This is about Pope Leo X 16 Century BCE?

Question

did he say ‘It has served us well, this myth of Christ’ IF he did why did he

Sorry 16 Century CE

Answer 1

The Architect gave a great answer. Thank you, sir.

I just found you here while looking up Steve Berry's site. . . In just moments before that I had finished a book he wrote last year, The Templar Legacy, where he gives the quote to Leo X. When I came across this, I signed up with yahoo and here I am (smile). Just before finding you I came across Raymond Khoury and a book he wrote in 2005, The Last Templar. His site was interesting, as his book may be. (I have "just" done many things. (Smile)

However, non-fiction writers like: Joseph Campbell, Karen Armstrong, Laurence Gardner and others of their caliber have done in-depth study on "the myth." They are well worth the read for those who are truly interested.


Love In The Light of The Christ.

Answer 2

Actually, the original "quotation" was 'What profit has not that fable of Christ brought us!' Although widely believed on internet sites, Pope Leo X did not utter these words. In fact, no person has ever found any documents detailing the words that back up this supposed heresy.

And why would they- would a Pope honestly gaffe so badly as to jeopardize ~1500 years of theological history? Even if these words were uttered, would they have an impact on the 1500 years of relevant religious scholarship?

The quote was originated by John Bale in his treatise "The Pageant of the Popes" which was incredibly antipapal in nature- not surprising with the numerous malicious misquotations he provided in the text.

Also- just for the heck of it, I checked out the most numerous citations of this quote doing a simple search and the top source is (Encyc. Brit., 14th Ed. xix, pg. 217).

If you search the Brittanica archives, you'll find that page 217 in the 14th edition is a description of a pigeon's respiratory system.

If you can find a good source, I'll review my critiques.

G'night!

Answer 3

“It has served us well, this myth of Christ."

Although widely attributed to Leo X, the earliest known source of this statement is actually a fiercely anti-pope work by the ex-Catholic Anglican priest John Bale entitled “Acta Romanorum Pontificum usque ad tempora Paulo IV” (Basel 1538; Frankfurt 1567; Leiden 1615) which was first translated from Latin into English as "The Pageant of the Popes" in 1574:

"For on a time when a cardinall Bembus did move a question out of the Gospell, the Pope gave him a very contemptuous answer saying: All ages can testifie enough howe profitable that fable of Christe hath ben to us and our companie."

The Pope in this case being Leo X.

There are no authenticated documents that state that Pope Leo X actually said this.

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

I think Brandon H did a good job of answering this question. I just wanted to add that if you want to read a good, well-researched and interesting book about Leo X and his court, get "The Pope's Elephant" by Silvio Bedini (link below).

Answer 5

Yes he did.

+++Historic source and quote+++

The full quote from Pope Leo X (1513 – 1521) is:
"How well we know what a profitable superstition this fable of Christ has been for us".

Contrary to Catholic apologists, spin doctors and pr agents, there is good historic evidence of this quote surviving from the play by John Bale (1495–1563) called "The Pageant of the Popes".

+++Supporting evidence to motive for such heresy+++

There is ample evidence to support the heretical nature of Pope Leo X and his complete evil nature:

(1513) That Pope Leo X granted to the Servite Chapel of St.Annunciata at Florence that all visiting it on Saturdays should obtain a thousand years of indulgences and as many quarantines, and double that amount on the feasts of Virgin, Christmas and Friday and Saturday of Holy Week.

(1513 – 1521) That Pope Leo X did murder several Cardinals who did oppose his Papacy.

(1517) That Pope Leo X in 1517 gave permission to the Archbishop of Mainz, to sell indulgences on a grand scale in order to pay his debts, which he had contracted in buying the dignity of archbishop.

Given his passion for profit from indulgences, there is every reason to believe the quote is accurate as well as justified.

For more information see the Almanac of Evil:
http://one-faith-of-god.org/final_testament/end_of_darkness/evil/evil_0160.htm

Answer 6

16th century BCE? According to christians the world isn't even that old! LOL!

Seriously, I haven't heard of that one. But I think one Pope (maybe the same one) said that there was zero chance of a real afterlife.

Answer 7

Maybe he was talking about the "Christ" in the writings attributed to Paul. Paul is talking about a mytholigical christ while the gospels are talking about something different altogether. Calling something a myth does not de-value it

Answer 8

This was a statement made up by a protestant of the reformation, and only attributed to Leo X.

Answer 9

broadly attributed to Leo X, the earliest time-commemorated source of this assertion could be a polemical artwork via John Bale Acta Romanorum Pontificum which replaced into first translated from Latin into English because of the fact the competition of the Popes in 1574: "For on a time whilst a cardinall Bembus did circulate a query out of the Gospell, the Pope gave him an extremely contemptuous answer saying: each and all ages can testifie sufficient howe rewarding that fantasy of Christe hath ben to us and our companie." The Pope consequently being Leo X.

Answer 10

Never heard it. Maybe you can quote your source.