I don't know why I'm attracted to this Da Vinci code stuff. I guess it's my general interest in history and religion... but this Christian mystery stuff is getting out of hand.
Good book though. Micheal Biagent Delves deep into the Egyptian and Mesopotamian linkages with early Christianity and Judaism. The central thesis, and one pretty well put forward (without a shred of real evidence however) is that Jesus didn't die on the cross, he was married to Mary (of course) and interestingly that the raising of Lazarus from the dead wasn't a resurrection --- it was an initiation into Jesus' mystery school. If you look at both ancient Egyptian mystery school and current Masonic initiations, you see a symbolic resurrection from the dead. Very interesting and worth a read. I picked mine up because it was in the sale bin.
http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Papers-Exposing-Greatest-Cover-Up/dp/0061146609/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-9689825-1597230?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187533870&sr=8-1
