CHRISTMAS AND THE SUN-GOD FESTIVAL
Posted on December 16th, 2010
ByƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ D. AmarasiriƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Weeraratne
The celebration of Christmas on December 25th reminds us once more of the legend of the Sun-God and how Christianity is deeply rooted in Pagan religious history, which prevailed for thousands of years before the time of Christ in the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
The birthdate of Christ is not known to Historians or Archeologists for lack of evidence – even after sifting almost every grain of sand in Bethlehem. No-one, not even the early Christians, knew the birthdate of Christ. So, the early church settled on the same day that the Pagans celebrated the birthdate of their Sun God – the change to lengthening of daylight ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” around December 25th each year. This was the day of the popular festival of the Sun God in the Mystery Religions that prevailed in the lands of the Roman empire. In these lands the Sun-God was worshipped under different names: Morals in Egypt, Mithra in Persia, Attis and Adonis in Greece and Syria were some of the names used.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ According to the legends of those Mystery Religions (Christians refer to them as Cults), the Sun God came to earth for his ministry among mankind. He was born to a virgin, performed miracles as proof of his divinity, and was hanged to death by his fellow men on a Friday.
He arose three days later on the Sunday, and ascended in to heaven. By believing that his death was an atonement for the sins of mankind, Pagans were supposed to gain salvation and eternal life in heaven.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These events are also to be found in the Gospels attributed to the life of Christ.
Moreover, the dates fixed for celebrating Christian events coincide with the dates on which similar festivals were celebrated in the Pagan Religions.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ How did Pagan religious celebrations get incorporated into Christianity? Who was responsible for it? These questions have baffled scholars for a long time. A book published by Robert Furneau (Cassell and Co, London) unravels the mystery in the light of recent research findings. He develops several arguments and finally reaches the conclusion that St. Paul was responsible.
There had been a conflict between ChristƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s disciples and St Paul ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” it was on the issue of adulterating Christianity in order to make it more acceptable to the Gentiles. Jesus had said ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Go not unto the gentiles.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ but perversely, St Paul insisted that the Gospels should be carried to the Gentiles.
Jesus had said: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I have not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Heaven and earth may pass but not one jot of the Law can be altered.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Paul taught that Christ emancipated us from the Law, and that the Law is a curse! The disciples and the Apostolic party insisted on circumcision of the Gentiles who convert to Christianity. Paul did not agree to this.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In this way he watered down Christianity to make it acceptable to the Christians. He went ahead and established Christian communities among the Gentiles in the lands nearby. One such community at Galatia was reconverted to the Apostolic party by men sent by the disciples from Jerusalem. Paul admits this in one of his letters to the Galatians.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However, Paul became completely free only after Jerusalem was reconquered in 70 C.E. by Vespatian, who led the Roman army. The rebellion had lasted fourteen years.
Jerusalem was taken and its temple was destroyed, and many thousands of Jews were killed. (Others fled to countries nearby.) The Apostolic party that opposed Paul, was decimated, if not completely wiped out in this confrontation with Rome.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ As a result there was no-one to oppose Paul and his controversial ideas. Thereupon PaulƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s sect had a free hand to teach as they liked. That is why we find in the Gospels, which were all written after 70. C.E., a version of Christianity according to PaulƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ideas, i.e., the teachings of Jesus which were modified and tailored to make them more acceptable to the Gentiles ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” i.e. a religion of Christ not Jesus.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The ideas borrowed from the Pagan religion were always repugnant to Jews. They rejected Christianity once the adulterations had been incorporated into it. Ever since then, Christianity has been an anathema (poison) to Jews the world over, as it is to the Muslims who also abhor the Pagan religious borrowings.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The original Christian Sabbath had been a Saturday conforming to the Jewish tradition. It was altered to Sunday to conform to the popular day of worship of the Sun God in the Mystery Religions. There are carvings at Luxur, in ancient Egyptian temples, dating back to 6,000 B.C.E., which depict the nativity of the Sun God. There, an angel is seen announcing to the Egyptian shepherds the birth of the Sun God. An Egyptian virgin is seen being told by an Angel that she would be the mother of the Sun God born in the flesh. There are three wise men (sages) shown worshipping the newly-born infant. Then, the Sun-God is depicted as raising a man from the dead, in the presence of two female disciples. This corresponds the to the raising of Lazarus from the dead by Christ.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The use of images as an aid for worship in Christian Churches, in violation of the Ten Commandments, is also an adaptation taken from the Pagan religions.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These examples, and similar borrowings e.g., the Doctrine of the Trinity, worship of Saints, Mariolatory etc., show us the influence that the Sun God Religion had in shaping PaulƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s brand of Christianity and its subsequent developments.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The first church fathers such as Augustine, were aware of these similarities. They attributed it to the cunning schemes of the Devil in order to deceive Christians and thereby caricature Christianity. In historical fact, a howling Christian mob, led by Bishop Theophillus, in 391 C.E., had set fire to the priceless collection of books in the Great Library at Alexandria – the collection of Alexander the Great (- and also destroyed the Pagan Serapeum ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the most sacred of Egyptian Pagan shrines, for good measure!). Thereafter all traces of Pagan Religious literature was lost and we are not in a position to pinpoint what are the exact borrowings adopted by Christianity. It is only after the hieroglyphics deciphered by Champolian and the Cuneform Script was read and understood by Rawlinson, that European Scholars began to understand the belief and practices of the ancient Mystery Religions.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Scholars like Robertson in his ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”History of the Christian ChurchƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and Dr. S. Radhachrisnan in his ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Eastern Religions and Western ThoughtƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ have commented that in converting Pagans to Christianity, it was necessary for the Church to adoptS many of their beliefs and practices. Authors like Edward Carpenter in his ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Pagan Sources of ChristianityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and Kamal Ud Deen, of the London Mosque, in his ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Sources of ChristianityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ both confirm this view.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So, this Christmas celebration, once more, spotlights these associations of Christianity with the legends of the Sun God. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Christianity is the religion founded by Paul which replaced JesusƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ gospel with a gospel about Christ the Messiah! and clothed him with Pagan beliefs ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” a religion that would be more accurately named ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”PaulinismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. This Paulinism is a misinterpretation and falsification of JesusƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s real teachings.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is a fact that has been recognised by modern theological research and examination of the known facts from history and archeology. All the beautiful aspects are linked to Jesus, all the unbeautiful with Paul.
(Acknowledgements are made to sources such as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”The Original JesusƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ by Elmar E. Gruber and H. Kerston)
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Christmas has undergone three drastic changes: firstly, for thousands of years, it was the celebration by Pagan Religionists of the birth of the Sun God made into flesh; secondly, it became the Christian feast of the birth of Christ and finally, it has become an all-faith commercial exercise in Europe and America, bereft of religious significance, marketing a winterƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s holiday for eating and over indulging in all things men can imagine by way of business.
December 16th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Today, we see many Christian sects. All of them trust, Jesus is the God and the Christian Bible is ‘the word of God.’ But not many of them know that there are discrepancies in that word of God and the whole rationale behind it is in doubt.
At their church mass, Christians recite just the virtuous verses such as the famous ‘sermon of the mount.’ They believe Jesus had preached only good things. They do not know that there are many immoral and indecent verses in the Bible as Jesus is said to have said. Neither do they know the famous ‘sermon of the mount’ was found in a scripture that is dated long before Jesus was said to have born. This was proved beyond doubt from the ancient scriptures that were found in the caves of Qumran by the Dead Sea and the Gnostic literature that is at the Nag Hammadi library in Egypt. When faced with such embarrassing situations, Christians know how to resolve issues with verbose and jargon.
Anyway, after fixing the Christian Bible to his whims and fancy, the pre cruiser of modern Christianity, Emperor Constantine had spread his new religion in a style that had never been tested before. He had appointed a man called Eusebius as his Pope and stamped out all beliefs other than his own Christianity. Together they wiped out all other believers in the most cruel manner. Religions that were wiped out include the true Christian sects of the messiahs that preached ‘the sermon of the mount’ long before the Jesus Christ. So, to be fair for those messiahs, and to find the true Gospels, today’s Christians should explore whether the Christianity before Paul was the same that they find now in their hand.
Following the footsteps of Eusebius, almost all Popes since used all kinds of devious means to spread their Christianity. No succeeding Pope tolerated a different view to their own; at least not until the last century. Popes and their zealots ram their religion on others by way of killings and warfare. There are volumes of books written about those atrocities. But, no Christian clergy or a Pope has ever been a bit apologetic for their ancestor’s cruel acts to date. Amusingly, the Padres of today have come up with more than enough excuses to justify each one of those crimes.
Perhaps the Christian clergy are an awestruck lot who value their rewards more than the truth. Only Pope John Paul, the last Pope to demise had just referred to one of those crimes. He said, what happened to Galileo Galilee was a ‘mistake.’ And that so-called ‘mistake’ happens to be the cruelty mete out on the most well known cosmologist to date for his thinking earth is not the centre of the Universe. Pope John Paul merely said it was a mistake but dare not apologized or at least regret for his ancestors’ ghastly crime. If a true Jesus is buzzing, he certainly would pity this lot.
In spite of such a dreadful record and not a word of regret, the Christians of the west have maneuvered themselves to be the guardians of the present day human rights. Besides, they are now teaching us, about peace and humanity too. But, their double standards can be seen everywhere. For more than five hundred years, western Christians have exhibited their double standards throughout the world. As far as we are concerned, the Norwegians are the worst hypocrites out of the bunch. What more a double game than one to say, Alkida is a terrorist organization and LTTE were freedom fighters. But that is exactly what those Lutheran Christians said. Anyone with an iota of intelligence can see most Christian nations of the West supported this view quietly. Now, they are instigating to bring about an absurd charge of ‘War Crimes’ on those that ended the war crimes. You might as well ask yourself, why they want to do such dreadful things. Well, my answer is simple; hypocrisy is a part of the Christian culture. And, they seemed to think we are stupid and do not know their history.
Leela
December 17th, 2010 at 4:01 am
Christianity is a “cut and paste” religion. It has borrowed from other religions that existed in Asia including Buddhism. Later it had the audacity to call all adherents of other religions – pagans, while still buried deep down in pagan rituals and beliefs. It was first conceived as a means of overcoming the might of the Roman Empire. Later it was made the state religion by Emperor Constantine who used it as an instrument of State for subjugation of the population. To this date it work hand in glove with the Western Christian powers to undermine the rest of the world.
Christian Church is the glue that cemented the support across the globe for the LTTE. This hydra headed monster is working towards the dismemberment of Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Burma and many other countries. The elevation of Malcolm Ranjith to the position of Cardinal is an ominous sign for Sri Lanka.
December 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
A great pity that religion, politics & commercial activity seem to be inextricably intertwined in our modern age. Religion loses meaning and becomes a shallow thing of no real value when intertwined with so much commercial/political activity. Today, belonging to one religion or another seems to us to belong to some sort of Club. The values taught seem to be lost – it’s just a case of “are you on our side, or their side” ? Human life seems to be just a Game, not valued. The Money Market seems to be far more important than a sane approach to Life & Human Happiness.
The Catholic Church is interested in Conversions. The Roman Catholic Church is the wealthiest religious organisation on earth, and the second richest is the Hindu Tirupathy Temple, in Tamil Nadu.
Most religions have become business corporations, interested in getting a bunch of people under total control, rather than examine the spiritual problems faced by mankind.
So long as Lanka is forced to define Human Happiness measured in terms of the GDP, false religions will flourish.
It is said that “it is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a Needle, than for a rich man to enter Heaven”. So, haven’t we got thoroughly mixed up here somewhere ?
December 17th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Christianity is the largest religion in the world accounting for over a third of the world’s population. Not a bad achievement for a “cut and paste” religion eh!!
December 19th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Strange that a true christian could not counter the arguments in this article which sounds very logical.
December 20th, 2010 at 2:24 am
Nanda- It may seem logical to you and I respect your opinion. From my perspective, they are “clutching at straws”, without a true understanding of the synergies between the Old and New Testament, in a bid to undermine the Christian faith.. The objective is obvious – to link the “bad Christian” Western Countries with the international call for war crimes investigations in Sri Lanka.
The hypocrisy is that the overwhelming majority of the expatriate Sri Lankans living in the Western countries are non-Christians and are happy living under constitutions based on Christian principles; and, unlike in Sri Lanka, they are free to practice their faith without any fear of persecution.
I am not surprised that the international community including HR organizations have considered the LLRC to be a sham. The opinions expressed in this forum appear to that one side is totally right and the other side is totally wrong. Anyone presenting a different view is castigated. The war may have been won but one cannot win the peace unless there is a mutual acceptance of failures and respect for each other.
I am not a Buddhist but I respect its doctrine of respect and love. Unfortunately, most of the opinions expressed by people who claim to profess this faith are directly opposite to this doctrine. I think its time for some self-evaluation.
December 20th, 2010 at 7:53 am
(1) We think that Christianity itself has received a ‘bad name’ because wars were fought in Europe over the ages, in the name of Christianity, e.g. the Crusades, killing many hundreds of thousands of people of other faith.
(2) Conversion of vast numbers of people at the point of a weapon happened both in Europe & South America. Latterly, people of Asia were/are granted money, jobs & other favors for Conversion. Conversions to the Christian faith (Catholic mainly), has happened in Asia, due to Fear of the west, and the western capacity for war : “Don’t kill us – we are Christians”, they say, quite forgetting that WWI & II happened between Christian nations, proving that in reality the it doesn’t matter whether a people or Christian or not, if war must happen. (Wars happen for many other reasons, which is another subject which should perhaps be addressed by some one in the Lankaweb Panel ?).
Thus the word ‘Christianity’ appears to have lost its purity.
(3) None of the other religions in the world, as far as I know, went to such extents to gain Conversions, nor were wars fought in the name of religion.
(4) The PURE Teachings of Jesus are very beautiful and should be restored. The Essence of the Teachings of Jesus is similar to the essence of what other Great Teachers said : “The Kingdom of Heaven is within You” “Be Still, and Thou shalt know Me” “He leadeth me beside the Still Waters” all point to the Inner World of MEDITATION, common to the Teachings of the Buddha, and Hindu Raj Yoga (highest of all Yogas).
No offence meant here. Just analytical thinking put to paper.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:29 am
To Christian church in general, it is not the Christmas day alone that is significant but the mission and message of Jesus Christ. The purpose of him is to show the way to eternal life, saving us from sins, giving us new life here on earth, and eternal life in the world to come. His humble birth though he is the Prince of heaven give me great lesson of humility.
he could have chosen a royal palace to be born but he chose the shame and humility for my sake. Jesus Christ did not come to this world to draw human attention to earthly things but the birth of Christ is not a secret to the whole world. Christians are happy to remember that Jesus was born this season of the year in a little town called Bethlehem.
December 21st, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Here are more facts to consider about the birth of Jesus :
“Luke 2:1 says, “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed [registered].” Here, ‘taxed’ means ‘to register’. Caesar Augustus was planning to celebrate his 25th anniversary as Roman emperor in 2 B.C. but he wanted that all his subjects are accounted for and there is official declaration of political allegiance before that. ‘All the world’ indicates that the Roman Empire was very vast. Such registrations as these were typically conducted during the time when the season was mild enough for traveling.
Luke 2:2 says, “And this taxing [registration] was first made when Cyrenius was governor [commander] of Syria.” The ‘governor’ means ‘commander’ here. Cyrenius had been sent to Syria to command the registration process in 3 B.C. and this was the time when the registration was first made.
Luke 2:6-7 says, “And so it was, that, while they (Mary & Joseph were travelling for the registration) were there [in Bethlehem], the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” While Jesus was the ‘only begotten son’ of God, Mary had other children too and Jesus was her ‘firstborn’. It also indicates that Jesus was born in the manger not because Mary and Joseph were poor but because there was ‘no room in the inn’ as there were lot of people who had come to be registered.
Bethlehem was the city of David and Joseph and his wife Mary were David’s descendants and had to go there to be registered. ‘Swaddling clothes’ also indicate that Mary and Joseph were not poor for they were used for princes and people of noble blood and royal lineage. They consisted of fine linen cloth and the child was covered by them only for a short time until the parents took time to pray to God and promise Him for good upbringing of the child.
Luke 2:8 says, “And there were in the same country [the vicinity of Bethlehem] shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” In Biblical times, the farmers used to hire shepherds in the late summer and early fall to keep their flocks in his field overnight as the manure of the cattle acted as a fertilizer for their fields. This indicates that Jesus Christ was born in early September.
Revelation 12:1-2 says, “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” In 3 B.C., it was on Wednesday, September 11th, which was the only day when the constellation Virgo (represented as a woman) clothed with the sun as it entered the mid-body in its ecliptic course had the moon under her feet. Thus, it was during this day, when Jesus Christ was born”.
January 4th, 2011 at 1:47 am
See what has happen to Buddhism today. Siddhartha Gautama was a Hindu from birth and he never intended to start a religion but was seeking to reform Hinduism. He felt that Hinduism had lost its true essence by the incorporation of thousands of gods, all represented by idols. Buddha did not believe in God and felt that the very concept of God or gods was holding people bound to this physical world of karma and suffering.
What is so ironic is how idolatry which Buddha was condemned, has become such a major part of Buddhism with its many shrines and statues of Buddha, the very one who loathed these things!
The largest Buddhist pagoda in the world is in Rangoon, Burma. The Shwe Dagon or Golden Pagoda contains over 3500 idols of Buddha. Everyday of the year, people parade up the winding steps of this 300-foot monument to place thin pieces of gold on the shrine, light candles and incense and pray for their dead ancestors before these wood, stone, and metal statues. The gross idolatry that Buddha has become is the sad and logical end of a religion that has rejected the personal Creator of the universe.