Unmasking the Pagan Christ

Unmasking the Pagan Christ PDF Author: Stanley E. Porter
Publisher: Clements Publishing Group
ISBN: 1894667719
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 169

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Book Description
Rabbi or Messiah? Prophet or the Son of God? People have debated the identity of Jesus of Nazareth since the first century. But what if there was no Jesus? What if there was no Mary or Joseph, no twelve apostles? What if the story of Jesus was no more than a myth to convey spiritual truth? These claims have been around for hundreds of years and have become more prominent with well-known religion columnist Tom Harpur's recent book, The Pagan Christ. Harpur claims that Jesus was not a historical figure, but was one version of an ancient myth that can be traced from ancient Egyptian religion to the Roman mystery cults. Stanley Porter and Stephen Bedard tackle this radical claim by looking at the roots of the "pagan Christ idea," examining the supposed pagan parallels and presenting the evidence for the historical Jesus. The authors demonstrate that the suggestion of pagan origins for the Gospel story is not based on historical or textual evidence, but rather on a desire to create a universalistic spirituality revolving around a "Cosmic Christ" within each person. A fair examination of both the mythological and biblical texts reveal that the traditional understanding of an actual historical figure known as Jesus of Nazareth appearing two thousand years ago is indeed the only logical conclusion. Stanley E. Porter is President and Dean, and Professor of New Testament at McMaster Divinity College, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Porter has M.A. degrees from Claremont Graduate School and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and the Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield. He has written widely on issues of concern in study of the New Testament, such as Jesus, Paul, the book of Acts, and John. He has a passion for education in the church, and preaches and teaches regularly. Stephen J. Bedard is the pastor of Woodford Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, Meaford, Ontario, Canada. He holds the M.Div. and M.Th. degrees from McMaster Divinity College, and is actively engaged in further graduate study. Bedard is an advocate of informed preaching and teaching, and is devoted to the ministry of the local church.

Unmasking the Pagan Christ

Unmasking the Pagan Christ PDF Author: Stanley E. Porter
Publisher: Clements Publishing Group
ISBN: 1894667719
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 169

Get Book Here

Book Description
Rabbi or Messiah? Prophet or the Son of God? People have debated the identity of Jesus of Nazareth since the first century. But what if there was no Jesus? What if there was no Mary or Joseph, no twelve apostles? What if the story of Jesus was no more than a myth to convey spiritual truth? These claims have been around for hundreds of years and have become more prominent with well-known religion columnist Tom Harpur's recent book, The Pagan Christ. Harpur claims that Jesus was not a historical figure, but was one version of an ancient myth that can be traced from ancient Egyptian religion to the Roman mystery cults. Stanley Porter and Stephen Bedard tackle this radical claim by looking at the roots of the "pagan Christ idea," examining the supposed pagan parallels and presenting the evidence for the historical Jesus. The authors demonstrate that the suggestion of pagan origins for the Gospel story is not based on historical or textual evidence, but rather on a desire to create a universalistic spirituality revolving around a "Cosmic Christ" within each person. A fair examination of both the mythological and biblical texts reveal that the traditional understanding of an actual historical figure known as Jesus of Nazareth appearing two thousand years ago is indeed the only logical conclusion. Stanley E. Porter is President and Dean, and Professor of New Testament at McMaster Divinity College, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Porter has M.A. degrees from Claremont Graduate School and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and the Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield. He has written widely on issues of concern in study of the New Testament, such as Jesus, Paul, the book of Acts, and John. He has a passion for education in the church, and preaches and teaches regularly. Stephen J. Bedard is the pastor of Woodford Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, Meaford, Ontario, Canada. He holds the M.Div. and M.Th. degrees from McMaster Divinity College, and is actively engaged in further graduate study. Bedard is an advocate of informed preaching and teaching, and is devoted to the ministry of the local church.

The Pagan Christ

The Pagan Christ PDF Author: Tom Harpur
Publisher: Dundurn.com
ISBN: 088762829X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 240

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Book Description
After more than 52 weeks on the Toronto Star’s bestseller list and 43 weeks on The Globe and Mail’s bestseller list, Tom Harpur’s groundbreaking book, The Pagan Christ, is now available in paperback. This new edition includes the twenty-page discussion guide, with more than 100 questions, to help facilitate a deeper, chapter-by-chapter analysis and more profound understanding of the findings and arguments found in the book. Subjects for discussion include: the ancient Egyptian roots of Christianity, the real meaning of the Bible, the key to whether Jesus really existed, the re-mythologizing of Christianity, the meaning of the Christ within all of us and the need to understand myth and allegory. With a new introduction by Tom Harpur, this paperback edition sheds further light on what has become one of the most talked about books of the new millennium.

The Pagan Christ

The Pagan Christ PDF Author: Tom Harpur
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 0802777414
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 258

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Book Description
Challenging church orthodoxy, a religious scholar argues that the biblical Gospels should not be taken literally and that there is a connection between Egyptian mythology and Christianity, in a radical reinterpretation of scripture, the nature of Christianity, and its connections to other of the world's spiritual traditions. Reprint. 25,000 first printing.

The Pagan Christ

The Pagan Christ PDF Author: Tom Harpur
Publisher: Thomas Allen Publishers
ISBN: 9780887621697
Category : Christianity
Languages : en
Pages : 20

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Book Description
Tom Harpur's groundbreaking book "The Pagan Christ: Recovering the Lost Light" has inspired thousands of readers to reconsider the very nature of their faith.This discussion guide includes more than 100 questions about the material found in "The Pagan Christ" that will encourage a deeper, chapter-by-chapter analysis and a more profound understanding of the findings and arguments in this book.

Engaging the Powers

Engaging the Powers PDF Author: Walter Wink
Publisher: Fortress Press
ISBN: 1506438547
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 515

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Book Description
In this brilliant culmination of his seminal Powers Trilogy, now reissued in a twenty-fifth anniversary edition, Walter Wink explores the problem of evil today and how it relates to the New Testament concept of principalities and powers. He asks the question, "How can we oppose evil without creating new evils and being made evil ourselves?" Winner of the Pax Christi Award, the Academy of Parish Clergy Book of the Year, and the Midwest Book Achievement Award for Best Religious Book.

The Birth of Christ

The Birth of Christ PDF Author: Percy Seymour
Publisher: Virgin Books Limited
ISBN: 9780753503560
Category : Astrology
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Almost 2000 years ago, the earth saw the dawning of the age of pisces. This new era brought with it the birth of Christianity heralded by the magi, more commonly known as the three wise men.

McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry: Volume 9

McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry: Volume 9 PDF Author: Wendy Porter
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1606083988
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
The McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry is an electronic and print journal that seeks to provide pastors, educators, and interested lay persons with the fruits of theological, biblical, and professional studies in an accessible form. Published by McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario, it continues the heritage of scholarly inquiry and theological dialogue represented by the College’s previous print publications: the Theological Bulletin, Theodolite, and the McMaster Journal of Theology.

A Quick Survey of Jesus Copycat Claims

A Quick Survey of Jesus Copycat Claims PDF Author: Albert McIlhenny
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781312179035
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 92

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Book Description
Through films such as Zeitgeist and books by such popular authors as Tom Harpur, D. M. Murdock, and the duo of Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy, the thesis that Jesus never existed but was a copy of earlier pagan gods has entered mainstream popular thought. While not taken seriously by scholars, this bit of misinformation has become standard fare among conspiracy theorists and a source of confusion in the popular culture at large. In a series of books, Albert McIlhenny will give a thorough critique of the whole ""copycat thesis"" idea. In A Quick Survey of Jesus Copycat Claims: Examining the Pagan Christ Myth, the first book in the series, McIlhenny gives an outline of some of the most popular versions of these theories and a short explanation of some of their most obvious flaws. The treatment in this first book will be expanded upon in future books in the series when he treats each of the theories individually in detail.

Speaking the Christian God

Speaking the Christian God PDF Author: Alvin F. Kimel
Publisher: Gracewing Publishing
ISBN: 9780802806123
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 356

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Book Description
A collection of essays written by a wide diversity of scholars--including Thomas F. Torrance, Geoffrey Wainwright, Elizabeth Achtemeier, Colin Gunton, and Robert W. Jenson--that discuss and critically analyze the crucial theological issues at stake in the feminist theological agenda. The first volume of its kind to offer an orthodox, critical response to the proposals of contemporary feminist theology.

Christ Crucified

Christ Crucified PDF Author: Mark W. Thomsen
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781932688016
Category : Lutheran Church
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This tome of theological reflection is seasoned by Mark Thomsen's long years of engagement in mission and interfaith relations. Thomsen argues that the Lutheran tradition of the "theology of the cross" must be stretched in many ways as it responds to the needs of Christians in the third world and through dialogue with the other religions of the world.--From publisher's description.