{"id":1647,"date":"2021-02-25T15:40:03","date_gmt":"2021-02-25T20:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abudinen.com\/blog\/?p=1647"},"modified":"2021-04-11T11:48:51","modified_gmt":"2021-04-11T16:48:51","slug":"jesus-and-biblical-stories-were-borrowed-from-other-sources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abudinen.com\/blog\/2021\/02\/25\/jesus-and-biblical-stories-were-borrowed-from-other-sources\/","title":{"rendered":"Jesus and Biblical stories were “borrowed” from other sources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This section is about arguments that Jesus didn’t exist — not even as a person who walked the earth. A related issue that Jesus did not exist but was created from stories of pagan myths is covered on another hub page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Essays<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Foundational Points<\/a> — some preliminary guidelines on the question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Was Joseph of Arimathea a myth?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus Not Mentioned by Ancient Writers?<\/a> — commentary on a list originally created by John Remsberg<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did Nazareth Exist?<\/a> — scanned chapter from my book Shattering the Christ Myth<\/em> answering Rene Salm and other “Nazareth mythers”.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Secular Sources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Non-Christian texts that mention Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Josephus<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lucian<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mara bar-Serapion<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pliny<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seutonius<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tacitus<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Talmud<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thallus<\/a> — just a discussion of some accessory objections; include a link to a more thorough treatment, and a comparison of views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helpful Links<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Refuting the Myth That Jesus Never Existed<\/a> — general overview by James Hannam [Off Site]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Metacrock’s Historical Jesus Pages<\/a> [Off Site]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critical Reviews<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Essays and book reviews on persons who promote “copycat” theories (other than “copycat” theories — for that, see here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cutner, Herbert<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doherty, Earl<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ellegard, Alvar<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flemming, Brian<\/a> — The God Who Wasn’t There<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humphreys, Ken (jesusneverexisted.com) — listen to my debate<\/a> with Humphreys on Premier Christian Radio. Also a debate he had with my ministry partner Nick Peters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McKinsey, C. Dennis<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wells, G. A.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teaching Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shattering the Christ Myth<\/em><\/a> — my own book, with several chapters on the subject; hub page for the book here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommended Books<\/a> — a bibliography of books on the historical Jesus<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Borrowing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This section is about charges that the Biblical stories were “borrowed” from other sources and are therefore fictional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Essays<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Analysis of general principles used by the “borrowing” thesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some notes on alleged parallels between Christianity and pagan religions<\/a> — an introductory commentary by a classical scholar writing for us as “Justin Martyr”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Napoleon as Myth<\/a> translated by “Justin Martyr”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The More Things Change<\/a> — a humourous look at how we’re just having to reiterate things over the centuries<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What did Justin Martyr Really Say?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glenn Miller’s general <\/a>essay<\/a> refuting the pagan-copycat thesis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creation Ministries International on Indian creation myths<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Old Testament “Borrowing”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Figures claimed to be sources for the Old Testament. Named entities in alphabetical order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akhenaten<\/em><\/a> — Did the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten influence Jewish monotheism?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sargon<\/em><\/a> — Did the story of this Assyrian king influence the story of Moses?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinuhe<\/em><\/a> — Did the story of this Egyptian hero influence the Exodus account?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was the creation account “stolen” from the Babylonian creation account?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is the Biblical Flood story borrowed from pagan accounts?<\/a> — from Glenn Miller’s Christian Thinktank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did NT Biblical writers “rip off” stories from the Old Testament?<\/a> — from Glenn Miller’s Christian Thinktank. Also see our article on Randel Helms (right column).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Is the Christian fish symbol derived from pagan symbols?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Easter a pagan holiday?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Christmas pagan?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abraham Lincoln Didn’t Exist!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abraham Lincoln was a copy of John F. Kennedy!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Copycat Savior Figures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Figures claimed to be sources for the life of Jesus. Named entities in alphabetical order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adonis<\/em><\/a> — The Greek deity: A source for the life of Jesus?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alcides<\/em><\/a> (Or Hercules) –The Greek strongman\/demigod. See also another item here<\/a> [Subscription to E-Block<\/a> required].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alexander of Abonuteichos<\/em><\/a> — A charismatic figure who started a quasi-religious movement; this is more of a claim of a social parallel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apollonius of Tyana<\/em><\/a> — Pagan performer of miracles and traveller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attis<\/em><\/a> — Phrygian and later Greco-Roman demigod. Also discusses the ritual of the “tauribolium”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baal<\/em><\/a> — Ancient Near Eastern deity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balder<\/em><\/a> — Norse deity. Also discusses Frey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beddru of Japan<\/em><\/a> — As it happens — a non-existent entity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddha <\/em>— Two entries on this figure; one here<\/a> and another here<\/a>. Please also see Miller’s essay linked in the left column and Was Q a Buddhist document?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chu Chulainn<\/em><\/a> — Celtic hero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crite<\/em><\/a> — As far as I can find, another non-existent figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dazhdbog<\/em><\/a> — Russian heroic figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deva Tat<\/em><\/a> — Heroic figure from Siam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dionysus<\/em><\/a> — Greek god of wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hesus<\/em><\/a> — Deity associated with druids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horus<\/em><\/a> — Egyptian deity. Also covers Osiris<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Krishna<\/em> — Hindu deity. Two essays, one here<\/a> on moral teachings and one here<\/a> on life story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mithra<\/em><\/a> — Persian deity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Osiris<\/em><\/a> — Egyptian deity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prometheus<\/a> — Greek demigod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quetzalcoatl<\/em><\/a> — Mesoamerican deity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salivahana<\/em><\/a> — Indian teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serapis<\/em><\/a> — Mediterranean deity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tammuz<\/em><\/a> — Sumerian shepherd-god.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zamloxis<\/em><\/a> — Thracian hero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zoar<\/em><\/a> — Unknown figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zoroaster<\/em><\/a> — Religious founder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critical Reviews<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Essays and book reviews on persons who promote “copycat” theories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acharya S<\/a> — Preserves the work of 19th century freethinkers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atwill, Joseph<\/a> — author of Caesar’s Messiah<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ben-Jochanon, Yosef<\/a> — from the school that says it was all borrowed from Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campbell, Joseph<\/a> — General proponent of copying of ideas via Jungian archaetypes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freke, Timothy and Peter Gandy<\/a> — review of The Jesus Mysteries<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graham, Lloyd M.<\/a> — author of Deceptions and Myths of the Bible<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greenberg, Gary<\/a> — author of 101 Myths of the Bible<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harpur, Tom<\/a> — author of The Pagan Christ<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helms, Randel<\/a> –Author of Gospel Fictions<\/em>, which proposes that the NT borrowed content from the OT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Higgins, Godfrey<\/a> — early proponent of the copycat thesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kalopoulus, Michael<\/a> — review of Biblical Religion: The Great Lie<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kuhn, Alvin Boyd — a proponent early last century. Sample items commenting on his works Mary Magdalene and Her Seven Devils<\/em><\/a> and Who Is This King of Glory?<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MacDonald, Dennis<\/a> — Author of The Homeric Epics and the Gospel of Mark<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Massey, Gerald<\/a> — another early proponent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price, Robert — Review<\/a> of Deconstructing Jesus<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord Raglan<\/a> by “Justin Martyr” — Raglan was an early proponent of the “copycat” thesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thompson, Thomas — review of The Messiah Myth<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zeitgeist<\/em> movie — contains nothing not already addressed here, but see reader responses here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teaching Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shattering the Christ Myth<\/em><\/a> — my own book, with several chapters on the subject; hub page for the book here<\/a> and see new website here<\/a> featuring updated versions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommended Books<\/a> — a bibliography of books on the historical Jesus<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deeper Waters<\/a> interview with Joe Mulvilhill<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This section is about arguments that Jesus didn’t exist — not even as a person who walked the earth. A related issue that Jesus did not exist but was created from stories … Leer m\u00e1s<\/a><\/p>\n