The Jesus Mysteries. Was the 'Original Jesus' a Pagan God?

Article number 10223223

Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy argue that the Gospel story of Jesus shares important motifs with older Mediterranean mystery religions, particularly myths surrounding Osiris-Dionysus. They compare traditions concerning a divine saviour, death and resurrection, ritual meals and spiritual rebirth, and propose that early Christianity began as a Jewish adaptation of these mystery traditions. They further argue that some early Christians understood the Jesus story allegorically rather than as straightforward history, and connect this interpretation with Gnostic Christianity. These conclusions constitute the authors' controversial thesis rather than an established scholarly consensus.