Jesus Vs. Mythology

[duewell]

back in like 2007 or 2008 i came across the zeitgeist film. i wasn't a christian and i found the film to be fascinating. i watched it numerous times and went to discuss it with a co worker who was a Christian and asked him what he thought about it. he came back and said its full of misrepresentations. i found this answer to be unacceptable and started looking around on the internet to see what i could find. i came across another film called zeitgeist debunked. that too was very interesting to me.


here is a link to a great sight that goes over the comparisons of a horus/Jesus connection and other misinformation currently cited by atheist as facts. Zeitgeist, the movie Debunked - Introduction - Zeitgeist Exposed - Skeptic Project i suggest all Christians to make a note of it so that it can be easily referenced to when the topic is brought up.


now that being said, i will touch on something briefly. for any non believer out there that is seeking evidence or truth of the bible and God, there is a very simple way for you to receive all the evidence and truth you want, actually more than you will want write out a biography of your life including everything you can remember, both the good and bad things you have done. after or during this confession, repent of the sins you have committed in your life and ask Jesus for help. experience the truth, led by the Spirit, confirmed by the bible. follow with faith.

it worked for me.

if you want to hear about the experience send me a pm and i will send you a summary of my testimony and the experience i documented in 2009. i am a witness. Jesus is the son of God.

duewell
mark 4 v 11 13

 

[Bowman]

A few times, when trying to undermine the credibility of Jesus, Atheists have brought to my attention the similarities between mythological gods and Jesus. These similarities would include: Born of a virgin, died for the world, did miracles, etc. The similar gods mentioned are Oriris, Dionysus, Adonis, Attis, and Mithra. There's probably more.

That's not the part that worries me. The part that worries me is that it's said that the written miracles of these gods were written before the New Testament. This concerns me because obviously that would mean that the story of Jesus was copied from stories of Pagan gods.

If someone can help me find a sound answer to this, I would much appreciate it because it's a pretty major concern to the validity to the Christian faith and I want to know how to respond to Atheists that bring this up.

Thanks,

Lecrae

Ask them to provide the original languages of the stories that supposedly match the Biblical account.

More that likely, this will put an end to their googled and unreferenced websites from which they obtain this garbage from...

 

[GraceBeUntoYou]

A few times, when trying to undermine the credibility of Jesus, Atheists have brought to my attention the similarities between mythological gods and Jesus. These similarities would include: Born of a virgin, died for the world, did miracles, etc. The similar gods mentioned are Oriris, Dionysus, Adonis, Attis, and Mithra. There's probably more.

That's not the part that worries me. The part that worries me is that it's said that the written miracles of these gods were written before the New Testament. This concerns me because obviously that would mean that the story of Jesus was copied from stories of Pagan gods.

If someone can help me find a sound answer to this, I would much appreciate it because it's a pretty major concern to the validity to the Christian faith and I want to know how to respond to Atheists that bring this up.

Thanks,

Lecrae

Was Isaac Newton a real person of history? If we adopt the historical method of skeptics who question the historical existence of Jesus by constructing lists of parallels between Jesus and such mythical figures as Horus and Mithra, then the answer would seem to be no. The data below presents 16 parallels between Jesus Christ and Isaac Newton—and unlike nearly all of the alleged parallels between Jesus and mythical figures, all of these parallels are completely accurate.

Jesus Christ

- His birthday has been given both as December 25 and as January 6.
- His birthday is celebrated by his followers as “Christmas,” and the period between December 25 and January 6 has been called “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
- His name is that of a famous figure in the Old Testament (Joshua).
- John described him as “the true light that comes into the world.”
- He was circumcised on the eighth day.
- According to tradition, his grandmother’s name was Hannah (usually Anglicized as Anne.)
- According to tradition, his mother’s husband died when he was young.
- He never married.
- He was famous for his knowledgeable exposition of the Scriptures.
- He professed the same faith as that of his countrymen, but they regarded him as a heretic.
- Commenting on the Book of Daniel, he stated that “this gospel of the kingdom must first be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
- He rejected the idea that people could determine a date for the end of the world.
- He is regarded by many as one of the greatest men ever to live on earth.
- He was honored by the use of the Greek title kurios, which can be translated “Sir.”
- Portraits of him depict him with strikingly different appearances.
- Marty McFly used his name in vain in the film Back to the Future.


Isaac Newton

- His birthday has been given both as December 25 and as January 4.
- His birthday is celebrated by his followers as “Newtonmas,” and the period between December 25 and January 4 has been called “The Ten Days of Newtonmas.”
- His name is that of a famous figure in the Old Testament (Isaac).
- He is described as bringing light to the world: “God said ‘Let Newton be’ and all was light” (Alexander Pope).
- He was baptized on the eighth day.
- His mother’s name was Hannah.
- His mother’s husband died before he was born.
- He never married.
- He was famous for his knowledgeable exposition of the Scriptures.
- He professed the same faith as that of his countrymen, but they regarded him as a heretic.
- Commenting on the Book of Daniel, he stated that “the Gospel must first be preached in all nations before the great tribulation, and end of the world.”
- He rejected the idea that people could determine a date for the end of the world.
- He is regarded by many, in the words of Richard Dawkins, as “one of the truly great men ever to walk the earth.”
- He was honored by the use of the title “Sir.”
- Portraits of him depict him with strikingly different appearances.
- Doc Emmet Brown used his name in vain in the film Back to the Future II.

Nothing better than using the enemies gun against them. Of course, not even liberal historians, such as Crossan, and Ehrman would suggest that Jesus was a mythical figure.

 

[Sanashankar]

A few times, when trying to undermine the credibility of Jesus, Atheists have brought to my attention the similarities between mythological gods and Jesus. These similarities would include: Born of a virgin, died for the world, did miracles, etc. The similar gods mentioned are Oriris, Dionysus, Adonis, Attis, and Mithra. There's probably more.

That's not the part that worries me. The part that worries me is that it's said that the written miracles of these gods were written before the New Testament. This concerns me because obviously that would mean that the story of Jesus was copied from stories of Pagan gods.

If someone can help me find a sound answer to this, I would much appreciate it because it's a pretty major concern to the validity to the Christian faith and I want to know how to respond to Atheists that bring this up.

Thanks,

Lecrae

Emal i received when asked abt the same question

Dear,

You obviously have listened to "Zeitgeist." Am I correct?

This video is deceiving millions for sure. You are not suggesting (I hope) that I can explain this video and its theories in an email.
Zeitgeist is a long and involved topic. The man obviously hates the very idea of a real God, an inspired Bible, and a Messiah who died for our sins

Let me just say this for your present spiritual dilemma: There is NO solid documentation regarding the many outlandish statements regarding Jesus being merely the resurrection of much earlier myths of the Egyptians, Babylonians, etc.

The Zeitgeist movie makes these claims about the Egyptian god Horus:
• He was born on December 25 of a virgin (Isis Mary)
• A star in the East proclaimed his arrival
• Three kings came to adore the new-born “savior”
• He became a prodigious teacher at age 12
• At age 30 he was “baptized” and began a “ministry”
• Horus had twelve “disciples”
• Horus was betrayed
• He was crucified
• He was buried for three days
• He was resurrected after three days

But when we look for historical documentation for any of the above ten supposed similarities between Horus and and Jesus, they can't be found. I spent a long time writing my Lake of Fire Installment on: "The Origin of Everlasting Torment." I studied
Egyptian history and the Egyptian gods. I even purchased several advanced books
on Egyptology.

Historically, the birth of Horus is put sometime in October-November, not Dec. 25th. And since Jesus wasn't either born on Dec. 25, this wouldn't be a parallel anyway.

There is no "star in the east" which proclaimed the birth of Horus.

As for the "three kings" who came to adore the "new-born savior," it is an embarrassment to Joseph's scholarship seeing that he has squalled the traditional nativity scene of Christendom, not being aware that the wise men came into THE HOUSE to see the young BOY, years after His birth.

There is no historical record of Horus becoming a great teacher at age 12.

There is no record in Egypt that Horus was "baptized" and then began a ministry.

Horus had four demi-gods as they are called, for friends, but not twelve disciples.

Maybe Horus was betrayed. Thousands of historical figures have been betrayed, but I know of no historical documentation that says Horus was betrayed.

Zeitgeist puts the birth and death of Horus at around 3000 BC, yet crucifixion was unknown until many many centuries later.

Horus was cut up into fourteen pieces by his enemies, and spread on the Nile River, but I have never seen where he was buried for three days. Likewise, there is nothing to substantiate the he was 'resurrected" after three days.

It is also claimed that Horus was born of a virgin mother Isis-Mary in a cave manger, etc. Actually Isis was married to Osiris and was not a virgin. Isis of Egypt did have the title "Mr-ee" which means "beloved," given to her, but that's a far stretch from saying her "name was Mary." And as for the "cave manger," Jesus wasn't born in a cave, and Horus was born in a swamp.

There are also many other claims of similarities between Horus and Jesus, but NOT ONE of them is substantiated by any story, myth, or history in Egypt. Can you now begin to see how many distortions of the truth are presented in the rest of this Zeitgeist deception?

Such unscriptural doctrines as "Everlasting Torment" in some fiery hellhole of pain and suffering, actually do come from places like Egypt. But the Scriptures know nothing of such a teaching. It has been forced into some Bibles (like the King James, NIV, etc.), but certainly not all translations. Examples that do not carry the words "eternal," "hell," etc., would be, The Concordant Literal Old and New Testaments, Rotherham's Emphasized Bible, Young's Literal Bible, The Emphatic Diaglott, etc.

Look: Here's what I would tell a person who tells me that he fears death because when he puts his head under water for more than a minute, he can't breath, and panics. My advice? DON'T PUT YOUR HEAD UNDER WATER!! Don't read faith-destroying
material. These deceivers and smart and they are clever, and they understand human nature. They know how to deceive. We need to heed the admonition of the apostle

Paul: "Neither give place to the Devil" (Ephesians 4:27).


God be with you,

Ray

 

[Graybeard]

This all reminds me of doubting Thomas and what Jesus said:

Joh 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

 

[MidniteWelder]

Here's what I believe.

Instead of looking at it this way - Christianity copied secular
Look at it this way - Secular unknowingly for-told Christianity.

Naw naw...Look at it ...

This Way

2 “Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
7 while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?

8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place,
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt’?

12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,
or shown the dawn its place,
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
and shake the wicked out of it?
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,
and their upraised arm is broken.

16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all this.

19 “What is the way to the abode of light?
And where does darkness reside?
20 Can you take them to their places?
Do you know the paths to their dwellings?
21 Surely you know, for you were already born!
You have lived so many years!

22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow
or seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 which I reserve for times of trouble,
for days of war and battle?
24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,
or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?
25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
and a path for the thunderstorm,
26 to water a land where no one lives,
an uninhabited desert,
27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland
and make it sprout with grass?
28 Does the rain have a father?
Who fathers the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens
30 when the waters become hard as stone,
when the surface of the deep is frozen?

31 “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades?
Can you loosen Orion’s belt?
32 Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons
or lead out the Bearwith its cubs?
33 Do you know the laws of the heavens?
Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds
and cover yourself with a flood of water?
35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?
Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who gives the ibis wisdom
or gives the rooster understanding?
37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens
38 when the dust becomes hard
and the clods of earth stick together?

39 “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
and satisfy the hunger of the lions
40 when they crouch in their dens
or lie in wait in a thicket?
41 Who provides food for the raven
when its young cry out to God
and wander about for lack of food?

(God addressing Job in Chpt 38)

 

[Tintin]

The pagan mythologies actually adapted some of Jesus life and traits to make them more palatable. This happened around 1 and 2 AD. It's only fairly recently that people have been using the argument that Christianity ripped-off other religions. No person worth their salt would say such a stupid thing. It's funny that many so-called people of Reason (atheists) can't seem to grasp the basics of critical-thinking.

 

[Lecrae]

This thread went in many different directions xD. But I appreciate all your responses (that were on topic).

 

[Ariel82]

there is no versus.

God had a plan about how to save humanity from their sin (which was in place since the fall of Adam and Eve from the Garden, therefore older than any other religion),

He told His prophets. Demons and other creatures heard the plan and set out to make stories to either pretend to be the Messiah (antichrists, which there are and will be many roaming in the world) or to discredit Jesus when He did come by creating stories similar to God's plan, but most of the stories don't really get it.

there are similarities between the Gospel and other religions because Satan knows that if you mix the truth with a lies you get a pill people are more willing to swallow.

just look at how Satan tried to trick Jesus in the desert by quoting scripture.

 

[Starcrash]

now that being said, i will touch on something briefly. for any non believer out there that is seeking evidence or truth of the bible and God, there is a very simple way for you to receive all the evidence and truth you want, actually more than you will want write out a biography of your life including everything you can remember, both the good and bad things you have done. after or during this confession, repent of the sins you have committed in your life and ask Jesus for help. experience the truth, led by the Spirit, confirmed by the bible. follow with faith.

Atheists have a saying that sums up this argument, that goes along the lines of "if you want evidence that unicorns are real, just ride one".

Many of us atheists (like myself) are former Christians, so obviously this "evidence and truth" doesn't exactly fit our experience -- we did exactly what you've described, and yet here we are, unconvinced that God exists. But even the suggestion shows a lack of empathy. If a Muslim suggested that "a very simple way to receive all the evidence and truth you want" is to simply ask for Allah's forgiveness and study the Qur'an, I'm skeptical that you'd even consider it. You realize as well as I do how poor this evidence would be.

 

[Ariel82]

2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

[Graybeard]

Many of us atheists (like myself) are former Christians,

No no no no, let me correct you right there, you or any "former" Christians were never ever a Christian to begin with...period. Let me as you this, if you have tasted of the wine and have thrown it to the dogs....what are you doing here? what are your intentions?

 

[Starcrash]

No no no no, let me correct you right there, you or any "former" Christians were never ever a Christian to begin with...period. Let me as you this, if you have tasted of the wine and have thrown it to the dogs....what are you doing here? what are your intentions?

How could you possibly know that someone was not a former Christian? Where is your evidence? It's denial, obviously, because you hate the implications.

At one time I "believed in the Lord Jesus Christ". I was raised by Christian parents, and thus was encouraged at a very young age to become a Christian. I prayed to God for forgiveness for my sins and asked to become saved. I then did this several times more, because at such a young age I didn't "feel saved" from anything because I hadn't done anything regrettable. I "displayed the fruit of the spirit" by going to church every week, studying the bible vigorously (I've read it cover to cover 5 times), and always consciously trying to do what I felt God wanted, which included avoiding sin. I was a Christian as much as any of my peers, except that I realized around the age of 20 that none of translated to real life. I'm an atheist because I'm not in denial... not anymore.

What are my intentions here? To discuss religious matters. You have a golden opportunity to testify about your God to someone who doesn't believe, and to convince me that He is real, but you're certainly not going to do it with denial. Do you really think you're going to convince me that I wasn't a Christian? I lived it. I know better. Your certainty without evidence leads me to think that this is also why you believe in God, as I continue to see in many of your peers. If communication with God yielded any real knowledge, then you'd already know better just by asking Him.

The better question is "why are you trying to drive me away"?

 

[7seven7]

The better question is "why are you trying to drive me away"?

Brilliant!

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

At one time I "believed in the Lord Jesus Christ". I was raised by Christian parents, and thus was encouraged at a very young age to become a Christian. I prayed to God for forgiveness for my sins and asked to become saved. I then did this several times more, because at such a young age I didn't "feel saved" from anything because I hadn't done anything regrettable. I "displayed the fruit of the spirit" by going to church every week, studying the bible vigorously (I've read it cover to cover 5 times), and always consciously trying to do what I felt God wanted, which included avoiding sin. I was a Christian as much as any of my peers, except that I realized around the age of 20 that none of translated to real life. I'm an atheist because I'm not in denial... not anymore.

Sounds like you've always been an atheist, contrary to what your mind told you...

 

[Lecrae]

Let's keep this on topic, if you want to fight about always saved vs. losing salvation...that's a new debate and thread all on its own. I'm just trying to find out the question to the original post. =)

 

[jimmydiggs]

The pagan mythologies actually adapted some of Jesus life and traits to make them more palatable. This happened around 1 and 2 AD. It's only fairly recently that people have been using the argument that Christianity ripped-off other religions. No person worth their salt would say such a stupid thing. It's funny that many so-called people of Reason (atheists) can't seem to grasp the basics of critical-thinking.

Jesus wouldn't have been very old in 1 or 2 AD. AD is Anno Domini, not after death.

 

[Tintin]

Sorry, that should be 100 or 200AD.

 

[Kingdom_Mystic]

The idea of the Mother-Son cults originated in the East with the death of Nimrod's son and Nimrod's wife. The idea is that son Rose from the dead and both mother and son are gods. The pattern is repeated in cults in the East http://www.lakeeriebiblechurch.org/Doctrine/pdf/RELIGIOUSBABYLON.pdf . This one point that skeptics against Christianity use against us do the strong influence of Mary worship in the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox traditions. They are argue that Christianity is just another off shoot off these cults. The problem is the high reverence of Mary is a reaction to a heresy that believed Mary was not a virgin several hundred years after the death and Resurrection of Christ. The teaching of scripture does not stress the importance of Mary as coredeemer or as queen of heaven: this is a tradition of men.

 

[4enlightment]

The idea of the Mother-Son cults originated in the East with the death of Nimrod's son and Nimrod's wife. The idea is that son Rose from the dead and both mother and son are gods. The pattern is repeated in cults in the East http://www.lakeeriebiblechurch.org/Doctrine/pdf/RELIGIOUSBABYLON.pdf . This one point that skeptics against Christianity use against us do the strong influence of Mary worship in the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox traditions. They are argue that Christianity is just another off shoot off these cults. The problem is the high reverence of Mary is a reaction to a heresy that believed Mary was not a virgin several hundred years after the death and Resurrection of Christ. The teaching of scripture does not stress the importance of Mary as coredeemer or as queen of heaven: this is a tradition of men.

Mary could have had children after Jesus was born and then in those times a man could have had as many of wives that they can afford. The Scriptures does mentioned that Jesus did had brothers and sisters, but are they from Mary or from other possible wives that Joseph had before or after Jesus' birth.