I like discussing these types of issues, but don't want to disrupt the scriptures thread, so here is one made for all sides to weigh in on. The story of Jesus seems like just a hodgepodge of stories from hundreds to thousands of years before Jesus was supposed to be here. Jesus is part Dionysus, part Krishna. Here are some of the stories that share attributes of Jesus. Asklepios healed the sick, raised the dead, and was known as the savior and redeemer. Hercules was born of a divine father and mortal mother and was known as the savior of the world. Prophets foretold his birth and claimed he would be a king, which started a search by a leader who wanted to kill him. He walked on water and told his mother, “Don’t cry, I’m going to heaven.” when he died. As he passed he said, “It is finished.“ Dionysus was literally the “Son of God”, was born of a virgin mother, and was commonly depicted riding a donkey. He healed the sick and turned water to wine. He was killed but was resurrected and became immortal. His greatest accomplishment was his own death, which delivers humanity itself. Osiris did the same things. He was born of a virgin, was considered the first true king of the people, and when he died he rose from the grave and went to heaven. Osiris’s son, Horus, was known as the “light of the world”, “The good shepherd”, and “the lamb”. He was also referred to as, “The way, the truth, and the life.” His symbol was a cross. Mithra‘s birthday was celebrated on the 25th of December, his birth was witnessed by local shepherds who brought him gifts, had 12 disciples, and when he was done on earth he had a final meal before going up to heaven. On judgment day he’ll return to pass judgment on the living and the dead. The good will go to heaven, and the evil will die in a giant fire. His holiday is on Sunday (he’s the Sun God). His followers called themselves “brothers”, and their leaders “fathers”. They had baptism and a meal ritual where symbolic flesh and blood were eaten. Heaven was in the sky, and hell was below with demons and sinners. Krishna had a miraculous conception that wise men were able to come to because they were guided by a star. After he was born an area ruler tried to have him found and killed. His parents were warned by a divine messenger, however, and they escaped and was met by shepherds. The boy grew up to be the mediator between God and man. Buddha‘s mother was told by an angel that she’d give birth to a holy child destined to be a savior. As a child he teaches the priests in his temple about religion while his parents look for him. He starts his religious career at roughly 30 years of age and is said to have spoken to 12 disciples on his deathbed. One of the disciples is his favorite, and another is a traitor. He and his disciples abstain from wealth and travel around speaking in parables and metaphors. He called himself “the son of man” and was referred to as, “prophet”, “master”, and “Lord”. He healed the sick, cured the blind and deaf, and he walked on water. One of his disciples tried to walk on water as well but sunk because his faith wasn’t strong enough. Apollonius of Tyana (a contemporary of Jesus) performed countless miracles (healing sick and crippled, restored sight, casted out demons, etc.) His birth was of a virgin, foretold by an angel. He knew scripture really well as a child. He was crucified, rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples to prove his power before going to heaven to sit at the right hand of the father. He was known as, “The Son of God”. the website I took all this from I'm interested in hearing how believers reconcile the story of Jesus with all these preexisting stories.
I don't believe Jesus was a real person. None of the evidence for an historical Jesus is reliable at all.
Agreed. I read a self published book by a historian who has been studying evidence for the existence of Jesus for 10 years. Very interesting, and there is certainly no conclusive evidence that he was a real person.
But real person or not, the biblical version of him, as evidenced in the original post, is completely false, just a compilation of stolen stories from days before his time. Virgin mother, stolen. Walked on water, stolen. Turned water into wine, stolen. And on and on and on. Same nicknames, same birth stories, same life stories and same death stories.
If its all just a bunch of stolen stories, than why do people live their life by it like its real!!!! People get all pissed if you don't believe in it. No different than if somebody started a church based on an old Spider-Man Comicbook! Sent from HCPs Baller-Ass iPhone 5...FAMS!
Sounds like you have been watching too much Zeitgeist. A little historical knowledge goes a long way. [video=youtube;KD40xi9KdqE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD40xi9KdqE[/video]
No, people get all pissed when you spout your opinion about something that you've never read or studied. #ignorance
If your looking for an objective (non-Christian) view of his life, I recommend this book: Jesus of Nazareth
You shut your blasphemous mouth about the Holy Web-slinger! He was bit by a radioactive spider for your sins!
Yeah it's funny when people claim the zeitgeist argument. It was such wag the dog claim. If people didn't know the true history; it would really sway people from the real Jesus.
Jesus was a real historical figure. There is more historical record of Jesus than Julius Caesar. So do we stop believe Caesar exist either? Lol!
So are all these stories that preceded Jesus false? Isn't it odd that almost every aspect of what Jesus did and said from birth to death was written in stories that preceded him? HailBlazers - And it is true I don't know that much of the new testament because I grew up Jewish, but I do Know of the Torah, I can read Hebrew (kind of, I used to be much better) and studied for two years to have my Bar Mitzvah. I understand the lure of religion and the bible, but I have come to not believe in it. I still go to synagogue a couple times a year to please my parents, and quite enjoy singing alone with the congregation, all the wonderful songs from my youth. I also understand that there is something wonderful about the community that comes from being a member of a religion. But, I am not blind, I have looked at the evidence and see no compelling arguments to suggest that any religion is anything but some fun stories (and some boring stories). You claim that we are ignorant, show me proof or even just a good argument of why all all these stories predate Jesus. Perhaps your argument will wipe away my ignorance.
