cut in 1/2
- 2 Tbsp Black Cumin Seeds
- 1 Tbsp Brown Cumin Seeds
- 1 tsp Ground Turmeric
- 4 Cups vegetable Broth (may substitute water)
- 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Saute the onion, Both types of cumin seed, garlic, and ginger in olive oil over medium high heat until translucent. Then add in the lentils. Stir and cook until well coated with the olive oil.
- Heat the stock over high heat. Fill the pan of lentils with stock so that they are completely covered. You may not need all of it, as red lentils cook quickly. Reduce by 1/2 the volume, stirring as needed. Be careful not to overcook the lentils. Add in the tomatoes and Turmeric. Continue cooking . Add more stock if needed. You want the lentils to be soft, but not breaking apart. Fold in salt, pepper, and Cashews. Serve hot. For today's recipe, we want most of the liquid absorbed, so it can stand on a plate. But, you can leave it wetter if you want more of a stew that you can serve in a bowl.
Marjoram scented Baba Ganoush with Fresh Vegetable crudites
Ingredients
- 1 Large Eggplant
- 15 to 20 whole garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup tahini paste
- 1 to 2 cups olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh marjoram
- 1 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Assorted vegetables and Pita for dipping
Instructions
- Split the eggplant in half. Cut slits into the flesh, but not all the way through. Stick garlic in the slits intermittently (6 to 10 pieces per half eggplant). Dowse the eggplant with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Then put it in a preheated 300 degree oven. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Check the consistency. It should be soft and easily pull from the skin. Give it more time if needed.
- Scrape the eggplant from the skin into a food processor. Pulse to begin pureeing. Stop and scrape down the sides.
- Add in all the other ingredients except the oil and herbs. Run the processor to create a smooth puree. stop, scrape the sides, then start again.
- Drizzle the oil in until it becomes smooth, but not too loose. Then add the fresh herbs and adjust seasoning.
- Serve in a bowl, drizzle a little olive oil on top, sprinkle more fresh herbs on. Serve with fresh cut vegetables and pita bread.