Crosses, Trees, and Castratees - Is this millenniums most popular religion older than we think?
The entire first part of Zeitgeist is essentially a discussion of Christianity’s roots and historical validity. Its objective is to show Christianity to be a complex and error filled mix, built from political interests, astrology, Egyptian religion, as well as Greek and Roman Mythology.
This is a bold claim, though not a new one, and if proven true could change the lives of billions of people for the better freeing them from the chains of a demanding, popular and well crafted myth (at least the lives of those who would listen.
If however this claim is false, then Christianity is still a historic fact and a spiritual possibility that needs to be studied, judged, and dealt with. Also if the claims were false but believed, a great deal of emotional, relational, and philosophical turmoil would be inflicted unnecessarily upon all who left their faith. Therefore in the name of truth and human betterment, we must test the accuracy of the facts presented by the makers of Zeitgeist.
Beginning at the start of the movie we pass through a brief introduction into the habits and practices of ancient humanity. Here we are told how humans worshiped the natural world, as well as how he personified it, made myths about it and carefully tracked the changes of it for reasons of time keeping and worship. Here (barring some very minor questions) we can take no real issue with anything that is being said. It is all pretty fair and honest. Humans did adore the sun, we did follow the stars, and we did associate myths with them.
However, immediately following that we come to a section which compares the life, birth and death of Christ with that of other religious and mythological figures, and it is here we must begin to question the facts that are being presented.
The format in which the movie presents this is very simple and persuasive, yet when one looks at all the information regarding this point; both simplicity and persuasiveness are lost. Since this essay would be very hard to follow if not organized properly, I am going to share with you the stories of each of the deities and god men mentioned in the movie and afterward explore the possibility that the life and teachings of Christ are copies of them.
(click on the name to jump to the section on this page)
A. Horus
B. Attis
C. Krishna
D. Dionysus
E. Zagreus
F. Mithra
G. Perseus
H. Jesus
HORUS
Horus is one of the most popular god names in Ancient Egypt. I say god names, and not just gods because there was more than one Horus god in that ancient land.
Besides Harsiesis (Horus the son of Isis) there is Horus the elder who was the brother of Set. It was he who was said to rule the sky by day while Set did it by night, it was also he who lost one of his eyes in battle, and whose eyes were represented by the sun and the moon. A few more popular forms in which Horus was worshipped were: Harmakhet, Harpokrates, Horus Behudety and Ra-Harakhte.
Over time all of the different Horusi become absorbed by the most popular form of Horus that of “Harsiesis” or Horus son of Isis. It is he that was mentioned in Zeitgiest and whom I will be referring to every time I use the name Horus from here on out.
The story of Horus begins following the tragic events of his father, Osiris’s death. Osiris was hated by Set who tricked him into getting into a box, which was then sealed with hot lead and thrown into a river. The box then floated into the roots of a tree which grew very large because the body of the god was among them. Isis, who was looking for his body, sought out the tree and retrieved Osiris’s (her husband) body, though the how or it varies depending on the version of the myth.
It was at this time little Horus was concived by her, the method of which also differs in each of the accounts I read. One of them say she brought forth Osiris’s essence by magic and thus became pregnate. One of them said that she was mysteriously impregnated by the power of Osiris as she transported the god’s dead body back to Egypt. Yet others seem to indicate the Isis was made with child by a part of Osiris that was cut off by Set and subsequently never found because it was eaten by a river dwelling creature (I’ll let you guess which part).
After Horus became grown he sought to dispose Set of his father’s throne and took the matter before the gods to resolve the issue. After pleading with the gods, fighting as hippos, racing boats, and having a sort of sexual duel, the problem was finally decided when Osiris sent word to the royal house that if they did not give his son the throne he would loose the fiends he now commanded as the new Lord of the underworld. This gave the gods reason to think, because the fiends were not afraid of any god or man, and they finally sided with Horus.
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ATTIS
The story of Attis (as with most myths) has quite a few variations, so please be merciful if you know a fact about this story which differs or is not included. I have related the basic story line which is the same in all the versions.
It all begins with Zeus’s seed spilling from him onto the earth and from this divine semen the demon Agdistis was born. Agdistis had male parts, female parts, and great strength. All these things combined caused the other gods to fear Agdistis and so they cut off Agdistis’s man parts. Those man parts then grew up to become an almond tree.
One day thereafter Nana, the daughter of the river Sangarios, came to the tree and either by eating of it, or laying it upon her belly she became pregnated by the tree. The child who was then conceived was the god Attis.
Over time Attis grew into a beautiful and charming young man. So beautiful in fact that the goddess Cybele (who some say was Agdistis now a goddess due to the prior “removal”) fell in love with him. At first Attis vowed to serve Cybele in her temple always but later the young man fell in love with a princess who dwelled at Pessinos.
When the day of the wedding came, Cybele appeared in the midst of the gathering and drove both Attis and the father of his new lover mad. In the throws of this madness both of them castrated themselves and died. Cybele then became sorry for what she had done and reformed him as a pine tree, or pled with Zeus who then helped her resurrect him.
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KRISHNA
Krishna comes to us through the Indian religious traditions. He is the eighth avatar of the Vishnu, and one of the most adored expressions of god in the Hindu culture.
His life is recorded in the tenth and eleventh cantos of the Srimad Bhagavatam, “The story fortunate one”, which is a 18,000 verse long compilation of Vedic culture, wisdom and history.
BIRTH OF KRISHNA
The Story of the Krishna’s birth can be found in the 10th canto, chapters 1-3.
EVENTS BEFORE HIS COMING
Vishnu, after being approached by the earth mother, decided to be born and walk upon the earth so as to heal and help the planet by his presence. A man by the name of Vasudeva and his wife Devaki (daughter of Ugrasena the king) were chosen to be the parents of his latest avatar. This process however was not to go off without a hitch for as Prince Kamsa (brother of Devaki) held the horses’ reins which pulled his sisters chariot, a voice from beyond told him that her eighth son would kill him.
Kamsa then, believing the voice, grabbed hold of his sister inteding to end her life. Vasudeva however pleaded with him to let his wife live in exchange for the lives of his children as they came into the world. Kamsa agreed and after the birth of the first child, he had the couple locked away in prison. Kamsa then killed all the children they had as they exited the womb and feared greatly for the coming of the eighth child.
Kamsa, having killed the first six children, was awaiting the seventh that Devaki was carrying when she apparently miscarraged. Little did he know however that the embryo did not die but was transferred to the womb Rohini by “Yogamaya” (a personification of Vishnu’s spiritual energy). Shortly thereafter, Vishnu came down into the mind of Vasudeva, who then transferred him into the mind of Devaki. Thus was she filled with the newest avatar of Vishnu, whose presence made her to shine.
KRISHNA’S BIRTH
When the time came for Devaki to give birth to Krishna, the newborn manifested himself with all his wonders, and after prayers and conversation, took again the form of a babe. Then as his father was leaving the delivery room, Yogamaya opened all the doors and loosed all the chains so Vasudeva could escape with Krishna.
The excited father then ran to the house of Nanda Maharaja. There he swapped his new born son with Yasoda’s new born daughter (which was Vishnu’s Yogamaya incarnated) and then returned to the prison house of Kamsa.
Shortly there after, Kamsa and his house was awoken by the sound of a baby crying. Eager to rid himself of his future destroyer, Kamsa snatched the young child from Devaki’s arms only to have it fly into the air and reveal itself as Yogamaya-devi, Vishnu’s younger sister. Then after she had told Kamsa of Krishna’s escape, vanished from before him.
After Krishna escaped hun Kamsa apologized to his sister and brother in law and set them free. This however did not last and shortly thereafter he took counsel with demons who told him to kill all children born within the last ten days and to persecute the demigods, cows, brahmanas, and holy people so as to hurt Vishnu (since they were all parts of him). Kamsa’s efforts were unsuccessful however, and Krishna escaped. Never the less, Kamsa’s anger against the avatar did not abate until Krishna ended Kamsa’s earthly existence.
DEATH OF KRISHNA
The life of Krishna is far too vast and expansive to speak of here but suffice it to say that he did many wondrous feats, conquered many contrary evils, and spoke many words of betterment.
The departure of Krishna and the events that led up to it are recorded for us in the 11th Canto, chapters 30 and 31 or the Srimad Bhagavatam.
After Krishna felt he had set earth right and knew that his beloved Balarama had given up this mortal life he sat down under a pippala tree. While Krishna was sitting there under the sacred fig tree (which is the actual name of the tree) a hunter named Jara came by and mistaking the avatars foot for a deer, shot it with an arrow made from cursed iron. After realizing whom it was he had shot, Jara begged for Krishna to forgive him and take his life. Krishna however forbade such things, instructing Jara that it was all a part of His will after which He gave the hunter permission and the way (a type of airplane) of entering the spiritual world. Shortly there after, Krishna fixed his mind upon himself, and by his own will left this world. Thus he returned to his own dwelling place amid showers of flowers, the resounding of kettledrums, and the penetrating gaze Brahman and Shiva.
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DIONYSUS
Known to the Romans as Bacchus, Dionysus was the god of vegetation, wine, festivity and fertility. Wine here is not just in the sense of getting stupid drunk, but also in the economic and cultural benefits of it.
His father was Zeus and his mother was a beautiful woman named Semele. Hera, aware that Zeus’s fiery lust had found yet another lover, was furious set out to take vengeance. Disgusied as an old woman Hera convinced Semele to insist that Zeus reveal himself to her in all his glory. Zeus tried to persuade the young woman not to do such a foolish thing for no human could see his glory and live, but she kept insisting and he indulged her.
When he appeared in all his might and power before her, Zeus’s majesty not only killed the young lady but forced her to give birth to Dionysus prematurely. In an effort to save the young child’s life Zeus (some say Hermes) sewed the young child up in his thigh and when the child was ready, removed him.
Zeus then gave the child to a god or goddesss, which varies from version to version, that in turn, gave him to Ino who raised him as a girl to prevent Hera from discovering him. However, eventually Hera found him and not yet over her jealousy sent Dionysus’s new parents, Ino and Athamas, into a rage. However Dionysus again escaped her treachery. Zeus intervened by turning him into a ram and took him to Mount Nysa where he was raised by the nymphs who lived there.
This was not to be the final act of Hera’s wrath however. Once Dionysus had come of age she found him again and drove him mad. In the wanderings which followed, he eventually came across the goddess Rhea (some say Cybele) who cured him of his madness. He then traveled throughout India and Asia where he taught the cultivation of the vine as well and doing exploits which proved his divinity.
After proving his divine nature, Dionysus went into the underworld and rescued his mother Semele. After leading her out, he dubbed her Tyrone and took her with him to Olympus. At the end of his life, Dionysus was accepted into the group of ruling Olympians as well as by the oracle of Delphi.
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ZAGREUS
No treatment of Dionysus would be complete without mentioning the story of Zagreus, for it provides an alternate beginning to the Dionysian myths. The tale begins when Zeus seduces Persephone (wife of Hades) in the form of a serpent. The god she gave birth to was named Zagreus. Young Zagreus’s life was not to last long however, for he was a target of Hera’s rage from birth due to the promiscuous actions of his Zeus father.
Shortly after his life had begun, Hera sent the Titans to tear him into pieces. As they were in the act of the foul deed however, Zeus intervened and saved the heart of the child. From this heart he then created Dionysus. Thus providing another start to Dionysian lore as well as another reason why Dionysus was called “twice-born”.
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MITHRA
The first recorded mention of the Indo-Iranian Mithra comes from around 1400 B.C. At that time Mithra was a full fledged god and not the lesser deity he later became. He was then the god of light, wisdom, contracts and truth. He was a keeper of cosmic order and the one who drove the solar chariot as it crossed the sky.
This role however was diminished with the coming of Zoroastrianism. At that time the old gods were reavaluated and Ahura-Mazda became the chief deity while Mithra was made the chief Yazata (similar to an angel). In this role he gained the duties of being judge of the dead and aided Ahura-Mazda (or Ormazd) in his war against the dark lord Angra-Mainyu (or Ahriman).
Beginning in the areas of India and Iran the religion later spread to Asia Minor where it was popular among the Greeks and Romans. The Romans however had a special affection for the solider god who went about dashing the forces of evil, as is understandable due to the amount of “dashing” the Roman soldiers did.
In Rome, Mithra became Mithras and “Deus sol invictus” or “the unconquered sun”. Through the influence of Roman soldiers the faith was spread throughout most of the Roman Empire. It was practiced by the Romans faithfully till around the 3rd and 4th century when its growth was slowed and eventually stopped due to the influence of Christianity and Constantine the Great.
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PERSEUS
If you do not remember this hero of Greek myth, some of you might remember the movie, “Clash of the Titans” which was an adaptation of it for the silver screen.
Even though the makers of Zeitgeist didn’t make a comparison between Christ and young Perseus they referenced a comparison which Justin Martyr had made. Therefore I have included the story of Perseus here so as we might better understand what reasons Justin had for making his statement.
The lives of most Heros in Greek myth begin with one of Zeus’s sexual adventures and the story of Perseus is no different. From wherever it was that Zeus like to sit atop Olympus he one day caught sight of a beautiful mortal woman named Danae. She was locked up in a cell belonging to her father Acrisius, because it was prophesied that a child bore from her loins would some day come to power and kill him.
Even though Danae was locked away in a cell this was still no obstacle for Zeus, who being the greatest of the gods could shape shift at will. Therefore one night Zeus manifested himself in Danae’s cell in the form of a golden shower and thus was young Perseus conceived.
Acrisius however heard of Zeus’s visitation and forcefully put the young child and his mother into a chest and threw them into the sea. However fortune was with them and a fisherman named Dictys found them and took them to his brother Polydectes, King of Seriphus, who took them in and cared for them.
As time drew on however, Polydectes fell in love with Danae but couldn’t get close to her due to the powerful young man Perseus had become. To solve this problem he sent the youth to bring back the head of a Gorgon, a creature whose very gaze could turn a man to stone. Since the only mortal Gorgon was Medusa, it was her head Perseus sought to take as his trophy.
After successfully questing to obtain some magical weapons from the gods, Perseus used them (some say with the help of Athena) to remove the head of Poseidon’s once beautiful lover.
Following the petrifaction of Atlas, the besting of the sea monster (which he bested to save Andromeda his future wife), and the conquering of Andromeda’s former suitor Phineus, Perseus returned to Seriphos. There he found his mother in the temple with Dictys where she was hiding from Polydectes’s affections. Angered by the kings unjust pursuit of his mom, Perseus went to him and turned him (some say his whole land) into stone.
Now that his labors were complete, young Perseus returned the gifts of the gods and then went back to the place of his birth. When Acrisius heard the news of Perseus’s return he fled in fear that he might still die. Unfortunately for him there was no escape from fate for later at some games held by Teutamidas, King of Larissa, he was hit by a discuss Perseus’s threw and died. As for Perseus’s fate, some say he traded kingdoms with Megapenthes, the son of Proetus, and there after ruled happily, some say he was killed by Megapenthes for having killed his father, and yet others says that he remained in Argos where he prevented the introduction of Dionysus’s cult.
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JESUS
Though most of us have a rough idea about the life of Jesus who came to be known as the Christ, I thought it best to include a brief overview of his life here so that we will have a fresh and accurate picture.
The stories regarding the birth, life, and death of Christ are recorded predominantly in the books we now call the four gospels, which are attributed to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
JESUS’S BIRTH
(Found in Matthew 1:18-2:23 and in Luke 1:1-2:39.)
The nation of Israel had been looking for the coming of a promised Messiah for some time. Being spoken of often in the Old Testament, they eagerly awaited the coming of the one who was going to liberate them from the bondage of Pagan rule and reinstate them to their former glory.
They were to be disappointed however for Yehova was sending the Messiah not for the liberation of the physical nation but for the liberation of the souls of men. He looked down upon the world and saw that the suffering of man was great and that he must intervene or else man would slip over the brink of destruction.
To prepare the way of the Messiah, Yehova first sent news to a priest named Zacharias that he would bear a son which would prepare the people. Six months following this Yehova sent news to Mary by the angel Gabriel that she was going to be the mother of the promised Messiah who was going to save all humanity from the penalties due them per their disobedience to divine law. When Mary questioned how this could since she was a virgin, the angel told her that the presence of Yehova would create in her womb the holy seed.
Some time after that Joseph, becoming aware that she was pregnant, intended to leave her but was told by Yehova that he was the source of the pregnancy. Satisfied with this Joseph went ahead and married her.
Then one day, late into Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph received word that they would have to travel to Bethlehem so that he might be taken account of and taxed. They then made their way to the small town of Joseph’s (and Mary’s) ancestors.
Once they arrived, Mary knew that she was going to give birth but since all the rooms were full due to the influx of Bethlehemites, she was forced to stay in a stable. There she gave birth to young Jesus who shortly thereafter was visited by a set of shepards who had been told of the Messiah’s coming by a horde of angels.
Some time after this (for they are no longer said to be in the stable) they received magi from the east who had been led to the young child by the help of the Jews at Herod’s palace and a mysterious star. Once inside, the magi gave their gifts to the new born Messiah and then returned home in secret because an angel made them aware that Herod intended to kill the new born.
When Herod heard of the magi’s departure he was enraged and sent troops to Bethlehem to kill all children under two years old so as to make sure Jesus did not escape. However his plans failed because Yehova had sent an angel to Joseph and told him to flee to Egypt. There he stayed till Herod died and then returned to Nazareth where Jesus grew up.
THE LIFE OF JESUS
As with Krishna, there is far too much information on the life of Christ to cover in this particular writing. However, he went about proclaiming a message of total love of man for God and God for man, judgment for all who commit evil, and how he would take the penalty (death) of those found guilty so they could partake in his pure and eternal life.
THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS
For three and a half years Jesus went throughout the land of Israel preaching about the nature of God and the nature of man. His ministry ended when one of his disciples betrayed him to the religious leaders who now wished him dead for revealing showing them their evil souls. Once he was in their possession they hurriedely sentenced Jesus to death and took him to Pilate who they persuaded to crucifiy him.
Following the death of Jesus upon the cross, one of his wealthy followers placed him in a nearby tomb. The grave however was not able to consume the life of Jesus for he was both sinless and divine. Three days after his passing he was resurrected and ascended into heaven where he now prays and labors to perfect humanity so that they might be ready for his promised return.
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Part Four: The Comparisons Begin
