World Press and Global Journalist

These two excellent publications complement each other. The December (01) issue of World Press features "Battle without Borders. The war against terror". Articles from many countries give the reactions in various countries to the 9/11 tragedy. Since no one can know all the languages involved, these translations are invaluable.

Global Journalist (third quarter, 01) has many interesting articles on the activities of journalists around the world, and, although it is concerned primarily with the dangers to which they are exposed, it does not hesitate to criticize them. "Trouble in Spiritual Paradise. Pilgrims accuse journalists of trivializing world's largest festival" concerns the Kumbli Mela festival which is held at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Sarawati rivers. In 2001 A massive tent city housed some 50 million (??!) pilgrims.

Some details especially interested me. There is a story about Christ which does not circulate in Western Europe and the US. It concerns the missing years between Christ's youth and his final years. Christ went to India and became a Buddhist monk. He returned to preach the Buddhist gospel. When he was crucified, he did not die. He fled to India, where he lived as a Buddhist hermit. At the Kumbli Mela festival a woman walks on water. Anoither buries herself in a deep pit for three days in an act of yogic discipline while a guru prays on the sealed roof. Sound familiar?

I personally take the miracles in the Bible as symbols, none the less powerful for that reason. Christianity is a syncretic fusion of Judaism and Buddhism. Needless to say, I believe in religious freedom.

Ronald Hilton - 12/18/01