Christianity BEFORE Christ? (page 2)

IP_SEC

Merlin Stone- When god was a woman

Silver Ravenwolf- Solitary Witch.

tetrapod.sapien

Christianity BEFORE Christ?

you know, i think of it in terms of cultural evolution. it was what it was when jesus was here. but it had already been 10 000 years in the making.... (insert 2001: a space odyssey soundtrack here)

and now it is what it is, and in 10 000 years the same thing will be different. jesus and christianity are but one incarnation branch on the same evolving memetic tree, IMO.

TS

Christianity sounds "ground breaking" partly because most Christians, especially Protestants, are unfamiliar with 1st-century Judaism, which was incredibly diverse. A very interesting site to get a better picture of it is www.earlyjewishwritings.com (especially the Pseudepigrapha and Philo).

Only reading the Deuterocanonical Wisdom of Solomon in any Catholic Bible is a great eye-opener -- you'll quickly notice the influence of that book on the Gospel Passion narratives, for instance.

On the "goddess" issue, Leolaia's thread here at http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/73244/1.ashx might be a good start.

freedomlover

wow, great stuff guys, thanks for the awesome thread from Leolia. I have to print it off and read it when I have a few spare moments.

Nate Merit

Hey Freedomlover

Do you wish to actually become informed on this topic? Beyond simply reading a few posts?
If so, here is a book for you:

The Jesus Mysteries: Was the 'Original Jesus' a Pagan God? by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy. It's written for intelligent laypersons, but has some extensive endnotes that allow you to more deeply explore this information if you choose.

I've reviewed this book on Amazon.com so you might want to read my review.

Yours in Eternal Youth and Health,
Charley Atlas
"You too can have a body like mine!"

freedomlover

NATE -

Do you wish to actually become informed on this topic? Beyond simply reading a few posts?

ummmm....yes?!

thanks for the info......I've gotten quite a few good book recommendations to pursue for info......

FreedomLover

ithinkisee

Do you wish to actually become informed on this topic? Beyond simply reading a few posts?

Do you actually wish to be MORE condescending?

(Maybe it is lost in the messageboard translation ... if so I apologize.)

-ithinkisee

ackack

Hey all. I just got loaned to me "The Jesus Puzzle". Some interesting points in there. There was another book I was looking at about how Mark was a reworking of the Iliad. Anyone read both of these? Your thoughts?

ackack

Narkissos

The above recommendations make me think of two interesting books by Robert M. Price, Deconstructing Jesus and The incredible Shrinking Son of Man.

I just linked to an interesting article of his in the pretty similar thread: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/102591/1.ashx

hamsterbait

The Mithra Cult was a contender for state religion in the Roman Empire. On Dec 24th they would walk through the streets, singing "behold the virgin has given birth to a savior".

This over 100 years BC.

Read JG Frazer "The Golden Bough" on this. For some time it was in the balance whethter the Mithra Cult or Cult of the Christ would win. (See Acts to see how Romans were debating on it)

As a result of the Christians clever politicking and poisonings, the scales tipped in their favor.

Other wise we would be singing of the "Bull of God that taketh away the sin if the world."

What would we be singing if the Jews had been swineherds? Has anybody ever visited the tiny Mithra Church near Hadrians wall in England?

HB

Christianity BEFORE Christ?

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