Was the original Jesus a "pagan god"?

Question

http://www.bibleinterp.com/commentary/gandy_011701.htm

I mean the original Jesus, not the one who makes an awesome burrito in the Mission District ;)

Answer 1

There is nothing original about Christianity. There are hundreds of God-Man story cycles that match the New Testament concept of Jesus The Christ blow-by-blow and pre-date the advent of the Christian gospels by thousands of years.

The early Roman church placed their houses of worship over Pagan shrines; scheduled their holidays (Christmas, Easter and All-Saints Day, to name but three) on the same days/dates as the larger Pagan Festivals. Even "borrowed" symbols (The Celtic "Cross", the Five Pointed Star) and placated a populace unwilling to totally give up their Goddess sensibilities by elevating The Virgin to a stature far above her very few mentions in scripture of the day.

Contrary to popular belief, Christianity didn't just sweep in on the wings of a Higher Truth and replace thousands of years of Pagan beliefs and practice overnight. It seeped in, walking tippy-toe. and ingeniously took advantage of people who had many Gods, in male, female and even animal guise (see "The Holy Spirit") and simply changed the names to further a new spiritual authority.

And don't forget, the term "Pagan" became a dirty word to describe non-christian-believers among Christians; but it can be used by anybody to buttonhole anybody else who doesn't see deity "their way".

The term "heathen" only refers to "people of the heaths", meaning those who lived in deeply rural areas and were the last to get the memos on the newest, most politically correct belief systems.

No. "Jesus" wasn't "originally a Pagan God". Jesus, as we understand the idea today, is the offspring of hundreds of Pagan Gods. But you know...

as any Pagan would tell you; Jesus? Pan? Zeus? Mars?

It's all good.

Answer 2

ok, I stopped reading the article when I got to "The early Christians, known as Gnostics..." thinking this guys doesn't know what he's talking about, but decided I should continue reading, so i did...and decided he still doesn't know what he's talking about. Gnostics were NOT the true early Christians-if you do a study of early (im talking 1st and 2nd century) church history you will find this, and if you read the New Testament in it's entirety, you will see that the Christians during this time were warned about the Gnostics. However, I also believe the Catholic church is not the "original" church either. If you want to read more on this I suggest the Dictioanry of Early Christian Beliefs by David W. Bercot-or actually anything by this man-I believe he has really done his "homework". However, as a man he isn't perfect either...

Answer 3

I read your article, and its obviously fiction. Here's my proof.

The article claims to chronicle a pagan myth in which a son of a god is born to a virgin on the 25th of December. The article claims that this story originated BEFORE christianity.

However, Christians don't believe that Jesus was born on this date. In fact, there is no historical record documenting the date of Jesus birth. December 25th was selected, somewhat arbitrarily, as a day to observe Jesus birth. This was done by the church, long after Jesus death and resurrection.

So, if the Christian tradition doesn't accept December 25th as the actual birthday of Jesus, isn't it quite a coincidence that the dates line up so perfectly? Interestingly, the calendar that identifies December as a moth was created by the church, after Jesus. Thus we get the terms b.c. (before christ) and a.d. (latin for "in the Year of Our Lord.") So again, how can an ancient pagan myth originating before christianity have an event occuring in the modern calendar?

It is much more likely that this myth originated in the mind of your article's author as a rather poorly thought-out attempt to discredit christianity.

Answer 4

There are echos of pagan stories throughout the Jesus myth. Certainly a lot of the mysticism surrounding Jesus was adapted from these early mythologies as people at the time would have recognized them as signs of divinity.

There is another story of a messiah like figure that originated about the same time as the Jesus myth. I can't remember the name of the figure but this myth so nearly resembles that of Jesus that if a christian were told the story he would most likely assume that you were talking about Jesus.

Answer 5

I do not believe so, but I cannot clearly say yes or no. I believe that He was not a pagan god. I would recommend you speak to a Pastor, Priest or other ordained Christian person to receive an educated response. In essence we should all simply be tolerant of one another and although we may not have the same views as the majority or feel pressure to be "politically correct" we should respect what others believe. You don't have to believe it, and you don't have to accept it. If you are curious continue your research. I wish you great success and I applaud your curiosity.

Answer 6

They use the term Osiris which is Egyptian and combine it with Dionysus which is Greek. So right from the start your God is a combination of others. You are also overlooking the fact that Christ was foretold in the ancient scriptures which latter became the old testament. So it makes much more sense that Osiris-Dionysus which is already a synthesis of myths borrowed from the true God.
Sorry but you got it backwards.

Answer 7

The original Jesus was before the founding of the world.

Answer 8

I found the link very interesting and plan to research it a little mor myself but, as it stands I can agree with the author that someday in the future people will wonder how those of our time and before believe all this made up bs. I myself am a witch. You should also read the interpretation of "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live". Supposedly the translation is crappy and it doesn't refer to witchcraft at all.

Answer 9

Yes. Without doubt...... I had a vision of Jesus and since he enabled his Dolby special effect I could hear like an Oracle. He assured me of the fact he is a Pagan God and asked me to spread the word.
Coincidentally you asked the Question. Miracle!!! Jesus works in Mysterious way --- it’s a patented Hollywood dialogue

Answer 10

The original Jesus was a traveling salesman.