Huon

A problem is "what is the Christian message ?"

I cannot answer since I am an atheist, but I feel that there are as many "Christian messages" as "Christian persons". We just have to look at the contributors on this site to find a number of different interpretations of Christianism.

Many Christians around me seem to believe in a Christ who was a nice guy, open and friendly, fine-looking moreover. He was horribly tortured to death by a dirty bastard. Now he is in heaven with his old white-bearded father and his young beautiful mother, and is waiting for his followers, who will go to heaven also. A Xian must be baptized at birth, have "first communion" when 12/13 years old, married at church, and buried with a religious ceremony.

Of course, this could be named "minimal christianism", but it is sufficient for many people who are not very religious. Jesus is rather a HJ than a MJ. All the dogmas about the Trinity fly very high above these believers.

Chris Weimer

Yes, I'm aware of his "merger" with other Gods, also especially Osiris, due to his death in the Nile. It's just hard to see Antinous as being overtly-worshipped as a God like Jupiter or Apollo... But you're probably right. However, he does seem to be a rare case, no?