Some people believe that since a cross symbol was used in some pagan religions, jesus could not possibly have been crucified on a cross. This book is a readable and short response to tom harpurs the pagan christ, which argues that jesus never existed except as an allegorical understanding of true spirituality. The pagan origins of jesus christ unveiling the truth. Mark townsend sets the stage by exploring the historical. Tom harpur is a former anglican priest andprofessor of greek and new testament at the university of toronto. Jan 01, 1999 this book was extremely fascinating, full of exciting ideas. The present book seems to be as much a report of his subjective reaction to the evidence as. Biblical scholars are even speculating that one of the books might be the original book of revelations as it has seven seals and fits the. Nov 15, 20 tom harpur, exanglican minister and author of the pagan christ, discusses his discovery of the pagan origins of christianity. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. In january 2008, pagan christianity by frank viola the author and george barna rocked the christian world. The book also tells us when john was conceived so it. His name was iusa, according to gerald massey, and the name means, the coming divine son who heals or saves.
The page is dedicated to frank viola and george barnas groundbreaking. The problem is that i dont know how much of it i can believe. It is difficult to compare paganism with christianity since the term pagan can be used to identify many different sects and beliefs. The pagan beliefs surrounding christmasthe date jesus was. A book like this is certain to incite controversy, and the pagan christ has had its share, much of which has been unfair. They also note that the pagan christ theory offers scant evidence of how the gospel authors heard of the myths when pagan cultists guarded them as secrets. Was jesus a copy of horus, mithras, krishna, dionysus and. Jun 19, 2016 i am also amazed at you revelation of the pagan origins of jesus its awesome i have been trying to warn christian friends etc that we have been deceived, i am also a seeker of truth. Fort worth startelegram far from being eyewitness accounts, as is traditionally held, the gospels are actually jewish adaptations of ancient pagan myths of the dying and. There is an interesting popular science book named the jesus mysteries. A compelling read first published in 1871, history of the cross will be of interest to anyone wanting to know about the origins of christianity. Parallels between the christian gospels and pagan mythology. Ward documents a variety of ways in which christians were led to copy the rituals of pagans, all the while imploring them to give up their corrupted ways and return to the true teachings of jesus.
Just in time for resurrection weekend i am releasing my new book, jesus. Pagan origins of the christ myth getting started pocm. Many saw him as a pagan messiah and indeed, he was more popular than jesus for a time in the roman empire. The purpose of this brief essay is to confront the idea that the new testament concept of the death and resurrection of jesus was somehow borrowed or influenced by pagan religious traditions. Historical, biblical, apocryphal, mythical pagan copycat. Tom harpur, exanglican minister and author of the pagan christ, discusses his discovery of the pagan origins of christianity. For forty years and in nine previous books, scholar and religious commentator tom harpur has challenged church orthodoxy and guided thousands of readers on subjects. Jesus was just one of numerous crucified saviors found in various ancient religions. The pagan origins of jesus christ by truthunveiled777. Paul equally attested to knowing nothing about jesus birth, ministry and healings, which was alarming, as the origins of christianity itself derive from paul, and not jesus. In the ancient world he was called a magician, a fraud, a scientist and many even believed that he was a divine figure who could save humanity. This book was extremely fascinating, full of exciting ideas. After more than 52 weeks on the toronto stars bestseller list and 43 weeks on the globe and mails bestseller list, tom harpurs groundbreaking book, the pagan christ, is now available in paperback. Jesus christ was a pagan who worshipped a god who was both male and female, according to an ancient set of lead tablets that scientists have confirmed date to within a few years of jesus ministry.
Jesus was a mythical person created by stealing from pagan mystery religions. Feb 27, 2020 tom harpur writes in his book, the pagan christ, which is dedicated to alvin kuhn, there was a jesus in egyptian lore many thousands of years ago. Whether you conclude that this book is the most alarming heresy of the millennium or the mother of all revelations, the jesus mysteries deserves to be read. It takes courage for someone with harpurs background to promote such views. Recovering the lost light, it asks provocative questions at the heart of the christian religion. We need to rethink our entire concept of church and discover it afresh through the lens of jesus and the apostles. Jan 02, 2008 pagan christianity is a historical book that hates history.
Was the story of jesus christ recycled from pagan religions. Its important to note that the reason authors like bedard and porter are spending time on this topic is not because the idea of harpurs is a serious debate in the academic community. New testament scholars and historians usually avoid such marginal ideas, but as porter and bedard explain harpur has garnered more attention than most advocates of. Even in ancient times, critics of christianity noticed some parallels between. Liberal religion journalist and new testament scholar once a professor of nt at the university of toronto, thus no slouch has at last converted to the newly reascendant christ myth theory. Even if the jesus story doesnt sound completely new, they say, it is still possible to keep the. Mar 22, 2004 the pagan christ includes a new introduction by the the author as well as a twenty page chapter by chapter discussion guide with more then 100 questions to facilitate a deeper and more profound understanding of the findings and arguments discussed in this groundbreaking book praise for the pagan christ.
Rooted in historical facts, jacksons claims are steeped in research and demonstrate how christianity synthesizes the rituals, beliefs, and characteristics of savior gods from ancient egyptian, greek, aztec, and hindu origins. This new edition includes the twentypage discussion guide, with more than 100 questions, to help facilitate a deeper, chapterbychapter analysis and more profound understanding of the. May 01, 2006 jesus was a high priest of the ancient egyptian religion of isis and osiris. Aug 07, 2019 apollonius of tyana was a remarkable and complex person. Based on tom harpurs national bestseller, the pagan christ examines these very questions. Harpur claims that the new testament shares a large number of similarities with ancient egyptian and other pagan religions, that early. The traditional version of history bequeathed to us by the authorities of the roman church is that christianity developed from the teachings of a jewish messiah and that gnosticism was a later deviation. Was the new testament influenced by pagan religions. The pagan beliefs surrounding christmasthe date jesus was born. Harpur claims that jesus was not a historical figure, but was one version of an ancient myth that can be traced from ancient egyptian religion to the roman mystery cults. Biblical christianity professes one god, where paganism often teaches many or. Tom harpurs groundbreaking book, the pagan christ, is now available in paperback. This new edition includes the twentypage discussion guide, with more.
The argument of the book is that most of what we do in our inherited churches today does not come from jesus, the apostles, or the word of god, but out of pagan tradition. But the authors are convinced that all christianity from the secondcentury on has been wrong, unbiblical, and harmful to the gospel. What if the new testament is a myth, and jesus christ never existed. This groundbreaking book looks at one of the greatest coverups in history and dares to think the unthinkable about christianity that it was in fact a jewish mystery school modelled on the ancient pagan mysteries. Whether you conclude that this book is the most alarming heresy of the millennium or the mother of all. Greetings in the name of our father the only truth, i thank our father for your life and may he continue to bless, anoint, protect and be an enemy to your enemies. Before you like this page, its not a page for pagans or how christianity is pagan. The facts in harpurs book, as he notes, have largely been known to some scholars since the end of the 18th century. After doing some cursory reading online about the book, it appears that the jesus mysteries thesis has been around a long time and resurfaces every 10 or 20 years as exciting new research. Unmasking the pagan christ is a response to the book of tom harpurs called the pagan christ. The message bible exposed by churchwatcher on april, 2015 8.
Unlike religions where a sacred text such as the bible, the quran, or the bhagavadgita is accepted by adherents as a source of authority, pagan communities generally not only have no sacred text. Weve known for a long time that the message bible was a new age work by eugene peterson. Apr 19, 2012 was the story of jesus christ recycled from pagan religions. Jesus was a high priest of the ancient egyptian religion of isis and osiris. Constantines creation of jesus christ t has often been said that truth is stranger than f iction, and this has never been truer than as it relates to this weighty subject of the manmade creation of jesus christ. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. It was intended, like all myths, to be allegorical, and in this case the message is that the suffering of jesus, like the suffering of man, leads to a spiritual oneness with god. I am also amazed at you revelation of the pagan origins of jesus its awesome. Recovering the lost light is a 2004 nonfiction book by canadian writer tom harpur 19292017, a former anglican priest, journalist and. Video made by our brother truthunveiled777 that talks about the false jesus christ and the real yahushua hamashiach, our messiah and savior.
Paul doesnt even quote anything that jesus is alleged to have said, nor did any of jesus original twelve disciples write of his teaching. Apollonius of tyana was a remarkable and complex person. What you really need is a good book describing ancient pagan culture and religion. This documentary explores the theory, and how it would affect the over 2 billion christians around the world today.
He may well have opened himself up to devastating slander and professional marginalization. Harpur claims that jesus was not a historical figure. The myth of dionysus bears startling resemblances to the the story of jesus christ. Rochford many skeptics today claim that the resurrection of jesus originated from pagan myths about dying and rising godscommonly called the copycat theory of christianity.
Based on tom harpurs bestselling book the pagan christ. Was the resurrection of jesus a repackaged pagan myth. On their visit to the northern italian lakes jesus had the long talk with ganid concerning the impossibility of teaching a man about god if the man does not desire to know god. Drawing on the cutting edge of modern scholarship, this astonishing book completely undermines the traditional history of christianity that has been perpetuated for centuries by the church and presents overwhelming evidence that the jesus of the new testament is a mythical figure. I have to say that both are not widely accepted as proper researchers by other researchers. In some cases, there was no possible contact between the gospel authors and pagans. After more than 52 weeks on the toronto stars bestseller list and 43 weeks on the globe and mails bestseller list, tom harpurs groundbreaking book, the pagan christ, is now available in paperback this new edition includes the twentypage discussion guide, with more than 100 questions, to help facilitate a deeper, chapterbychapter analysis and more profound understanding of the. An ordained anglican priest, he was a proponent of the christ myth theory, the idea that jesus did not exist but is a fictional or mythological figure. Ahayah yashiyas blog jesus is a pagan god name given to us by the roman catholic churchvatican.
Jeff rose the bible hunters documentary there is an interesting popular science book named the jesus mysteries. God gave the chance for us to be able to redeem ourselves through the blood of his son. The main features of jesus birth, life, and death are reworkings of older myths and legends. Who knows, perhaps all of our pagan deities had origins in flesh and blood heroes that became gods as their legend grew.
Jackson sources the pagan origins of christian doctrine with particular focus on the creation and atonement myths. Apr 07, 2012 the jesus in the roman chatholic church is in fact not the real jesus in the bible. In fact, the myth of jesus virgin birth, martyrs death on the cross and resurrection is common to ancient pagan myths, specifically of ancient egypt. For those of us disenfranchised by the literalness of biblical interpretation, reverand harpurs book is a refreshing relief. Before jesus resembled a ram god, such as serapis and zeus, he was most often depicted beardless and youthful like apollo, or as a pagan hierophant of the eleusinian mysteries.
You wondered if the word cross or any items representing a cross should be used by christians. Oct 01, 2005 after more than 52 weeks on the toronto stars bestseller list and 43 weeks on the globe and mails bestseller list, tom harpurs groundbreaking book, the pagan christ, is now available in paperback. Wells argues there was no historical evidence of jesus existing. If you need a specialpurpose book to understand christianitys pagan origins, then probably christianity didnt have pagan origins. These claims have been around for hundreds of years and have become more prominent with wellknown religion columnist tom harpurs recent book, the pagan christ. Prudence jones and nigel pennick in their a history of pagan europe 1995 classify pagan religions as characterized by the following traits. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. He was the author of a number of books, including for christs sake 1986, life after death 1996, the pagan. Please, please dont quote from pauls letters he is a false apostle, he is that one who brought in the gospel of lawlessness. Pagan religions recognise a plurality of divine beings, which may or may not be considered aspects of an underlying unity the soft and hard polytheism distinction.
Nov 12, 2006 jesus called everyone who did not follow his rule or teachings pagan. Recovering the lost light is a 2004 nonfiction book by canadian writer tom harpur 19292017, a former anglican priest, journalist and professor of greek and new testament at the university of toronto, which supports the christ myth theory. To not believe that jesus shed his blood for your sins, and was resurrected, is an insult to god. Mr harpur synthesizes the scholarly writings of godfrey higgins, gerald massey and alvin boyd kuhn in a clearly readable challenge to find the christ in us.