Parallels Between Jesus and Pagan Deities
If you try having a debate or even conversation with a Christian about the similarities between the ancient Pagan Gods and Jesus, you will find it very frustrating if not impossible. Most Christians do not know the background of their religion and many have never even read their Bible in its entirety. Not only that but they appear to not want to be confused with any facts. Why, because if they investigate the facts and the similarities between Jesus and Pagan Gods, they will have to admit that their God, religion, stories, and rituals, were based on and copied from earlier ancient religions.
This is a very bitter pill to swallow so; they just put their hands over their ears and eyes and don’t see or hear the evidence. Many of them, especially Mormons, (yes since they believe in Jesus I consider them to be Christians) are even discouraged by their leaders to NOT look into anything controversial. The leaders are afraid, and rightly so, that if members study their own religion outside approved reading material, they will lose faith. Having faith in something means you do not have to rely on facts and evidence, just a warm feeling inside.
If they are confronted with evidence of the truth about their religious origins, they have a contrived and idiotic answer for the similarities; “the devil made up these earlier stories about God and Jesus to confuse and trick the righteous.” Now, I would think, if there WAS a loving God who wanted us all to return to him, he would at the very least, keep things as simple and less confusing as possible. But apparently simplicity and truth were not part of the plan.
Let’s take the two more common messiahs’ or dying Gods, Gods who came to die for mankind. Look at Jesus and Horus and see the comparisons:
Jesus Christ
Although he is referred to as Jesus Christ, the word Christ is actually a Greek word meaning Messiah. It is also loosely translated as “anointed one.” Out of the many gospels used by different Jewish, Christian, and Gnostic groups, only four were included in the Bible by the group practicing Pauline Christianity. Those four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, were written well after Jesus lived and died and might I add, written by completely unknown authors. These four books portray Jesus as a rabbi, teacher, healer, prophet, leader, and even magician.
Horus
Horus was worshipped in Egypt thousands of years before the first century CE way before Jesus was supposed to have been born. He is often shown as an infant cradled by his mother Isis. He was considered to be the son of the God Osiris and the Goddess Isis. He was recognized as the God or order and justice and the Egyptian Pharaohs were considered to be the living embodiment of Horus.
A Comparison of Jesus and Horus
| Jesus | Horus |
| Born to a mortal mother named Mary or Miriam who was a virgin. | Born of a virgin named Meri |
| Only begotten son of Yehovah, God | Only begotten son of the God Osiris |
| Foster father’s name is Joseph | Foster father’s name is Seb ( Jo-Seph ) |
| Descended from royalty | Descended from royalty |
| Birth was told to Mary by an angel | Birth was told to Meri by angel named IsisSometimes Isis is referred to as his mother |
| Birthday is celebrated on Dec 25 chosen to occur on same date as the birth of Mithras and Dionysus | Birthday was celebrated on or around Dec 21, the Winter Solstice |
| Birth was heralded by a star, announced by angels, witnessed by shepherds, and later witnessed by three kings or wise men king or wise men | Birth was heralded by Sirius the morning star, announced by angels, witnessed by shepherds and later three solar deities |
| King Herod tried to have him murdered but an angel told Joseph to take Jesus and flee to Egypt | Herut tried to have Horus murdered but God told Horus’ mother to hide herself and the child |
| He was taken to the temple at age 12 | Horus had a ritual when he was age 12 |
| Nothing is known about his life from age 12 years to 30 years | Nothing is known about his life from age 12 years to 30 years |
| He was baptized at the age of 30 in the river Jordan by John the Baptist who was later beheaded | He was baptized at age 30 in the river Eridanus by Anup the Baptizer who was later beheaded |
| He was taken to a mountain top by his rival Satan where he resisted temptation | He was taken to a mountain by his rival Sut the precursor to Satan to resist temptation |
| He had 12 disciples, cast out demons, healed the sick and blind, and raised the dead, and stilled the sea | He had 12 disciples, healed the sick and blind, cast out demons and stilled the sea and raised the dead |
| He died by crucifixion in the company of two thieves, and was buried in a tomb | He dies by crucifixion in the company of two thieves and was buried in a tomb |
| He descended to Hell and was resurrected after three days and was found by women | He descended to the hell, was resurrected after three days and found by women |
| His main role was the savior of humanity and in the future he will reign for 1,000 years | His main role was the savior of humanity and in the future he will reign for 1,000 years |
| He is also know as The Good Shepherd, The Lamb of God, The Word, and The Son of Man | He is know as The Good Shepherd, The Lamb of God, The Word, and The Son of Man |
| He is also known as Christ the Anointed One | He is also know as KRST the Anointed One |
| The Zodiac sign associated with him is Pisces the Fish | The Zodiac sign associated with him is Pisces the Fish |
Two Other Dying Gods with Parallels to Jesus
Think the parallels of Jesus and Horus could be a coincidence? There were many other Gods with similar births, missions, rituals, and even deaths. These Gods were also worshipped before the advent of Jesus and some, thousands of years prior. Let’s take a brief look at two more comparisons:
Mithras was a deity whose religion died out not long after the beginning of Christianity. He was known as The Good Shepherd, The Light of the World and even The Redeemer. He had his followers share a ritual of communion with bread and wine representing his body and blood. He had priests that were called “Father.” He was born in a cave with shepherds as witnesses on December 25th.
Attis was a pre-Christian solar deity also called the Lamb of God. He was born of a virgin mother named Cybele who was the predecessor of the Babylonian Goddess Ishtar where the name for the annual Christian celebration Easter comes from. He was crucified and resurrected. His resurrection was celebrated annually with a ritual of a bread and wine communion.
Conclusion
When you look at the parallels, how can you even doubt that religions, Pagan and Christian, are all branches from the same tree and had the same beginnings? These were just attempts of early man trying to understand and explain the universe and world around him. Birth, death, and even life itself was often frightening and always mysterious. They came up with their own explanations and rituals to make sense of it and possibly, in their own way, control it.
I don’t find it surprising that they came up with stories and legends to help them cope. I don’t fault them for their crude attempts to explain science and the natural world. They were ignorant of many things and didn’t know any better. What I do find amazing is that in these modern times with the wealth of knowledge we now have of science, biology, nature, physics, and more, some still continue to believe in the legends and musings of our often barbaric ancestors. Some still believe in these ancient Gods of the past with their magic, rituals, and punishments. How anyone can look at all these comparisons and not open their eyes and ears and want to know the truth is the most amazing thing of all. Blind faith in the preposterous may feel good to some but for me, I’ll take knowledge any day of the week.
