The Childhood and Youth of Jesus · Part 1 · Chapter 143

The inquisitive God-seeking captain. The priest on mythology, his avowal of the one and only true God. Joseph to the questioning captain: there is a time for everything! 16 February 1844

01] The morning meal lasted about one hour, and there were a lot of discussions on all sorts of subjects during the meal.

02] At the end of the meal, one captain, who had participated in the mountain climbing, asked one of the three former lesser priests:

03] "Now listen to me! Look, we have a mythology, according to which there are so many gods, that we see them wherever we might look;

04] I, however, have never seen or perceived a god!

05] I have often dreamt of a thousand things, – but never of any divine being!

06] Among all the currently living human beings, who can step forward and conscientiously and truthfully avow: 'I have seen and spoken to Zeus or any other divine being?

07] Since we are as good human beings as those who interacted with the gods in primeval time,

08] I do not see why the gods have abandoned us now and do no longer look after us in the least!

09] As a former priest, can you not give me any valid reason for this?"

10] The lesser priest spoke: "Dear friend, I beg you for the world, never ask me such nonsense!

11] Our gods are nothing but pure ephemera, who originate from the quagmire of our ignorance.

12] However, as, in our ignorance, we like to see nothing better than our own quagmire creations, we give precedence to them and imagine them as gods,

13] build temples and then pray for the most worthless products of our ignorance.

14] See, these are the gods, for whom we have built temples which abound in Rome!

15] Yes, there is certainly a true god; who has always been holy, but we highly impure beings in our hearts cannot see Him, although we can see His works!

16] If you wish to learn more about this one and only God, then turn to that pure Jew; he will certainly teach you – I swear it to you – to know Him better!"

17] The captain was satisfied with this reply; for he got just the answer he was seeking since a long time.

18] And he moved towards Joseph and expressed his concern to him.

19] And Joseph spoke: "Good man, there is a time for everything! When you are ready, it will be revealed to you; for the time being, therefore, be content with this promise!"