jeez... I am going to bed. Nomad, It says in the first post that it was Lord Raglan who presented the list, not Price.

lpetrich:

Thanks for reminding me who said it and what the list was. I had forgotten.

Hi Jess

I hope you slept well, and I definitely hope things go okay with your operation (is that too strong a word?).

Personally, I don't have a problem with looking at how Jesus might have fit the "mythic-hero" constructs of the ancients, or even how Moses faired in such an evaluation. CS Lewis wrote a great book on the subject in fact (I forget the title, and I'm on the road so I can't look it up right now), I think it was "Abolition of Man".

My problem is that this particular 22 characteristics of our hero figure don't seem to fit Moses very well, and they don't fair much better with Jesus. I don't think cookie cutter approaches to history are good scholarship, and simply taking some commonalities and stringing them together to try and prove a point just doesn't do much to advance our thinking or study of these questions.

In fact, the simple truth that many people make the mistake of thinking that mythical elements/embellishements=total mythology proves the point quite well. On this basis, almost no one in recorded in history can be believed to have lived. For example, did was Henry V a fictional character because Shakespeare used him in a play? Or MacBeth?

I guess all I am trying to do here is defend critical thinking.

Peace, and good luck jess.

Nomad

I got to thinking about remarkable parallels to the life of Jesus, and low and behold, a web site came to mind.

Enjoy.

From The Konformist

Jesus said: "Love thy neighbor." (Matthew 22:39) Elvis said: "Don't be cruel." (RCA 1956)

Jesus is the Lord's Shepherd. Elvis dated Cybill Shepherd.

Jesus was part of the Trinity. Elvis' first band was a trio.

Jesus walked on water. (Matthew 14:25) Elvis surfed. (Blue Hawaii, Paramount, 1965)

Jesus' entourage, the Apostles, had 12 members. Elvis' entourage, the Memphis Mafia, had 12 members.

Jesus was resurrected. Elvis had the famous 1968 "Comeback" TV special.

Jesus said: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." (John 7:37) Elvis said: "Drinks on Me!" (Jailhouse Rock, MGM, 1957)

Jesus fasted 40 days and nights. Elvis had irregular eating habits. (e.g. 5 banana splits for breakfast)

Jesus was a Capricorn. (December 25) Elvis is a Capricorn. (January 8)

Matthew was one of Jesus' many biographers. (The Gospel According to Matthew) Neil Matthews was one of Elvis' many biographers. (Elvis: A Golden Tribute)

"[Jesus] countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow." (Matthew 28:3) Elvis wore snow-white jumpsuits with lightning bolts.

Jesus lived in a state of grace in a Near Eastern land. Elvis lived in Graceland in a nearly eastern state.

Mary, an important woman in Jesus' life, had an Immaculate Conception. Priscilla, an important woman in Elvis' life, went to Immaculate Conception High School.

Jesus was first and foremost the Son of God. Elvis first recorded with Sun Studios, which today are still considered to be his foremost recordings.

Jesus was the lamb of God. Elvis had mutton chop sideburns.

Jesus' Father is everywhere. Elvis' father was a drifter, and moved around quite a bit.

Jesus was a carpenter. Elvis' favorite high school class was wood shop.

Jesus wore a crown of thorns. Elvis wore Royal Crown hair styler.

Jesus H. Christ has 12 letters. Elvis Presley has 12 letters.

No one knows what the "H" in "Jesus H. Christ" stood for. No one was really sure if Elvis' middle name was "Aron" or "Aaron".

Jesus is often depicted in pictures with a halo that looks like a gold plate. Elvis' face is often depicted on a plate with gold trim and sold through TV.

Jesus said: "Man shall not live by bread alone." Elvis liked his sandwiches with peanut butter and bananas.

Bede

Here's another non existent mythic hero (well, he must be if he fits the archetype):

He had a miraculous birth by Caesarian section.

We know nothing much of his childhood.

He was adopted by powerful foster parents.

He was an eloquent and charistmatic speaker who preached a return to old fashioned values.

He had a large following among the poor.

He became ruler of his country after a war against its leaders.

He was betrayed by his friends.

He was killed in a public place.

He was declared a God.

But he can't possibly have existed.

Yours

Bede

I think it's Julius Caesar that Bede had had in mind. However, the Caesarean Section operation had *NOT* been named after him, and was known long before he had been born. Its name derives from the Latin word for cutting, which makes its name somewhat redundant. At any rate, I know of no weird legends about his birth and early childhood, such as him being prophesied to rule the world and an evil king trying to keep that prophecy from being fulfilled.

Richard Carrier has discussed the question of the evidence for Julius Caesar's existence, and he considers it *much* better than the evidence for Jesus Christ's existence. There are lots of inscriptions and coins with Julius Caesar's name on them, several historians who discuss him in a critical fashion, and even a book purportedly written by him.

As Richard Carrier asks, did Jesus Christ ever write any books?