This is a simple one...and one that my younger cousin asked me just last week:

In the Bible, the miracles surrounding Christ's birth are discussed. That is followed by a very brief mention of Christ's childhood, and how at the age of 12 he was have serious dicsussions with Rabbi's and priests and how everyone thought he was such a bright and brilliant child. (See: Luke 2:40-48)

Fast Forward: The next thing we hear about Christ is about things he was doing at the age of 30 or so. So my question is: where was Jesus during his youth? Why is there no mention of it in the Bible, since they even documented his birth and very early youth?

I have heard the argument that he was not doing anything special, and was just doing carpenter work with his father, but this argument doesn't stick very well since it says in the Bible that he was debating with Rabbi's at the age of 12. Why would be debating with them at 12, but then just quit for 18 years to just do carpenter work? Do these people believe that Jesus did nothing worth mentioning for 18 years?

Also: Question 2: (this is not my main question, but since I'm on the topic I thought I'd ask), what do you feel about people who believe that Jesus spent his youth as a nomadic ascetic, who traveled to the east and learned about eastern cultures? In India, there are many temples dedicated to him (and yes, Hindu temples too...Jesus is considered to be a great prophet, and even an incarnation of God by most Hindus). He's also believed to have traveled to Tibet, where they have documented evidence of a person of Jesus's discription coming to their land around Jesus's time perfoming miracles, etc. Is their documented evidence considered less relevant? These people will also point to the many similarities of things Jesus said and what Krishna said in the Gita. For example:
Gita verse:Gita verse 10:21 "I am the Self (ie.Eternal Self, God), O Gudakesa, seated in the hearts of all creatures. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all beings".

Bible verse: Revelation 1:8 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty"

I'm not saying I necessarily believe one way or another in regards to question 2, I am just throwing the question out there...since I've heard it many times...

Sorry this got a little long...