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Title: The Jesus Mysteries: Was the "Original Jesus" a Pagan God? by Timothy Freke, Peter Gandy ISBN: 0-609-80798-6 Publisher: Three Rivers Press Pub. Date: 25 September, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.69 (135 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Fascinating look at early Christianity
Comment: A long-time reader of "historical Jesus" books, and books on the early Christians, I was surprised to discover this book, which somehow slipped under my radar. Usually I'm skeptical of books that try to prove that Jesus never existed; even Time magazine recently declared that "most intelligent people no longer question if Jesus actually existed," or something to that effect. However, that Jesus was a literary hybrid of Osirus-Dionysus and the Jewish Messiah is authors Freke and Gandy's theory, and they propose this theory so convincingly and meticulously that I was hard-put to think of a solid argument.
The similarities between the ancient Osirus-Dionysus-Mithra mystery religions and early Christianity can not be denied, and shall prove to be startling to the fundamentalist Christian. What's even more startling is that these similarities were well-known to ancient pagans; in fact, several of them wrote treatises in which they put down the Christians for "stealing from" other religions! Many of these sources are painstakingly cited by the authors; likewise, they cite countless sources that justify their theory of a mystical Christ.
One thing that concerns me is that the authors do not mention James Morgan Pryse; perhaps they just aren't aware of this author's works. Pryse unveiled all of the "secrets" Freke and Gandy expound in the Jesus Mysteries almost a hundred years ago: his "Apocalypse Unsealed" and "Restored New Testament" not only promote the theory that Jesus didn't exist and was merely a mystical allusion, but also go about proving as much, by revealing hidden, gnostic themes in the gospels themselves.
It seems that most of the negative reviews on here come from those who disagree with the authors's contention, that Jesus did not exist. Though this theory has been advanced in the past (i.e., via James Morgan Pryse, Earl Doherty, and many others), the basic assumption made by most scholars is that Jesus in fact did exist. Freke and Gandy, however, choose to stick with their thesis, and their boldness is to be admired. However, I also suspect that they are so resolute because they desired the publicity such a claim would no doubt gain (it worked).
The authors might have been better off postulating that Jesus did live, but his life story was mutated by a batch of Hellenized Jews, which grafted fragments from various Pagan Mystery rites onto his story. This theory is even offered by Robert Eisenman, in his magnum opus on the historical Jesus, "James the Brother of Jesus."
In any case, I found this book to be very readable and enlightening. It's one that the reader can return to several times. Though Freke and Gandy aren't your typical "scholars," they are still to be admired for the depth and focus of their research. I would advise those who enjoyed this book to seek out their follow-up, "Jesus and the Lost Goddess," which I enjoyed even more.
Rating: 5
Summary: The Jesus Mysteries - Highly Recommended
Comment: This book is a revelation - not about the truth or fiction of an historical Christ, but about the phenomenon of Mediterranean culture known as Mystery Cults and their impact on the formation of Ancient Christianity. This thesis is not new with the current authors, but never has it been carried with such clarity for the general reader interested in Ancient Christianity but largely ignorant of its cultural milieu.
The influence of the Mystery Cults on Judaism didn't start with Christ. It may have even predated the influence of Alexander the Great; there's a strong argument that it reflects the influence of Egyptian religion and older religions that arose in the Mediterranean family of tribes and nations. These arguments cannot be discounted or dismissed because of the use the authors have put them. The book relies on the most recent studies by archeologists and Bibical scholars, two fields that have virtually exploded in the last 20 years with more accurate pictures of the Meditarranean cultures and writings and more accurate datings of familiar events. In fact the notes and the bibliography alone are worth the price of the book.
This book has led me on a wonderful voyage of exploration and discovery. If there are any out there who would like to plot their own voyage, I encourage you to get the book and start now on your trip. You won't be disappointed.
Rating: 5
Summary: Compelling
Comment: A couple of morons have written reviews which dissed this book. Mike Finn to the rescue! THis book is right on the money; there isn't a sentence in it which is not substantiated!
As an example, one of the morons asks why, if Jesus was a pagan god, Matthew would spend so much time establishing his descent from the House of David. Well, duh! Matthew was merely trying to bolster his claim that Jesus was the Messiah, and in the process gave free rein to his imagination.
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Title: Jesus and the Lost Goddess : The Secret Teachings of the Original Christians by TIMOTHY FREKE, PETER GANDY ISBN: 1400045940 Publisher: Three Rivers Press Pub. Date: 22 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold by Acharya S ISBN: 0932813747 Publisher: Adventures Unlimited Press Pub. Date: September, 1999 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: The Dark Side of Christian History by Helen Ellerbe ISBN: 0964487349 Publisher: Morningstar Books Pub. Date: July, 1995 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: The Jesus Puzzle. Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ? : Challenging the Existence of an Historical Jesus by Earl Doherty ISBN: 0968601405 Publisher: Canadian Humanist Publications Pub. Date: 19 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $14.50 |
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Title: The Book Your Church Doesn't Want You to Read by Tim C. Leedom ISBN: 0939040158 Publisher: Truth Seeker Pub. Date: 01 September, 2001 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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