A few weeks ago, a beautiful 1,100-year-old gold crucifix was discovered in a field in Denmark. It is the oldest crucifix ever found in Scandinavia, crafted about 900 years after the death of Jesus. It was literally sticking up out of the ground, as though it had sprouted like a tree.

The 1100 year old "Christ from Aunslev" courtesy of Vikingemuseet Ladby.

The theme of rebirth and new growth figures in a lot of religious holidays that happen in the spring. Passover is coming up, and Easter was celebrated only a few weeks ago. But those aren’t the only religious holidays that happen at this time of year. Muslims celebrate Isra and Mi’raj. The Hindu New Year happened on March 8. Many Buddhists celebrate April 22 as Therevada New Year. In April and May, Sikhs celebrate the birthdays of no fewer than three of their most revered historical gurus. The Shinto holiday of Taue Matsuri happens on May 3, the day when the year’s crop of rice is traditionally planted. And that’s not all. Taoists and Jains have spring holidays of their own too.

No doubt, the spring season triggers thoughts of rebirth and renewal in all those religions. That made us wonder how many stories from the world’s great religions have to do with gold. Here are some that we found for you. And interesting to note, they just might contain some useful lessons about how to find gold in your own hunting for recyclable treasures.

The Story of the Golden Calf in Judaism, Christianity and Islam

You know the story. Moses went up Mount Sinai, got the tablets with the 10 Commandments from God. When he came down, he found that everybody was worshipping a Golden Calf, and pretty much flipped out. You know that story – but did you know that it is read and studied by Christians and Jews in the Torah and Old Testament and also by Muslims, who find the same story told in the Q’uran.

Of course, the Golden Calf was not a good thing, but an idol that distracted weak people from following their true god. The lesson for gold recycling? There is gold to be found in old religious metals and ceremonial objects that were used in many of the world’s religions.

Gold in Depictions of the Buddha

Many statues of the Buddha are gold-colored or gold-plated – and some are even made of solid gold. However, that doesn’t mean that Buddhists worship gold or wealth. Those statues shine with gold because Buddhist tradition equates its glow with spiritual purity and attainment. And according to some sources, the Buddha himself was said to have skin that shone with a slight golden glow. The message for gold hunters? Small Buddhist amulets and artifacts can be adorned with gold.

Miraculous Appearances of Gold in Christian Traditions

There are many stories of items being miraculously changed to gold. Some even being reported today, as pilgrims who have gone to see appearances of the Virgin Mary in Central Europe have reported that their wooden Rosary beads have been miraculously changed to gold. And some Christians have reported that flecks of gold have appeared floating in the air during religious services. Again, these occurrences don’t have to do with wealth, but with spirituality. The message? Old churches and religious items and medals often contain gold.

Jesus and the Coin in the Fish

It’s interesting to note that although Jesus performed many miracles such as turning water into wine and healing sick people, only one of his miracles has anything to do with precious metals. In Matthew 17:27, He tells his disciples that if they cast a fishing line into the ocean, they will pull out a fish that has a coin in its mouth. They do that, pull out a fish and sure enough, its mouth contains a Shekel. (A Shekel might have been silver or it might have been gold, we are not certain.) The lesson for finding gold? Don’t forget that you can find gold in very unlikely places, so don’t give up the search. (Also note that there is a parable in Matthew 25:14-30 about gold, but it doesn’t have to do with miracles.)

Traditional Jewish Tales Involving Gold

There are a number tales in Jewish folklore about gold. They are not religious stories per se. Instead, they usually teach lessons about honesty and honor. Here’s one that you might enjoy . . .

A beggar found a purse that contained 100 gold coins. He heard that a merchant who had lost the purse was offering a reward and because he was honest, the beggar gave the purse back to him. The merchant, however, was not pleased. He claimed that his purse originally had contained 200 coins, accused the beggar of stealing the 100 that were missing, and took the case to a court of law. However, the judges’ verdict was, “If the beggar found a purse containing 100 pieces of gold, it can’t have been the same purse that the merchant lost,” and they gave the purse and all its 100 gold coins to the beggar.

Neat story, right? The lesson seems to be along the lines of the famous, “Honesty is the best policy.” And the lesson for gold hunters is that people drop gold items. Sometimes it takes a metal detector to find them.

Have You Found Gold Treasures of Your Own?

Give us a call at 800-426-2344 and tell us about your own miraculous discoveries. We’re eager to hear about them, test them, and unlock the hidden value they contain.

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Gold in the Great Religions