Pagan Origins of the Christ Myth.

[Hari]

Please check out the following website.It has lot's of information about mythical figures before the Jesus story.

http://home.earthlink.net/~pgwhacker/ChristianOrigins/

The following is taken from the home page:

You already know Christmas trees and Easter eggs were originally Pagan, and you probably know the traditional mid-winter and spring timing of the two holidays was Pagan too. Mildly interesting. Not what you'll find here.

What you'll discover here is that Christianity inherited everything from the Pagans. The core of Christianity -- the worship of a dying Godman who is resurrected, ascends into heaven and brings salvation to mankind -- was also the core of a number of ancient Pagan religions that began in the Near East two thousand years before Jesus.

Christian theology borrowed more than the archaic myth of the dying-resurrected Godman. Initiation by baptism, communion with the God through a holy meal that represented the flesh of the dead God, the Holy Spirit, monotheism, and immortality of the soul were all core beliefs of many ancient faiths. They were simply part of ancient Mediterranean culture.

Christianity also borrowed elements of Jesus' mythology: the virgin birth, the miracles (including turning water into wine, walking on water, and especially healing the sick) were all common elements of pre-Christian Pagan religions. Mithras had 'em. So did Dionysus, Attis, Osiris, and Orpheus. And more. And they had them centuries before Christianity was a twinkle in Saint Paul's eye.

What do you think?

[tSingh]

What do I think?

I personally think this term 'pagan' is a little all too encompassing if we're to talk about any 'religious', 'cultural' and 'symbolic' framework that predates Christianity and isn't Judaism.

[Hari]

I don't like the word "pagan" either.But I just want know what people thought of the website and its claims.