More to the point - the following will certainly explain any 'mix up' however many will not accept the truth in this incarnation which is more or less confirmed in a very big way by the comments of many posters during the 10 or so years of Hotcopper although change is possible as long as the body draws breath.
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"What though the Story of the CrossBe but a figment of the brain—Is this for you and me a loss,May it not be for all a gain? " |
"PREFACE
From the beginning of the Christian era there have been in each generation many persons who refused to believe in the divinity of
Jesus Christ, and many others who, after being educated in that belief, rejected it in maturer years.
Perhaps some of these doubted or disbelieved the whole story; but the question of actuality was not, formerly, a subject of discussion in pulpit and in print." [v].
[See: #3, 41-104 ("Jesus")].
"
Napoleon I [1769 - 1821], in his conversations with Wieland,
expressed his disbelief in the historical existence of Christ [see #3, 44 (Napoleon Bonaparte [Napoleon I])
]; but that declaration seems to have made but little impression upon his hearer, and was, apparently, received without comment by later readers of the statement, Napoleon not being considered an authority in such matters, although his logical faculty and mathematical genius were indisputable." [v].
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'
My own doubts were first awakened as far back as the year 1875, being the result of studies in a department of Christian doctrine having no connection with dogmas concerning the identity of Christ. At that time I did not know that his "historical existence" had ever been denied, although I had already, after long and painful mental conflict, given up my early belief in the Trinitarian creed. Those persons who have always regarded Christ as a mere man cannot imagine the shock experienced by a believer in his divinity when that faith gives way. Few have believed so firmly and entirely as I: not many, I trust, have suffered so intensely in renouncing that belief; and it is because I have found joy and peace in disbelieving, that I mention my personal experience in the hope of making the way easier for other souls tormented by doubt and goaded by the compelling power of Truth to be honest with themselves even at the sacrifice of what were once vital convictions, but which, through wider knowledge, have lost their meaning and their influence.' [vi].
'
BELIEF IN JESUS, WHEN ANALYZED, PROVES TO BE LARGELY SENTIMENTAL, and differs in kind and degree with the disposition of the individual. In former times he was regarded more from the standpoint of his divinity; in these later days his humanity is made the prominent characteristic; "Broad churchmen" and "muscular Christians" insist upon his "manliness;" benevolent affiliations claim him as "elder brother;" the erotic fancies of pallid nuns are stilled into pious awe in view of their high calling as "brides of Christ," while Protestant feminine enthusiasts dream of sitting on Jesus' knee and bestowing innocent endearments upon him; his name is taken in vain at every unwelcome surprise or trifling accident, and reverent souls invoke his aid even when looking for a pin [compare: "Hail Mary full of grace, please help me find a parking place."].' [vi-vii].
"
Each of the developed religions of the world claims a divine origin for its Bible, and each considers its own Scriptures as the only authentic revelation; the pretensions of one being as good as, and no better than, another.
THE IDEA OF A GOD, a supreme ruler of the Universe, seems to have grown out of the experience of man in his attitude towards the powers of Nature, and to have FOUND ORIGINAL EXPRESSION IN THE WORSHIP OF THE SUN AND OF SEX." [9].
"
Osiris, the
sun, disappearing every night and paling every winter, is raised every morning and every spring as
Horus, who is at once the Son of God and God himself.
Krishna among the East Indians;
Bel among the Babylonians;
Adonis,
Hercules,
Bacchus, among the Greeks, illustrate in like manner the changes of the seasons and personify the sovereignty of the
Sun.
The same idea, that of a divine Son, born of the union of the Sun and the Earth, God and a woman, runs through all the myths which have gradually been evolved out of the spiritual questionings of man." [10].
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"The idea of a suffering God atoning by his death for the sins of men, descending into the abodes of darkness and rising again to bring life and immortality to light, is found in the oldest records of the human race in every part of the world.
It is ORIGINALLY IN ALL CASES A PERSONIFICATION OF THE SUN, and
in all cases it is developed and embellished to apply to the spiritual needs and aspirations of man. The gods of Egypt, India, Greece, and Rome have long been offering their testimony to modern investigators, and continued search has brought forward the forgotten religious treasures of nations less active in the history of the world." [10-11].
"
LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD, RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS HAVE THEIR PERIOD OF BIRTH, GROWTH, DECAY, AND DEATH, and Greece and Rome were now awaiting a final change." [19].
[see concluding excerpt in following article (359, Guignebert)].
"the early Christians chose the
Catacombs for their place of worship, not from necessity, but because their rites were borrowed from those of
Mithra, in which a cave was an essential feature." [34].
[See (catacombs): #2, 20; #3, 54; #4, 119; #9, 225].
"
The Christian church did not begin to keep the birthday of Christ until the fourth century." [36]. [See: #13, 320-321; etc.].
"The finally established date of the birth, December 25, was decided by Rome, as was the assumed date of the conception, March 25, the time of the vernal equinox, and the starting into life of the earth in spring.
The selection of Dec. 25 as the month and day of the birth of Jesus was in conformity to heathen sun - worship, Dec. 25, according to Caesar's calendar, being the
birthday of the Sun." [37]. [See: #13, 263-328
passim].
"The mythical stories concerning
Buddha resemble those relating to
Krishna; indeed,
there is a family likeness in the presiding deities of all races and all times, and those personifications go back to the sun—ALL OF THEM!" [capitals, by the author] [41]. [See: #12, 261 ("Buddha, Krishna, Christ")].
"
The Creation of the Christ
The most probable explanation of the mystery is the supposition that some learned and gifted writer of that epoch fully conversant with ancient mythology,
Grecian philosophy, and
Oriental theosophy, imbued with reverent admiration for the
legendary character of Buddha, and profoundly
dissatisfied with the prevalent standards of belief and custom among Romans and Jews, conceived the idea of rehabilitating the person and attributes of the Indian deity, not only as the sinless and benevolent teacher, but also as a suffering and atoning sacrifice, an impressive contrast to the selfish luxury and boundless arrogance displayed by persons in power, and especially by the Roman emperors, who, not content with the glories of an earthly ruler, claimed divine honors from their oppressed and degenerated subjects." [52].
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"The Epistles to the Romans, Corinthians, and Galatians are the only ones of the Pauline Epistles which modern criticism considers authentic, and
these also are beginning to be regarded with suspicion in consequence of DOUBTS CONCERNING THE IDENTITY OF PAUL [see #4, 105-151 ("Paul")].
It is not and cannot now be known who wrote any of these books;
THE APOSTLES ARE NOT HISTORICAL CHARACTERS [see (apostles): #3, 49, 54, 55, 59; #
8,
200-203; #9, 225; #13, 328] to begin with, and they certainly were not the authors of the compilations which are called by their names, and which bear evidence of having been written at a much later period than the lifetime of persons contemporary with the supposed career of Jesus." [74-75].
'
Many Christian theologians of the present day acknowledge the utter lack of authentic knowledge respecting the derivation of the New Testament writings, but such scholars are apt to advocate the preeminent authority of ecclesiastical tradition in matters of faith.
"
Hear the church" is their prescription for the cure of skepticism and the removal of doubt. Unfortunately for their argument,
many of the works ascribed to the early Christian Fathers are open to like suspicion as regards their authenticity [see #1, 1-12
passim; #2, 17-32
passim]'. [75].
"But, it will be asked, how could such a
fable obtain credence and become the foundation of a sect of believers so firm in the faith that they could endure persecution and welcome martyrdom in its defense?
To this it may be answered that, as history shows,
there is no limit to human credulity [see #13, 322-323]; also, it is evident that
the fable was of gradual growth." [77].
"The scientific researches now in progress appear to have already established the fact that
Christianity is nothing more nor less than an outgrowth of earlier religions, and that THERE ARE NO RELIABLE HISTORICAL DATA FOR THE EXISTENCE OF ITS SUPPOSED FOUNDER AND HIS IMMEDIATE FOLLOWERS."
[81-82].
"
Thus we have for the FORMATION OF THE FICTITIOUS CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST the chief divinities of the ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, and Roman nations; the Logos [see: #3, 46, 49, 50, 53, 85, 103; #9, 220]
of the early Greek philosophers, and the Ideal of contemporary scholars." [106].
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'Exactly when and how all these borrowed elements combined to offer to the world the man
Christ Jesus cannot now be known. It is supposed by some scholars that a real personage is the foundation of every mythical incarnation, and it may be so, but facts seem to show that
such characters may be entirely imaginative creations [see #3, 46]; at least, that they may have been borrowed as myths, without reference to the unknown foreign original.
It is possible that some obscure man, "some Jewish peasant with a genius for religion" (as many "liberal" Christians nowadays are fond of saying), sat for the portrait of the idealized and deified
Jesus; but it is not likely, because if he had been so insignificant as not to be distinguishable by the history of that time he could not have challenged the revenge of the Jewish theocracy and the severity of the Roman imperial power; whereas,
if he had been of so much importance as to create so great a ferment he would have been known to history. His deified prototypes [see: #13, 263. Etc.] are too far back to be identified, but
the time and the CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS SUPPOSED CAREER WERE COMPARATIVELY MODERN.
And, when we take away from this Person (as must be taken away) his supernatural birth, his superhuman powers, his borrowed teachings, his unlawful execution, his impossible resurrection and ascension—WHAT IS THERE LEFT? [see #3, 52, 255.]
A beautiful Ideal, such as philanthropic fancy has often created, or a benevolent man, such as has often existed and still exists.' [109-110].
"
Advantages of Knowing the Truth
One chief advantage of a final rejection of the Christ myth is that persecution of the Jews will cease at once and forever....
When the people cease to worship a dead Jew they will no longer desire to persecute living Jews, and when they perceive that
THE CHRISTIAN IDOL IS MERELY A FICTITIOUS CHARACTER, the Jews will be granted their rightful place in the family of nations." [111].
http://www.christianism.com/articles/15.html
