Tom Harpur, a former Anglican priest and theologian, gained notoriety for his controversial views on Christianity and his exploration of ancient pagan religions. In his book, "The Pagan Christ," Harpur argues that the story of Jesus is not unique but rather an adaptation of older myths and legends from various pagan cultures. He asserts that Christianity borrowed heavily from ancient Egyptian, Babylonian, and Greek mythologies. Harpur contends that Jesus, as portrayed in the Gospels, is simply a symbolic representation of the universal human experience rather than a historical figure. He suggests that the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection can be seen as a mythical narrative that mirrors the seasonal cycles of nature and the spiritual journey of every individual. Harpur's arguments have sparked significant controversy within religious circles.
Harpur's arguments have sparked significant controversy within religious circles. Critics argue that his claims lack historical evidence and rely heavily on speculation and personal interpretation. They argue that the uniqueness of Jesus lies in his theological significance and the profound impact of his teachings rather than historical comparisons.
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.
At the time he was also involved in social issues and in March, 1965, he was part of a large group in Toronto protesting racism in the southern United States, in particular the police violence in Selma, Ala. Wearing his Roman collar, he walked alongside an Anglican bishop outside the U.S. consulate in Toronto.
Despite the criticism, Harpur's ideas have found a following among those who are disillusioned with traditional forms of Christianity or who seek to reconcile their Christian faith with other religious or spiritual traditions. His work has opened up new conversations about the diversity of religious beliefs and the interconnectedness of ancient mythologies. In conclusion, Tom Harpur's book "The Pagan Christ" presents a challenging perspective on the origins and nature of Christianity. His exploration of pagan influences on Christian mythology has sparked debate and divided opinions among scholars and believers alike. While his ideas are provocative and stimulat.
Reviews for "Tom Harpur and the Pagan Revival in Modern Christianity"
- John - 1 star
I found "Tom Harpur: The Pagan Christ" to be highly disappointing. The book lacked depth and substance, and the author's arguments were unconvincing. Harpur's attempt to link Christianity with pagan traditions felt forced and unsupported. Overall, I felt that the book was a poorly researched and poorly executed attempt to challenge Christian beliefs.
- Sarah - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Tom Harpur: The Pagan Christ," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. While the concept of exploring the pagan influences on Christianity sounded intriguing, the book ended up being confusing and hard to follow. Harpur's writing style was overly verbose and repetitive, making it difficult to stay engaged. Additionally, I found several of his arguments to be based on speculations rather than solid evidence. Needless to say, I was disappointed with this read.
- Michael - 1 star
I couldn't finish "Tom Harpur: The Pagan Christ" – it was that bad. The book was riddled with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated claims. Harpur seemed more interested in pushing his own agenda rather than presenting a well-researched and balanced perspective. I found his arguments to lack credibility and depth. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a serious exploration of the topic.