The other day I ran into my old acquaintance, Theo. Hes a born again Christian. We had gently sparred over theology a few times, long ago. That never stopped us from being friendly and talking about your kids. Today, Im not so sure what he thinks of me. Sitting in the hyper atmosphere of a campus-town coffee house, he asked me what I thought of Mel Gibsons controversial new movie, The Passion of Christ. I could feel myself being setup for a discussion of Jesus and his sacrifice for our sins. Our conversation began something like this:

Did you see the previews for The Passion of Christ? Theo asked. His eyes were wide and he spoke passionately.

Yes. It looks fascinating. Im definitely going to see it, I said.

I know youre a Buddhist -- what do your think of Jesus? Theo asked. I could tell that he had conversion on his mind. I could tell he was baiting me. How interesting, I thought. It had been along while since I was ambushed into a religious discussion on Buddhism and Christianity. Should I play or right in for the kill?

I think Jesus was a great man. Personally, I think he would be appalled by what people have done to his teachings. I can just hear Him saying No you idiots! I said.

He was the Son of God who shed His precious blood for our sins, Theo said.

I respect your opinion, but I dont share it. I believe in karma where you atone for your own sins. You see, Theo, the mythology of all religions including the Bible and the life of Jesus are explained in metaphors and should not be taken literally. Thats your big mistake, I said.

I believe in the literal word of the Bible. You mean you dont believe in the virgin birth or the resurrection? Theo asked.

No, theyre metaphors. There are parallels in my own religion with the birth of Buddha from his mothers side. Ancient mythology abounds with legends of virgin births. We dont accept them literally because theyre meant to convey the purity of the soul and the impurity of the flesh. Its basic duality 101. Its a symbol, I said. Theo looked offended.

What about the resurrection of Jesus? Theo shot back. He was now very intense.

Didnt happen - He didnt die on the cross, I said.

What do you mean it didnt happen? Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Its in the Bible. Its a historical fact, Theo said. His tone was indignant.

My opinion may shock you. You wont like it. I was raised to believe the very same things that you do. But I never did. I never shivered with ecstasy at the image of a man being tortured and nailed to a cross to die a slow death. I dont think you want to know my opinion on the legend of Jesus, I said. It was my last cautionary shot across the bow.

How can you not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or that He was the Son of God? Theo asked.

Many of us have had similar conversations when discussing religion with our Christian brothers and sisters. I used to want to duke it out I even liked it. My philosophy now is that if you want to believe in Jesus more power to you. I dont. I really used to enjoy dissecting Christian theology. Perhaps I never grew out of that rebellious stage that began when I was a child. The truth is that I was born a Buddhist spirit trapped in the web of a conservative Christian family and a long tradition. There was never a shortage of people telling me what to believe. For this reason, I educated myself and found great delight in taking Evangelists to task.

It would be too cumbersome to continue this whole article in an I said, he said format. I told Theo that I did not believe in the virgin birth. Its a legend.

I do not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. That is an invention of priests.

I do not believe that Jesus saves. I believe we save ourselves.

I do not even believe in the Christian concept of God or angels, the Devil, or Adam or Eve. They are myths-symbols describing human consciousness.

I do not believe in the great flood or the ark. These are myths, completely refuted by scientific evidence.

I do not believe that Jesus died on the cross and I do not believe that he rose into heaven. I figured out this transparent mystery all myself by reading the Bible as a kid.

Further, I do not believe in the prophecies in the Book of Revelations or the second coming of Christ or Armageddon. These texts were aimed at their small region and their immediate time not far reaching global predictions that have anything to do with world events now and into the future. The look on Theos face was a true Kodak moment. If believing in such things was good for Theo or anyone, I was happy for them. This has been a big transformation for me. Before, I wanted everyone to believe like I (we) do - in the Gohonzon, the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, and the concept that we all have Buddha nature and are capable of enlightenment. Round two began.

Theo honed in on the crucifixion. He asserted that because Jesus endured torture and death by crucifixion to pay for our original sins and then on the third day rose from the dead, proves that He is the Son of God. The resurrection of Christ is the basis of modern Christianity. The intense suffering of Jesus depicted in Mel Gibsons new movie will be a boon for many Christians because it focuses in on the agony of the savior and what He endured for mankind. However, it seems obvious to me that all the metaphors associated with His life have been taken literally and thus, away from the real truth of his life bodhisattva compassion. His suffering has become the rapture and bliss of millions this new movie will give that idea a shot of adrenaline. I cringe. To my way of reckoning the Ten Worlds would identify this life condition of His followers as Rapture/Heaven with the mutually possessed state of Hell. Jesus was a Bodhisattva in Hell.

I told Theo that there is some very interesting evidence not too well known by the general public that suggests a different story of the life of Jesus than the one commonly taught in Sunday school. Scholarship suggests that the magi were from India doing the same type of search that Tibetans still do now for locating reincarnated Lamas. The star of Bethlehem was the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. Jesus spent his childhood His missing years in India, studying Buddhism and the Vedas because of the magis intervention. His crucifixion did not result in death at all because some of His disciples saw Him alive afterward. Joseph of Arimathea rescued Jesus from the cross, revived him, and eventually got Him out of the country. Jesus even bore the wounds of His ordeal. Later, He traveled back to India and lived out his days as another sage in a land brimming with holy men. The Indian legend of Issa can still be found there. I apologized, but those were the conclusions that I had reached but more power to him.

Theo was about to explode. He demanded to know what proof I had of these wild assertions. I tried to calm him down. Neither you nor I have or anyone has any real proof. This is my opinion definitely not a Buddhist conspiracy or explanation. It is my belief. Call me an educated former Christian. Jesus works for a lot of people but Hes dead In my opinion, Hes not some disembodied super-being waiting in the clouds for the right moment to come back to earth and rule over the wretched rubes of Samsara. I know His spirit lives on in the hearts of his followers, and thats all well and good for them. People find great comfort in their connection to Jesus and God. To me, it violates the Buddhas injunction to follow the Law, not the person.

It was apparent that there would be no winner in our exchange there rarely is. He told me to re-read my Bible. His face was flushed. I shook his hand. I told him to read Joseph Campbell or at the very least a book titled Jesus Lived in India: His Unknown Life Before and After the Crucifixion, by Holger Kersten. We agreed to meet after the movie was released and talk again. I know hell be pumped filled with fervent religious zeal, ready to show me the light. Maybe I should bring along one of my well-studied Jewish friends to keep score. How engaged is that?