Jesus DNA (eBook)

Chapter 1

Friday, 8:46 AM - Uptown, New Orleans - 2021

The blaring car horn jolted Zach back into reality. He quickly realized that, again, his mind had been somewhere else. Glancing down at the clock, he accelerated his battered, 2006 silver Honda Accord across the intersection. He had just fourteen minutes left to make it to the Tulane’s University Theater Hall, where he was set to partake in a much-anticipated lecture by his idol.

Zachary Dorsey’s friends considered him an all-American guy, featured with stone brown eyes, chiseled good looks, and a slim, athletic frame. He would take a ribbing because he bore a virtual resemblance to a youthful Robert Redford in preppy clothes. Most considered him a spiritual academic, resourcefully intelligent, but with the impetuousness of youth. Zach always strived to learn more about himself, his spirituality, and his place in the world. If he had a true negative, those closest to him would say he was naïve to the real world: always willing to help and joke at every turn, willing to forgive, and willing to look the other way to be accepted by the masses.

As Zach pulled in a parking spot next to the main campus center, he reached for the inside pocket of his worn tweed sport coat to collect his carefully worded introduction of his mentor, Brother Guiden. Even though he had been blessed with an unabashed confidence in his eidetic memory and raw public speaking abilities, today was the final step towards receiving his hard-earned degree in theology and acceptance from his peers, especially from Brother Guiden. Guiden, the popular leader of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, housed at the Notre Dame Seminary on Carrollton Avenue, was the only true father figure that Zach had since he was taken in as an infant after his parents’ death. This man, whose hair now exhibited streaks of gray from his many years of experience, had sternly and lovingly mentored young Zach in the traditional ways of the world as well as some of the mystical experiences of the disciplined monastic life. As a young child, Zach was reading by age two, writing text by age four, a published poet by age seven, and, by age ten, could speak six languages fluently.

Zach ran a hand through his still damp, sandy brown hair as he reviewed every detail of his introduction one more time in his head. He took a second to close his eyes and take a deep breath, trying to relax. He made sure to say a short prayer. A tremendous calm engulfed him, and a breath of fresh air blew away all doubt about his calling. Just then, his cell phone rang. It was Sam.

Samantha DelaCroix, smart and pretty, with watchful brown eyes, long, flowing black hair and beautifully tan skin, was one of Zach’s most trusted comrades. They had known each other since the beginning of his studies at Tulane University. Although always uniquely attracted to one another, for whatever reason, dating never seemed in the cards for Sam and Zach.

She called to find out where he was and to personally inform him of the standing-room only crowd. Zach smiled to himself. Sam was always his biggest fan. Zach checked the time again - eight minutes left. He scrambled out of his car and grabbed his notes, then made his way into the bustling arena.

Tulane’s main auditorium, nestled on tree-lined Saint Charles Avenue in New Orleans, was still under repair from damage suffered by the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina. Upon entry, the conspicuous smell of fresh plaster and paint prickled Zach’s nose. The university had refurbished all of the wonderful, hand-crafted, marble statues and colorful hand-painted symbols dating back to 16th Century France in the arena. It replaced all of the theater chairs with plush royal-red movie-style stadium seating that could hold up to 500 guests. On this day, hundreds of religious scholars and priests occupied the main seating area. Miscellaneous guests and a sprinkling of students filled the remaining space to capacity. A large, separate projection screen, podium, and microphone stood on the intimidating main stage. In a theater of this size, a distinct echo could be heard. Zack shook at the thought of hearing every word he said reverberated back at him a half-of-second later.

As Zach entered the theater, Professor Earl Lindrum, Chairman of the Tulane Theology department and Zach’s academic advisor approached him.

“Dorsey, where have you been?”

“Don’t worry sir,” Zach replied. “I’m ready to go. How do I look?”

“Fine.” Professor Lindrum looked him over. “You’re the last of the honor graduates to introduce a featured speaker. Do you realize that Vatican TV will be broadcasting this specific lecture live back to Rome?” Professor Lindrum nervously fiddled with a crucifix strung around his neck. “Brother Werner from the Vatican’s media department stated earlier this is the first time that a sitting pontiff has ever made such a request. It is quite an honor.”

“Relax, Dr. Lindrum,” Zach answered with a smile. “I won’t let you down, I have my notes right here.” He patted the pocket of his sport coat.

“Let me see those.” Zach handed over his notes. “The good brother has switched the main title of his discussion. I’ll write it down for you.” Dr. Lindrum made a few corrections and handed the paper back to Zach. Meanwhile, Brother Guiden distributed reports covering his findings and introduced himself to certain scholars and priests throughout the room.

When it was time, Zach nervously approached the podium as the audience quieted. He looked out into the vast sea of humanity. With the lights shining brightly upon him, Zach began, “I am proud to announce that the last lecturer of this week’s series on Religion in Today’s Society, is my personal mentor and teacher. Please welcome Brother Jeremiah Guiden, recipient of a 1979 doctorate in Ancient Theological Studies from Tulane University and Headmaster of the world-renowned Notre Dame Seminary located right here in New Orleans.”

Zach paused momentarily before continuing, “Brother Guiden will be presenting the widely discussed and highly controversial subject of…” He glanced briefly at his corrected notes, “The Jesus Unknown.” Confused, Zach abruptly ended, “Sir, the floor is yours.”

Brother Jeremiah Guiden approached the podium and graciously responded to the audience, “Thank you Mr. Dorsey, my peers, esteemed colleagues, and the viewing audience of Vatican City in Rome.” A proud and astute man, Brother Jerimiah was formally dressed in a silver cassock bound by a royal purple rope band. He spoke slowly, specifically emphasizing the words projected on the overhead screen behind him, “Legends are born when the truth is too dangerous to write.” He took a second to scan the audience, “I want all of you to think about that for just an instant.” Brother Guiden gave the appearance of making eye contact with every person in attendance. This attention to detail always made his lectures legendary.

“If you are present today, it means that you, too, have questions in search of answers,” Brother Guiden continued. “I will take it for granted that human nature forces society to always ask what, when, how, and why. I will suggest now that absolute truth in religion is a powerful and well-guarded subject, one that has piqued the interest of all Muslims, Jews and Christians in the twenty-first century.” Brother Guiden paused briefly, “You know, there is a rumor going around that to be a good Christian and get into heaven, you need only do three things, over and over again: Pray - Pay - and Obey.”

An unintended laugh surmised from the crowd.

“It is my opinion; a good Christian is not that at all. A good Christian is a person who models themselves after Jesus Christ, a true revolutionary. Someone not afraid or ashamed to get up and speak the truth.”

Gentle applause erupted.

“Remember, in all the written materials, there is only one instance that caused Jesus to become angry: when he traveled to the Temple Church and witnessed what a travesty humanity made of religion. Since I became a Christian all those decades ago, there is one thing I have yet to figure out.” Brother Guiden displayed the following question on the projector screen: “Specifically, why has the Roman Catholic religion been so popular, and might I add, profitable, in recorded history?”

He paused to let this question sink in. “Over the last two-thousand years, the Roman Catholic Church has relied exclusively on the faith of its followers. As the head of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, I’m not bound by Church canon like Catholic hierarchy, so I do not defer to certain traditions or code of conduct. Because of this, I feel it is my solemn duty as a historian and a man of God, to share with all my brothers and sisters what I have learned about the true Christian history. So, let’s continue. What is religious faith? Faith, in stunning simplicity, is absolute conviction without confirmation. Essentially, belief without proof. Does a religion really have to be based just on faith without any scientific explanation or evidence?”

The audience murmured amongst themselves.

“The Church has been unsuccessful in its many attempts to provide evidence other than the Canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), which have been proven to have been edited by the church itself. For example, Bishop Clement of Alexandria, in 195 AD, made the first known change to the Gospels. On his influential authority alone, the Bishop completely deleted a...