God and Jesus Swap Stories about Themselves

Written by Raymond Fontaine - December 2003

    On Christmas Day, Santa brought me a booklet published by the U.S. News and World Report. The title reads: "Mysteries of Faith" and the cover displays Alvise Vivarini's painting of Jesus. After reading this latest assessment of the life and teaching of Jesus, I retired and eventually fell asleep. Soon my subconscious regaled me with a fantastic dream about Jesus speaking with God.

    "Around 15 billions years ago," God said, "I created the universe and then let each creature develop, by  exploiting its potential and the environment. About 2 million years ago, humans appeared on earth. Later some of them migrated into what became Israel."

   "There around 6 BC," Jesus said, "a Jewish couple, named Joseph and Mary, gave birth to me. I can't recall anything unusual in my life during three decades in Nazareth where I worked as a carpenter. But I do remember hearing a lot of stories about you, my Lord, in my home and in the synagogue."

   "Yes," said God, "some of your ancestors such as Moses told many remarkable tales about me. They recounted the myth that I flooded the entire earth. Centuries later, I reputedly destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire. The same storytellers later told the tale that I provided the Israelites with daily rations of manna on their way to the Promised Land."

   " Centuries later," said Jesus, "I too had people spreading fantastic stories about me. According to them, I fed 5000 people with just five breads and two fishes. Another day, I walked on water. From time to time, I cured the blind and the lame. I even resurrected Lazarus and other dead people. I cannot remember performing any of those miracles. But some writers recounted them in books called the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles."

   "Before  you were born," said God, "all my miracles and instructions for the Jewish people were collected in books called the Old Testament. Together the accounts about you and about me were published together in what is called the Bible. Some have said that I dictated that whole book or, at least, supervised its writing to prevent any error. I can assure you that I am not responsible for any of those fictitious tales."

   "The only account that I can recall in the Gospels," said Jesus, "is my crucifixion but even that memory will vanish as this dream ends."

   "Unlike you and this dream," said God, "I will not fade away. I will go on existing, fully aware of my creation, watching it continue to develop and evolve without my intervention. Just today, a terrible earthquake totally destroyed the city of Bam in Iran and killed many thousands. If I should ever intervene in the course of nature and in human affairs, this would be the time. But my policy of nonintervention is eternal like me. Jesus, I would like to speak with you from time to time if only in someone's dream. Farewell."

   As Jesus and God parted, my dream came to an abrupt end. I awoke totally rested. I know that my subconscious will arrange more such meetings between Jesus and God because I need them. For the index of my Dialogues, click here.