Tom Harpur, a Canadian writer and theologian, gained considerable attention with his book titled "The Pagan Christ: Recovering the Lost Light." In this thought-provoking work, Harpur presents a controversial alternative to traditional Christian beliefs. He suggests that the story of Jesus Christ is not unique but rather a reiteration of ancient pagan myths. Harpur argues that the Gospel accounts of Jesus' life and teachings are symbolic rather than historical events. He highlights the striking similarities between the life of Christ and various pagan gods and heroes like Osiris, Dionysus, and Mithras. According to Harpur, these similarities reflect the common human longing for a savior figure, which finds expression in various cultural and religious narratives throughout history.
In the Star and other publications there were familiar themes: "Gospels Not History but Sacred Dramas," was the headline for an article he wrote in the Catholic New Times in 2003. He also worked for television, including writing scripts for Man Alive, the CBC's religious program.
Tom Harpur, who died last month at the age of 87, was an ordained Anglican priest and theology professor at the University of Toronto who gained international fame, not from the pulpit, but from his newspaper columns and books. According to his wife, Susan Harpur, he wrote more than 1,000 weekly columns for the paper and travelled the world to meet prominent religious figures, including the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa.
According to Harpur, these similarities reflect the common human longing for a savior figure, which finds expression in various cultural and religious narratives throughout history. One of Harpur's central contentions is that many elements of Christianity can be traced back to pre-Christian mythology. He claims that the ideas of virgin birth, resurrection, and the concept of the redeeming savior figure existed long before Jesus' time.
Review of "The pagan Christ: recovering the lost light" by Tom Harpur
You've probably heard of the theory of Christ as a pagan myth . The fact that this is a "bestseller" makes one think that it is probably yet another example of bad scholarship. But I was surprised to see the extent of the misinformation. If this is a representative example of the genre, then we can safely forget all about it and go back to reading Augustine.
It is horrible! I couldn't even finish it, because my stomach turned. Harpur is lying about Christianity, and he must know this, because he has been an Anglican priest. He says that the church teaches that the Christ cannot take his abode in people's heart, although this is exactly what it teaches. The Holy Spirit descends upon us and we may acquire the mind of Christ.
Harpur says that the ancients never believed the religious stories, only what they symbolically represented, i.e., their secret meaning. Wrong! They believed in them as literal truths and they had little grasp of their psychological meaning. They did indeed favour "superstitious supernaturalism". We know this from the historical record.
He says that the divine persons, such as Jesus, Adonis, Tammuz, etc., for the ancients represented "the divine spark" incarnate in every human being. He doesn't provide any references to bolster this view, because there aren't any. This is an idea of Gnosticism, which is of later date.
There is an abundance of errors. He gives examples of gods that suffer and die before returning to their native upper world. They win a victory over their enemies, have a triumphant procession and are enthroned on high. Examples of such gods are Osiris, Hermes, Balder, Adonis, Attis, Tammuz, Thor, etc. I only know that Osiris, Adonis, Attis, Balder and Tammuz never did battle with anyone, and they are never enthroned "on high". They are stuck in the Netherworld; but are typically responsible for the yearly return of the vegetation. And I surely didn't know that Hermes and Thor were dying and resurrecting gods. Where does this information come from? He never says!
Harpur claims that the story about Jesus has only a subjective meaning and that everything in the bible derives from the Egyptian religion. The "Osiris/Dionysus" myth, he claims, already contains everything, such as being born of a virgin in a cave on December 25; turning water into wine at a wedding; healing the sick; casting out demons; performing miracles; riding a donkey into a special city; being betrayed for thirty pieces of silver; celebrating a communal meal with bread and wine; being put to death on a cross; descending into hell, etc. (ch.3).
No! These events do not occur in the Osiris myths; nor in the Dionysus myths. Anyway, I've studied both gods, and such myths are unknown to me. He does not provide any references, so I conclude that it is a lie.
At this stage, I couldn't continue reading the book, because it was such a revolting experience.
"I came to the same conclusions as my brother, though by a different route. There is a problem with the literal interpretation of scripture. Things such as Jesus spending 40 days and 40 nights fasting in the desert. Who was there to record this?," says Dr. Harpur, who also says he is a Christian who believes in the moral principles of Christianity.
Harpur suggests that early Christian leaders, seeking to appeal to a diverse pagan audience, incorporated elements from these ancient myths into their teachings. "The Pagan Christ" challenges Christians to critically examine their beliefs and consider alternative interpretations of the biblical narrative. Harpur suggests that a literal understanding of the Bible limits the depth of its message and restricts access to universal truths. By recognizing the mythical and metaphorical nature of religious stories, he contends that individuals can expand their spiritual horizons and find common ground with followers of other faiths. While Harpur's ideas have sparked considerable controversy within the Christian community, they have also garnered interest among those questioning traditional religious dogma. Some critics argue that Harpur's thesis undermines the historical credibility and unique nature of Jesus Christ. They emphasize the importance of faith and the transformative power of personal encounters with the divine, rather than relying solely on historical evidence or comparative mythology. Regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with Harpur's claims, "The Pagan Christ" is undeniably a thought-provoking book that invites readers to reconsider their beliefs and offers a new perspective on the development of Christianity. It challenges individuals to explore the universal themes and spiritual truths found in diverse religious traditions and encourages dialogue and mutual understanding among people of different faiths..
Reviews for "The Pagan Christ and the relevance of ancient myth in a modern religious context"
1. James - rating: 1/5
I found "Tom Harpur: The Pagan Christ" to be a disappointing read. Harpur presents a highly speculative and imaginative interpretation of Christianity that simply does not hold up to historical and biblical scrutiny. His arguments lack solid evidence and seem more rooted in personal opinion than in scholarly research. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a balanced and accurate understanding of Christian theology.
2. Sarah - rating: 2/5
While I appreciate the author's attempt to challenge traditional Christian beliefs, I found "Tom Harpur: The Pagan Christ" to be somewhat lacking in depth and substance. Harpur's assertions and connections between ancient pagan myths and Christianity are interesting, but they often feel forced and stretched. I was hoping for a more comprehensive analysis backed by solid evidence, but instead, the book falls short in providing a convincing argument.
3. Robert - rating: 1/5
I regret wasting my time reading "Tom Harpur: The Pagan Christ." The author's attempts to undermine the validity of Christianity by suggesting it is nothing more than a derivative of pagan mythology are unconvincing and, quite frankly, disrespectful to those who hold their faith dear. Harpur's arguments lack logical coherence and rely heavily on cherry-picked examples. If you're looking for a serious examination of Christianity and its origins, I would recommend looking elsewhere.
4. Rebecca - rating: 2/5
I was intrigued by the concept of "Tom Harpur: The Pagan Christ", but unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me. The author's writing style is often repetitive and overly verbose, making it difficult to stay engaged. Additionally, while Harpur's exploration of pagan influences on Christianity may have some merit, he seems to overlook the uniqueness and transformative power of Jesus' message. The book left me feeling unsatisfied and in search of more substantial analysis.
5. David - rating: 1/5
I found "Tom Harpur: The Pagan Christ" to be an intellectually dishonest and agenda-driven piece of work. Harpur seems more interested in discrediting Christianity than in offering a genuine scholarly examination. His arguments lack depth and often rely on speculative connections rather than rigorous research. This book does a disservice to those seeking an authentic exploration of religion and spirituality.