Assertion: “Jesus Christ is nothing more than a myth; a compilation or direct copy of previous, ancient saviors.”

Because I’m tired of hearing this assertion from those who are poorly educated in history as it relates to mythology, I’ve compiled a list of pre-Christian savior figures.

A few points I’d like to make:

1. None of the other ‘savior-gods’ died for others
2. There are no other ‘crucified’ gods (as some falsely assert)
3. No legends claim that their ‘god’ died voluntarily
4.  Jesus death and resurrection was considered to be legitimate historically by his followers, whereas the other religions considered it to be figurative

Hopefully, this list helps those who REALLY want to explore truth and those who need a quick reference in order to debate completely false historical assertions. I tried to highlight the basics of each (recently) compared deity in order to briefly view the story. Also, I listed anything that could be considered parallel in their legend to that of Jesus Christ. I’ve included many of the names I’ve heard rattled off by those who try to make the ridiculous claim that they are prior figures on whom Christ is based. Mithras and Dionysos are the only two figures on this list whose legend even asserts that they were ‘saviors.’

Adonis:

• Born from a myrrh tree
• Was killed by a boar in a field of lettuce
• Descended from gods and returned to them
• No references to resurrection, until Christianity became popular

Attis:

• Born from a woman who conceived by a pomegranate full of blood
• Died from a loss of blood, because he castrated himself
• Added a resurrection element in 400 A.D. to compete with Christianity
• Added a baptism in bull’s blood in 400 A.D. to compete with Christian baptism

Baal:

• Son of the god Dagan
• After death, he descends into the underworld

Balder:

• Norse god
• Irrelevant, because this religion didn’t begin until 1100-1200 A.D.

Beddru:

• Historical researchers believe this is nothing more than a misspelling of “Buddha”

Devatat (or Deva Tat):

• Considered another misspelling/alternate representation of Buddha.

Dionysos/Dionysus:

• Child of Zeus and Semele’s sexual union
• Performed miracles with wine
• Every ritual used wine (He was the ‘god of wine’)
• Died by being ripped apart by the Titans
• Descended into the underworld

Hermes:

• A son of Zeus
• Created a lyre as an infant
• Guides souls to the underworld

Horus:

• Son of Osiris (later changed to ‘son of re’)
• As a child he had healing magic

Krishna:

• 8^th son of Devaki, sometimes referred to as a sexless birth, sometimes that he ‘appeared as a child’
• Farmer as a child
• Considered a ‘matchless lover of women and girls’
• Merged with ‘Vishnu’ belier system in the 5th Century A.D. and became an incarnation of ‘god himself’
• Considered a ‘thief of the heart’
• Performed childhood magic in Mahabharata
• Resurrected after death
• Ascended to heaven

Mithras:

• Born from a rock
• Divinity of light and salvation
• Communal bread & wine (common practice for religions of the Greco-Romans), but had very different symbolism (not considered flesh and blood)
• Rides the Sun’s chariot to heaven

Orpheus:

• An enchanter
• Died from being ripped apart by a band of women
• Descended into the underworld
• After Christianity became popular, many of his aspects were changed in order to compete with the religions of Dinysos and Christianity.
• Amulet of him being crucified on a cross dates to 500 A.D. (many consider this to be a forgery, though)

Osiris:

• Son of Geb (god of earth) and Nout (goddess of sky)
• Death my being cut to pieces and scattered
• Reassembled and became lord of the underworld who guides souls
• Not considered a “dying and rising” god, as he existed in the underworld post-reassemble

Tammuz/Dumuzi:

• Ancient Sumerian god
• No text claiming resurrection (some scholars argue about the belief)
• Descends into the underworld

Thor:

• No relation to Christianity
• Worshipped because he was the most powerful warrior
• Most legends date to around 1,000 A.D.

Zoroaster:

• Considered to be a “wise man” on whose teachings Zoroastrianism/Mazdaism are based
• Taught monotheism
• Taught good and evil
• Some of the religion is based on Zoroaster’s original writings, but most of it is based in writings dating from the 3^rd-7^th Century A.D. (obviously, after Christ)