Freethought & Rationalism Archive

gstafleu · 01-04-2007, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatsoff

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that is equivocation. We have a mythical *parallel*, not an explanation.

Sure, we start with a parallel. But if we see that the crucifixion story is similar to to other narratives that we know are myths, isn't it reasonable to assume the crucifixion story is myth as well?

Gerard Stafleu

Toto · 01-07-2007, 05:37 PM

Yesterday was Epiphany, which is a big deal in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. There was an interesting tidbit from the LA Times: Epiphany a gift that is wrapped in varying meanings: While the Magi are central for Western churches, Jesus' baptism is the focus among the Eastern Orthodox.

Quote:

One view of how Jan. 6 came to be Epiphany comes from Father John Roll, priest in charge of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Long Beach.

The celebration of Epiphany can be traced to Gnosticism, an ancient religious movement that stressed salvation by knowledge, he said in an e-mail response to a query.

"The 6th of January was designated as the feast day of Epiphany, because on that day was the birthday of Aeon, the patron god of Alexandria," according to Roll.

"The Gnostics had designated Christ as one of the Aeons in their elaborate [religious] system. In opposition to these heretics, it appears that the Orthodox Church acted to protect its followers from this falsification by defining the Theophany of the Holy Trinity, that is, the appearance of God during the baptism of Christ," Roll said.

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