R. S. Martin Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 FROM Classical Mythology: Images and Insight, 3rd ed, by Stephen L. Harris and Gloria Platzner, 2001. In many Greek myths,...the hero's adventures conform to a predictable order: born from the union of a divine being with a mortal, the hero typically combines godlike ambitions with human vulnerability; he leaves home on a quest in which he confronts and defeats supernatural adversaries, passes difficult or perilous tests of courage and intelligence, and narrowly escapes death. His tasks may involve retrieving treasure from a guardian dragon and/or rescuing an endangered princess; his rewards commonly include winning the princess in marriage, gaining riches, and/or receiving a crown (p. 48). Jesus fits every last one of those. Let's take it apart: born from the union of a divine being with a mortal: God and Virgin Mary the hero typically combines godlike ambitions with human vulnerability: miraculous powers, got fatigued and hungry, was afraid of death, could rise from death and ascend to heaven he leaves home on a quest in which he confronts and defeats supernatural adversaries: left heaven to confront Satan in hell (some NT versions, e.g. John, Peter); left Nazareth to confront Satan in wilderness (Matt) passes difficult or perilous tests of courage and intelligence, and narrowly escapes death: death on the cross; rises victoriously over sin and Satan--the ultimate death in Christian mythology His tasks may involve retrieving treasure from a guardian dragon and/or rescuing an endangered princess: his bride, the church; overt bridal language is used throughout the NT; compare also Song of Songs. his rewards commonly include winning the princess in marriage, gaining riches, and/or receiving a crown: Jesus gets kingdom of heaven or his father's kingdom (how's that for "riches" and a "crown"?) church for bride or princess in marriage (eschatological wedding feast at the end of the world constitutes overt marriage language in my opinion) How is Jesus NOT a Greek hero? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazycatlady Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Well, the myth was spread in Rome which was heavily influenced by Greek mythology. Anyone but a devout Christian can come up with the logical conclusion from there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hereticzero Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 The story of Jesus is fiction written in Greek. It is a Greek tragedy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. S. Martin Posted October 2, 2008 Author Share Posted October 2, 2008 Well, the myth was spread in Rome which was heavily influenced by Greek mythology. Anyone but a devout Christian can come up with the logical conclusion from there... Love that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. S. Martin Posted October 2, 2008 Author Share Posted October 2, 2008 The story of Jesus is fiction written in Greek. It is a Greek tragedy. I just find it amazing that honest people don't see it. The again, maybe honesty is nothing but so much hot air when it comes to religious people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff H Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 His tasks may involve retrieving treasure from a guardian dragon and/or rescuing an endangered princess: his bride, the church; overt bridal language is used throughout the NT; compare also Song of Songs. Also, remember the obvious "dragon" imagery in Revelation. If I remember correctly (since I'm too lazy to look it up right now), God/Jesus rescues a pregnant woman from getting eaten by the evil dragon... However, it's important to remember that Christianity is also primarily Jewish. Most of the imagery, etc. from the gospel accounts come directly from the Old Testament. So it's more of a mish-mash of Jewish and Greek stuff, thrown into a big pot, stirred around, then put into the oven and baked at 350°F for 30 minutes until browned and crisp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. S. Martin Posted October 4, 2008 Author Share Posted October 4, 2008 And served to the European and Russian pagans on the tip of the sword, washed down with mass baptisms of Europe's and Russia's rivers. Later, Aboriginals the world over whose lands were colonized by Europeans were treated to the same fare at gun point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karhoof Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Now you're on the right track Ruby. Keep looking and you'll find where all the rest of the bible stories, tales and even miracles came from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. S. Martin Posted October 8, 2008 Author Share Posted October 8, 2008 I'm also trying to conduct a discussion of this OP on the christian forum. I'm using "How is Jesus NOT a Greek hero?" for the title. Can't even get them to discuss the topic of the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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