Another question. However, if you feel this is best continued in another venue or is off topic please let me know. Do you see any evidence of the existence of these gods/people out side of the literature of their civilizations? Jesus, at least as a person, can be seen in several literatry works across three cultures. Do you question the existence of Jesus as a person? Just asking.

Thanks, I’m going to go research Dionysus now. Just curious, who do you know that hasn’t committed an act that would be considered a sin?

I was aware of the relationships between Gods and man in these mythologies but am not very familiar with Dionysus yet. Out of curiosity, do you know how these myths have changed over time and, how they have evolved to stay alive?

Thanks again.

It is possible that Dionysian mythology would later find its way into Christianity. There are many parallels between Dionysus and Jesus; both were said to have been born from a virgin mother, a mortal woman, but fathered by the king of heaven, to have returned from the dead, to have transformed water into wine, and to have been liberator of mankind. The modern scholar Barry Powell also argues that Christian notions of eating and drinking “the flesh” and “blood” of Jesus were influenced by the cult of Dionysus.

Maybe not specifically “dying for our sins”, since the concept of everyone being a “sinner” is mostly Christian (and, IMO, one of the most anti-life beliefs ever, by the way), but Dionysus still was, supposedly, the son of a god, who died, lived again, and was, according to the above, the “liberator of mankind”. Close enough.

Hercules was also a son of a god. Or Perseus. That’s not rare in those mythologies, all of them older than Christianity.

That’s where you apparently got it wrong. When I said that Christianity isn’t special, I meant as a religion, compared to others, objectively. Of course, to a Christian it will be seen as “special”, because he or she will believe it to be true (unlike all the others), just like a believer of any other religion will believe his or her faith is “special”. But that’s subjective, and it wasn’t what my post was about.

My point was: the stories aren’t new. The characters (except for the names and specific places) aren’t new. The claims aren’t new. The teachings aren’t new. Most of Christianity is adapted from previous myths - yes, including a “son of a god” coming to earth and dying for our sins.

In fact, early Christians had this problem when preaching Christianity, before the Roman Empire supported it with all its power: people of pagan religions already had the same myths, just with different names. “So,” they asked, “what makes your claim true and ours false?”

Actually I did read your post completely, twice, before I responded. Please don’t change the subject. I don’t believe you are unintelligent enough to think that “true” and “special” are the same thing so please don’t insult me with such a weak answer.

You didn’t ask me to point out to you the truth of Christianity. You said that it bothers you that Christians find Christianity special. Then you claimed it had no such special traits. I simply pointed out what is probably the single largest point of specialness to a believer. That was necessitated because well, a believer is going to be the only one that sees it as special.

I’m a little confused by the fact that you were Christian until the age of what, 26, but this thought hadn’t occurred to you. I believe that the Christian community does a very poor job of explaining anything in their beliefs and wish they could have at least helped you with this one.

My statement still stands as an answer that has not been proven invalid. Please don’t take this personally but, if you hate ignorance/stupidity and the like as your “Who Am I” post says then please try harder than this or simply be humble enough to admit that, for a believer, this is unique among the faiths.

Doesn’t make it right, original, or even true. Actually, it would seem the only reason “Christianity” survived was because it was able (with the help of the Roman Empire) to absorb and take over the most celebrated holidays at the time becoming the Roman Catholic Church.

A good read why Christianity might have succeeded
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/why/appeal.html

Uh… so the outrageousness of a faith’s claim decides whether it’s true (or “special”)? Does it mean that if I claimed that not only God came to Earth, but he has incarnated as one of my cats, that would make such a belief even “more special” than Christianity?

Hint: anyone can claim anything. That doesn’t make it true.

Besides, if you had read my post at all, instead of just being offended by the title, you’d have read that all of Christianity’s claims have been made before, by so-called “pagan” believers. If both Jesus and Dionysus were born from a virgin, and died and resurrected after 3 days, what makes one tale true and the other a myth — especially when Dionysus came first?

I am a little disappointed that you haven’t decided to continue the discussion here. My post above points to a glaring hole in your belief that you have yet to either admit to or repair. As you have said in another post, atheists are open-minded to new evidence. I have shown you the reason Christians believe Christianity to be special. Let me know what you think.

Anyway, I keep having this site pop up on blog explosion and take the time to read the latest entries when I browse blogs. It’s very informative, but I fear that entries such as this one usually over look some simple facts in order to uphold the point you’re making. One thing, is many Christian holidays didn’t rip off some other one like Christmas or Easter, maybe even Halloween. If a culture blends two different holidays together over the course of time, it doesn’ make either of them void over the other.
Secondly, if you really want to know what Paul believed, open a New Testament, since that’s where He expounded pretty much almost all there was to his faith. I notice you do research things well before posting, but something as glaring as going to the writings of the person you are talking about is really surprising.

Anyway, Merry Christmas or happy holidays or both.

And you call yourself a Christian.

“Judge not lest ye be judged.”

C’mon man, understand that this means you can’t judge any other religion, or non religion as inferior and therefore cannot claim that Christianity is SPECIAL.

There are a few things we can quote Jesus on that are true, regaurdless of any religion.

Evolution, yes….. but not evolution of beliefs.

There is a voice in you that you are trying to drown out with your version of reason. If you can convince others that there is no voice calling to them, it’s not as lonesome being outside Gods will. A lot of empty words thudding on the ground as you speak. There is no heat or comfort in your logic. No solutions, only raised awareness of our emptiness.

Christ is the central point of Christianity. satan exists to stir to pot, to muddy the truth. As far as it being special, yes, very special. Humanity was borne from the laughter of the Holy Trinity. There has never been a more special occurrence than Christs life and death and rising again. 2000 years after He walked this earth, I would gladly die before denouncing Him, along with billions of others. That scares you, I know.

You see through your eye of your mind and not your heart. You listen to the voices of dissension and not the truth that speaks into you. The voice that has always been there. Who knows you down to your atoms. He is
there. When you put your head on the pillow tonight, ask Him.

Saul/Paul job was to kill Christians, and work was good. He met Christ on the Damascus Road, went blind, and
the rest is history. Christ was divine and did not need Paul to make Him so.

Open yourself to the deeper truth. Recognize that our best and brightest are like children, stumbling around in the dark. We know enough to hurt ourselves.