Loading summary
Transcript14 lines
- [00:00]
Mark Gagnon
Jesus Christ. To Christians, he is the Messiah. To others, he's a prophet, a guru, a spiritual master, and to some heretics, an outright imposter. Most of us grew up with one version of Jesus, maybe from church or movies or, you know, that dusty old Bible at grandma's house. But if you step outside of Christianity, the story explodes. Because almost every religion and philosophy has an explanation for who this person was. Everything from Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Scientology, and even Gnosticism. And today, we are diving into all of the stories of Jesus. Almost every religion, philosophy and worldview has a story and an explanation about Jesus Christ and who this figure was. And today, we're diving into the many versions of Jesus, many of them we've never been told about. So sit back, relax, and welcome to Religion Camp.
- [00:59]
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Wayfarer's big sale is returning. Get ready for way day. For four days only, score up to 80% off all things home. With free shipping on everything. From October 26th through 29th, score Wayfair's best deals like up to 80% off area rugs, up to 60% off mattresses, up to 60% off bedroom furniture, and more exclusive doorbuster deals. So mark your calendar and shop Wayday starting October 26th at Wayfair.com Wayfair Every style, every home.
- [01:31]
This episode is brought to you by Ulta Beauty. Holiday cheer is here, and Ulta Beauty has gifts for everyone on your list. Treat them to fan favorite gift sets from Charlotte Tilbury and Peach and Lily. Go all out with timeless fragrances from ysl, Ariana Grande and Carolina Herrera. And you can never go wrong with an Ulta Beauty gift card. Head to Ulta Beauty for gifts that make the holidays brighter and even more beautiful. Ulta Beauty gifting happens here.
- [02:00]
Mark Gagnon
What's up, people? And welcome back to Religion Camp. My name is Mark Gagnon, and thank you for joining me in my tent, where every single Sunday, we explore the most interesting, fascinating, and controversial stories from every religion from around the world, from all time, forever. Yes, this is my attempt to understand what everyone on this big planet is believing. Right? I mean, I truly believe, and I say this all the time. The best way to understand a people and a culture is to understand the God that they worship. So thank you guys for joining me. The show wouldn't be possible without y', all, and it also wouldn't be possible without my friend Christos. How are you, buddy? Doing great. All right, Christos, we don't have time because we're talking about the other Christos. We're talking about Jesus Christos. The Lord himself. The second best one. All right, come on. You're getting heretical off Rip. Okay? And this is why the comments are lambasting you every single day. Let me just say a few things up top. First off, it's cold in the studio, okay? It's freezing. We don't have heat because we're in the middle of the. The Canadian wilderness, okay? We're deep in the tundra. Not at a studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, okay? We are far, far away. And that's why I'm wearing my cozy coat, all right? Secondly, I want to make it clear. I. I was raised Catholic, all right? I was not raised Hindu. I was not raised Muslim. I was not raised Scientologist. So some of the information in here, it's possible I may have overlooked some things. Possible that part of it is incorrect. It's also possible my pronunciation is not perfect. So if I miss anything, please don't hesitate to correct me gently in the comments. Okay? Let me also say, if you're interested in, you know, the stuff we're doing over here at the Camp Universe, check out History Camp, where I dive into all the historical topics I'm fascinated by. And then, of course, Camp Gagnon, the main channel, where we do a lot of interviews and talk to people much smarter than I am about all the things that matter. I think that's basically everything, right? So let's dive in. This is a fascinating conversation for me because, you know, I was raised Catholic, so in my view, Jesus Christ is the Lord. He's the one and only. He's the Son of God, triune, you know, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, all existing as one. And for me, that was basically just my philosophy on Jesus Christ my whole life. And then I started talking to my Muslim friends. They're like, you know, we have Jesus Christ in our tradition. I go, what? They go, yes, Isa bin Maryam. He is the prophet in Islam. Peace be upon him. And I was like, whoa, that's crazy. So I started looking into it. Almost every worldview on earth has a story about this immaculate person. Okay, was he a guru, as many Eastern philosophies will tout, Just a wise, you know, thinker that sort of reached a level of nirvana, some type of enlightenment. Was he the Messiah himself? Again, we're not going to figure all these answers out today, but we can explore what many of these traditions, both in a literal sort of dogmatic sense, but also in sort of a casual, you know, philosophical sense, what they say about Jesus Christ and it's interesting because it will give an insight as to how these different religions and philosophies sort of operate. You know, is it something very rigorous? Is it something very specific? Is it something more that's, you know, kind of just like open and, you know, free to interpretation? And we'll even explore some of like the, dare I say, fringe philosophies, you know, gnosticism, things like that. We're going to be getting into all of it. We'll also answer some of the big questions, right? Why do some religions see him as divine while others see him as a, you know, a spiritual teacher? And why do the teachings resonate with some people from different parts of the world and different backgrounds? And what does this tell us about the way humans, human beings search for meaning? So I'm hoping by the end of this discussion you'll have a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ, who he is, and how different religions and how different people around the world view this person. So we should probably start with Christianity, right? That one makes the most sense. It has Jesus in the name Jesus Christ. Deanity. So, I mean, you probably, if you've grown up Christian, you think you got it all figured out. You know, that's how I feel. And Christianity's take on Jesus is, shall I say, the most straightforward. Okay, we start with his birth. All right, this is the grand entrance. Christians believe that Jesus wasn't just born, he was divinely conceived. In Christianity, it is believed that the angel Gabriel appears to a young woman named Mary and tells her that she is going to have a baby. She says, let thy will be done. And the craziest part, she is a virgin. She is perfect. She is the perfect woman. And the Son of God will be born from her. This is a, you know, a miraculous conception. And it's not just a cool origin story. It is the proof of Jesus's divine nature. This idea that Jesus being conceived by the Holy Spirit is both fully divine, you know, from God and also fully human from Mary. And this divine birth sets the stage for everything that Christians really believe about Jesus. So, you know, Jesus is growing up and he's not your regular kid. Again, not a ton is known about Jesus's early life, you know, the, the lost years of his time before his sort of, you know, testimony and work as, you know, a spiritual leader. But Christians believe he is the long awaited Messiah that is prophesied in the Old Testament. So, you know, the Jews of this time are waiting for Messiah and here he is, Jesus. So as Jesus is beginning his Ministry. He's not only a miracle worker and not only a wise teacher. Christians believe he is God in human form. He is a part of this Holy Trinity that I've spoken about. Okay, this is the concept that has, I will say, been debated for centuries. But it is this idea that God is three in one. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And they are distinct yet fully one God. And this is why this has been a debate. But we'll save, you know, triune discussion for a different time. Then, of course, you have the crucifixion and the resurrection. Now, these are not just traumatic events. They are cornerstone to what Christians believe about salvation. Christians believe that Jesus willingly died on the cross to take punishment for all of the sins of humanity. It is a profound concept, right, that God himself would incarnate and come to earth in human form and suffer and die for the sake of his creation. It's pretty beautiful. And it doesn't just end there, because three days after the death of God literally for his creation, human beings, he resurrects. And that is true. Resurrection isn't just seen as a miracle. It is viewed as proof that Jesus truly is divine and has power over death and ultimately conquers death. The greatest comeback story of all time with eternal consequences. And this belief in Jesus resurrection isn't just a footnote. It is the entirety of the ball game. I think if there is any singular moment in Christianity that can summarize what it is to be Christian, it is in the resurrection of Christ. That is why Easter is, you know, such a big holiday for Christians around the world. So Paul says in Corinthians 15:14, and if Christ has not been raised and our preaching is in vain and. And your faith is in vain, basically saying that if Christ doesn't raise from the dead, the entire Christian faith is pointless. So that is why it is such an important and integral part of Christian teaching. Now, here's where things are interesting, right, that, you know, Christians don't just believe Jesus is fully divine, they believe that, but they also believe that he is fully human. And this is a dual nature of Jesus. 100% God, 100% human. Which also has sparked a ton of debate. Scholars and church leaders have gone back and forth about this for a long time. Now. Christians believe that Jesus's humanity is what makes him relatable. He experiences hunger, he experiences fatigue and even doubt. In Luke 22, verse 44, he even backs up this idea and says, and being in agony, he prayed more earnestly and his sweat began, became like Great drops of blood falling to the ground. Now that's not just a divine drama. It is a human moment of fear and anguish. And at the same time, his divinity means that he has the power to save humanity from death and from sin. But here's the thing. While all of these beliefs about Jesus are central to Christianity, they are not universally accepted outside the faith. Other religions have their own perspective on who Jesus was and what he means. So obviously, Christians will see Jesus as, you know, divine, the son of God who became human to save the world. Other religions will have their own perspectives. So let's shift our perspective to Islam. Now, if you don't know Muslims, you might be surprised to know that Jesus is a big deal in Islam, that Jesus is one of the prophets. And so Jesus in Islam is known as Isa. Now, Muslims will deviate with Christians on who Jesus was because he is respected as a prophet and as all the prophets are, matter of fact. I mean, I'll even have Muslim friends be like, yes, of course, Isa. Peace be upon him. They will show a ton of reverence and respect for Jesus Christ, but they don't see him as. As divine. So let's start with his birth. For Muslims, much like Christians, Jesus was born of a virgin. Mary, or Miriam in Arabic is highly respected in Islam. It's a very common name amongst Muslims around the world. And in fact, she is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran. And there's an entire chapter named after her. The Quran also describes how Mary was visited by an angel who told her that she would give birth to a pure son. Sounds familiar? Because it should. And it is almost exactly to the Christian account, except in the Quran, the angel is Jabril, the translation of Gabriel. Now here's where things start to diverge. While Muslims believe in Jesus's miraculous birth, they don't see it as proof of his divinity. Instead, they see it as a sign of God's power to create life in the way that he chooses. Now, there are miracles. As we've talked in Christianity briefly, Christ is a miracle worker. Now, Muslims believe that Jesus was also a miracle worker. The Quran mentions several of Jesus miracles, including healing the blind, healing lepers, raising the dead, and even creating a bird out of clay and breathing life into it. It's pretty impressive, right? And here's what's interesting. In Islam, these miracles aren't seen as proof that Jesus is divine. Rather, they are viewed as signs given to him by God to prove his prophethood. So in Muslim tradition, Jesus is portrayed as a humble servant of God always quick to attribute all of his miracles to God, to Allah. It's like he's saying like, hey, don't look at me, I'm just the messenger. I'm just a prophet for God. All credit goes to the one and only God, Allah. Now speaking of messengers, that is really how you know Islam views Jesus, that he is one of the most important prophets and messengers of God. In fact he is considered one of the five most important prophets and in Islam alongside the prophets Noah, Abraham, Moses and of course the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Now in Islamic belief, Jesus was sent to guide the children of Israel back into the straight path. He came with a new scripture known as the Injil, also known as the Gospel of Issa, which Muslims believe was the original uncorrupted message of God. However, they also believe that this original message has been lost or altered over time. Now here is where we get another fork in the road between Islamic and Christian belief. While Christians see Jesus as the son of God and part of the Holy Trinity, Islam rejects these ideas. The Quran is very clear on this point, stating in no uncertain terms that God has no offspring and that there is no God but Allah. So for Muslims the concept of God having a son is seen as incompatible with God's nature. They argue that an all powerful, self sufficient God doesn't need a son or partners. Right? It's like saying like, hey, there's one singular monotheistic being that is known as Allah, that is God. So in Islam Jesus is just seen as a fully human prophet of Allah. And of course he is exceptionally important and is able to do miracles because of the power of Allah, but he is not considered divine and he is not worshiped. Muslims respect and love Jesus, but their worship is reserved for for Allah alone. Now another prominent difference amongst Muslims and Christians in their belief of Jesus is the end of his earthly ministry, specifically the crucifixion. So while Christians believe that Jesus was crucified and then resurrected, the Islamic narrative takes a different approach. According to the Quran, Jesus wasn't crucified at all. Instead it states that it was made to appear to them that Jesus was crucified. Now what exactly this means is still up for debate and it has been discussed by Muslim scholars for centuries. Some interpret this to mean that someone else was made to look like Jesus and was crucified in his place. While others suggest that Jesus was put on the cross but he didn't die there. They believe that he was taken away and actually ended up surviving. But of course this is disputed amongst Muslim scholars. Regardless of the specific interpretation, the core belief remains this, that Jesus was not necessarily killed by crucifixion. So what happened to Jesus? In the Quran, it states that God raised him to himself, so he raised up Jesus to himself. And many Muslims interpret this to mean that Jesus was taken to heaven, you know, bodily or spiritually without experiencing death. And this belief has a lot of interesting points. For one, it means that in Islamic tradition, Jesus didn't die for anyone's sins. The whole concept that Jesus died for humanity is central to Christianity, but it doesn't exist in Islam. Instead, Muslims believe that each person is responsible for their own actions, and they must seek forgiveness for what they do directly from Allah. But the story of Jesus in Islam doesn't end with his ascension. Many Muslims believe that Issa will return to earth near the end of times. And in Islamic end time theology, or eschatology as it's called, Isa plays a critical role in the events that lead up to the Judgment Day. He's expected to return to defeat the Antichrist, also known as the Dajjal in Islamic traditions. You know, we call it the Antichrist in Christianity, but it is ultimately the end time person that will come and sort of unite the world in an evil way against the will of Allah. And Isa will come down to destroy the dajjal, and then basically justice on earth will be established and lead people to true faith in Allah. It's worth noting that while Jesus is highly revered in Islam, he is not the final messenger of God. And that role is purely the Prophet Muhammad. Now, Muslims see Muhammad as the seal of the prophets, the final messenger sent to all of humanity, not just a specific group. In the Quran, it mentions that Jesus prophesied the coming of Muhammad. And this is based on the interpretation of a verse where Jesus speaks of a messenger that will come looking for him, named Ahmad, which is another name for Muhammad. So you might be wondering, if Muslims have such a high regard for Jesus, why don't we hear more about Jesus in Islam? And that's partially because it's just a different, different emphasis. While, you know, Jesus is so central to Christianity, in Islam, the focus is on the message more than the messenger. So the core of Islam is the belief in one God and the teachings of the Quran, which Muslims believe is the direct word of God. So that said, Jesus plays a significant role in Islamic thought and spirituality. And many Muslim scholars and mystics have written extensively about Jesus and praised his miracles and his asceticism and his teachings. As a matter of Fact, in Sufi tradition, which is sort of a mystical subset of Islam, Jesus is often portrayed as the perfect example of spiritual poverty and trust in Allah. And there are beautiful stories in Islamic tradition about Jesus and his compassion and humility and his wisdom. One famous hadith states, both in this world and in the hereafter, I am the nearest of all people to Jesus, the son of Mary. The prophets are paternal brothers. Their mothers are different, but their religion is one. And this hadith really encapsulates the Islamic view of Jesus. He is a beloved brother in the faith and part of the same prophetic tradition that culminates in the Prophet Muhammad. And it's a perspective that sees continuity where others might see some contradiction. So that is basically Jesus in Islam. You know, it's clear that while there are significant differences in the Christian view, there's still a deep respect and a love for Issa Ben Mariam. He is the mighty prophet, a performer of miracles, a bringer of divine guidance, and really a key figure even in the end times of Islam. So we've talked about Christianity. Obviously, Jesus is the Messiah. Islam, Jesus is a prophet. But what about Jesus's own people, the people of Judaism, the Jews themselves? This was the religion of Jesus. Some would say, well, they have a different perspective. In Judaism, Jesus isn't seen as the divine figure that Christians worship. Instead, he is viewed primarily as a historical figure. This is a man who lived and taught and died as a Jew in ancient Judea. Now, let's start with the basics. Jesus was born and raised Jewish. He lived his entire life as a Jew. He was circumcised on the eighth day. He celebrated Jewish holidays. He taught in synagogues. In fact, many Jews today see Jesus as a rabbi who was deeply rooted in the Jewish traditions of the time. Now, many of Jesus's teachings align closely with a lot of Jewish principles. So take for example, you know, love your neighbor as yourself. This isn't necessarily a new Christian idea. It's straight out of the Hebrew Bible, Leviticus 19:18. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he responded with the Shema. This is a central prayer in Judaism. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. So it's interesting to see how his teachings fit into the broader Jewish context. But don't think that this means that Judaism accepts Jesus as the Messiah or divine. That's where Judaism and Christianity will split. In Jewish belief, the Messiah is expected to fulfill specific prophecies, bring world peace, gather all the Jews back to the land of Israel and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. From a Jewish perspective, Jesus didn't do any of this. And also the very idea of a divine Messiah or a God in human form kind of goes against the core principles of Judaism, which is the absolute unity and non materialism of God. So for Jews, worshiping a human as God would be considered idolatry, which is one of the gravest sins in Judaism. And it just doesn't really fit into the Jewish worldview. So if Jews don't see Jesus as the Messiah or as divine, how do they see him? Well, the opinions on this will vary depending on who you ask. Some will see him as a teacher who has some good ideas but ultimately led people away from traditional Judaism. Others view him as a failed messianic claimant, you know, not the first or the last in Jewish history. And some modern Jewish scholars even try to, in a way, like, reclaim Jesus as like an important Jewish teacher separate from later Christian theology. And one thing that stands out about Jesus in his time was his independence in interpreting Jewish law, which is pretty controversial. Back then, you see, in traditional Judaism, interpretations of the law were based on a chain of transmission going back all the way to Moses. But Jesus often prefaced his teachings with, you have heard it said, but I say to you. So you know, you can see that this would be pretty controversial amongst the Jewish elite and the rabbis of the time. This approach would, you know, make him fairly unpopular. So take for example, Jesus's teaching on the Sabbath. He was criticized for healing on the Sabbath, which was seen as a violation of the law that prohibited work on the Sabbath. But Jesus argued that saving a life takes precedence over Sabbath restrictions. And this is a principle that with mainstream Jewish thought, like, if you're a Jewish doctor and someone's dying, you can save them on the Sabbath. So it's, you know, he was pushing the boundaries of interpretation, but still within a Jewish framework. It's also worth noting that Jesus had many conflicts with many other Jewish leaders at his time. And that wasn't really unique. The first century was a period of intense debate and division within Judaism. You had the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the essay, and various other Messianic movements all arguing about the correct interpretation of Jewish law and tradition. And Jesus was a part of this vibrant Jewish discourse. What's up, people? We're going to take a break because we got new merch. That's right, it is the holiday season and the good folks over at Camp R and D have been cooking up in the lab. We got the Christmas sweaters with the Aliens. We got the Christmas sweaters with the conspiracy vibes you already know. I mean, this one might be my favorite one. A Christmas tree full of aliens. Full Christmas sweater energy. And then, of course, if you just want something simple, you know, you bust out the camp logo tee with the little Christmas lights on it. Come on, bro. Get cute for Christmas, okay? It is a holiday season, all right? We're celebrating the birth of the savior, okay? And what better way to do it than to cop a couple threads for the person in your life that you know that loves a campsite that loves hanging with us every single week. And right now, we're running a promo through the holidays. That's right. Use the promo code. Christmascamp for 15 off. I just made that up on the spot. But I think we could do it right. I'll call some people. Christmas camp for 20, for 15% off. Sure, 16% off. Whatever you say, Mark. Should we give them more? One more. 17% off, people, we don't. I think this is going to work. I'm not positive we're going to see if we can do it, but I'll. Yeah. Check it out, guys. We got all the camp stuff going until the end of the year. Check it out. Thank you guys so much for supporting the show. I love you all. God bless and merry Christmas. Close your eyes. Exhale. Feel your body relax, and let go of whatever you're carrying today.
- [23:00]
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh, my gosh, they're so fast.
- [23:09]
Mark Gagnon
And breathe.
- [23:10]
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste. Visit 1-800-contacts.com today to save on your first order.
- [23:21]
Mark Gagnon
1-800-Contacts.
- [23:24]
Monster Energy. Everybody knows White Monster, Zero Ultra. That's the OG it kicked off this whole Zero Sugar energy drink thing. But Ultra is a whole lineup now. You've got Strawberry Dreams, Blue Hawaiian Sunrise, and Vice Guava. And they all bring the Monster Energy punch. So if you've been living in the white can branch out. Ultra's got a flavor for every Vibe, and every single one is Zero Sugar. Tap the banner to learn more. Now, a fascinating point about Jesus is that some of his teachings that might be seen to be going against Jewish law actually have parallels in rabbinic literature. So, for instance, his teachings on the spirit of the law versus the letter of the law are actually echoed in later rabbinic discussions. It's like his ideas were, you know, somewhat popular amongst some Jewish people at the time and it would be discussed. But let's be clear. While some Jews might see Jesus as a teacher or even a prophet, Judaism as a religion doesn't accept the Christian claims about him. The idea that he fulfilled Messianic prophecies or that belief in him is necessary for salvation or that he was divine doesn't fit into Jewish tradition. In fact, throughout history, the Jewish rejection of Jesus as the Messiah has been a major source of tension between Jews and Christians. Jews have often faced pressure or persecution because of this specific issue. Now you might be wondering, if Jews don't accept Jesus as the Messiah, are they still waiting for one? The answer is yes, sort of, with some caveats, but yes. In Judaism, the Messianic age is envisioned as a future era of world peace and universal knowledge of God ushered in by a human leader descended from King David. But it's not about personal salvation through belief in a Messiah. It's about the total transformation of the world. Interestingly, some modern Jewish thinkers have actually reinterpreted the idea of the Messiah as more of a process than a person, you know, incarnate. You could say they see working towards social justice and repairing the world as bringing about the Messianic age. And many will call it Tikan olam. And in Hebrew it's like they're saying like, hey, you don't have to wait for a Messiah necessarily, but rather the process of improving the world and making the world a better place will bring in the Messianic age that the process itself can be the Messiah. So let's circle back to Jesus himself. While he is not a central figure in Judaism, his Jewish identity has become a subject of increased interest amongst a lot of modern Jewish scholars. There's been a movement to understand Jesus in his Jewish context and to see him a part of Jewish history rather than apart from it. And this movement, which some have dubbed the Jewish reclamation of Jesus, isn't about accepting Christian beliefs or the divinity of Christ. Rather it's about understanding a significant Jewish rabbi who had an enormous impact on world history. It's like reconnecting with like a, like a foreign relative or something like that, like a long lost uncle or something. And you might not agree with everything that they stood for, but you can ultimately understand that they fit within the broader family connection. And some Jewish scholars have even suggested that understanding Jesus as a Jew can help foster better Jewish Christian relations. And by emphasizing Jesus's Jewishness, they hope to bring a bridge to some of the historical divides between these two faiths. But we should make it clear, while there is increased Jewish interest in Jesus, he is still not a religious figure for the Jews. So you won't find Jesus discussed in synagogues or Jewish religious schools, except perhaps in the context of Jewish history or, you know, comparative religious analysis. So where does that leave us? In Judaism, Jesus is seen as a teacher who lived and died as a Jew whose teachings, you know, would align with Jewish principles, but isn't accepted as the Messiah or as divine in any significant way. His approach to Jewish law was controversial for the time, but not entirely out of place for, you know, other Jewish rabbis and the discussions that they would have in that time period. And the Jewish view of Jesus is a reminder of the complex relationship between religions, especially those with shared roots like the Abrahamic religions typically have. It's a perspective that I think should make us look beyond some of our assumptions and appreciate the nuance, you know, in different faith traditions. So we have Christianity, Messiah, Islam, the prophet, Judaism, a controversial rabbi or a teacher. That is a part of Jewish history. But the story doesn't end there. Let's pivot away from the Abrahamic religions and the religions of the Levant to look at the East. Hinduism actually has something to say about Jesus as well. Now let me make it clear. Hinduism is not a traditional religion in the way that the Abrahamic religions generally are. It's more of a philosophy or a worldview. And as a result, there's no official stance on Jesus. Right. It is a perspective and a philosophy that is all about diversity and personal interpretation. So you're going to find a wide range of views amongst Hindus. Many respect Jesus as a spiritual teacher of great wisdom. They might see him as a holy man or even as a guru, or even as an avatar, a divine incarnation. It's like saying this Jesus guy, you know, he's onto something, right? His, his teaching has value. So some Hindus might even view Jesus as a sadhgu or a guru. And this is quite literally a holy man who has achieved a high level of spiritual enlightenment. So many Hindus will respect his teaching and his life of selfless service. And it's actually not uncommon to find pictures of Jesus alongside Hindu deities such as Ganesha or Krishna in some Hindu homes. What really resonates with many Hindus are Jesus's teachings of love and compassion. And these align really well with the core Hindu concepts of non violence and selfless service. So when Jesus talks about loving your neighbor or turning the other cheek, many Hindus will be like, yeah, that's kind of what we're about. It's like, you know, they're hearing, you know, different versions of their own wisdom. Matter of fact, some people even speculate that the lost years of Jesus, when he was, you know, from birth basically until he was, you know, right around 30, that some people speculate that he actually went to India and studied with Indian gurus. Now again, let me say that there's no historical basis for this, but it is a thing that people will talk about. So for example, Jesus saying, love your enemies. This aligns with the Hindu concept of seeing the divine in all things. Or consider the emphasis on forgiveness. That's something that you'll find in, you know, Hindu literature and sacred texts. In Hinduism, you could say that Jesus is speaking a spiritual language that many Hindus can resonate with and understand and even appreciate. Matter of fact, a well known Hindu teacher known as Paramahansa Yogananda came to the west and wrote extensively about Jesus. He saw Jesus's teachings as aligned with the ancient wisdom of India and attempted to actually bridge a gap between the east and the west using Jesus as a connection point. Matter of fact, Mahatma Gandhi, although not a Christian, was also deeply influenced by the teachings of Christ, especially the Sermon on the Mount. He actually once said, I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. It's a quote that people have heard a lot, but it really kind of shows both a respect and also a criticism of modern Christianity, both showing this respect for Jesus and his teachings, but asking Christians who uphold the teachings of Jesus at the same time. Now here's where it gets interesting. While many Hindus respect and even revere Jesus as a holy man, Hinduism as a world philosophy, as a religion perhaps doesn't typically incorporate him into the belief system. Jesus isn't a part of the Hindu pantheon of deities. You won't find any Hindu temples dedicated to Jesus or any worship rituals performed in his name. And this is because Hinduism already has a rich tradition of avatars and divine incarnations. While they might see Jesus as a spiritual figure, he's not essential to Hindu theology or practice. Jesus is not found in the Vedas or any other important text to Hindus. He's not in the Ramayana, he's not in the Mahabharata, but he's seen as a man who perhaps has achieved some type of spiritual enlightenment, basically saying like, hey, we like what Jesus was teaching, but we got our own deities and our own sort of religious philosophy at home, you know. Moreover, some aspects of Christian theology don't really sit perfectly with Hindu thought. The idea that Jesus is the only way to salvation, that none can enter, you know, to the Father except through me. That idea clashes with the Hindu view that there are many paths to the divine. Hindus generally believe in multiple lives and in reincarnation, which doesn't really have a place in Christianity. And this concept of one life followed by, you know, eternal existence in heaven or in hell. The Hindu view of Jesus also challenges a lot of assumptions about Christianity. If Jesus is one of many avatars or holy men, it undermines the unique status that Jesus has in Christian theology as the Messiah, as God. Interestingly, there's actually a Hindu text known as the Bavishya Pryana, and it actually contains a passage that some people interpret as a prediction of Jesus. Now, remember when I talked about the lost years of Jesus, that some people suspect that he may have went to India? Well, in this passage, it actually speaks of a spiritual teacher named Isha Masi coming from the West. And while most scholars see this as a later addition to the text, it shows how some Hindus have actually tried to incorporate Jesus into their worldview. Some modern Hindu gurus have embraced Jesus as a part of their teachings. So Satya Sai Baba, for instance, often spoke about Jesus and even claimed that he himself was a divine incarnation, just like Jesus. So while there's obviously a respect for Jesus and his teaching, it seems that the idea of him being the one and only way to salvation is one of the main things that holds him back in Hinduism. Some have even drawn a connection between the life and teachings of Jesus and that of Krishna. But again, Jesus does not have any type of significant place within the pantheon of Hindu deities. Now, the Hindu respect for Jesus can often sometimes clash with Christian missionary efforts in India. So, for example, some Hindus feel that Christian missionaries misrepresent Hinduism or even pressure people to convert. But despite a lot of these challenges, the Hindu view of Jesus offers an interesting possibility for connection. It shows how different religious traditions can find common ground in a lot of the teachings of love and compassion and selfless service and spiritual growth. So this basically summarizes many Hindus belief about who Jesus was and sort of what he represented, right? Not just as a figure from one faith, but as a symbol of spiritual wisdom and as a teacher. And this is actually where Buddhism comes in, offering yet another take on who Jesus was. So for Buddhists, Jesus is admired as a historical figure who embody compassion and selflessness. And again, all of these qualities really resonate deeply in Buddhist principles. Some even See parallels between Jesus and the concept of Bodhisattva. This is the Buddhist tradition that basically an enlightened individual who chooses to remain in the cycle of life and suffering known as samsara basically exists in the space to help others reach enlightenment. And while there's no direct evidence that Buddhists universally categorize Jesus in this way, his life of service and, you know, his sacrifice really fits that mold, right? So for a lot of Buddhists similar to Hindus, they see what he's done and are moved by his actions. So Jesus, you know, healed the sick, he fed the hungry, he preached love for all people, including enemies. And these actions echoed the Bodhisattva in this narrative of putting others needs above your own. And in this sense, some Buddhists see Jesus as an enlightened being who lived to alleviate suffering. However, there's a key difference. In Christianity, Jesus is seen as the Savior, the one who redeems humanity from sin through his death and resurrection. And salvation is through Christ alone. But Buddhists don't share this view. For Buddhist, salvation isn't about being saved by an external figure. It's about self realization and following the Eightfold path to enlightenment. So while many Buddhists admire Jesus and his compassion, they don't see him as a savior or the only way to salvation. And this brings us to another important point. Buddhism doesn't focus on God in the way that Christianity does in general. It's really a whole different worldview, kind of a bottom up perspective. The Buddha himself didn't claim divinity or preach about a creator God. Instead, he taught that life suffering stems from attachment and ignorance and that liberation ultimately comes from within. This idea that Jesus as both God and man is difficult for Buddhists to reconcile with their worldview because they don't even see the Buddha himself as go. Still, that doesn't mean that Buddhists dismiss Jesus outright. In fact, many appreciate these teachings of love and humility, much like they do in Judaism or Hinduism. And these values are universal and really align with Buddhist principles like metta, which is like a loving kindness, or karuna, which is compassion. So for example, when Jesus says blessed are the meek or turn the other cheek, some Buddhists claim that this resembles their own teachings about peace and overcoming anger and ultimately finding, I guess you could say an inner God or an inner peace. Interestingly, some Buddhists actually find inspiration and really admire the similarities between Jesus and Buddha. Both figures, you know, challenged social norms and the religious traditions of their time. Both emphasized personal transformation over the rigid rituals and the law. Both sought to guide people towards a deeper understanding of life and the purpose of life. So, for example, even, you know, their stance on materialism, the Buddha warned against attachment to worldly possessions and basically taught the true happiness comes from letting go of desire. And similarly, Jesus says in the book of Matthew, do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, but store up treasures in heaven. And while the context differs massively, their message kind of aligns in the same way. Ultimately, don't fret and put all of your, you know, passion into earthly possessions in the material world. But despite these parallels, there are also stark contrasts, right? Jesus emphasized faith in God as central to salvation, while Buddha focuses on self discipline and meditation and kind of going inside of yourself as a path to enlightenment. And as Jesus spoke of sin and repentance before God, the Buddha taught that ignorance, not sin, is humanity's fundamental problem. Another key difference lies in their approach to suffering. So for Christians, suffering can be redeemed, and they can find salvation due to Jesus suffering on the cross. In contrast, Buddhism sees suffering as something to transcend entirely by eliminating the root cause, which is attachment and want. And these differences highlight why Buddhism doesn't view Jesus as divine or unique in the same way that Christianity does. Instead of seeing Jesus as the only way to salvation, Buddhists might consider him, among many enlightened teachers throughout history, someone whose wisdom contributes to the collective spiritual growth and consciousness of humankind. Now, here is where things get interesting. Some modern interpretations suggest that Jesus could be seen as embodying consciousness or the consciousness of Christ. And this is a state of spiritual enlightenment similar to what Buddhists are striving for in meditation and mindfulness. This idea isn't traditional Buddhist thought, but it does reflect how some individuals will blend Eastern and Western spirituality. So where does that leave us? For Buddhists, they generally like Jesus. They admire his teaching, and they specifically love the moments of compassion and selflessness and basically dedicating your life to helping other people. But he is not divine in Buddhism. He is a human teacher, and his teachings are respected, but they are not central. And they really just complement Buddhist philosophy. What's up, people? We're gonna take a break really quick because I have amazing news. I'm coming on the road. That's right. My very first headlining tour. Where I'm going to every city that will possibly allow me to go there. I'm going to Fort Wayne, Indiana, Chicago, Hoboken, New Jersey. I'm going to Salt Lake City. I'm going to Washington, D.C. and Charlotte, North Carolina, in February. Those tickets will be announced soon. And of course I'm doing my monthly show at Mary Lou in New York City on December 16th. The best comics in the city will be coming out and I'll be working out some new material. It is a grand old time. You can get all the tickets at Mark Yagnon Live and I'll see you guys there. Let's get back to the show.
- [39:58]
Sponsor/Ad Voice
This message may be shocking to many millennials. If you are one, you might want to sit down right now. Loads of people are searching the following on Low rise Jeans, halter top, velour tracksuit, hookah shell necklace, disc belt. You likely place these in the dark of your closet in 2004, never to be seen again. But if you can find it in yourself to dust them off, there are a lot of people who will give you money for them. Sell on Depop where taste recognizes taste Toast the holidays in a new way and raise a glass of Rumchata, a delicious creamy blend of horchata with rum. Enjoy it over ice or in your coffee. Rumchata. Your holiday cocktails just got sweeter. Tap or click the banner for more. Drink responsibly. Caribbean rum with real dairy cream Natural and artificial flavors. Alcohol 13.75% by volume 27.5 proof. Copyright 2025 Agave Loco Brands, Pojoae, Wisconsin. All rights reserved.
- [40:54]
Mark Gagnon
Nerved.
- [40:57]
But Jesus Story Doesn't End There We've looked at Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism, but what about the less mainstream traditions? What about the Gnostics? So Gnosticism, okay, let me just say this is not really like a organized religion, okay. This is really a tapestry. It's like a complex sort of weaving of a bunch of different beliefs that emerged in the early centuries of Christianity that basically took a bunch of philosophical and religious traditions and kind of put them into one. And at its core, Gnosticism is all about secret knowledge or Gnosis in Greek. And we're not talking about like your like like knowledge, like trivia. Like this is like the deep mystical knowledge that Gnostics believe they could unlock by basically finding spiritual liberation. And through this they're attempting to understand the secrets of the universe and by some definitions become a God themselves. But we'll get to that later. Okay? When it comes to Jesus, Gnostics had some pretty wild ideas that would make a lot of mainstream Christians double take. And there's all sorts of different theories in here, so I'm not going to spend too much time because there's so much. But a lot of Gnostics saw Jesus as divine sure, but not in the way that you might think. So for a lot of Gnostics, Jesus wasn't the Son of God who came to save humanity. No, no. They viewed him as a celestial messenger, a divine sort of missionary sent to Earth with a specific mission to basically drop knowledge on humankind. They see Jesus almost as like a hacker, basically, coming to Earth to give us cheat codes to help escape the material world and gain spiritual enlightenment. So a lot of Gnostics, they basically say, you know, they believe that this world, the physical realm, was a prison created by a lesser, imperfect God known as the Demiurge. And they thought that our true selves are like divine sparks trapped in physical bodies, trying to break free from the physical world and return to the spiritual realm. So for a lot of Gnostics, they see the story of Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden, almost as an inverse. So, in short, a lot of, you know, Abrahamic philosophy, whether it's Judaism, Islam, Christianity, they see God created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Everything was perfect. And then they were tricked by a serpent, by an evil satanic serpent that many Christians will interpret as Lucifer. They basically tricked Eve into eating this forbidden fruit to gain knowledge, and that is ultimately what cast them out of the Garden of Eden and brought sin amongst humankind. Now, for Gnostics, this tradition deviates drastically because they actually see it as flipped. They believe that the God that created Adam and Eve and put them into the Garden of Eden was actually a lesser God, almost an evil being known as the Demiurge, and that the serpent was trying to liberate Adam and Eve and basically give them the gift of knowledge and free them from the shackles of this material world. You can see how that is a complete flip. So how does Jesus fit into that? According to Gnostic belief, Jesus didn't come to die for our sins or establish a church. The real purpose of Jesus was to give secret knowledge, this precious gnosis that they talk about, and basically help, you know, awaken the souls that recognize the true divine nature and find their way back to the spiritual realm. So Jesus was basically coming down to earth to, you know, go against the Demiurge, to help humankind break free and unleash their spiritual spark. Now, here's where things take a turn. Some Gnostic texts will take the idea even further, and they portray Jesus as a purely spiritual being who never actually took a physical form. And in these interpretations, Jesus is like a hologram or a vision. So, for example, the Gospel of Thomas, a famous Gnostic text, presents Jesus as a man who is full of secret sayings that when they're understood they can lead to enlightenment. And this view of Jesus as a spiritual teacher of secret wisdom rather than a physical savior was not popular with early Christian church leaders. And they saw Gnosticism as heresy and very dangerous and threatened the foundation of Christian doctrine. So Arrhenius, a well known 2nd century bishop, harshly criticized Gnostic belief, basically saying that, you know, everything that the Gnostics believe goes against the apostles teachings and denied Jesus's physical incarnation and resurrection, which we know is fundamental to Christian theology. But the Gnostics didn't necessarily go away. They just developed complex mythologies and cosmology to explain their beliefs. And in some Gnostic beliefs, Jesus has seen as one of many divine beings or eons that basically came from the one true God. And these eons formed the pleroma, part of a divine realm of pure spirit. So again, this is a lot, but this is what the Gnostics were teaching in that time. And in that view Jesus was a high ranking sort of messenger who descended into the material world to help the trapped divine sparks, that's all of us, remember their true nature and find their way back to the spiritual realm. And this is kind of like Buddhism in a way that the Bodhisattva was basically someone who has broken free from, you know, the cycles of life, this samsara, but chooses to stay back and help others also reach enlightenment. And the concept of the divine spark is really central to Gnostic thought. They believe that each human being contains a fragment of the divine and that there's a little piece of true God trapped inside of all of us and that our flesh and our matter kind of holds us back. And this spark is our true self and our ticket to liberation. And so the goal of Gnostic practice was basically to awaken this divine spark through knowledge and mystical experiences, ultimately allowing us to break free from this prison and enter into the divine source. Now this idea of divine spark within humans is sort of radical if you think about it. It suggests that we're not just creations of God, but that God is actually within us. And not in like the Christian sense, like you know, like invite Jesus into your heart, but just by being human, that we have God within all of us and we need to awaken our inner God. It's like each of us is carrying around a little piece of the cosmos in our soul. And this concept has a lot of interesting parallels with Eastern traditions and a lot of New age philosophies that really emphasize the specific sort of innate divine nature of human beings. Now, you might be wondering how Gnostics reconcile this view with Jesus and the divine spark within, you know, the New Testament. Well, they have some creative interpretations. So, for example, some Gnostic texts suggest that the crucifixion was an illusion and that it happened to a substitute while the real spiritual Jesus was unharmed. Now, this concept probably sounds familiar because we sort of just spoke about it. It sounds similar to the Islamic view of the crucifixion, that perhaps it wasn't Jesus that died, but it was actually a someone else, someone that took his place. Except in Islam, they actually accept that Jesus was a real person, an actual messenger of God, whereas Gnostics believe that he was a vision or a hologram and that someone else was crucified. Now, the resurrection in the Gnostic view was more about spiritual awakening rather than a physical resurrection. So the Gnostic approach to scripture is very different to mainstream Christianity. They often interpret biblical stories allegorically. They see them as coded message about deeper spiritual truths. This emphasis on hidden meanings and secret knowledge gave Gnosticism a distinctly esoteric feeling. Gnostic groups often had initiation rituals and levels of teaching, with the deepest mysteries reserved for the most advanced initiates. And it was really like a secret society with a real spiritual component, complete with its own coded language and symbols. And, you know, there's many of these groups that have existed in history. The early groups, the Cainites, the Ophites and the Valentinians. And it wasn't all about mystical philosophy. Gnosticism also had practical implications for, you know, how people should live their lives. Some Gnostic groups would practice, like, extreme asceticism, which is a belief that denying the physical body could actually free the spirit and get out that, you know, spark within all of us. Others had the exact opposite approach, and they just went fully into hedonism, which is basically the belief that the material world is an illusion, so why not just enjoy every element of it? And this diversity of Gnostic thought is pretty crazy right there. There are dozens, maybe even hundreds of different Gnostic sects, each with its own unique twist on these basic ideas. And some will incorporate Greek philosophy or Jewish mysticism or Zoroastrianism or Egyptian mystery religions. It was basically just a big spiritual melting pot where they were just grabbing a bunch of different ideas. Now, despite being branded as heretics and persecuted by the mainstream church, Gnostic ideas have stuck around remarkably throughout history and, you know, even been brought up in different esoteric traditions. Even today, as a matter of Fact, Gnostic ideas appear in a lot of new age philosophies that really emphasize this hidden spiritual knowledge. So esoteric movements like theosophy and certain forms of mysticism really promote this escape of the material world and awakening to a higher reality, much like the Gnostics taught, you know, 2,000 years ago. You can even see this in quantum physics with this idea of multiple realities, the illusion of physical existence, simulation theory, consciousness shaping our reality, not, you know, reality shaping our consciousness. Things like that start to really parallel in, you know, our understanding of Gnostic belief. Matter of fact, a lot of people say that pop culture reflects these themes. So the Matrix is kind of seen as, you know, almost like a Gnostic allegory, which basically portrays like, this, you know, fake world that is an illusion controlled by these unseen forces and that, you know, you must basically awaken your inner spark to escape it. Even the Truman show is kind of like a version of this. You have this, you know, artificial constructed world where Jim Carrey is living inside of it and ultimately has to escape. So the Gnostic view of Jesus is effectively just that of a bringer of secret knowledge and that ultimately he was here to awaken the God within all of us. It challenges us to look, you know, beyond the surface and find deeper truths. And of course, this is a massive deviation from mainstream Christianity at any rate. That is the more or less the philosophy of Jesus within Gnosticism. So we've talked a little bit about pop culture and film. What does Tom Cruise have to say about this? That's right. We're going into Scientology. Okay. Which we probably should do just a whole episode on Scientology in general, because it's kind of a fascinating sort of religious belief. And if you don't know, it is the sort of religious philosophy of L. Ron Hubbard, a famous science fiction writer that created this sort of philosophy in the 1950s. And it is a faith that sort of blends Eastern philosophy with Western psychology and a bunch of fascinating cosmology. And we'll get into all that at a different time. But where does Jesus fit into this? Okay, well, first off, Scientology doesn't actually ignore Jesus. They acknowledge him as a historical and spiritual figure, but they don't put him on the pedestal that Christianity does. Scientology sees Jesus as a wise teacher who had some good ideas and lived a good life, but they don't really acknowledge him as the savior of humanity. In fact, Scientology doesn't really focus on Jesus or his teachings at all. Their approach to spirituality is more about personal development and self discovery rather than Worshiping, you know, a deity or following ancient scriptures. Matter of fact, Scientology's founder, L. Ron Hubbard, actually wrote that Scientology shares the same goals set for man by Christ, which are wisdom, good health, and immortality. But don't mistake this for an endorsement of Christian theology or Christ himself. Hubbard was more interested in the practical aspects of Jesus's teaching rather than the divine nature or his role as a messiah. Scientology believes Jesus is one of many wise teachers throughout history, like Buddha or Muhammad or other spiritual leaders. Basically, like, Scientology is just like, hey, you can learn from all the teachers. Why limit yourself to just one? And the goal isn't to be saved from sin, but to become fully aware of your true nature as a spiritual being. And in their view, Jesus wasn't dying for our sins, but showing us how to live and to reach our potential as human beings. So Scientology, really, to get into it, has its own cosmology and its own belief system that doesn't really mesh with traditional Christian ideas. They don't believe in heaven or hell in the traditional Christian sense. Instead, they talk about Satans and past lives. And in this context, Jesus is seen as an advanced spiritual being who had a high level of awareness. So Scientologists might call him, you know, a shade above clear. And in Scientology, the idea of clear refers to a state in which an individual has been freed from the influence of this reactive mind, effectively achieving mental clarity and freedom from irrational thoughts or behaviors or emotion, kind of being enlightened in a way. But here's where things will actually connect a little bit. You know, Scientology doesn't focus on Jesus, but some of their ideas about spiritual development have parallels with a lot of Jesus's teachings. So, for example, they both emphasize the importance of personal transformation and becoming a better version of yourself. And it's just, you know, Scientology's approach has its own methodology and, you know, things like auditing and studying L. Ron Hubbard's writings rather than, you know, the Bible or prayer, even seeing Jesus as the Messiah. So Scientology's view of Jesus also reflects their own approach to religion and interfaith relationships in general. They claim to be compatible with other faiths. Scientologists can maintain their previous religious affiliations, but sort of Scientology's teachings often override or reshape those beliefs. And as a result, their attitudes toward Jesus and other religious figures is a part of Scientology's broader claims to be, like, pan denominational, basically like a religion that can coexist and even enhance all the other religions. So what they're basically saying is, like, hey, we're not here to replace your religion. We are just going to kind of insert your religion into our framework so that it can be enhanced again. That is Scientology's view. That's not my view. It's also worth noting that Scientology's view of Jesus and religion in general has been a major source of controversy. You know, traditional Christians often find their perspective on Jesus to be dismissive or heretical. After all, reducing Jesus from the son of God to just another wise teacher is a pretty big leap for traditional Christians. But Scientology is not really concerned with aligning itself with Christian theology. They're more focused on, you know, their own path to personal development and spiritual enlightenment and ultimately going clear. And this process involves ridding oneself of negative influence and past lives and ultimately becoming the operating thetan, a, you know, state of spiritual awareness and ability that goes beyond human experience. So in this context, Jesus can be seen as someone who has achieved this level of spiritual awareness, but he's not the end goal. Scientologists are ultimately aiming for something beyond what they believe Jesus achieved. They're basically saying, like, hey, Jesus was cool. His teachings were great, but we're trying to go even further, that we can actually go farther than Jesus ever went in his life. And, of course, to Christians and many other people that see Jesus as divine in some capacity, this is extremely heretical. But this focus on personal development and sort of spiritual growth rather than devotion is, you know, for some people, a major appeal of Scientology. You know, it offers this path, but it doesn't require, you know, the supernatural or submission to God or all of these things for you to overcome life's obstacles. And, of course, there are tons of other, you know, things within Scientology and the worldview that Scientology preaches that sort of don't jive with mainstream Christianity or many other religions for that matter. But that is a brief sort of overview for how Christianity kind of maps into Scientology. So I think that's pretty good. We. We ran through a bunch of those. You know, I think now you should have a pretty good understanding of how most people on this big blue planet think about Jesus Christ. Just to recap, Christians will see Jesus as the son of God, savior of humanity, for Muslims, a powerful prophet, but not God. Judaism. He's a historical figure and a. For some, a wise rabbi. And Buddhists will see him as an enlightened teacher. You know, Hindus will see Jesus as potentially a guru and someone who taught wonderful teachings that even inspired Mahatma Gandhi. Gnostics believe that Jesus was the bringer of secret knowledge that could free People from the material world. And for Scientology, he is acknowledged and can sometimes map within the worldview of Scientology, but is not the main focus. Now, what's wild and I think undeniable about Jesus Christ is that this person, whoever you think that he may be God or a rabbi or a prophet or, you know, a wise teacher, is one of the most notorious and influential teachers of all of human history. I mean, 2,000 years later, people are still debating who this person was and how he maps onto their worldviews, and most historical figures, you know, will fade into obscurity. But Jesus is still shaping religious thoughts and inspiring movements and, you know, getting referenced in places that you wouldn't expect, in worldviews and theologies that maybe you've never even heard of. And this isn't just a collection of, like, random facts. It says a lot about how different cultures think about these big questions. You know, if you're Christian, if you know that Muslims also respect Jesus, you might realize that, hey, there's some common ground. And if you're not religious, it's really fascinating to see how one person has influenced so many different belief systems. I think most importantly, just understanding different perspectives and understanding different religions and how people interface with Jesus Christ just kind of makes you a more well rounded person. You know, nobody likes the dude who just like shuts down a conversation, just like, nope, you disagree with me. I'm not listening to anything you say. And by learning these different interpretations, you can really have like, real discussion and find the common ground and know how to talk to people. Whether you're a Hindu talking to a Christian or, you know, a Jewish person talking to a Muslim, you can understand that there is a lot of similarity to what many people believe. Even if there are major convergence on, you know, massive theological issues. And at the end of the day, learning about different takes of Jesus isn't about proving who's right or wrong. Of course, I'm sure you have your own belief and as do I, but it's about realizing that across all these different perspectives, people have spent thousands of years wrestling with the same big ideas. That is, you know, who is God, what does it mean to, you know, be spiritual and have a relationship with God? And ultimately, where are we going? Where did we come from? And what does it actually mean to live a purpose filled life? So the next time someone brings up religion and conversation, you don't have to shut it down. You can listen, you can ask questions, see where it takes you, and who knows? I hope that this video and this episode on the teachings of Jesus will at least inform some of that conversation. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what every religion believes about Jesus Christ. Well, it's. Again, it's always interesting to me. I remember the first time I was reading about the role of Jesus in Islam. I was just, like, so surprised. And even being around my Muslim friends and them saying, like, oh, yeah, peace be upon the prophet Esau. I was like, whoa, that's crazy. And once again, I just think that the greatest way to connect with people is to understand what they believe and why they believe it and how that affects their culture, even if they're not religious. Just growing up in a culture, almost undoubtedly you will have been imbued with these religious ideas that shape the way that your brain works. So for me, in my attempt to understand humanity and just be a better human being, I like to know what everyone out here is believing. And specifically on this point, I think it offers a lot of insight. I don't know, Christos, you're named after the guy himself. Did you learn anything? It's kind of crazy how everyone acknowledges that he existed. So it's a matter of who's right. And almost everyone likes what he was teaching. Like, I think that's also really cool. Like, basically everyone's like, no, the teaching is solid. Which I think should just be a. I don't know, for me, growing up Christian, like, I'm. I still uphold that. Like, the Gospels are, like, the most significant writings of, you know, human history. I'm, like, so profoundly moved by the Gospels every time I read them. And I think all people, regardless if you're religious, not religious, if you're Christian, whatever. I think just acknowledging Jesus Christ and his teachings is a valuable methodology. Even if you're like, you know what? I don't do religion. I think everyone can read Jesus teachings and be like, hey, care for the poor, care for the hungry, care for the sick, give of yourselves and put other people's needs above your own. Everyone around the world, no matter who you are, I think can get on board with it.
- [61:15]
So what are you going to do today? Well said. Are you going to go out and serve the. Serve the needy? I do that every day. That's what I know. That's. I do. By that, do you mean just, like, feeding yourself? Absolutely. Okay. Christ. Exactly right. That is. That is the beauty. If you. If you just stay poor and stay needy, if you take care of yourselves, then you're doing what God asked. Let's not get political. All right? All right, guys. That is, whatever Religion believes about Jesus Christ. Thank you so much for tuning into another episode of Religion Camp. I appreciate we do these every single Sunday. If there is a topic that you would like to see discussed, please drop it in the comments. I read all of them so be nice about it. And the top comment on this video and all the future videos going forward will get some free merch. We'll be hooking you guys up with some Religion Camp merch. We'll figure out a way to get it to you. And as always, if there's anything I missed, anything I got wrong with your faith, tradition, or others that you may know about, please drop a comment and don't hesitate to to correct me. I am always in the interest of learning and I just have a desire to pursue truth. Thank you so much for tuning into another episode and I will see y' all in the future. Peace be with you.
- [62:19]
And Doug. Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us. Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Very underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company Affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts. The holidays mean more travel, more shopping, more time online and more personal info in more places that could expose you more to identity theft. But LifeLock monitors millions of data points per second. If your identity is stolen, our US based restoration specialists will find fix it guaranteed or your money back. Don't face drained accounts, fraudulent loans or financial losses alone. Get more holiday fun and less holiday worry with LifeLock. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit LifeLock.com podcast terms apply.