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Summary: An exaltation of the Christ principle.
Review: This book is not an attack on Christ, it is rather an exaltation of the universal Christ principle. I found that everything that ever disturbed me, or rang false, about the gospels was washed away by the authors' Jesus Mysteries Thesis. I also realised why I have been so strongly drawn to Gnosticism over the years- it was the original faith, a faith hyjacked and perverted by an authoritarian, worldly, imperial, bureaucracy. There have been many Christs in many cultures: Osiris, Dionysis, Attis, Adonis, Bacchus, Mithras.... The central theme to all their stories was a son of God coming to earth, to learn, teach, and grow before being crucified on a cross of matter, and returning to the place from whence he came. This was also the central mystery in all cases: we are to realise that we too descended from another place and that we are to learn, grow and teach before we return there. This is the great truth to the Christ principle. How could this truth be a threat to anyone with a spark of spiritual insight?
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Summary: A former fundy says: buy it!
Review: This is a good, solid read replete with mountainous amounts of evidence to make one question the authenticity of the commonly-accepted "historical" Christ. As a former fundamentalist, it almost felt like blasphemy to read the theories as asserted by Freke and Gandy, but the more I read, the more I understood and perceived, and, well, the truth shall set you free. Do I know who Christ was, without a doubt? Of course not. Do I believe that he is as he's been represented vis-a-vis orthodoxy throughout the centuries? Of course not. And neither should you. This book helps explain why. Truly, it's work like this (also The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold by Acharya S.) that helps me form my own opinion (an educated one, at that), and ultimately know God in a more honest and comprehensive manner. Highly recommended.
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Summary: The Death of Christian Exclusivism
Review: Christian exclusivism will die a painful death. For Jesus to properly enter Western mythology, we must search for the original meaning behind Jesus' words and deeds. Freke and Gandy do a wonderful job deconstructing the Christian Jesus and offering a plausible alternative--the Gnostic Jesus. They exhaustively analyze ancient source materials and convincingly demonstrate the pagan basis for Christianity. The thesis is a fitting foil to the flatulent conservatism of N.T. Wright and other church scholars who would would have you believe that mind-numbing, redundant references to the Old Testament source materials will validate the literalist rendering of Jesus. The pagan mystery religions, much like Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Sufism, seek Oneness with the Divine as their ultimate goal. With Freke and Gandys' stunning revelation, Christians--even literalists--can now be welcomed into this universal brotherhood.
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Summary: Fascinating Thesis--like it or not
Review: Neither Christianity nor mysticism holds my loyalty, so perhaps I can at least claim not to have an axe to grind or theology to defend. I found the book utterly fascinating. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the historical foundations of Christianity, in Greek and middle eastern philosophies, and in general anyone who likes to ask questions about how belief systems get started. The picture the book paints of the early centuries of Christianity, with its disputing factions, persecutions, and changing political environment is excellent. It is instructive to realize that what is "gospel" now was controversial then--and the winners, who became the Roman Catholic church, wrote the history. Sometimes, in spite of obvious attempts to organize their vast source material, the narrative is confusing, but it is still a great read. The authors dig into a great wealth of sources which are hardly spoken of elsewhere. I find their thesis that the Jesus story was compiled from pre-existing mythology quite believable compared to the more traditional interpretations.
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Summary: Christianity a copy of pagan cults, and a poor one at that
Review: Bravo! This book is an amazing eye-opener. Learn about Osiris, Dionysis, Bacchus, Mithras, etc. -- all pagan gods, predating Christ, who are born of divine fathers and human mothers immaculately, who are sacrificed, and who rise again!!! And we thought it was such an original story! This book is carefully documented -- you've never seen so many footnotes. Definitely evidence that demands a verdict.
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Summary: Did He exist? Why the sudden denial, and from what source?
Review: Read the Bible yourself, not this collection of accusations. Consider for yourself the facts, how the Word has stood the test of time, despite all the attempts at attacking its credibility. The truth of the crucifixion and resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15:1-19 Then and now there will always be scoffers: 2 Peter 3:3-9 We were warned about people telling of "another Jesus" - can we say "CULTS"? One prophecy of many: 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 Changed lives. Fulfilled prophecies. No contradictions to science or archaeology. Meaning and purpose behind your life and life as a whole. You are cherished, loved by Him, made in His image. He is righteous but merciful. He wants you to come back home. He's waiting. ================== "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
-1 Corinthians 2:14
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Summary: A good fit
Review: This book spoke to my spiritual side, answered a lot of questions and confirmed what I had already believed to be true.
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Summary: What most don't have the guts to admit
Review: The Jesus Mysteries is a wonderful piece of work. Freke and his co-author print and jusitfy beautifully what most don't want to admit--that the story of Jesus Christ may be the best work of fiction ever written. The similarities between Osiris-Dionysus and other pagan gods to Jesus are massive--from birth to the miracles, to persecution, resurrection, and spirtitual rebirth. So much so that one must question what Christianity has been based off of. How is it possible for the story of Jesus Christ so closely resemble a mythological story that occured some thousands of years before? Freke did his research well and I applaud him for writing such an instictive novel.
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Summary: Fascinating Book
Review: I found it a most interesting read. Very carefully done, very methodical development. Background and behavior of early phases of christianity detailed and material not often presented. Information about the gnostics and early christians very readable. Highly recommend!
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Summary: Paperweight
Review: As one reviewer commented, the book reads like a tabloid. It seems as though the authors are trying to make their research shocking by overwhelming use of exclamation points. In my opinion, it makes it seem less credible. The book is confused and hectic. The sections within each chapter are roughly a page long each, hardly enough for a detailed analysis of the points they are trying to make. Although for a lot of it, a detailed analysis would show that the authors have blatantly disregarded pertinent evidence that disproves many of their assertions. And somehow, they have managed to insert a quote from Celsus on almost every page, even though his original composition is completely lost. It's amazing that they use a "Pagan scholar" who is writing after Christianity to disprove a historical Jesus! Give me something besides misunderstood Plato quotes that predates Christianity. You can't use post facto observations to prove something, especially when the source is incredibly untrustworthy. It's like saying that Eusebius wrote a perfectly accurate, unbiased biography of Constantine the Great. NO!
The writing style is unfocused and irritating. There are hundreds of footnotes for each chapter, which makes it seem like it's well researched. It's certainly extensively researched, but the research is misguided. The book is useful as a compendium of quotations from the time of Jesus, but to use any of it as proof that Jesus never existed is an enormous leap of faith, if you'll pardon the pun.
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