[Skywalk]

Interestingly, Jesuits coming into contact with Buddhism called it a "Satanic counterfeit" because it bore such a resemblance to Christianity, and Buddha to Jesus. Mahayana definitely has a strong resemblance.

Of course, Budda was around about 5 centuries prior to Jesus.

Interestingly, both Buddha's and Confucius' births have mythical Christ-like(or perhaps Christ has a Buddha-like) similarities.

It is theorized(of course, not by believing Christians) that some of the contact between East and West, a continuous development for centuries, led to a synthesis of the MidEastern religious traditions, mystery religions and Buddhism which we call Christianity.

[WackyKat]

It is theorized(of course, not by believing Christians) that some of the contact between East and West, a continuous development for centuries, led to a synthesis of the MidEastern religious traditions, mystery religions and Buddhism which we call Christianity.

I think it is a least possible that Jesus studied in Persia or India during the 17 of so years of his life curiously omitted from the Gospels

Some of his teachings do have a Buddhist ring to them

Of course, this suggestion outrages fundamentalists. But then, what doesn't outrage fundamentalists?