Quite an interesting thread.
I dunno if It's been pointed out but Jesus shares a whole host of biographical infomation and life expierence with dozens of other ealier Deity's of other religions and cultures. Here's just a small selection. Some of it is spookily farmiliar.
Buddha circa 500 BCE
The Buddha shares the following with Christ:
* Buddha was born of the virgin Maya, who was considered the "Queen of Heaven."
* He was of royal descent.
* He crushed a serpent's head.
* He had 12 disciples.
* He performed miracles and wonders, healed the sick, fed 500 men from a "small basket of cakes," and walked on water.
* He abolished idolatry, was a "sower of the word," and preached "the establishment of a kingdom of righteousness."
* He taught chastity, temperance, tolerance, compassion, love, and the equality of all.
* He was transfigured on a mount.
* Sakya Buddha was crucified in a sin-atonement, suffered for three days in hell, and was resurrected.
* He ascended to Nirvana or "heaven."
* Buddha was considered the "Good Shepherd"the "Carpenter", the "Infinite and Everlasting."
* He was called the "Savior of the World" and the "Light of the World."
* The impact of his teachings was felt throughout northeastern India, where they were spread verbally through his interaction with the people.
* From numerous scriptures available today, it can be surmised that he often expounded his teachings in response to the people's questions.
Horus of Egypt
The stories of Jesus and Horus are very similar and the legends of Horus go back thousands of years and he shares the following in common with Jesus:
* Horus was born of the virgin Isis-Meri on December 25th in a cave/manger, with his birth being announced by a star in the East and attended by three wise men.
* He was a child teacher in the Temple and was baptized when he was 30 years old.
* Horus was also baptized by "Anup the Baptizer," who becomes "John the Baptist."
* He had 12 disciples.
* He performed miracles and raised one man, El-Azar-us, from the dead.
* He walked on water.
* Horus was transfigured on the Mount.
* He was crucified, buried in a tomb and resurrected.
* He was also the "Way, the Truth, the Light, the Messiah, God's Anointed Son, the Son of Man, the Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God, the Word" etc.
* He was "the Fisher," and was associated with the Lamb, Lion and Fish ("Ichthys").
* Horus's personal epithet was "Iusa," the "ever-becoming son" of "Ptah," the "Father."
* Horus was called "the KRST," or "Anointed One," long before the Christians duplicated the story.
* In fact, in the catacombs at Rome are pictures of the baby Horus being held by the virgin mother Isis - the original "Madonna and Child"
Mithra, Sungod of Persia
The Vatican itself is built upon the papacy of Mithra, who shares many qualities with Jesus. He was regarded as a deity long before the upstart Jesus arrived on the scene. The Christian hierarchy is a vitual copy of the Mithraic version it replaced. Virtually all of the elements of the Catholic ritual, from miter to wafer to water to altar to doxology, are directly lifted from earlier pagan mystery religions.
The story of Mithra precedes the Christian fable by at least 600 years and has the following in common with the Christ character:
* Mithra was born on December 25th.
* He was considered a great teacher and master.
* He had 12 companions or disciples.
* He is said to have performed miracles.
* He was buried in a tomb.
* After three days he rose again.
* His resurrection was celebrated every year.
* Mithra was called "the Good Shepherd."
* He was considered "the Way, the Truth and the Light, the Redeemer, the Savior, the Messiah."
* He was identified with both the Lion and the Lamb.
* His sacred day was Sunday, "the Lord's Day," hundreds of years before the appearance of Christ.
* Mithra had his principal festival on what was later to become Easter, at which time he was resurrected.
* His religion had a Eucharist or "Lord's Supper."
Krishna of India
There are many striking similarities between the Christian Jesus and the Indian Krishna an a common earlier English spelling of Krishna was "Christna," which reveals its relation to '"Christ."
Also, like the Jewish version, many people have believed in a historical Krishna.
* Krishna was born of the Virgin Devaki ("Divine One")
* His father was a carpenter.
* His birth was attended by angels, wise men and shepherds, and he was presented with gold, frankincense and myrrh.
* He was persecuted by a tyrant who ordered the slaughter of thousands of infants.
* He was of royal descent.
* He was baptized in the River Ganges.
* He worked miracles and wonders.
* He raised the dead and healed lepers, the deaf and the blind.
* Krishna used parables to teach the people about charity and love.
* He lived poor and he loved the poor."
* He was transfigured in front of his disciples. In some traditions he died on a tree or was crucified between two thieves.
* He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven.
* Krishna is called the "Shepherd God" and "Lord of lords," and was considered "the Redeemer, Firstborn, Sin Bearer, Liberator, Universal Word."
* He is the second person of the Trinity, and proclaimed himself the "Resurrection" and the "way to the Father.
* He was considered the "Beginning, the Middle and the End," "Alpha and Omega", as well as being omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent.
* His disciples bestowed upon him the title "Jezeus," meaning "pure essence."
* Krishna is to return to do battle with the "Prince of Evil," who will desolate the earth.
