plenty of stories in ancient mythologies about gods implanting human females. by the time God "did" Mary (and please don't blush, because that's what happened) it was all pretty cliche.
2007-02-20 00:22:40 · 19 answers · asked by Brendan G 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Justicejamie: this has nothing to do with translations. It's just an observation that the demigod thing was old hate by the time of Jesus
2007-02-20 10:49:10 · update #1
should be hat
2007-02-20 10:53:05 · update #2
and plenty of myths about a god-man dying for his people and being resurrected in 3 days... having to consume his body/blood for eternal life, et al.. but, trust me, they're not going to admit that their entire faith is based on gnostic judaism married with paganism. That's just too much for them to handle.
2007-02-20 00:26:30 · answer #1 · answered by Kallan 7 · 5⤊ 5⤋
It wasn't "Cliche" it was a standard religious theme used expressly to explain in a norm all members of ancient Mediterranean society could understand: that this particular human was in some way heroic/special/worthy of listening to about religious matters. That is what a demigod was. By saying he had a divine parent was simply the accepted way of advertising that religious point of the story. I applaud your ability to ask the question, but your ability to answer it is obscenely sophomoric. Keep reading. And your terminology to express this ancient religious theme of gods and goddesses having sexual encounters with humans just shows what a serious scholar you are! Bravo! Thanks for telling us not to blush.
2007-02-20 08:34:56 · answer #2 · answered by Not Your Muse 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Brendan, Before you offer or express your views on a topic that factually has many translations please make sure you know exactly what your talking about. Be ready to back all you say with facts or try not to be so general in your wording on a topic that has so many translations and every Christian may have thier own beliefs and come from many denominations but, the unified belief in Jesus Christ is what is so sacred to Christians as a whole. I do respect your view or opinion but, I'm simply suggesting that such a topic when being discussed or opinions are expressed; try to be more careful in your wording and how you come across. By the way I have to express my opinion on your claim that God "did"Mary; that's not "what happened". (fact) Please do your research before claiming this statement as fact. take care justicejamie888@yahoo
2007-02-20 08:47:45 · answer #3 · answered by justicejamie888 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First, there was no sex between God and Mary, if there had been it wouldn't have been a virgin birth, right? And second, Jesus is no demigod. I used to play D&D. Demigod implies half-human, half-god, like Hercules. Jesus was 100% God and 100% man.
2007-02-21 06:55:09 · answer #4 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, that's not what happened. If you take the phrase "the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee" in modern slang, then yes, God "did" Mary... but the Bible was written 2000 years ago, and the next phrase is "and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee" (Luke 1:35). But, in Acts 1:8, the Holy Ghost *also* came upon the disciples as well, endowing them with various gifts of healing, tongues, etc. The act of the Holy Spirit indwelling within a person isn't about a sexual act... it is about creating, be it life, abilities, strength, hope, faith, etc.
Here's a small handful of various demigods and their birth -
* Achilles - a bunch of male gods competing for the hand of a sea nymph.
* Arcas - Zeus and nymph Callisto... Callisto was turned into a bear by Hera, so that Arcas would kill her.
* Hercules - Zeus and a princess, Alcmene. Symbol of masculinity, courage, and sexual prowess (hetero- and homo-).
* Minos - adopted son of Zeus and Europa. His wife "did it" with a white bull he was supposed to sacrifice, and stuck the resultant child (the minotaur) in a labyrinth.
* Orion - King Hyreus prayed for a son, and Zeus, Poseidon, and Hermes urinated on bull's hide and buried it in the earth, and Orion popped out.
All of these were to be high-status, important figures. Handsome, and well respected.
Jesus' birth - son of YHVH and Mary, stepson of Joseph. The Holy Spirit descended upon her, and created life within her, not through sexual means, but miraculous means (as she was still virgin while pregnant). Lived a humble life, without physical beauty, and ill-respected by most of the populace.
Not exactly cliche.
2007-02-20 09:00:16 · answer #5 · answered by seraphim_pwns_u 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Confronting the Copycat Thesis
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A Multi-Essay Examination
J. P. Holding
In spite of having been pronounced dead even by intelligent skeptics, the thesis that Judaism and Christianity consist merely of stolen pagan myths and ideas continues to be promulgated by the uncritical and accepted by the gullible. Acharya S and her Christ Conspiracy are simply the latest recycling of the general thesis, but now, even Robert Price has promulgated aspects of it in his Deconstructing Jesus.
This series of articles will serve as detail-supplements to Glenn Miller's general essay refuting the pagan-copycat thesis. We will make specific studies of religions or ideas that the critics claim are the source for some Jewish or Christian belief or concept.
Some notes on alleged parallels between Christianity and pagan religions -- an introductory commentary by a classical scholar
Pharaoh Game: Did Akhenaten Influence Jewish Monotheism?
Accept No Imitations: Did the Stories of Apollonius of Tyana Influence the Gospels?
Mighty Mithraic Madness: Did the Mithraic Mysteries Influence Christianity?
Dealing Down Dionysus: Did the Greek God of Wine Influence Christianity?
Phrygian Phreakazoid Phare: Did the Legends of Cybele and Attis Influence Christianity?
Zamloxis Shazam: Is the Story of Zalmoxis a Parallel for Christianity?
Is the Christian fish symbol derived from pagan symbols?
Is Easter a pagan holiday? -- see here for the same question regarding Christmas
What's the Buzz on Tammuz?: Did the Ancient Sumerian Shepherd-god Influence Christianity?
Close But No Cigar: Did Zoroastrianism Influence Christianity?
Was the creation account "stolen" from the Babylonian creation account?
Give It Some Muscle: On Alcides of Thebes
Is That the Chattanooga Chu Chu? On Chu Chulainn
No Beddru, One Bath: On Beddru of Japan
Do the Dazhdbog: On a Russian Copycat Savior
Hesus Freaks: On Hesus of the Druids
Another Copycat Con Job: On Alexander of Abonuteichos
Fire and Ice: On Prometheus and Pratfalls
Crites! Another Fabrication? On Crite of Chaldea
Walk Like an Egyptian: Comparing Jesus, Osiris, and Horus
Have No Fear -- Sargon is Here!
Exodus Redux: Did the Story of Sinuhe Influence the Exodus Story?
On Krishna and this also
Balder Burgers with Freys
East Indian Giver: Salivahana as Copycat Christ
Baal of Hay
Don't Mourn for Adonis
Zoar Losers
Serapis Shazam
Querying Quetzalcoatl
Lining Up Against the Lotus -- on Buddha
I Tawt I Taw a Deva Tat! -- on "Deva Tat"
Raglan Reduced by "Justin Martyr"
On Napoleon as Myth translated by "Justin Martyr"
2007-02-20 08:30:26 · answer #6 · answered by williamzo 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No Jesus is not a pagan demigod Jesus is the Son of God.
2007-02-20 08:27:03 · answer #7 · answered by Lacksnothing 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I am a muslim and I would deny that accusation you put on Jesus there. Jesus is the messenger of God(ALLAH) but not the Son of God or God himself as the christians believe. Here are some veses from the Qur'an:-
“Certainly they disbelieved who Says: “Allah is Christ, the son of Mary.” But said Christ: “O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” Whoever joins other gods with Allah, - Allah will forbid him the Garden and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help."
"They disbelieve who say: Allah is one of three (in a Trinity): for there is no god except One God. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous chastisement will befall the disbeliveers among them."
"Why turn they not to Allah and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft-forgiving, most Merciful."
"Christ, the son of Mary was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how Allah doth make His Signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth!"
"Say: Will ye worship, besides Allah something which hath no power either to harm or benefit you? But Allah, - He it is that hearth and knoweth all things.” (Al- Maidah, 5:72-76, The Qur’an)
“The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: “Be”, and he was." (Al-‘Imran, 3:59, The Qur’an)
2007-02-20 08:42:38 · answer #8 · answered by Mr.POP 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. You got it all wrong. Jesus is a Christian for he instituted Christianity Himself throught the Church. Jesus was the Word that became flesh. He is not a pagan. He is not a demigod. Kindly ask a Christian priest for more information most especially about the Holy Trinity.
2007-02-20 08:30:51 · answer #9 · answered by jadE 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
"Jesus" is worse than that, it is a bad word! The Almighty YHVH created this world very good. Once man sinned, he could no longer meet the requirements of YHVH. Because of His great love for man, He sent His son the Savior. The Savior's name means YHVH is my Savior!--YAHOSHUA! The only way one can have his sins taken care of is to invite the Savior in to carry them. If a person chooses to remain attached to their sins, they will be consumed in the cleansing fire the Almighty will send to cleanse this world so He can make it new! How could the Almighty be more generous?
2007-02-20 08:27:24 · answer #10 · answered by hasse_john 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Dude, where are you getting your info? You need to ground yourself in the only book that will tell you the truth about Jesus, the bible. Jesus never got anyone pregnant, He is God's Son that came to earth to save it. He created everything including you. I'd say that warrants for a little respect.
2007-02-20 08:30:30 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋