The Christ myth, as it is understood today, has its roots in various pagan religions and beliefs that were prevalent in the ancient world. Many of the elements and themes found in the story of Jesus can be traced back to earlier myths and legends. One of the most notable parallels is the concept of a dying and resurrecting god. This idea can be seen in several pagan traditions, such as the Egyptian mythology of Osiris, the Greek myth of Dionysus, and the Mesopotamian myth of Tammuz. These gods were believed to die and then be reborn, symbolizing the cycle of life and death. Similarly, Jesus' death and resurrection symbolize his victory over death and offer the promise of eternal life to his followers.
‘Right, everyone. Now it’s time for the second Trundle Christmas Tradition of the day – washing up,’ Bob said, throwing snowflake-patterned tea towels to William and Brenda, and grinning as Brenda’s face fell.
Once the pans and plates were tidied away, Bob slid William s and Brenda s advent calendars across the kitchen table and they quickly set to work finding door number fourteen. Through the kitchen window, a flock of pigeons that had just taken flight were floating absolutely still in mid-air, as if they d been stunned by a freeze-ray that had glued them to the air itself.
Similarly, Jesus' death and resurrection symbolize his victory over death and offer the promise of eternal life to his followers. Another common theme is the virgin birth. This idea also appears in many pagan myths, such as the birth of the Roman god Jupiter from the virgin goddess Minerva and the birth of the Greek god Dionysus from the mortal princess Semele.
Review for The Christmasaurus and the Winter Witch
I got this book late November from one of my libraries but wanted to save it until this week! I thought this would be a perfect pre-Christmas read, and it was!
The first 200 pages? I just flashed through that. We get a dark dark prophecy. And then we flash to the now, we see William and his family again (yes, including Pamela and Brenda), it is almost time for Christmas. As you can imagine Bob (William’s dad) is going all out for it! And then a big surprise because Santa is here! To fulfil wishes, to give a tour, and more!~ I really had fun visiting the North Pole and I just love to see the elves again (and I keep on laughing at their very fitting names). At times I just wanted to step into the book and just BE THERE. Be at that magical place!
The book went a bit downhill for me after 200 pages. Brenda was just annoying again. Making dumb mistakes. And I also wasn’t a fan of the villain and who the villain was. It was just too obvious. Not to mention I just wanted to punch the guy. I don’t get how people swallowed his lies like that. How easily they were swayed. Like WTF people? Get a grip! And then something horrific happens and I was just gasping! NO! Don’t let the prophecy come true that we saw at the beginning! Nooooooess!
Yes, I was crying during certain parts of the book (in which William goes back to the past). That is all I will say, those who read it will know.
I was so proud of William! Rooting for him so much! I mean, not every kid would have done what William does. I love that he and the Christmasaurus make a wonderful pair.
The twist near the end wasn’t such a big twist to me, I just knew it was X from the moment we saw Y. XD Yes, I don’t want to spoil, so this is as much as you get. But while it wasn’t such a big twist I did enjoy it. I did think it was clever.
Oh, and I love that the Creakers is mentioned, that made me smile!
All in all, a very fun and adventurous Christmas read with tons of saving Christmas, brainfreeze, and a wonderful blue dinosaur! Recommended.
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For William, this was the most magical thing to happen to him last Christmas – in fact, it was the most magical thing to happen to him ever! Meeting his best friend: the Christmasaurus.
The story of Jesus' birth to the Virgin Mary follows a similar pattern, emphasizing his divine nature and unique status. Other elements of the Christ myth, such as the miracles attributed to Jesus and the idea of a savior figure, can also be found in various pagan traditions. Greek and Roman gods were often believed to perform miraculous acts, while the concept of a savior who would redeem humanity from sin was prevalent in many ancient religions. It is important to note that these similarities do not necessarily mean that the Christ myth is entirely derived from pagan sources. Instead, they suggest that the story of Jesus drew upon existing cultural and religious beliefs, incorporating them into a unique narrative. Additionally, the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire was facilitated by the familiarity of these pagan ideas, as they provided a point of connection and understanding for potential converts. Overall, the pagan background of the Christ myth highlights the interconnectedness of ancient religions and the ways in which cultural and religious ideas are influenced and adapted over time. While the story of Jesus may have drawn on elements from pagan traditions, it has also developed its own distinct characteristics and significance within the context of Christianity..
Reviews for "The Pagan Symbols in the Christ Mythology"
1. John - 1/5 stars - I found "The pagan background of the Christ myth" to be incredibly misleading and lacking in evidence. The author makes sweeping claims about the pagan origins of various Christian traditions, but fails to provide any substantial proof. The arguments presented in this book rely heavily on speculation and cherry-picked historical references. As someone who is interested in understanding the historical context of religious beliefs, I was disappointed by the lack of scholarly rigor in this work.
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars - While "The pagan background of the Christ myth" raises some interesting points, overall, I found it to be a rather biased and one-sided perspective. The author seems to dismiss the significance of the historical Jesus and focuses solely on the pagan influences on Christianity. While I recognize that there may be pagan elements incorporated into Christian traditions, this book fails to provide a balanced examination, and instead comes across as an attempt to discredit Christianity as a whole. I would recommend seeking out more well-rounded and scholarly sources for a comprehensive understanding of this topic.
3. Michael - 2/5 stars - "The pagan background of the Christ myth" presents an intriguing premise but ultimately falls short in its execution. While the book presents various arguments connecting pagan myths and practices to Christian beliefs, it lacks depth and fails to address counterarguments or alternative interpretations. The author's writing style also tends to be overly sensationalistic, which diminishes the credibility of their claims. As someone interested in religious history, I was expecting a more nuanced and well-researched examination of the topic.
4. Emily - 1/5 stars - I was highly disappointed by "The pagan background of the Christ myth". The book presents a series of outlandish claims without providing any substantial evidence or scholarly references to support them. The author's writing style is often repetitive and lacks coherence. This work reads more like a conspiracy theory than a well-researched study. I would caution readers to approach this book with skepticism and to seek out more reputable sources for a comprehensive understanding of the topic.