Did Jesus visit England?

Most English people are aware of the hymn Jerusalem... and some are also aware that it stems from the "Myth" that Jesus visited England...

Well it now seems that it may not be a myth...

Scottish Academic Gordon Strachan (no relation to the footballer hehe) has made the claim in a new film entitled... "And Did Those Feet"

It seems that he is suggesting that Jesus visited England with his uncle, Joseph of Arimathaea. It is even claimed that Jesus built a chapel in Glastonbury.

www.thisiscornwall.co.uk...

I must say this is something that excites me... there is a huge gap in what we know of the life of Jesus and this may just help to fill in some of those blanks...

The film is only 45 minutes but I can’t wait to get hold of a copy.

For those of you who don’t know the song...


And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green
And was the holy lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen

And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark Satanic mills

Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spears o'clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire

I will not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
'Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land
'Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land



peace

[edit on 26-11-2009 by Muckster]

I heard about this before and i wonder what "evidence" the documentary provides. If you believe Joseph Smith and others this Jesus guy got around!
I am curious to see this just to see the arguments made for proof that this occurred. Hope I can find it online or netflix.

It is true....the gap in His lifetime.

What is it like almost 20 years we don't know about?
Who knows what happened? Maybe he worked as a carpenter the whole time and built churches, temples, etc.

Nice theory.

no he didnt visit England. This comes from a scottish poem 200 yrs ago. For some reason one scholar has it in his head that it must be true...Theres no evidence other than a folk song someone dreamt up that Jesus visited Britain

[edit on 26-11-2009 by loner007]

Doesn't 'zombie Jesus' visit Great Britain every day?


First, one has to prove the existence of Jesus and this is by no means a done deal.


I do like William Blake's illustrations, however.

reply to post by Muckster


Retitle you maintitle please, it was if Jesus has Visited Scotland not England, thank you very much.......................

reply to post by Laurauk


Er... no its not... the man who is making the claim is Scottish... but he is saying that Jesus visited the South West of England. Cornwall and Glastonbury.

Have a read of the link i provided in the OP... Thanks

reply to post by Muckster


Actuall er yes, it was potayed onthe BBC WEBsISTE:

JESUS VISIT SCOTLAND! and not England, sorry to burst your bubble!

reply to post by Muckster




You are right.
I've read a few things and it's definitely the south-west and Glastonbury.

They're even saying he may have built the original chapel at St' Josephs in Glastonbury

And that he came because Britain was the "Centre of learning"


I don't buy it... because i don't buy the whole jesus thing.. But it's interesting all the same.

[edit on 26/11/09 by blupblup]

He supposedly traveled with Joseph of Arimathea to the British Isles during those years that are not recorded in biblical texts. The Stone of Scones is supposed to be linked to this visit by Jesus. How true it is is any ones guess, but what I have read, there's more truth than fiction in the account!

Zindo

i]reply to post by Laurauk


LOL - you haven’t burst any bubble... I am not that insecure about my nationality to worry about it, and to be honest, I would be just as excited if it was Scotland... but... From the BBC website...

Jesus 'may have visited England', says Scottish academic

Dr Strachan believes it is "plausible" Jesus came to England for his studies, as it was the forefront of learning 2,000 years ago.

"It is generally suggested that he came to the west of England with his uncle, Joseph of Arimathea, who was here for tin," said the academic.

For all I know he may have visited Scotland... but I can’t find anything that says he did... if you can please provide link... thx




[edit on 26-11-2009 by Muckster]

I believe Jesus did visit Britannia as a child with his Uncle Joseph of Arimathea. His uncle would have had to be wealthy to have had his own tomb, as recorded, and that he took Jesus' body and placed it in the same tomb. Joseph was a trader in ores and metals and frequented Britannia, thus his wealth.
After Jesus' Earthly father, Joseph, passed; Jesus traveled to a degree with his uncle almost as an apprentice and father figure. Trading in ores and metals, Wales and SW England would be a natural destination for such commerce and a destination of Joseph's.
I believe he was also the brother of Mary, Jesus' mother...thus Jesus' uncle. Their family, although Hebrew, had escaped years earlier to Britannia to avoid the Babylonian invasion about 500 BC. Their family grew wealthy there, and Mary was a contemporary of Pontius Pilot there, who served in Britannia prior to advancing in rank and shipping out to Palestine... as well as Mary returning there also.
This also is why Pilot hesitated to execute Jesus... he didn't know him well, but he knew of him and his family.
Tradition has it that a young Jesus took his staff of rosewood and drove it into the ground at Glastonbury and it took root and grew. To mark the sight, a chapel was built with the story carved in pictographs around the doorway.
After Jesus matured into a young man, He is supposed to have travelled to India and his travels there are well known and accepted in India. It also provides inpart the source of His doctrine and beliefs, which closely resemble some Hindu and Buddist philosophies.
This and much more can be found in various writings, the best is by Glenn Kimbell. No matter, I still believe He is the Son of God. Peace be unto you.

reply to post by Laurauk


Laurauk, I know your a proud Scot, but in this case your nationlaism is unwarranted. The BBC title clearly states "Jesus visitied ENGLAND", the Scottish guy who made the film claims this as well.

Unless up in Scotland the BBC edit their news to make you guys feel important, but I doubt it.

I have read many books over the years about jesus...i consider myself a gnostic,not a christain...about a year ago i read a book that floored me.i recommend it to anyone who is curious about the historical Jesus...this book is intitled KING JESUS by Ralph Ellis...it is about HISTORY,not religion...according to Ellis Jesus was born about 15 AD and was the ruler of 2 cities on the eastern edge of Syria. King Jesus led the unsuccesful revolt against the Roman bad guys in 75 AD.,was captured,and exiled to western England..north of cornwall.Ellis backs up this idea with plenty of HISTORICAL EVIDENCE.I AM 100% CONVINCED THAT THIS BOOK IS THE REAL DEAL..there is a saying that goes something like "near the end of this "AGE" all secrets will be revealed...if you've noticed alot of secrets are coming to light these days...

the world goes on within you and without you...George Harrison

reply to post by grail



OK I was hooked for a minute...but after looking at this guy's website I am 100% convinced this is total crap and just another wannabe Da Vinci Code money spinner


freespace.virgin.net...

[edit on 26-11-2009 by one2many]

I read this book a few weeks ago and although I can't say I completely buy the theory, it certainly was fascinating. Pretty speculative and "out there," though.

To summarize briefly:

According to the theory, Jesus was part of an esoteric lineage that venerated the the severed head, going back to the Egyptian pharoh Amenhotep IV. The "cult of the head" survived in many forms, with the author providing "evidence" from Grail myths, Cathar-related material, early Jewish and Christian writings, Egyptian stuff, and so on. The theory has the Templars digging up the actual Head of Christ, freaking out the Vatican. Veneration of this physical head is said to be behind the alleged Templar "Baphomet" mythos. Through a series of wacky mishaps and kooky hijinks, the Head of Christ then allegedly made its way to Scotland, where it currently reposes buried in a strategic location of Rossyln Chapel.

Like I said, the theory is pretty "far out" and I can't say I buy it on a factual level, but it made for some very interesting reading.

[edit on 11/26/09 by silent thunder]

Originally posted by AlreadyGone
Tradition has it that a young Jesus took his staff of rosewood and drove it into the ground at Glastonbury and it took root and grew. To mark the sight, a chapel was built with the story carved in pictographs around the doorway.

I my be wrong, but I'm not sure that's quite correct. I always understood that it was a Hawthorn Staff, thrust into the ground by Joseph of Arimathea.

"Great age is claimed for the Glastonbury thorn. When Joseph of Arimathea landed from his vessel, he and his company threw themselves down on a tall hill to rest. Joseph thrust his staff of dry hawthorn wood into the ground beside him. Miraculously it straight-way took root, an omen of the fruitfulness of his mission. The tree, always blooming on Christmas night, waxed great as the centuries passed, and its vitality was such that, when its twin stems were uprooted during the Civil War, even castaway fragments flourished where they fell."

From: www.britannia.com...

Can anyone else shed further light on this?



[edit on 27/11/09 by chukka]

excuse me silent thunder,is your synopsis above susposed to be of KING JESUS /RALPH ELLIS??????????????????? because you are mistaking KING JESUS for some other book...or maybe you read 2 different books and thought they were one book...CAN YOU GO LOOK AT THE BOOK YOU SAY YOU READ AND CHECK IF IT WAS WRITTEN BY RALPH ELLIS///?????


Dear ONE2MANY,judging a book by it's website is the same thing as judging a book by it's COVER.....but I have to admit it's a good way to avoid looking at GROUNDBREAKING HISTORICAL RESEARCH BY A GENIOUS......best of luck on your journey over the surface of life and make sure you never dive deep because that's where the GOLD IS...
please excuse miss-spells,
grail

according to other traditions, Jesus may have traveled to the Isles
but not as a final destination.

Jesus continued to journey to the West, later known as America,
and he became the source of many Native Nations legends.
All this after his 'crucificition' in the Judea portion of Palestine

Now I always look at this issue from another perspective, rather than proof that Jesus did visit Britain, I look at the interesting responses from Rome/the Pope when this issue arrises, as it has many times over the last 1,000 years.

Take Queen Elizabeth 1st, she took the stance that the Church of Britain (in England) had primacy over the Church of Rome, she used Gildas evidence that Joseph of Arimathea was the first preacher of the word of God within her realm (making the Pope a usurper without authority)

Her whole argument that the Church of Rome and Pope had no authority over the Church of Britain (in England) was based on Joseph of Arimathea.

So what I find interesting is the later Papal Bull "Regnans In Excelsis" that excommunicated Elizabeth did not deal with that fundemental issue, but rather the offences of "removing the royal Council, composed of the nobility of England, and filled it with obscure men, being heretics"

Considering the whole of Chrisendom was against England at the time, and the following years.. You'd think the Pope, with the papal libary and the whole of Chrisendom at his disposal would have dealt with this issue once and for all, yet this issue remains.

While it remains it gives the British (English) Church primacy over papal edicts. So why has the Roman Catholic church not dealt with this issue?

Please Note:
If Joseph of Arimathea was the first preacher of the word of God here, it would have been within Britain, not England. According to Bede the first Saxon Kingdom was the South Saxon Kingdom founded under King Ælle from around the year 477.

Elizebeth's Speech on Religion