No Robots

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation will broadcast on Dec. 6 a documentary based on Tom Harpur's The Pagan Christ. The CBC description reads in part:

Harpur discovered that the New Testament is wholly based on Egyptian mythology, that Jesus Christ never lived, and that – indeed – the text was always meant to be read allegorically.

There is also a discussion board.

Toto

The mission of The Pagan Christ is not to accelerate Christianity’s slow demise, but to breath new life into its holy book and, in the process, bring the world a richer, more spiritual faith.

Aimed at the da Vinci Code audience.

gstafleu

That is probably a bit harsh. The more liberal Christians realize that there is a problem in that Christianity as it "normally" presents itself, no longer works for a lot of people. It is not just Harpur making this point, I attended a lecture by Marcus Borg a few weeks ago who made that point as well (by which I don't mean to imply that Borg would or would not agree with Harpur's ideas). The audience they hope to address is much wider than "the Da Vinci audience," Borg had some pointed remarks about Dan Brown. Both Harpur and Borg aim to transform the way Christianity is practiced/presented in such a way that it becomes more acceptable to modern, scientifically aware people. If their approach will be successful is debatable (personally I doubt it), but their aim is a bit more dignified than just the Da Vinci crowd.

Gerard Stafleu

Toto

I think that Dan Brown had something of the same motivation. I know that a lot of his admirers had that motivation - to humanize Christianity.

Is it more effective to try to humanize Christianity by turning the central character into an Egyptian-based myth or a human father who worshipped the divine feminine? I don't know.

ktsai

Has anyone read the book? Is it credible? I've been looking for a credible book on this subject. Should I consider this for my next reading?

Thanks,
ktsai

Toto

Search for "Harpur" in this forum, and you will find a lot of debunking - eg here or here

The problem is that Harpur's heart might be in the right place, but when you put forward arguments that can be shot down, you don't do your cause a lot of credit.

Baalazel

A book that follows the Egyptian origins of many Biblical stories is 101 Myths of the Bible by Gary Greenberg.

Baal

Roger Pearse

Undoubtedly. But what a curious claim that is (in italics), if it is by Harpur. Hastening the demise of Christianity is exactly his aim, surely?

All the best,

Roger Pearse

ktsai

Thank you. I will read up on the previous threads.

aa5874

As I was reading this post, a thought crossed my mind. Once the theory of evolution becomes widespread and is accepted and taught in all schools throughout the western World, then Christianity must evolve in a similar fashion in the way it presents it's message.
Christianity will be forced to abandon literalism, miracles, possibly even prayer.