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Summary: A Baha'i Response
Review: A very interesting book that I hope will cause many people to bring their reason into religion as well as their hearts. This book is invaluable inasmuch as it presents a contrast to literal Christianity. Therefore, it is best read as part of a study which involves a variety of different perspectives on the questions raised. I would ask anyone reading this book to read around - I fear that some of Christianity's opponents might dogmatically cling to this in a way that the authors themselves would probably disapprove of. I do not believe that the authors have provided enough evidence to support their idea that there was no historical Jesus, but they have done a wonderful job of showing that much of the Gospels are best interpreted allegorically. Unfortunately, many Christians will reject this method because they will see the conclusions drawn in this book as being too radical (which, perhaps, they are). I would hold, as I do with most things, that the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. I do not doubt that, in its attempt to unite Jews and Gentiles, Christianity expressed itself using the language deemed most appropriate, but that later such events as the Resurrection, expressing profound spiritual truths, were misunderstood. Going off at a tangent, I think that the authors have failed to deal with another issue arising from their hypothesis - it does not only bring all forms of Christianity besides a form of Gnosticism (literal and not-so-literal alike) into question, but it also challenges both Islam and the Baha'i Faith. These two religions both proclaim an historical Jesus, tho neither hold to the literal truth of the Gospels. Furthermore, Christ's literal martyrdom by crucifixion I hold to be of genuine importance - the love it displays has touch peoples hearts and made a positive impact on their lives. Tho I do not deny its importance as an allegory also, it is important to have respect for what is dear to others rather than cynically dismissing it as so much rubbish. I would encourage the reading of this book.
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Summary: New Synthesis on the Christ Myth
Review: At first I feared this would be another book in the Michael Baigent or Barbara Thiering mold. But the fact that John Shelby Spong, George Wells and Alvar Ellegard were all willing to say nice things about it convinced me to give it a go. I'm glad I did. Christianity developed, according to the thesis, as a Jewish adaptation of the mystery religions that were common in the First Century. Jesus was a mythical figure with no solid historical existence. Gnostic Christianity was truest to this original understanding, but the growing literalist tradition ultimately supplanted it. Sound a bit hairy? The case is put strongly, and builds on the work of scholars like Elaine Pagels. While the authors are not specialists in the field of Historical Jesus/Early Church studies, they have produced a well documented and tightly argued case that can't be dismissed too lightly. This book will reach an audience not usually exposed to concepts like these, and it seems to mesh in several essentials with earlier studies. After completing it I had the same mixture of astonishment and conviction that I felt after reading Ellegard's Jesus - One Hundred Years Before Christ. If you want a swift kick in your Christian comfort zone, this is the place to start.
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Summary: Compelling
Review: Freke and Gandy have done a spectacular job in writing a succinct, well-argued, credible history of the origins of christianity. Their extensive survey and reasoned analysis of comtemporary scholarship leads them to reject as implausible the idea of a literal, historical christ. This stance will undoubtedly upset some readers. However, to get stuck with the issue of whether or not they are right about this - and it seems likely to me that they are - is to miss the bigger (and better) picture. For if there was no Christ, then the question has to be: What was all the fuss about? In addressing this question, they open a door of understanding onto what they have called, "The Jesus Mysteries." With integrity and insight, they have begun an exploration into the true meaning of Christ and Christianity. It is compelling stuff. I can only hope they continue. And I for one look forward to reading another book.
Rating: 
Summary: Close but no cigar.
Review: Freke and Gandy have obviously done their homework. Based upon quotes taken from ancient philosophers and the early church fathers, they lay a foundation to support the premise that the stories of the New Testament are allegorical reworkings of popular, pagan myths, developed by Gnostic Philosophs to provide the Jewish people with the "Messianic" equivalent of the Osiris-Dionysus myth. Building upon this foundation, the authors continue by providing a basic outline of the historic struggle for control of the emerging Christian Church and the subsequent persecution of the Gnostic "Mystics" by the more powerful, ecumenical hierarchy of the "Literalist" Orthodoxy. Without a doubt, Freke and Gandy have given a convincing argument to support the concept that the Gnostics were actually the first "True" Christians and the stories of the New Testament were not meant to be taken in a literal sense. However, they have overlooked the simple possibility that these allegorical stories could quite easily have described historical events in the life of a very real, Messianic "Priest/King" and, they have failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their final conclusion that Jesus was merely a character in a work of literary fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Astounding
Review: I bought this book out of curiosity, and was astounded by it's content. Although I do not agree with the conclusion (that Jesus did not exist as a person).I still give the book 5 stars, because of the astounding amount of research and scholarship which went into proving this book. Unlike many other controvertial books on similar subjects, it does provide solid concrete evidence on which the book is based. After attending a book review I was also impressed by the author's ability to confortable and logically answer the questions thrown at them. A Warning though, ignorance is bliss and if you don't want to upset your bliss, stay ignorant. (i.e. don't read this book)
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Summary: Written by non scholars
Review: I must agree with the reviewers who precede me that this is an entertaining and enlightening book, and it was based partly on their reviews, plus a high recommendation from friends in Avignon (when not in Cambridge), who are responsible for my reading it. Just where did Christianity come from? From the Gnostics. And did they give credit to their forebears? No, they condemned them. I still do not agree with Freke and Gandy's position concerning Paul, though I do agree that he borrowed heavily from the Mystery Schools and was acquainted with them well before he began following Christ's teachings. However, Paul was too much an oppotunist not to have taken advantage of certain rites of the Gnostic mysteries and amalgamating them into his own methods in order to more easily convert followers. I think the authors miss the point why Paul was in contention with John, James and Peter, and that he was first to break with Judaism, having never been a Jew himself. Also, Messrs. Freke and Gandy miss the point that Luke was a late-comer, perhaps the only "educated" apostle (having been a Greek doctor) who also had been familiar with the mystery schools and Gnosticism before he joined with the apostles. Further, I am surprised that these authors don't cite "Gnosis, The Nature & History of Gnosticism" by Kurt Rudolph, a leading world authority on how some Christian Gnostics broke away to became the Roman Church. At least it does not appear in their bibliography. However, Professor Rudolph made it quite clear how Christianity arose from the Gnostic sects. His book was published in English in 1980 and was given very good reviews by James M. Robinson and Elaine Pagels. Nonetheless, I do recommend The Jesus Mysteries to those with ears to hear and eyes to see.
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Summary: Do you care about truth?
Review: If so.. please give this book a chance. My take is that only though unquestioning acceptance of traditional "Christian History" would anybody fail to see the truth contained here. Many questions are answered, and even though the authors do have a mystical bent, the true origin of Christianity really is revealed. I am an atheist (regarding the biblegod) and former fundementalist. However, discovering the true source of our western mythology makes me feel more connected to our ancestors. Christianity hasn't always been the confusing B.S. it is today, but was once the sincere, and human, quest for a higher reality. Today, a big part of that reality, for me, is in understanding my own spiritual quest is something that I share with the ancients. We are the Egyptians. We are the Greeks. Peace to men of goodwill.
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Summary: Too bad there's no scholarship involved
Review: More entertainment for conspiracy buffs! - but with much less honest intellectual input than most. From Tektonics: "[m]any of the claims made about parallels between Jesus and pagan figures are only justified by reference to books that are nearly a hundred years out of date and, as J. P. Holding has demonstrated, modern Mithras studies have moved on a good deal. In the few cases where I could check their sources something rather surprising came up. Freke and Gandy are so selective and vague with their references that I could find a statement that totally contradicts their central thesis on the very page that they pointed to. "A couple of examples will surface to show we are not dealing with a pair of objective scholars but people who are willing to pull the wool over the eyes of their readers. They refer many times to The Mysteries of Mithra by Francis Cumont and published in 1903. Yet we find that in his comparison of Mithraism and Christianity, Cumont (certainly no friend of Christianity himself) specifically states that unlike Mithras, Jesus was a real person. "When dealing with ancient sources they are even more blatant. On the basis of some third century pictures of crucifixions, the authors claim Bacchuus was crucified and Christians copied the idea. This is their piece de resistance and they even put one of the pictures on the cover of their book. But suppose there existed an earlier source who stated categorically that no pagan godman was crucified. That would destroy their case and reading the Jesus Mysteries you would assume that neither Freke or Gandy knew of such a source even if it existed. You would be wrong. "They quote from Justin Martyr many times about his concerns that pagans and Christians had some similar rituals (they did and modern scholarship is totally unsurprised by this). He is a second century writer who therefore predates all the pictures of pagan godmen being crucified and he writes: "But in no instance, not even in any of those called sons of Jupiter, did they imitate the being crucified; for it was not understood by them, all the things said of it having been put symbolically." Justin Martyr 's First Apology LX. "No honest scholar would simply fail to quote this vitally important contradiction to their thesis. Gandy did attempt to explain away this passage when it was presented to him but failed utterly and certainly could not say why he ever felt he could simply miss it out of his book." Borrow, berate, but don't buy.
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Summary: Dynamite: the book they don't want you to read.
Review: The evidence these guys present looks pretty solid to me - every point they made was backed up by not one but several references to experts in this field. It is clear the evidence points to a big hole in the heart of "Literalist" Christianity, and it is ruthlessly exposed, but Freke & Gandy never once attack the truth of the spirit behind it all. No wonder the authorities the authors refer to have kept their heads down over this. As an open-minded Christian, I was rocked and then uplifted by the revelations held here. There are many other Christians who require the certainty of the outer forms - and an authentic history - for their belief. They'll have to either ignore The Jesus Mysteries completely, or do the "Please Close Your Mind Before Opening This Book" trick. This is a well written, easily read book that every thoughtful, spiritually-inclined Christian will read. It is a book that every Christian should read!
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Summary: essential reading to overcome religious conditioning
Review: The facts are o.k., but some of the inferences are a bit tenuous. Like a lot of writers in this genre' they have part of the truth or 'big picture' Those of us who seek the truth, who want to understand our world and society, come to understand that there are spiritual mysteries that are real.
Sadly major institutions like the church, have hidden these things, through misunderstanding, ignorance, and lies. It can be hard to overcome the apriori beliefs that are conditioned into our minds from birth onwards. I suggest you read this book, but also look further into the origins of the christian religion.
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