Vorkosigan

Let's see. Good news: it's a real book! 2 appendices, notes on each chapter, subject index, bible citation index AND a bibliography.

The Myth of the Dying and Rising God occupies a short section of the book, probably its weakest. "The Passion narrative reiterates the myth of Dionysus, with its many motifs of wine and fertility borne by a dying and rising divine figure." That vein continues for a few pages, review of Ba'al and Mot story, and then back to savior-figures and their role in general.

I can't recall any Persian religious revival mentioned, and don't know what you are referring to.

Yes, it's classic Thompson applied to a new area.

Michael

Celsus

Ok. That means I will get this book eventually...
Oh dear. Does he mention Mark Smith at all? After all Smith refuted Ba'al connections (with dying-and-rising gods, not Jesus) specifically in The Origins of Monotheism...
Well because several Achaemenid rulers became patrons for local religions (often near extinction), and those religions literally deified them. In the Hebrew texts we of course have Cyrus the messiah (though it wasn't a deification--that happened in Egypt). I was hoping he might have more on that.

Joel

Vorkosigan

Only Smith in Bib is Smith, S. The Statue of Idrimi. Does this mean that I should be as skeptical of his OT analysis as I was of his NT? LOL. *sigh*


Can't recall and a swift look says "Nay."

andrewcriddle

Mettinger 'The Riddle of Resurrection 'Dying and Rising Gods' in the Ancient Near East' is an interesting recent work which finds more evidence for dying and rising gods than most other modern scholars.

IMHO some of his specific conclusions are dubious but his presentation of the evidence from which he draws the conclusions is excellent.

An older work 'Pauline Baptism and the Pagan Mysteries' by Wagner is IMHO valuable on the narrower question of dying and rising gods that might plausibly have influenced Paul. (he doubts that there were any such)

Andrew Criddle

Gawen

...*snickerin*...


Oh....and a great review Vork.




*still snickerin*

Vorkosigan

Actually, it's an Egyptian beautitude that is in Thompson's book.

Vorkosigan

Thanks for the great info, Andrew.