The Jesus Mysteries

[Shade]

As mentioned by Mr B in the God thread, I have just finished reading a book entitled 'The Jesus Mysteries' by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy.

For all those who participated in the 'God' and 'Why why why' threads I would say if you haven't read it yet, get yourself a copy.

[Shade]

I also came across this today on the net.

My advice though would be to print it off unless you want to entertain eye strain.

http://www.sullivan-county.com/news/mine/jesus_myth.htm

p.s. please note that I am not saying this is my belief, and I didnt write the article. I find it provides some good food for thought though, and would suggest that before any disputes that may occur the reader checks all of the information through thorough independent research.

[Shade]

Here is another little snippet of wisdom from that vast resource known as the internet.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/9104/

[Kwajman]

WHat is the jist of the story...

[Shade]

WHat is the jist of the story...

It is basically a research paper written by two academics that asks, amongst other questions, whether the original jesus was a pagan god, and goes on to investigate the possibility of this and the other questions raised.

As well as presenting many hours of thought provoking arguments, it also comes with approximately 104 pages of very detailed source material so that the reader can check, double check and cross reference absolutely every comment and quote in the book.

A very interesting read and heartily recommended.

[Kwajman]

Interesting, thanks!

[David]

How can Jesus be a pagan god when he was certifiably an Aramaic chap who was raised in Judaism (or whatever) and was written about by fans not long after his death?

Of the new testament, I think it was like 70 years after his death that the first was written. Hardly going back to mythological times, is it?

Reading can be such a waste of time!

Rgds,
David

[Shade]

Read the book and find out. Its very simple really ;)

[Shade]

David, sorry for hi-jacking your thread about other religions.

Re the Jesus Mysteries book....

Probably doing it a serious injustice, it is basically putting forward the theory that the story of Jesus is purely an extension of the widespread and centuries old Pagan belief system of Osiris-Dionysus, and is in line with the beliefs of such noted scholars and mathmeticians as Aristotle, Empedocles, Pythagoras, Anaxagoras, Plato and Socrates (to name just a few).

Looking at a site such as http://www.kabbalah.com/k/index.php/

i notice that it mentions three of these people as having been involved in a study of Kabbalah.

Because of this one wonders if there might be something of interest to you.

[iNfInItE aRt]

i am ****

[Shade]

Originally posted by iNfInItE aRt
i am ****


As they say all over the world, pardon?

[David]

Jesus has been grafted onto every god-myth out there. Everything from his birthday which was affixed to the pagan Winter Solstice through all his life-events up to his death and even post-mortem.

The Old Testament is high in Kabbalistic content and the Torah (1st five books of OT) were written by Moses who was an advanced kabbalist.

Kabbalah is able to absorb any spiritual idea or system without corrupting itself because it mainly comes down to method rather than doctrine.

I would have expected Jesus to be a kabbalist if his enthusiasm and early wisdom have any basis in fact. The 10 Commandments are pure kabbalah.
The Lord's Prayer is pure kabbalah, the Cross is pure kabbalah.

By trying to be all things to all people and because it was used as a political weapon, it's incredible that Christianity isn't laughed off the face of the Earth. Still,, I guess the fear runs deep ;).

I learn from the Bible; the Torah and New Testaments being my favourite partly because they cover landmark stages: Torah the creation, NT the Messiah.

Rgds,
David

[Saz]

Originally posted by iNfInItE aRt
i am ****

This might be a good time to remind you of the rules you agreed to follow when you registered, one of which was No Swearing!

[Shade]

I still don't get it anyway.

I cant think of a 4 letter swear word that would fit in to make any sense to the statement.

[aikiwolfie]

Ok I looked at the link "http://www.sullivan-county.com/news/mine/jesus_myth.htm" and to behonest from the outset it came across as the opinion of someone who is affraid of change. It's not about Jesus it's about Jews converting to Christianity.

For a more balanced discussion look at http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/sog/index.shtml

[kataman]

Sorry you guys but I got say this for your own philosophical good. Personal feelings aside, there is JUST as much evidence for Jesus and the scripture as there is for any other paricular ideal, this is why it has not been laughed off the face of the earth. There is no sword to your throat forcing you to convert to Islam or any other religion is there, that’s why this forum can exist in the first place. The link shown earlier only points out some of the facts (and some of the not so facts) in an attempt to combat Christianity (funny it wasn‘t Buddhism or Islam or Hinduism, or Judaism or ect.). I am comfortable in saying combat because I have read many books discussing such subjects and there is a clear difference between this and a writing which states and sustains a belief in whatever, without trying to disprove it‘s philosophical rival. The problem with any all inclusive religion that while “absorbing” religions it corrupts the essence of the original philosophy. Example, If the prophet Mohamed or Jesus the messiah or The Buda was who he said he was and did what history indicates he may have done then by any other means not describe by that man’s particular philosophy man will stray from the path his creator/fate made for him. If you were to put this on the table as a truth and all else a lie (only one road leads home) then by mixing with any other religion you have a bastardization. Contrarywise, if any other religion (say Islam or Atheism, oh yes it is a religion...one which assumes stuff is created from nothing) then it would no longer be that religion. By Creating a religion which can conform religions we spit in the face of all religions and a good portion of standard college philosophy. If any thing can be said to be true it must be constant (yes it is or no it is not) If a philosophy has 99 yes it is so’s and 1 no this is not the case, than it is no longer a complete truth but a 99% truth and we can’t have that. No guy’s, instead of attacking religions you should understand your own and state it for what it is, if you can’t GO NO FURTHER PLEASE. figure life out for yourselves, chose how you side with and don’t be afraid to question your own ideas yourself.

[kataman]

Don't take that the wrong way anyone, My underlying point is that a philosophy that stands by the attacking of another is short lived. And a philosophy that includes all philosophies is no philosophy at all. Every time a philosophy student hears something that sounds like one of these his/her brain dose this :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :cry:

[Cougar_v203]

notice the blank stare?? and the blank head "........."? wooo I'm brain dead after that speech :D.

after reading this topic I can only come up with one thing...GOD IS MESSING WITH OUR MINDS!! :cry: and I think he's enjoying it too ;) :D

[AZeitung]

"There was absolutely no historical evidence that Jesus, Joseph or Mary ever existed, let alone that Joseph was a carpenter or that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and lived in Nazareth."

Wow, is this statement false. There is just as much evidence for Jesus as a lot of ancient historical figures, who's existence we do not question.

Even if we limit our historical evidence to to bible (even if you don't believe it's correct, it is still evidence for the existence of Jesus, since it's a compilation of multiple sources that referr to him) there's still fairly decent evidence for his existence. However, there are many non-Christian sources as well, which I won't get into right now.

Also, a lot of historians think that King Arthur probably existed. Based on what I've read, the evidence for Arthur is quite a bit more shady than the bible. On a side note, Riothamus' existence isn't questioned and there's a possibility that he was Arthur. However, we have to make some comprimises to assume that, which aren't totally unreasonable.

Sorry about that, I had to force myself not to go on a rant about King Arthur. Last summer, I thought about writing a fictional novel about a slightly more historical version of King Arthur, and did a lot of research about both him and the Celts. Also, I read a lot of Geoffrey of Monmouth's pseudo history.

[Wali]

Here is another little snippet of wisdom from that vast resource known as the internet.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/9104/

I went to the link, and early on read this " you are a friend of a Christian who needs help or are a Christian yourself, you have come to the right place. Within this site you will find the necessary steps that can help you or someone you love free themselves from the mental enslavement of this terrible disease"

I find this very offensive, and would ask that you respect the faiths of others. There are many things I find ridiculous with other beliefs and philosophies, but would never post or ridicule them here.

Cheers,
Wali