A reader suggested that we look into this book, and it is worth a look if one can get past Palmer's weepy political correctness. The Jesus Sutras outlines a history of the Christian mission in the East (mostly in China) and contains some fascinating material, including on the mission of the Apostle Thomas, early Christian churches in the East, and especially how Christianity adapted to the culture (often, sadly, with syncretism) and spread its message. The far Eastern church was once a vital and growing movement; the Chinese called Christianity the "Luminous Religion" and left behind ample records and evidence of its successes. Readers may find especially fascinating the translation of some of Jesus' teachings into Eastern terms.

Careful students may find some relevance in this book to the outrageous school of thought that claims that Jesus went to India, China, Japan, etc. as a teenager. Palmer's work represents what mainstream religious scholarship would say actually happened -- with there being no indication of knowledge of Jesus before later centuries. Such theorists of course may respond that Jesus wasn't the real founder of Christianity, but they will be hard-pressed to explain the ominous silence of such a visitor from the west when so much else of note has been preserved.

We recommend The Jesus Sutras for the serious student only.