The Jesus Mysteries: Was the "Original Jesus" a Pagan God?Drawing on the cutting edge of modern scholarship, this astonishing book completely undermines the traditional history of Christianity that has been perpetuated for centuries by the Church and presents overwhelming evidence that the Jesus of the New Testament is a mythical figure. “Whether you conclude that this book is the most alarming heresy of the millennium or the mother of all revelations, The Jesus Mysteries deserves to be read.” —Fort Worth Star-Telegram Far from being eyewitness accounts, as is traditionally held, the Gospels are actually Jewish adaptations of ancient Pagan myths of the dying and resurrecting godman Osiris-Dionysus. The supernatural story of Jesus is not the history of a miraculous Messiah but a carefully crafted spiritual allegory designed to guide initiates on a journey of mystical discovery. A little more than a century ago, most people believed that the strange story of Adam and Eve was history; today it is understood to be a myth. Within a few decades, authors Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy argue, we will likewise be amazed that the fabulous story of God incarnate—who was born of a virgin, who turned water into wine, and who rose from the dead—could have been interpreted as anything but a profound parable. |
Contents
The Unthinkable Thought Chapter 2 The Pagan Mysteries | |
Diabolical Mimicry | |
Perfected Platonism | |
The Gnostics | |
The Jesus Code | |
The Missing | |
Was Paul a Gnostic? | |
The Jewish Mysteries | |
The Jesus Myth | |
An Imitation Church | |
The Greatest Story Ever Told | |
Notes Bibliography | |
Whos | |
Index Copyright Page | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
allegory ancient Angus apostles Attis baptism Barnstone believed bishops Book born Burkert called celebrated Celsus century BCE Christ Church claimed Clement of Alexandria Corinthians cult Daemon death Dionysus disciples divine doctrine early Christians Egypt Egyptian eidolon Eleusis Emperor Epictetus Eusebius faith Father Gnosis Gnostic sage goddess godman gods Gospel of Mark gospels Greek Guthrie heaven heretics holy Ibid initiates Inner Mysteries Irenaeus Jehovah Jerusalem Jesus Mysteries Jesus Mysteries Thesis Jesus story Jewish Jewish Messiah Jews John Josephus Justin Martyr Lane-Fox likewise Literalist Christianity literally Logos Lüdemann Luke Matthew Mead Messiah miracles Mithras Mystery religion mystical mythical myths of Osiris-Dionysus Old Testament original Orphic Osiris Osiris-Dionysus Outer Mysteries Pagan Mysteries Pagan sages Paul Peter Philo philosophers Plato Plutarch portrayed priests Pythagoras Pythagorean religion rites Roman Rome sacred savior scholar scriptures second century secret Socrates soul spiritual symbol taught teachings tells Tertullian texts Therapeutae traditional writes