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& REVIEWS WHEN JESUS LIVED IN INDIA Afghanistan Between Three Worlds. by Alan Jacobs The authors start by examining the Watkins Publishing, London, 2009 early history of this country, a cradle ISBN 978-I-906787-I7-2 (2I6pp tpb) of civilisation that has had more than Available: watkinspublishing.co.uk its share of invasions from foreign he idea that Jesus Christ spent 18 forces, including British imperialists “missing years” from the age of 12 who ramped up opium production to in India and Tibet is supported by boost its own coffers. Afghanistan Hindu and Buddhist sacred texts, has always been a strategic territory says author and mystic Alan Jacobs. to these outside forces playing "The There is also evidence that Jesus Great Game". They have a lengthy survived the crucifixion and spent his Chapter on Cold War foreign policy final days in Kashmir, eventually which heralded the US role in the being buried in a tomb in Srinigar, ongoing battle for Afghanistan. but such a notion is firmly rejected by orthodox Christianity because it denies the resurrection doctrine. ' 5 Informing Jacobs are a number of AFGHANISTANS works including: Russian explorer UNTOLD STORY Nikolai Notovitch's The Unknown Life of esus Christ, sparked by his 1887 visit o a Buddhist monastery in Ladakh where an ancient manuscript about he prophet Issa's (Jesus’) visit to Tibet was translated for him; The Aquarian Gospel, channelled to Dr Levi Dowling and first published in 1908; and German religious scholar Dr Holger Kersten's Jesus Lived in India In the next section, covering the (see review, 2/24). Jacobs also 1970s (when women had equal considers alternative theories that rights) to 2001, the authors analyse esus spent his missing years in the the role of America’s right-wing neo- company of spiritual groups like the con "Team-B" with its aggressive anti- Essenes, Therapeutae and Gnostics. Soviet stance, CIA manipulation, the Jacobs leaves readers to decide on Soviet invasion and defeat, a new he truth of these claims. Regardless decade of dangers and the rise of the of one's stance, there is much Pakistani-formed, Saudi-funded wisdom to be found in these pages. Taliban. In the final section, 2001 to 2008, they begin with the Taliban's INVISIBLE HISTORY: looting of the Kabul Museum and Afghanistan's Untold Story destruc ion of the sixth-century by Paul Fitzgerald & Elizabeth Gould Bemiyen Buddhas. All the American City Lights Books, San Francisco, 2009 phase in their geopolitical ere a lable, wewacttutightecem tpb) pretext to invade, and that came ; : . soon after the 9/11 attacks when they jo understand Afghanistan stragic sent their forces to depose the circumstances, this well- . Taliban and root out bin Laden. documented book by journalists Paul The authors urge US leaders to Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould is learn from the Soviet experience and bor enantine ed lecturing has adjust their policies to help the Afgh | in thei Afghanistan's plight since 1981 when ghan people regain their _ . independence, especially from they visited the country for the first foreign-supported extremism, before time during the Soviet occupation to , ) it is too late. Engaging reportage. produce their documentary, Saging reporras WHEN JESUS LIVED IN INDIA by Alan Jacobs Watkins Publishing, London, 2009 ISBN 978-I-906787-17-2 (216pp tpb) Available: watkinspublishing.co.uk he idea that Jesus Christ spent 18 "missing years" from the age of 12 in India and Tibet is supported by Hindu and Buddhist sacred texts, says author and mystic Alan Jacobs. There is also evidence that Jesus survived the crucifixion and spent his final days in Kashmir, eventually being buried in a tomb in Srinigar, but such a notion is firmly rejected by orthodox Christianity because it denies the resurrection doctrine. Informing Jacobs are a number of works including: Russian explorer Nikolai Notovitch's The Unknown Life of esus Christ, sparked by his 1887 visit © a Buddhist monastery in Ladakh where an ancient manuscript about he prophet Issa's (Jesus’) visit to ibet was translated for him; The Aquarian Gospel, channelled to Dr Levi Dowling and first published in 1908; and German religious scholar Dr Holger Kersten's Jesus Lived in India (see review, 2/24). Jacobs also considers alternative theories that esus spent his missing years in the company of spiritual groups like the Essenes, Therapeutae and Gnostics. Jacobs leaves readers to decide on he truth of these claims. Regardless of one's stance, there is much wisdom to be found in these pages. INVISIBLE HISTORY: Afghanistan's Untold Story by Paul Fitzgerald & Elizabeth Gould City Lights Books, San Francisco, 2009 ISBN 978-0-87286-494-8 (389pp tpb) Available: www.citylights.com © understand Afghanistan's tragic circumstances, this well- documented book by journalists Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould is essential reading. The team has been reporting and lecturing on Afghanistan's plight since 1981 when they visited the country for the first time during the Soviet occupation to produce their documentary, NEXUS ¢ 73 OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2009 www.nexusmagazine.com