Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Jesus Discovered on Another Planet?


For those of you who like religious fiction (and there is plenty of it out there!) as well as science fiction (lots of that, too), this new book may well be worth your time. I thought it was a bit far fetched but you may be of a different mind. Enjoy...

News Release: Fairfax, Virginia (PRWEB) October 21, 2009 -- What happens when Jesus is discovered on another planet? That's the theme of W. R. Pursche's latest book: "The Eternal Messiah: Jesus of K'Turia." With co-author Michael Gabriele, Pursche explores this provocative topic in this speculative Christian fiction release.

Sometime in the future, in a time of great turmoil, a preacher named Jesus appears on another planet. What is his message? How do people in another place and time respond, and how do people who know of the Biblical Jesus react? Would they believe he is really Jesus Christ? Would they think he is an impostor? Would they try to change what they think might happen?

Robert Feather, author of "The Secret Initiation of Jesus at Qumran," said: "Reading 'The Eternal Messiah' has rekindled a long term interest in science fiction--a genre with no boundaries, which is brilliantly exploited by the authors as we are drawn into a complex world of intergalactic struggles and intrigue. The fascinating idea that Jesus Christ enters into the mix and has been returning to challenge evolution and to find out if the eternal truth has at last been understood, adds a profound philosophic dimension to the story. And what is the eternal truth? The only way to find out is to read this enthralling book."

Pursche and Gabriele envision a future where the "science vs. religion" argument still rages, with the same level of thinly veiled antagonism. One of they key characters, a scientist, has developed a controversial theory that a religious figure is needed as a catalyst for cultural transformation. She sees this Jesus as proof of her theory, and struggles to get others to believe her. Professor Richard E. Rubenstein, author of "Thus Saith the Lord, The Revolutionary Moral Vision of Isaiah and Jeremiah," writes: "In 'The Eternal Messiah: Jesus Of K'Turia,' W.R. Pursche and Michael Gabriele dramatize the provocative idea that the appearance of a Messiah is what transforms stagnant, tradition-bound societies into vibrant and humane civilizations. One does not have to be a believer to be intrigued and moved by this well-told story: an excellent work of theological sci-fi."

http://www.EternalMessiah.com


6 comments:

  1. I am the co-author of “The Eternal Messiah: Jesus of K’Turia” and would like to offer a few points to this posting. (Many thanks for it!) I believe you will find that the message of “Jesus of K’Turia” is consistent with many of the elements of “New Thought” as you list them.

    In the book, Jesus’ message of personal responsibility stands in stark contrast to the religious dogma of his society. In essence, the laws of the land are being followed out of a sense of duty -- they have become a rite, but the underlying meaning of what the laws were put in place for has been lost. Jesus teaches that people must help each other (he terms this giving a ‘sacrifice’) which is akin to the New Thought of the practice of compassion. Jesus makes it very clear that such sacrifices (such as helping each other) must be done out of love, and not because they are mandated or in expectation of any reward. “There is nothing wrong with Laws, but they cannot become more important than the Way. And the Way is one of Sacrifice, not because the Laws demand it, but because love demands it...Sacrifice is about helping others, as you are able, to the best of your abilities.”

    Another concept of the spiritual message is consistent with the idea of freely choosing one’s path. Jesus of K’Turia says: “I will walk ahead of you on the path...yet you must do more than blindly follow along....you must choose whether or not you will walk the path. And once upon it, how you will walk the path.”

    We have attempted to imbue the spiritual message in the book with themes that are consistent with, but not completely overlapping of, the Biblical Jesus. (In some cases, the message includes elements of gnostic teachings). Our hope is that the ideas in the book will get people thinking about the universal nature of religion, and perhaps the spiritual message itself will prove to be helpful in the ongoing assessment we all make about our own personal beliefs.
    -- W. R. Pursche

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  2. Thank you for your comment.

    Just one question: When Jesus of K'Turia says "I will walk...yet you must do more than follow...you must choose...how you will walk..." there still seems to be a bit of "If you don't choose to walk, some kind of negativity will be your fate." There is almost always that hint when a guru says "Follow me and I will show you Truth." Don't you think?

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  3. That is an excellent question. Conceptually, I agree with you, but I think that the ‘threat’ of negativity is far more pronounced when it is accompanied by some kind of punishment (e.g. hell) as a fundamental aspect of the religious teaching. In the spiritual message of Jesus of K’Turia, there is no such antithesis to the “Paradise” he is speaking of as a goal.

    Let me pose this question: In any spiritual path that has ‘enlightenment’ as a goal, is the state of being ‘not yet enlightened’ a negative fate? I don’t believe it has to be. I believe that the enlightened state is a ‘higher place’ and does not imply that the unenlightened being is in a negative place or being punished; such an ‘not yet enlightened’ being is just one that is somewhere still on the path. Perhaps in Buddhism you could argue that not achieving nirvana leaves one in a state of suffering, but I think that the Buddha would think of nirvana as the ‘highest happiness’ -- implying that one can be happy along the way.

    The ideal goal of heaven/happiness/nirvana/enlightenment/Paradise can be either internal or external; it up to each of us to decide whether reaching this state is something we achieve internally or whether it involves ‘going elsewhere.’

    A key underpinning of the message of Jesus of K’Turia (which I cannot do justice to here) is the importance of the sincerity of how one tries to achieve enlightenment. In other words, how one follows the path itself (for example, how one treats others) is as important as the goal, which, coming full circle, makes the goal achievable.

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  4. Well presented. Here's a thought: When a baby comes into this world, he/she is not yet "adulted." That isn't a negative state; rather, it is simply the only place the baby can be at the moment. In the next moment the baby will be in that moment, and so on. Point? Unenlightenment is a misnomer. The forest is here. If I am standing in its middle, and have not learned that I am in a forest, I will proceed on the assumption that a forest must be found, that is, if someone (guru/buddha/christ) suggests that there is a forest to be found. Disciples of the guru may, over time, forget that they stand in the forest and will present all kinds of ways to find it. But in reality, just like the baby moving from moment to moment, we move from observation to observation until, hopefully, we recognize that we have been in the forest the entire time. The journey is not to discover anew, but to remember afresh. Cliche-ish to say the least, but there is nowhere to go to "find" enlightenment except right where we are. That's why, when the Buddha was asked, "Who are you? Are you a saint? A god?" Buddha simple said, "I am awake." He saw the forest.

    Hope that's not too preachy!

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  5. Very well stated, and not at all preachy. Although purists of both followings may disagree, I see a commonality in the "I am awake" enlightenment of the Buddha and the "gnostic" concept of finding God "within."
    My belief is there is a lot of room here for various belief systems with the same underlying core concept -- one can find their spiritual guidance both with, and without, a formalized system.

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  6. Indeed. The path is not institutional (again, there will be those who think otherwise. Read Rome). One of the basic tenets (I use that term loosely) of New Thought is this: You are on a journey. If you find some or all of what you seek among New Thought fellows, you are most welcome. If you discover that New Thought does not offer what you seek, please move on to wherever it is you choose to go. We do not claim any kind of Ultimate Truth. We are a group of folks who sought outside of our chosen or imposed status quos. New Thought has been a welcoming and delightful change from the various dogmas and guilt-ridden doctrines of our various pasts. We are glad to be amongst others of like mind. So, wherever you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome here.

    Before I discovered New Thought, I was already on a journey of discovery, coming out radically from the more evangelical mindset of my youth. Today, after years of anger at the old way, I have learned to accept that others are not and never will be happy with my choice. And of course, that is their choice. I release them, wish them well, and let Love be the only Reality.

    Now, that's mushy!

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