April 6th, 2012
by Max Andrews
The Purpose Fallacy
- The purpose and nature of the pagan mystery religions is completely different than the purpose and form of Christianity
- MR are cyclical: cycle of birth – death – rebirth following the vegetative – harvest cycle.
- MR involve secrecy – only members can participate; had to go through secret initiation rites; secret knowledge
- MR: Doctrine and beliefs were unimportant, emphasis was on mystical experience
- MR was not interested in historicity of its myth and often acknowledged myths as non-historical
Pagan Copycat Theory: The story of Jesus Christ as presented in the gospels is a myth incorporating various aspects of other ancient pagan religions.
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April 5th, 2012
by Max Andrews
The Source Fallacy
- Need to discover the specific source of the alleged parallel
- Is it found in the actual sacred texts of the religion which predate Christianity or is it found in a later source?
- Primary or secondary?
- Can they quote the specific source: book, volume, verse?
- Many ancient religions evolved over time and there is no one authoritative source or narrative of their myths
- Most copycat theorists simply do not know the source of their claims.
- Most often when you look at the original source it does not come close to what copycats claim.
Pagan Copycat Theory: The story of Jesus Christ as presented in the gospels is a myth incorporating various aspects of other ancient pagan religions.
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April 5th, 2012
by Max Andrews
The Dependency Fallacy
- Two kinds of dependency: weak and strong
- Weak: Use of accommodating language or appeals to similar beliefs (Paul’s “Mars Hill” speech in Acts 17)
- Strong: A concept originated first in pagan religion and then was brought into Christianity
- There is no evidence of any strong dependency of Christian beliefs on pagan religions
- No evidence of pagan mystery religions in first century Palestine
- While mystery religions are highly syncretic that is not the case for Judaism and Christianity – they are both highly exclusivistic.
Pagan Copycat Theory: The story of Jesus Christ as presented in the gospels is a myth incorporating various aspects of other ancient pagan religions.
read more »
Posted in Apologetics, Historical Jesus | No Comments »
