I recently watched the documentary Zeitgeist (Part 1) as well as Bill Maher’s movie Religulous. Both made mention of claims often made that there are many stories that predate Jesus but have striking parallels. I decided to follow up on these claims and see what kind of information was out there to substantiate these assertions.
I found several websites run by Christians who obviously disputed all claims of any parallels to the life of Jesus. I also found several interesting books on the subject, such as The World’s Sixteen Crucified Saviors: Christianity Before Christ by Kersey Graves, and The Christ Conspiracy, and Suns of God: Krishna, Buddha and Christ Unveiled by Acharya S.
As a non-christian, I am approaching this topic purely as an interested observer. I am assuming half of the people who read this will automatically say the claims are false and the other half will say they are true. The truth I found is that it is difficult to know for sure.
Here are ten of the figures often sited:
Both went to their temples at the age of twelve, where they are said to have astonished all with their wisdom. Both supposedly fasted in solitude for a long time: Buddha for forty–seven days and Jesus for forty. Both wandered to a fig tree at the conclusion of their fasts. Both were about the same age when they began their public ministry:
“When he [Buddha] went again to the garden he saw a monk who was calm, tranquil, self–possessed, serene, and dignified. The prince, determined to become such a monk, was led to make the great renunciation. At the time he was twenty–nine years of age… “Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age.” (Luke 3:23). Both were tempted by the “devil” at the beginning of their ministry: To Buddha, he said: “Go not forth to adopt a religious life but return to your kingdom, and in seven days you shall become emperor of the world, riding over the four continents.” To Jesus, he said: “All these [kingdoms of the world] I will give you, if you fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). Buddha answered the “devil”: “Get you away from me.”
Jesus responded: “…begone, Satan!” (Matthew 4:10). Both strove to establish a kingdom of heaven on earth. According to the Somadeva (a Buddhist holy book), a Buddhist ascetic’s eye once offended him, so he plucked it out and cast it away. Jesus said: “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, and throw it away;.” (Matthew 5:29).
According to Bhagavata Purana some believe that Krishna was born without a sexual union, by “mental transmission” from the mind of Vasudeva into the womb of Devaki, his mother. Christ and Krishna were called both God and the Son of God. Both were sent from heaven to earth in the form of a man. Both were called Savior, and the second person of the Trinity. Krishna’s adoptive human father was also a carpenter. A spirit or ghost was their actual father. Krishna and Jesus were of royal descent. Both were visited at birth by wise men and shepherds, guided by a star. Angels in both cases issued a warning that the local dictator planned to kill the baby and had issued a decree for his assassination. The parents fled. Mary and Joseph stayed in Muturea; Krishna’s parents stayed in Mathura. Both Christ and Krishna withdrew to the wilderness as adults, and fasted. Both were identified as “the seed of the woman bruising the serpent’s head.” Jesus was called “the lion of the tribe of Judah.” Krishna was called “the lion of the tribe of Saki.” Both claimed: “I am the Resurrection.” Both were “without sin.” Both were god-men: being considered both human and divine. Both performed many miracles, including the healing of disease. One of the first miracles that both performed was to make a leper whole. Each cured “all manner of diseases.” Both cast out indwelling demons, and raised the dead. Both selected disciples to spread his teachings. Both were meek, and merciful. Both were criticized for associating with sinners. Both celebrated a last supper. Both forgave his enemies. Both were crucified and both were resurrected.
Homeric tales about Odysseus emphasize his suffering life, just as in Mark Jesus said that he, too, would suffer greatly. Odysseus is a carpenter like Jesus, and he wants to return his home just as Jesus wants to be welcomed in his native home and later to God’s home in Jerusalem. Odysseus is plagued with unfaithful and dim-witted companions who display tragic flaws. They stupidly open a magic bag of wind while Odysseus sleeps and release terrible tempests which prevent their return home. These sailors are comparable to Jesus’ disciples, who disbelieve Jesus, ask foolish questions, and show general ignorance about everything. It’s amazing that either Odysseus or Jesus ever manage to accomplish anything, given the companions they have, but this simply demonstrates the power and ability of the one true leader who has a divine mandate to lead the people out of darkness and into a brighter future.
Romulus is born of a vestal virgin, which was a priestess of the hearth god Vesta sworn to celibacy. His mother claims that the divine impregnated her, yet this is not believed by the King. Romulus and his twin brother, Remus, are tossed in the river and left for dead. (A “slaughter of the innocents” tale which parallels that of Matthew 2:13-16). Romulus is hailed as the son of god. He is “snatched away to heaven” by a whirlwind (It is assumed that the gods took him), and he makes post mortem appearances. In his work Numa Pompilius, Plutarch records that there was a darkness covering the earth before his death (Just as there was during Jesus’ death according to Mark 15:33). He also states that Romulus is to be know afterwards as ‘Quirinus’; A god which belonged to the Archiac Triad (a “triple deity” similar to the concept of the Trinity).
Dionysus was born of a virgin on December 25 and, as the Holy Child, was placed in a manger. He was a traveling teacher who performed miracles. He “rode in a triumphal procession on an ass.” He was a sacred king killed and eaten in an eucharistic ritual for fecundity and purification. Dionysus rose from the dead on March 25. He was the God of the Vine, and turned water into wine. He was called “King of Kings” and “God of Gods.” He was considered the “Only Begotten Son,” Savior,” “Redeemer,” “Sin Bearer,” Anointed One,” and the “Alpha and Omega.” He was identified with the Ram or Lamb. His sacrificial title of “Dendrites” or “Young Man of the Tree” intimates he was hung on a tree or crucified.
Heracles is the Son of a god (Zeus). It is recorded that Zeus is both the father and great-great- great grandfather of Heracles, just as Jesus is essentially his own grandpa, being both “The root and offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16) as he is part of the triune God which is the father of Adam and eventually of Jesus. Both are doubly related to the Supreme God.
Diodorus writes that,”For as regards the magnitude of the deeds which he accomplished it is generally agreed that Heracles has been handed down as one who surpassed all men of whom memory from the beginning of time has brought down an account; consequently it is a difficult attainment to report each one of his deeds in a worthy manner and to present a record which shall be on a level with labours so great, the magnitude of which won for him the prize of immortality.”
Jesus is also said to have done a very large number of good works. John 21:25 says that: “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
Hera tries to kill Heracles as an infant by sending two serpents after him, yet Heracles survives by strangling them. This parallels Herod’s slaughter of the innocents in an attempt to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:13-16).
Heracles makes a descent into Hades and returns from it with Theseus and Peirithoüs, just as Jesus descends into the “lower parts of the earth” or Hades (Ephesians 4:7-8); Though Jesus does not bring anyone up from it. Heracles’ body is not found and he is assumed to have been taken by the gods:”After this, when the companions of Iolaüs came to gather up the bones of Heracles and found not a single bone anywhere, they assumed that, in accordance with the words of the oracle, he had passed from among men into the company of the gods.”
In the middle of the 100s AD, out along the south coast of the Black Sea, Glycon was the son of the God Apollo, who: came to Earth through a miraculous birth, was the Earthly manifestation of divinity, came to earth in fulfillment of divine prophecy, gave his chief believer the power of prophecy, gave believers the power to speak in tongues, performed miracles, healed the sick, and raised the dead.
Zoroaster was born of a virgin and “immaculate conception by a ray of divine reason.” He was baptized in a river. In his youth he astounded wise men with his wisdom. He was tempted in the wilderness by the devil. He began his ministry at age 30. Zoroaster baptized with water, fire and “holy wind.” He cast out demons and restored the sight to a blind man. He taught about heaven and hell, and revealed mysteries, including resurrection, judgment, salvation and the apocalypse. He had a sacred cup or grail. He was slain. His religion had a eucharist. He was the “Word made flesh.” Zoroaster’s followers expected a “second coming” in the virgin-born Saoshynt or Savior, who is to come in 2341 AD and begin his ministry at age 30, ushering in a golden age.
Attis was born on December 25 of the Virgin Nana. He was considered the savior who was slain for the salvation of mankind. His body as bread was eaten by his worshippers. He was both the Divine Son and the Father. On “Black Friday,” he was crucified on a tree, from which his holy blood ran down to redeem the earth. He descended into the underworld. After three days, Attis was resurrected.
Born of a virgin, Isis. Only begotten son of the God Osiris. Birth heralded by the star Sirius, the morning star. Ancient Egyptians paraded a manger and child representing Horus through the streets at the time of the winter solstice (about DEC-21). In reality, he had no birth date; he was not a human. Death threat during infancy: Herut tried to have Horus murdered. Handling the threat: The God That tells Horus’ mother “Come, thou goddess Isis, hide thyself with thy child.” An angel tells Jesus’ father to: “Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt.” Break in life history: No data between ages of 12 & 30. Age at baptism: 30. Subsequent fate of the baptiser: Beheaded. Walked on water, cast out demons, healed the sick, restored sight to the blind. Was crucifed, descended into Hell; resurrected after three days.
There are more things different between Krishna and Jesus Christ than there are similarities. And Krishna was not crucified, nor resurrected, in the sense Jesus Christ was.
that's…. I've a lot of knowledge about Hinduism….and studied a lot about Jesus there are lot of difference in their lives"Krishna" and "Jesus"..A LOT…
if you take all 10 story's and put them together you will see that you have the story of jesus. that is were his story comes from! the combining of them!
Wake up my friend and be free! We have been lied to. The truth lies with in you. What has been done by the powers that be is they have taken bits and pieces from all of these stories and made up the one about Jesus! For the sake of "Love" and truth my brother realize! No, the stories are not exactly the same but the idea was taking from them… REALIZE!
One Love My Brother!
That is ignorent, the old testament prophesies multiple times of Christ. All of these other figures don’t even compare to who Christ was.
Wow, you’re an idiot, bro.
Old testament does prophesy a messiah. Never mentions his name. It does however say he would be descended from the house of David. Jesus, though, is NOT descended from the house of David, because Joseph was NOT his father, and the bible does not give us the ancestry of Mary.
And you wonder why the Pharisees rejected him?
Actually, the Bible DOES give Mary’s genealogy. It’s found in Luke 3:23-38.
Where it says “the son of Heli,” it is implying “[Jesus is] the son-in-law of Heli” because Joseph’s genealogy is found in Matthew 1, and it makes no sense to include two obviously contradicting genealogies together in the canon of Scripture.
no offense to you, but hinduism is a bullsh*t just like every other religion out there… mythologically jesus was killed so was krishna, how it happened doesn’t matter, they were both murdered and thats that
Hinduism really isn’t b.s. Read the Bhagavad Gita. You’ll learn something.
It’s religion. It’s man made bull*****.
It original content was strictly a philosophy. Educate yourself.
You choose to be Ignorant about the similarities. Yes, there are differences, because the story of Jesus Is NOT the same story, It was derived from other stories. He is a copy and paste from multiple stories, and these similarities are the main actions of Jesus…..everything the story of jesus Is famous for, exists in other stories….this is NOT coincidence.
Suressh, Jesus existed that is a fact- this argument presented here is false. one might as well say that a person such as Napoleon was made up because he was just a political figure see how he is like Gengis Khan, who was also made up lol. I am a figment of someones imagination too.
Except that Napolean and genghis khan had history to back them up, We have countless paintings of napolean that we can date, we have writings and recordings of his battles and conquests. Same for Genghis.
The only record we have of jesus is the bible, a book of third-hand accounts written some 40 years after his apparent death, it also has a talking snake, and a man lives in a fish for three days.
With all the ressurections and the dead walking the street and the sun going out and a great Earthquake that split the earth, seems Apollonius, Persius, Petronius, Dio Chrysostom, Quintius Curtius or the dozens of other historians at the time just didn’t think that that was anything worth writing about.
Actually BOTH Mary AND Joesph were related and hence BOTH of them were of the Royal Bloodline,this is not disputed by most scholars.They were cousins as was common in those days. Not only were they both of the line of King David,they were both also of the line of Joeseph,son of Isreal(Jacob)
Josephus, histiorian and author of “Jewish Antiquities” talks about Jesus being a guy who had a following of people and performed miracles. Josephus himself, was not a “Christian.” Also, Roman historian, Tacitus recorded the bloody reign of procurator Pontious Pilate, noting that Pilate put to death the founder of Christianity, Christ.
“Jesus existed that is a fact- this argument presented here is false”
Really? Because mommy and daddy told you? Is the story of Alladin fact as well?
No sir…you are wrong. There is NO historical evidence of Jesus…not even of David. The one small reference supposedly made by Josephus was later proven to be forged and edited.
All religion is myth..built upon myth..built upon myth. If it weren’t for the decree of Constantine, the world of Christianity would have become the world of Mithraism. Much of the myths go back to Zoroastrianism and to Egyptian mythology.
Grow up, mature, focus (inotherwords utilize your frontal lobe) and face reality.
Actually in the old Norse religion Odin was hung from Yggdrasil (the world tree)for nine days and nights in sacrifice to himself that parallels Jesus' crucifixion. As he hung there he was also pierced in the side by a spear. I know it isn't as total as the rest of these are, but it does resemble it some. Here is part of the speech of Odin that describes it from the Havamal.
I know I hung on that
Windswept tree, swung
There for nine long nights,
Wounded by my own blade,
Bloodied for Odin,
Myself and offering to
Myself, bound to the tree,
That no man knows wither
The roots of it run,
None gave me bread, none
Game me drink
Odin may also be a corruption of Adon, the prevailing Semitic word for Lord. Jesus was usually referred to as Lord.
the catholic church was also responsible for altering texts and ideas to make them parallel norse beliefs. The crusaders could not conquer the northern regions held by the vikings so they opted to convert them to christianity. another common tale part of ragnarok has thor fighting the midgard serpent when it dies and the world ends(after a long series of events) a man and a woman who had hid inside the world tree emerge to repopulate the earth. The catholics told the vikings this event had already occured and the bible picks up where it left off.
Christianity is indeed the greatest religion – it is fascinating that even the folks who apparently don’t believe in Christ are nonetheless attracted to His doctrine and seek to learn more.
That’s akin to saying that scientists study diseases so they can propagate them rather than cure them.
No, you are mistaken. No Religion is better than any other. Or Worse. The whole point of this list is to find Christianity’s true origins – OTHER GODS.
That is true! Christ is a magnet either for those who love Him or for those who hate Him.
That Is idiocy. We study because we like to learn. We study religion because its interesting. It is interesting how we look back at so many cultures and scoff at them…..yeeeears down the road, the civilization is going to look back on us and say…..”wow…..those idiots thought some white guy came back to life….wait, why is he white?” Just like say, “why would the greek people have a god for everything…..thats just silly.
Because we study religion, doesn’t make It right, it makes us intellectuals.
Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings run in great parallel to Jesus of Nazareth and there is growing evidence that Essenes (followers of a mystical branch of Judaism) are greatly influenced by Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings (Hinayana)…
Rather than debating about dusty scrolls and archaic doctrines and dogmas, lets spend our energies in doing good with the time we are alloted here on earth =)
It's what they ALL preached right?
no the bible tell you to kill and kill and kill! Jeremiah 48:10 Deuteronomy 17:12 Exodus 22:17 Leviticus 20:13 Leviticus 20:27 Exodus 21:15 Proverbs 20:20 Leviticus 20:9 Leviticus 20:10 Leviticus 21:9 Exodus 22:19 2 Chronicles 15:12-13 Zechariah 13:3 Deuteronomy 13:13-19 Deuteronomy 22:20-21 Deuteronomy 13:7-12 Deuteronomy 17:2-5 Leviticus 24:10-16 Deuteronomy 13:1-5 Deuteronomy 18:20-22 Romans 1:24-32 Numbers 1:48-51 Exodus 31:12-15 2 Kings 2:23-24 1Samuel 6:19-20 1 Kings 20:35-36 2 Samuel 6:3-7 Isaiah 14:21 Hosea 9:11-1 Ezekiel 9:5-7 Exodus 12:29-30 Jeremiah 51:20-26 Leviticus 26:21-22 Isaiah 13:15-18 Judges 15:14-15 Acts 5:1-11 1 Samuel 15:2-3 Joshua 19:47 Jeremiah 15:1-4 Ezekiel 35:7-9 Exodus 23:23 Joshua 8:1-29 Joshua 6:20-21 1 Kings 14:9-16 Judges 20:48 2 Kings 19:35 Exodus 32:26-29 Joshua 7:19-26 Numbers 25:1-9 1 Kings 18:36-40 Jeremiah 50:21-22 Judges 18:27-29 and that is just a smell bit of the killing! the one that gets me the most is Deuteronomy 22:23-24 Death to the Rape Victim!
Every quote you used is from the OT. The New Testament is drastically different and in parts condemns the OT as damning if one tries to follow it. You haven’t actually said anything against the poster you were responding to, as he wasn’t addressing the law of the Old Testament. You also missed his whole point lol
Sooo, the OLD testament didn’t fit in with modern times and HAD to be re-written in order for the church to seperate itself from the original Testament? Now, wait a minute. you can’t just change things around as you please, especially when it comes to the bible, the holy book. As said many times…we need to get rid of the impact religion has. It is out of control.
Well the one that renewed things was Jesus, and he is God and only God can change that he has done
Wait, neither YHWH nor Yeshua wrote any of the bible. It was all written long after the events in question by fallible men. So presumably we can rewrite and retranslate any part of it as we see fit. Obviously if god didn’t want any changes to the bible he would simply change it back.
The old testament was under the old covenant between God and His people. Once Christ was sacrificed for our sins the levitical code of priests was complete so there were no more sacrifices. Under the covenant with Christ we have grace instead of just the Law. If you have any questions just ask me, thanks.
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on Earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34-37
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be my disciple. ” Luke 14:26
~gentle Yeshua
You clearly didn’t do your homework here. I checked out several of the verses you posted that were supposed to be about killing and they werent even close to what you said. Also when Deut. 22:23-24 is talking about consentual ***** not rape. How do I know that, simple the hebrew word used is tabas and it means to hold. In the case of rape the word chazak is used (this word isnt in this verse) and it carries the notation of rape. This law was already mentioned previously in the book of exodus and if you want I will give a reference for it.
Bravo, goodness without god, my creed and and goal for mankind. Eminently unattainable but still worth a shot!
Christ preached to repent. None of us are good. That is why we need forgiveness.
I hate Joseph Smith more, but that’s just because I live in Utah and he’s jammed down my throat. Jesus isn’t special, I’m sure if I lived in the Middle East I would hate Muhammad just as much as I do Christ.
Maikeru76…..you are whats RIGHT with the world. Thank you.
Where are these "facts" about Horus, Krishna and others coming from? The bible is sourced, but I would like to know where this other info is derived. They all seems to come from Zeitgeist, which was a horribly cheesy "documentary" without any evidence or experts backing up any of the bold statements that are again repeated here. I have read much on Egyptian and Persian mythology, yet I don't recall many of the statements about Horus and Zoroaster above being mentioned at all in the ancient literature.
Sourced by the same group who believes dinosaurs aren't real and evolution is false.
Christians believe dinosaurs are real, just read the book of job ch. 40 it mentions behemoth and how large he was, it was obviously a dinosaur.
job, one of the oldest books in the bible mentions the beomoth, leviathan and unicorn as being real. There is no proof that evolution is real. The theory of evolution falls short with survival of the fittest because of the giraffe’s presence in modern society and of one speices changing to another with proof that overturned the theory of genetic mutation. since there is nothing that proves the theory of divine purpose (creationism) wrong, there is no reason to knock those who believe in it.
Not sure if troll or just retarded
Which bible is sourced? Who is the source? How is this confirmed?
how about the fact that the egyptian creator of the world was depicted as a man crowned he was also a potter and created the first man(Atum) from clay. Called amen, was the king of kings, etc, ect. long story short the egyptians god was your god.
I have heard of all the facts about Horus and I only have a passing high school exposure to Egyptian culture. I’m a little skeptical that you can have both an “extensive” knowledge of this subject and yet not have heard of the facts presented…I’m sure it’s one or the other.
Wait a minute, the bible is backed by what evidence? The only evidence for the bible is the bible. And if we use the bible as a reference, which version of each story do we believe, because so many stories are told with details that are vastly different. The source for all of these religious fables is handed down through generations and none are “provable”… most obviously because they are all a bunch of tales told to try and explain the things that the people of the ancient world couldn’t understand.
i agree …………..
I'd be interested to see where this information comes from. Not that that it is the end all of factual information, but I checked out Dionysus in Wikipedia and though it has a lot of information, it never mentions a December 25th birth, nor the the titles of "sin-bearer", "king of kings", etc. that are cited here.
In fact, when you read the citation in Wikipedia, Dionysus led a much different life than Jesus. The parallels are reduced tremednously.
It does concern me that we are creating exactly the type of mis-information that will confuse our descendants. Tweaking referenced stories to be ‘more’ similar to rather static biblical or other religious texts sort of voids all research or comparisons. This is counter intuitive. Rather, it is safe to say there are many similarities though I don’t believe these should take away from their timeless lessons.
Wow. It is not the position of the religious to judge the beliefs or opinions of non-believers. To do so is arrogant. When will your blind faith give way to the intellectual light of reality? Religion has been around for thousands of years, in one form or another, and yet you so easily cast away that with which you do not agree as either mythology or blasphemy.
What it comes down to is that no one, believer or not, has the right to judge another for his or her belief. Why is it so incredibly difficult for you to accept others. Right or wrong, you have to share this planet with them. If he or she is wrong, that's one less person with whom you have to spend eternity. At the same rate, if you blind and arrogant few are the ones who are right… what makes you think we want to spend eternity with you?
Get over yourselves. No one is perfect and none of this can be proven. That's what makes religion faith-based. That's what makes faith so important. Lay off each other's differing opinions. As far as I'm concerned, it's all mythology until the that day comes.
Such cruelty and judgments are what create so many problems and so much hatred. You want to try to live a good life that your god would appreciate? Maybe you should try to accept all people and love all people as brothers and sisters and get over your petty differences. We are only human and are inherently faulted, we will never know or understand divinity.
Have a blessed day.
That is a good word Travis that we cannot judge one another, but I do want you to know that you can "know" and "understand" divinity. Jesus said in Matthew 7 that if we seek (God) we will find (Him). He also goes on to say that "the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." There is something truly incredible about a person that seeks to know the one true God. I challenge you to dig a little deeper and be open minded to what Jesus had to say. If you can be talked into something you can be talked out of it. Personal experience is the only way to know God …who was ultimately made known by Jesus the son of God.
The problem is that Jesus did not say much. When you consider the first gospel was written forty years after his death and the last was one hundred or so years after his death I do not know how you attribute this to your Jesus. It seems claims of Jesus and god are nothing but assertions that cannot be verified in any way. Nothing outside of the bible tells of a virgin birth, a man coming back from the dead, and going up in the cosmos to some heaven except in previous mythologies. Your Jesus story is no more factual than the other myths. The previous myths don;t have to be Christ like to show it is nonsense.
Here’s proof today: check out the website.
you should check out josephus’s writings. He was a jewish historian who left when rome destroyed jerusalem in 70 ad. He mentions Jesus and his resurrection on the third day.
if jesus would have said a lot, it wouldn’t have mattered because people believe what they want in the end. as someone once said “if the dead came back to tell you about eternity, you still wouldn’t believe” so who cares if jesus has similarities with other god-like figures. some of you still don’t believe reguardless and if you don’t believe, in this text you don’t need to be here making arguements about it.
thank you, the spiritual path of enlightenment is with love and self development
Smithstar15, it pains me that I, an atheist, have to explain to you, a Christian, some facts about your Bible, but apparently that is the case.
For starters, Siddhartha Gautama Buddha obviously DID exist. The fact that you would deny a clear fact just shows your obvious historical ignorance to favor Jesus' existence. As I mentioned, I am an atheist and even MY opinion is that Jesus probably did exist, just not as Christians portray him. But through typical Christian arrogance, you dispute the indisputable. But I'm not surprised. I've never met a Christian who knew much about history, because the more history one learns, the more Christianity is clearly shown to be a fictitious amalgam of other, older religions, and a weak amalgam at that.
Also, by taking the Gospels literally "as Gospel", you seem to be unaware of the fact that the writers of the Gospels almost certainly never met Jesus himself. Matthew the disciple did not actually write the Gospel of Matthew. It was written by an unknown author a couple hundred years after Jesus' death and attributed TO Matthew and his point of view. Same with the other 3 Gospels. Everything written in the Bible, especially the New Testament is written by men who not only never met Jesus Christ, but whose great-grandfathers hadn't even been born when Jesus had already joined the choir invisible. Bet they didn't teach you THAT in Sunday school.
I also found it amusing that your post is pretty much the only one here thus far that contains profanity, even though you profess to be Christian. Also not a surprise, as Christians tend to be far more inwardly ugly and more hypocritical than the average nonbeliever. After all, was it not Matthew who said "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" If the meek do indeed inherit the earth, as Jesus taught, you clearly will not be included. Lots of pent-up anger there, pal, for a supposed Christian. But I'm not surprised. Hardly any "Christians" these days follow the Christian teachings as they were given. They just proclaim themselves Christians because they think it makes them better than everyone else. Sorry, dude, but it doesn't. Hate to break it to you.
Atropos77,
I read your post. It is exceptionally disappointing that Smithstar15 needs to behave so inappropriately. Maybe it is because he is only 15. I don't know.
Yeah, after reading your post, it would appear that your historical understanding of Christian history and the Gospels authorship needs to be revisited. The Gospel writers, John and Matthew, knew Jesus and traveled with Him. Luke and Mark, got the information from sources that knew Jesus. Luke questioned those who had been around Jesus. Mark got his information directly from the Apostle Peter.
P.S. Communism, an atheistic philosophy, has been directly linked to over 100 million deaths.
Blessings,
j.
Incorrect. Biblical scholars widely accept that the authors of Matthew and Luke copied a significant portion of their work from the author of Mark. As such, the author of Matthew could not be a companion of Jesus. It is also accepted that the author of John was not a companion of Jesus.
P.S. Philosophies can be wrong and leaders can be evil, even when they’re not affiliated with a religion. It’s also well-known that such communist regimes attempt to adopt religion-like qualities to control the people. See Lenin’s Russia and particularly KJI’s North Viet for superb examples.
Bah, North Korea, not Viet. Anyway, Kim Jong-Il has been installed as a figure of worship in the country.
I’m not an Atheist but I fully agree with you completely.
@atropos77 firstly why would you jump down a 15 year old’s throat.. no need for that. secondly you missed the first words in any bible right before the table of contents those are “inspired by god” not “written by god” or any of his followers. the bible is the inspired word of god (according to christian faith) they believe that god inspired the words in the bible and that the jesus story is based on actual accounts (not actually written by the people who experienced them). and just as my great grandmother can tell me something she experienced and i can pass it to my grandchildren and one of them can write it down, several of the accounts were passed down and later written. that doesn’t make them false or ficticious. if that were the case everything ever written (at least in early writings)would be false or ficticous because we really don’t know who wrote the passages we now read. in the end christianity, like all religions , is faith based. it is based on what you believe to be real. as for his or her profanity.. well that is between them and their god(if they choose to believe one) and you also have to consider that everything that says it is christian is not as people can and do lie.
Odin is definitely a glaring omission. Anyway, for those who think similarities between the few figures on this list who are actually dying/resurrecting gods and Christ do any damage to Christianity, you'll want to see what C.S. Lewis says on that.
Where do I find what C.S. Lewis has to say?
Thanks
Great list. I knew about most of these, but aside from Zoroaster, I never would have thought of them as “Jesus-like.”
Did you know another major figure in the Zoroastrian religion is Ahura “Mazda”?
Ahura Mazda (gret soul) is not a figure but a state of being kind of like atman in Samkyayoga
Very good reading Rushfan. Thank you.
#2 is Mithra, right ?
I’m going to have a nice conversation with my Christian girlfriend tomorrow
i laughed out loud when i read that !
Sorry to say, krishna and jesus similarities are so vague.
Of course they are. Krishna is spelled with a K and Jesus with a J.
Nice list, very controversial. Most of the Greek figures i cannot see a resemblance. However, Zoroaster and all the other Eastern figures certainly do have similarities.
I saw a documentary saying that around the exact time when Jesus was past 7… which is when nothing was written about him apparently… there was a child Dalai Lama or something rather (Buddha’s reincarnation?) that came from Israel and was taken to Tibet and taught. It drew parallels between the 3 Magi from Jesus’s birth and Buddhists priests/lords who search for their Dalai Lama (something rather, or Buddha’s reincarnation… can’t remember).
It explains a lot why Jesus’ teachings about God, humanity and religion are more peaceful and Buddhist-like rather than the more-aggressive God of the Jews/Islam. But… it’s a claim that will possibly never be verified, just as most mysteries of history.
Religion is boring.
Why am I not on this list?
i lolled at the picture for #6!
11. Jd8coke:
the title says “10 Christ-like Figures Who Pre-Date Jesus”
There is nearly nothing similar between Jesus and Odysseus. Odysseus was King of Ithaka, not a carpenter. He was no son of God. He wanted to return home to his wife and son, and when he did, he killed several suitors trying to marry his wife. True Odysseus’ companions may have been dimwitted to some degree, they are really not comparable to the disciples. Odysseus’ men had been lost at sea for years, and had gotten a little stir crazy. I think that this comparison is a huge stretch and is counting on the hope that readers don’t know much about Odysseus. There is nothing “Christ-like” about Odysseus. Odysseus embodies man’s ability to use cleverness to survive. Plus Odysseus kills men, is unfaithful to his wife, blinds the cyclops, and even considers lopping off one of his companions’ heads when he back talks him. Tsk, tsk, a little research would have led you to a better example from the Greek tradition, perhaps Apollo, also called the savior of men?
You forgot Quetzalcoatl of Toltec/Aztec lore. He was born of a virgin, died and rose again 3 days later.
joanne: me too – that is why I included it
I wish I could pee and drink at the same time – it would save me a LOT of time at bars.
something to think about…hmmm…
http://www.christian-thinktank.com/copycat.html
interesting article on the topic
Not really. It's a tortured attempt to deny actual research.
Gods were just a cycle of mythology.
Romulus and Remus were raised by wolves, and later went on to build the city of Rome. While arguing over what to name the city, Romulus tricked Remus into jumping into the river and drowning himself, thus taking all the credit. This doesn’t sound all too Jesus-like to me.
16. jfrater:
but if you could pee and drink simultaneously you’d have to be standing in front of the urinal in the men’s room all the time while all the women are having fun outside now that would suck
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attis
Btw, how can Glycon pre-date Jesus if he was created in the mid 2nd century, around 150 years after Jesus’ birth?
Jesus wasn’t beheaded, John the Baptist was. Again…spectacular research from another author who cares more about making a point than true accuracy. You need a salt-lick next to you while reading historical lists on this site.
"Subsequent fate of the baptiser: Beheaded".
It says right there that John the Baptist was the one beheaded, not Jesus. Read a little more carefully before criticising others.
owneddddd! get your own salt lick……ahahhaha "cares more about making a point than true accuracy" – applies directly to yourself. idgaf if this was 87 weeks ago youre an idiot
Not that this is a fascinating list…but you’ve got to take Zeitgeist with a pinch of salt, some of it consists of true crackpot theories
Religitards are afraid to think for themselves. There is no god. Get over it.
A very interesting list which confirms the fact that Christianity was just pieced together from aspects of existing religions and cults.
Don’t forget the Roman god Mithras, mainly worshipped by soldiers and men of the lower orders. He was born on December 25th, began his ministry at age 30, was worshipped through an eucharist, died and came back to life after three days.
I was expecting to see the god Odin in Norse/germanic mythology who impaled himself on Yggdrasil (the world tree), giving himself to himself in a world of pain, to discover the runes for the good of humanity.
In Old Testament times there was nothing unusual about being “a” messiah. Various people throughout the OT are called that, including a non-Jew, Cyrus the Persian. The word originally meant “chosen” or “anointed”. After the failure and/or death of all of them, expectation arose about the coming of “the” messiah, which Christians proclaim in Jesus of Nazareth.
The fact that the 25th of December keeps cropping up is quite weird considering nowhere in the Bible is this date attested to be the birth date of Jesus.
Phil E. Drifter, why do you assume that those who have come to the conclusion that there is a God have not thought for themselves and are fearful retards?
Is it because you deem the idea to be foolish and because it is foolish it can’t be true, therefore those who believe it are also foolish?
I also agree with Pretzolio, where are the facts to back these claims and shouldn’t there be referenced sources? Not to say that it is the be-all and end-all of information, but a simple wikipedia search on the above individuals hardly seems to corrolate with what’s been said here, and the similarities that are there have been puffed up to make them sound more profound.
One cautionary measure I’d suggest is using christian terminology to substitute for events or acts that in essence aren’t the same. It’s a common ploy among Christ-Mythers.
Do you not think that there may only be one supreme God and one son-of-God, but in different cultures are called different things and depicted different ways?
That’s what I like to think anyway
This list also probably needs Tammuz (also Adonis – a later variant of Tammuz). He’s a near eastern fertility god with a death and resurrection mythos, often cited as a proto Christ figure.
Gina: Or perhaps there is one God an one Son of God, and that knowledge of them both has existed since the dawn of time, as well as the hope that this God would come down and save humanity. Therefore, over time, as civilization developed, knowledge of the aforementioned became distorted resulting in a myriad of religions with similar themes and beliefs.
Would also makes sense that if this God eventually did come to earth, one way to reach out to all the peoples who had adopted these religions would be to do the very things they would be expecting an incarnated God to do.
Also the fact is that whilst there are similarites, religions tend to disagree on content and intent. They could all be wrong but only one of them can be right. One of Jesus’ claims was that He is the Way, the Truth and the Light, so in effect He claimed to void all other religions.
That’s not to say, however, that expression of belief in Him couldn’t be different according to different cultures. Kind of like if you took an indian fisherman and an inuit fisherman. They both have the same occupation and are both experts, but they do it differently in accordance with their culture and environment.
My previous statement of these questionable “facts” about Horus, Krishna and others was not in defense of God or Religion, I am an Atheist; regardless of belief this article/list, like the Zeitgeist movie, simply contains much non-factual misinformation presented as fact and is very misleading. Do indeed as “Stizzy” says and look up these individuals on Wikipedia, you will find little in their bios that resembles those found on this list.
Also for a more intellectual arguement on the topic check out this Skeptic Magazine article about Zeitgeist (presumably where the author of this info derived their information from):
http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/09-02-25.html#feature
Wolvesofodin and Metalwrath: The problem with the Jesus/Odin comparisong is that Hávámál – the poem in which the story of Odin hanging in Yggdrasil was not written until around year 800. I know it is build on much older oral tradiotions, but perhaps the story have been influenced by Christanity…we will never know.
What about Apollonius of Tyana? Apollonius was pretty similar to Jesus in that he healed people, was put to death for his religious beliefs, and came back to life. He was mentioned in The Bible episode of Penn & Teller’s BS. However, he probably didn’t really “predate” Jesus since he lived at around the same time.
What about Socrates? He was a great teacher that went against the establishment and was killed for it. Just a thought.
The list shows alot of those who by myth or legend were trying to be the messiah. It wasn’t until Jesus Christ came along sent by His Father who is God into the world so at last a Savior was amongst us. Jesus proclaimed the truth and the way to everlastuing life. His sacrifice for us and his ressurection proclaims his victory and our victory as well to salvation. Glory and Honor to Him.
Interesting list, i have to agree with pretzolio on this one, how much of this was made up, and how much did you get out of those books you mention? I also wonder how much in those books you mention was made up. which parts did you get from which books? can you reference any scientific/historically proven book?
seems to me to be more propaganda
I guess some of y’all didn’t understand the into. I’m not claiming to be a scholar on this topic. Others make that claim and make claims about these figures. I already said I don’t have a stake in whether it’s true or not. Take this list for what it’s worth. If that’s nothing to you, don’t bother with it. I think it’s a fascinating topic and wrote a list of the examples often used on this subject.
ah…you forgot about me…Thomas Edison…ya..I’ll smite you.
Both Christianity and Judiasm evolved from Zoroasterism, which was the first mainly montheistic religion. Both picked and chose many of Zoroasterism’s teachings to incorporate into their beliefs. It makes sense that Jesus was one of those teachings.
Suoehprom, I’m assuming that you are referring to #1 while complaining that the list’s author said that Jesus was beheaded. Maybe you should read that again, as it was clearly stated that the baptisER was beheaded, not Jesus the baptisee.
If you’re just going to jump on here to make a pompous complaint, you should probably brush up on your reading skills so that you don’t make a fool of yourself in the future. If you don’t like Listverse’s lists, then by all means, go away and take your smug arrogance with you.
suoehprom
Boy,have you got it right.Most of this list is horse***** but that’s not the point of it. Make Siddhartha,who never existed, equal to Jesus Christ and “BINGO”–Jesus Christ never existed as well–This is nothing new.This ploy has been used by the Godless for years.Jesus Christ is my king and Savior. But I no longer try to convince others which is wrong in me but I know longer have the heart. Let everyone believe as they may and let the chips fall where they may.You would be surprised how many idiots on this board believe Oprah was raised on the 3rd day.
This list is crap. Have fun burning in hell, blasphemers.
Rushfan- Its a great list to read. Thanks mate for the contribution. These type of lists always bring out alot of insught and debate.
I’m confused by all the people saying to use wikipedia as a source….it’s not generally a source of 100% factual information because it’s written by random people who can say whatever they want. Maybe I’ll go edit the jesus entry. I hate wikipedia.
rushfan often produces good lists, and this one’s no exception, though I do think she takes a couple liberties here and there, and misses including a couple figures who should have been on the list. (Mithras being one).
But since ancient Greece is one of my specialties–and because the story of Odysseus is key to the book I myself am writing–I have to point out the errors in the entry on Odysseus, firstly, and then I’ll address Dionysius.
So, Odysseus first: In all my years studying ancient Greek both in college and on my own initiative, I have run across very few scholarly works claiming a parallel between Odysseus and Jesus. Both fit the cyclic and mythic mode of the hero, it’s true, and in that sense they bear a relationship to one another, but it’s a tenuous one at best. I don’t even recall Joseph Campbell making any statements about Odysseus being a “Christ-like” figure per se, though again, there is a certain degree of shared heroism between the two.
At any rate, where Dionysius is a very appropriate choice here, Odysseus is quite *in*appropriate. Odysseus is not divine or even semi-divine. His parents were both mortals and his lineage is mortal. He suffers, yes, but his suffering is of the “purging” variety, not the suffering which Christ endures as a means to an end (i.e., the atonement for mankind’s sins). Christ’s suffering is therefore epic and symbolic in nature, whereas Odysseus’, while to some degree symbolic of the movement from barbarism to civlized behavior (as a figure, Odysseus leaves the end of the Trojan War as symbol of violence and destruction–in short, barbarism–and must suffer his travails in order to come home, finally, restored to his status as a civilized being) is more of a thematic element of his personal story–Odysseus suffers not so much for a purpose as for simply *being* Odysseus–he has exhibited hubris before Poseidon and Poseidon makes him suffer for it. And the story of Odysseus’ journeys is the story of his suffering.
In addition, of course, Odysseus was NOT a carpenter—this mistake comes from, probably, the fact that Odysseus builds the bed for himself and his wife, and is spoken of as working to build his home in ways that we don’t expect of a king–but in fact this is merely indicative of the true nature of Bronze Age kings in Greece, who were less the kingly figures we think of when we imagine, say, medieval royalty, and more like warlords. Some, surely (such as Agamemnon) were more “kingly” than others, but many (such as Odysseus) were simply warriors who had carved out a small kingdom but were otherwise farmers, shepherds, fishermen and the like. At any rate, Odysseus is simply a handy man who, yes, can build things with his hands–but in fact if anything he is basically a farmer. As is his father, Laertes.
The final point made, regarding Odysseus bringing his followers out of darkness–this is reaching a bit. It’s true Odysseus must find his way out of the darkness of barbarism in order to return home as a civilized man again–but we must remember that Odysseus’ companions DO NOT MAKE IT HOME with him. They all die. In a sense their lives are part of the price he pays for his transformation back into the Odysseus of Ithaka. In short, then, Odysseus’ men do not benefit from his transformation or his final triumph, and this is most definitely not a parallel with the Disciples of Jesus. Moreover, Odysseus must return to one final bloodletting (actually two, if one counts the final battle on his father’s farm with the fathers of the slain suitors–though only one of these dies, if memory serves me) and then he has re-established his kingdom. For Jesus the bloodletting is personal–he meets his ultimate suffering in his scourging and crucifixion, and this cannot be said to reasonably parallel Odysseus’ fate.
There IS an interesting end note to this though. It’s said in later tradition that Odysseus will not die until he carries a staff (I think that’s what it was) to a spot on Ithaka, and there he’ll finally pass from the world. This DOES recall Jesus carrying his own cross through the streets of Jerusalem—but again, it’s more interesting as a point regarding Jesus than it is Odysseus–in other words, it’s more interesting the way Jesus repeatedly fulfills all the mythic requirements of the life of the hero, including the solitary march to a final death which is often the postscript to heroic sagas (but is never part of the ACTUAL saga–Odysseus’ death does not occur in The Odyssey and is not mentioned except in separate tradition).
BTW… a certain a-hole who shall go nameless has once again made an absurd assertion—namely, that the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) never existed.
The uninformed and ill-informed should never make statements that they wish to pass off as factual. IN FACT there is just as much evidence for the existence of Buddha (that is, Siddhartha) as there is for Jesus–in fact, there can be said to be MORE. I, of course, have repeatedly defended the factual REALITY of Jesus as an actual person who DID exist, on this site, against detractors who claim he did not. But equally there is certainly a good deal of evidence for the existence of the Buddha—at least as much as there is for any other figure of the time.
Mithras?
“Both Christianity and Judiasm evolved from Zoroasterism, which was the first mainly montheistic religion. Both picked and chose many of Zoroasterism’s teachings to incorporate into their beliefs. It makes sense that Jesus was one of those teachings.”
Doesn’t Judaism predate Zorosterism by at least several hundred years, if not more?
Interesting list. I don’t believe a word of it, but it’s interesting.
And the picture for number 6, it looks more like he’s changing wine into water, rather than water into wine.
Great list, rushfan! I actually liked this one because I believe all of them are myths. Including jesus. I just love mythology!
Gina, It would make sense that other cultures might adapt christ-like figures of their own. I guess the last one on the scene wins. Like a battle or something.
Love the pic for #6.
This could get very interesting today.
Atropos77
Gee,thank you for clearing that up for me and showing me the light. Since I only went to the 4th grade and wasn’t required to read “Siddhartha” in philosophy 101,I’m just a dumb hick who’s never heard all this drivel before. And thank you for pointing out my shortcomings.
“They just proclaim themselves Christians because they think it makes them better than anyone else”. –You know,that may be the dumbest statement ever made in the history of man–I don’t think I’m better than anybody. I have more than my share of faults. And I may possibly be the meanest son-of-a-***** on here but I will never deny my lord,Jesus Christ.I’m getting old now but I’ve fought,got drunk and chased *****s with the best of them but I loved my lord thru it all.And I will never deny him.Never. I feel sorry for you. Well actually,I don’t.
It’s a well known fact: Christianity is in fact bull*****.