Through understanding the allegorical myths of their Mystery godman, initiates came to believe that they were “God made flesh”, like Osiris and Dionysus. In other words, they too were immortal Spirit enclosed in a physical body. In sharing the death and resurrection of Osiris and Dionysus, the initiates of the Inner Mysteries symbolically “died” to resuscitate, they were spiritually reborn and experienced their divine and eternal essence. What is said for these Pagan godmen could be repeated for the Jewish dying and resurrecting godman, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, like his predecessors, is God Incarnate and God of the Resurrection who promises his followers spiritual rebirth through sharing in his passion. The similarities between the myths of Osiris-Dionysus and the so-called Jesus Christ’s biography are unknown to most people today, but in the beginning of the Christian era they were known and accepted to Pagans and Christians alike. The Literalist Christians tried to explain this by saying that the Devil had plagiarised Christianity by anticipation. We are all free to believe it, if we want, but it is not easy.
The similarities between Jesus Christ and Osiris-Dionysus can be summarised as follow:
- Christianity claims that Jesus Christ is the “only begotten Son of God” and equal to the Father. However, Osiris-Dionysus was also said to be the Son of God, Zeus in this case, by all his followers
- For the Christians, Jesus is God in human form, “the Word made flesh”, while for the Pagans, Osiris-Dionysus has changed his immortal form and taken the likeness of man, a mortal shape
- Like Jesus the Pagan Gods were born of mortal virgin mothers. For instance, in Asia Minor, Attis’ mother is Cybele; in Syria, Adonis’ mother is called Myrrh; in Alexandria, Aion’s mother is Kore; in Greece, Dionysus’ mother is Semele; all these mothers were virgin too
- Both the Christians and the followers of Mithras celebrate the nativity of their god on December 25 and three shepherds witnessed both births. The Magi brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh; the same products were used to honour the Pagan God
- There were disputes in early Christianity about Jesus’ date of birth. Some said that it was on December 25 while others were certain that it was on January 6; in Alexandria, their God, Aion is said to be born on January 6. January 6 was the date of the winter solstice at the time of Jesus, whereas now it is on December 22
- Osiris-Dionysus represented, and was represented, by the sun, as was Jesus, “The Sun of Righteousness”
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