The Jesus/Sacrifice/Savior Story. Comparisons to earlier/other religions/myths/stories?

Question

I often hear Christians mention (when in discussion about the validity of other gods) that Jesus was the only one who sacrificed himself for our sins and that this sets Him apart (from other gods).

Now, I am pretty sure that there are other myths with the same theme, and I even had a nice list I was going to check out, but that got canned when my previous account was nixed.

Anyone?

Answer 1

i assume you mean like prometheus?

according to greek mythology, after the creation of man, besides that he gave man fire, he also tainted the decision that the sacrifice of animals be that the bones and other items that weren't used [in that society] were to be given to the gods, rather than the meat

he was then chained to a rock to have an eagle rip out his intestines or something, but he made that sacrifice for mankind
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odin, having hung himself from yggdrasil (or in another version, removing his eye to the pool of mer) to get wisdom was not intentially FOR mankind, it was for himself. mankind eventually used that wisdom (the runes) for both divination and for use as written word - i don't think this qualifies

Answer 2

The Jesus "concept" is not a widely circulated concept, however, the roots of the Abrahamic religions are very closely connected with nearby Zoroastrianism, however, there is debate on which religion came first.

Greek mythology is filled with stories similar (Hercules son of the gods), this may have been why Greeks were some of the quickest to convert.

Answer 3

The reason some Native American folks like Jesus is because that sort of phenomena is part of our culture. Like a SUPER medicine person. The bible is oral tradition of the Hebrews. There are numerous locations that have been located, and various writings not included in the bible show similar verification of what is in it, as well as different takes on it. Look at Mexico and the Catholic faith. Looks much like much of the Aztec oral tradition was assimilated into various Saints and such. In Europe, the Xmas tree, or tree of life, is from the Solstice ceremony for growth of plants in the Spring (green growth, Sun in Spring make plats grow along with rain). Many cultures world wide share similar oral tradition and ways of understanding the world. In some sense, it shows a keen sense of how the natural phenomena in the world works, much like scientists, biologists, ecologists, astronomers, ethical behavior and so forth. Seems to become a mess with the rise of hierarchical civilization. In it, science and objectivity are very valuable. This does not discount the value of the bible or earth peoples world wide. It verifies particular truths that do come from nature and can be observed with the senses. I think Jesus was born in the Spring because desert people would not be smart to be pregnant during the summer. Jesus as a super medicine person, is very similar to many Native teachers who work with Spirit. And many who come from early European cultures, wouldn't be wonderful if we knew who they were and their names? We surely will not find it with optimal foraging theory. although it provides us a glimpse of material behavior. I am sure they are myths for some, but for others proof of their faith. There is also keen observations in oral tradition. Einstein for example was fairly keen at observing the agnostics of spirituality and in nature and the Cosmos.......

Answer 4

I don't have a cute little list of all the Mithrases and such, but there is a little pictionary-like game of them: Find Jesus and Maria between the other Saviors and Madonnas:

http://altreligion.about.com/library/graphics/bl_saviors.htm

Answer 5

Jesus is the One and Only God. Christianity is the only belief that offers Savior. But you have a choice: take it or leave it.

Jesus' offer is the same for everyone. I do not know any better offers around. : )

Answer 6

In Egyptian myth, Horus gained his authority by being anointed by Anubis, who had his own cult, and was regarded as the main anointer; the anointing made Horus into Horus karast - embalmed/anointed Horus - in parallel to Jesus becoming Christ by being baptised by John, who had his own followers, and was especially regarded as a baptiser. Worship of Isis, Horus' mother, was a prominent cult, and the proposal that this is the basis of veneration of Mary, and more particularly Marian Iconography, has some merit.

Then there's Hindu mythology. 5,000 years ago Vishnu appeared in the form of a man before Devaki who conceived Krishna by Virgin Birth. Hindus worship the God, Vishnu. Krishna “The Savior” is the eighth (8th) Avatar of the God, Vishnu. The Higher Being takes on a mortal body, out of compassion, to help suffering humanity to attain perfection. Krishna was born of a Virgin. Krishna was crucified, his arms extended on a cross.

There's also Quezalcoatl. Historical authority of the crucifixion of this Mexican god is explicit, unequivocal and ineffaceable. The evidence is tangible, and indelibly engraved upon metal plates. One of these plates represents him as having been crucified on a mountain. Sometimes he is represented as having been nailed to a cross, sometimes with two thieves hanging with him, and sometimes as hanging with a cross in his hand.

And who could forget Mithras? He was slain upon the cross to make atonement for mankind, and to take away the sins of the world. He was born on the twenty-fifth day of December, and crucified on a tree.

Answer 7

I suppose now is the time people are going to come out with the Mithra/Osiris/Dionysus lists?
It's pure nonsesnse,and in many cases the original authors of these lists have deliberately fabricated things,lied,and twisted the facts until they can come up with something.
http://www.tektonics.org/copycat/copycathub.html

Answer 8

The problem is which one is the copy and which one is the original.
You might say "well the oldest" however that is only if truth is constrained by time. If truth transcends time then we have to find out who is telling the truth.

Answer 9

Jesus is NOT the only one who SACRIFICED hmself but he IS the SON of Man-son of God-etc....He is the DIVINE savior which means he was a MAN but had DIVINEness as God in the flesh and all that...but he is thought of as the ONLY one because he is JESUS!!! Now there were COUNTLESS saints and martyrs who also SCARIFICED themselves for heir faith but we think of Jesus this way because...well...hes JESUS!!!

Answer 10

Horus.

Pretty much identical.

The only difference is Horus predates Jesus by nearly a full millenium.