A courageous and reputable minister has come forth in order to share his profound and mind-bending experience with my book Christ in Egypt: The Horus-Jesus Connection. While some may become perplexed by what he has to say, I hope you will join me in congratulating him for having the insight and integrity to make himself known. I am very impressed with his credentials, to say the least - and I can guarantee you that this sort of acknowledgment by a member of the clergy reading my work is only the tip of the iceberg. Thank you, Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham, for being such a gracious and daring leader in your clerical community!
First, some background on me so you know where I'm coming from. I am an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 1994. I have pastored 3 Presbyterian Churches in 3 different states: Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. I am currently pastor of a 300 member Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. I have a B.A, M.A, M.Div., and D.Min. degrees from Presbyterian related universities and seminaries. My studies included required aptitude in the Hebrew and Greek languages.
"...I have found her scholarship, research, knowledge of the original languages, and creative linkages to be breathtaking and highly stimulating."
While I do not agree with every conclusion or suggestion the author makes in this book, I have found her scholarship, research, knowledge of the original languages, and creative linkages to be breathtaking and highly stimulating. Her chapter in this book on the Alexandrian origins of Christianity is worth the price of the book alone. Yet that is only a small portion of what she covers in this massive yet easily readable tome.
After reading this book and pondering the ideas therein, I must say my faith in Christ is stronger than it was before and more nuanced and vibrant. For that gift, as well as the knowledge so freely shared, I am grateful to the author. I highly recommend this book for all Christian ministers and laypersons. It may challenge your faith in a good way and you may come out on the other end with a deeper and more supple faith and a better understanding of the issues and delights of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. That has certainly been my personal experience.
In a word, this is one of the most interesting books I have read in the past 10 years. Make it a point to get your hands on a copy as soon as you can. It is more than worth every penny you pay for it. If you read it with an open mind and heart, you will not be disappointed, of that I am sure.
I have informed Dr. Jon that if he experiences any backlash, he is welcome to be a minister in my International Church of Astrotheology. :)
In the meantime, the chapter the good reverend emphasizes is called "The Alexandrian Roots of Christianity," and it is almost 70 pages long, full of incredible information that the bulk of humanity has never seen put together before. I agree that this chapter alone is worth the price of admission into this wild ride. Here are the subtitles:
The Alexandrian Roots of Christianity
The Therapeuts
The Proto-Christians?
Lake Mareotis
The Hybridizing Emperor?
The Library of Alexandria
Philo of Alexandria
The Hermetic Writings
The Poimandres
The Gnostics
The Pistis Sophia
Egypto-Christian Texts
Marcion and the Gospel of the Lord
The Gospel of John
The Memphite Theology
Who Wrote John?
On my CIE book page, you will also find a Google Book Search such that you can take a look at this chapter, as well as others. Enjoy!
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|2010-04-11 00:51:57 JH Chrestos - FantasticOutstanding courage by the minister to give the book a read. I'm sure he is an intelligent man but to claim that it strengthens his faith sounds quite insane. How does one look at evidence that proves the story of his faith is pure fiction and then concludes that his faith is strengthened. Oh well its a step in the right direction. He encourages his followers to buy and read the book. This is fantastic and brings us a little closer to the tipping point.
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|2010-04-11 06:16:15 HectorYes, I found that very strange.
How can it strengthen his faith?
Anyway it's for the best that more people come to the realization that Jesus is mythological sun god.
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|2010-04-11 23:09:25 AllanIf 'faith' is belief without evidence, then, to have one's faith strengthened, is to believe, not only without evidence, but also, in spite of the evidence!
Now that's real faith!
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Strengthens his faith in imaginary person. Does any one remember that song by EAGLE "Hotel California"?.
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|2010-04-11 23:25:06 Acharya SYes, I said it was a "mind-bender" specifically because of the remark about my book "strengthening his faith in Christ." My impression is that "Christ" has become for him an archetypal solar concept that transcends form and culture but that incorporates many enlightening and spiritual notions.
After I wrote the above on Facebook, the good reverend responded:
Quote:As usual, I think the author has articulated this better than I can. I wrote this brief and enigmatic review to demonstrate that what she says about ministers reading and benefiting from her books is true.
So, I think I know what he's saying, which is that he doesn't perceive of the character in the NT as a historical Jewish guy but as a mythical and spiritual expression of the ages-old astrotheological perceptions in all their magnitude and glory, a la Egypt. In this way, I can relate.
He also wrote on FB:
Quote:A friend pointed out that in the first paragraph of my review I unintentionally left out that I also pastored a church in Mississippi for 8 years. Also, I did not pastor a church in Tennessee, but served as Director of Christian Education at a church there for 5 years. This is what happens when you write in a little box like this without benefit of a word processor. If any of my friends take the time to read "Christ in Egypt" I would enjoy talking to them about it.
I do believe for someone so invested in the Christ myth, he is to be lauded for his refreshing candor, even if some of what he says is also mysterious.
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|2010-10-05 13:06:37 pete - faith strengtheningYou're way off base. The minister doesn't anywhere say he ascribes to your view of Christ as you assume.
As a Christian I can relate to him. Although I haven't read your book yet, I am very interested in atheism of all brands and I have many atheist friends. I love chatting with them about why they disbelieve in Christ and I love hearing the official debates. I have infallibly come away from each interchange with my faith strengthened because the opposing atheistic view never gets close to the core reasons why I am a Christian.
Having said that, I do think it is unfair and unreasonable for many people, atheists and Christians alike, to dismiss your views with a wave of the hand. By the same token, I think it would be unconscionable to not take in the massive historiographic evidence for the resurrection and historicity of Jesus presented in such scholarly tomes as The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright and Jesus and the Eyewitnesses by Richard Baukham.
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|2010-10-05 11:10:58 Acharya SActually, no, it is not I who am "way off base." What I have stated is accurate, based on both public and private revelations. He is using language in a creative way. I have not "assumed" anything. Apparently, you did not even read the comment above that you are responding to. To wit, he said that not only was I not "way off base" - an absurd hyperbole - but that I had accurately represented his views. I said:
Quote:My impression is that "Christ" has become for him an archetypal solar concept that transcends form and culture but that incorporates many enlightening and spiritual notions.
And he replied:
Quote:As usual, I think the author has articulated this better than I can.
Thank you, but neither N.T. Wright nor anyone else will be able to prove that a Jewish man 2,000 years ago was truly born of a virgin, walked on water, raised the dead, transfigured on a mount, raised himself from the dead and flew off into heaven.
These are clearly mythical motifs, long predating the Christian era. It is THESE facts that are being ignored, not the massive tomes endlessly pumped out by people assuming a priori and without foundation that a mythical figure walked the earth.
Cheers.
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|2010-10-06 06:57:57 Pete Boubel - faithYou are clearly misrepresenting Rev. Burnham. A quick visit to his blog where his sermons are posted will reveal the truth:
http://dr-jon-burnham.blogspot.com/
If you take the time to read his sermons you will find he does not believe in a mythological, fictional Jesus Christ as you assume.
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|2010-10-06 12:26:52 Acharya SSorry, but you are incorrect. I know the man personally and have reproduced and interpreted his words accurately. In the first place, some of those sermons are likely older, before he studied my work. In the second place, he continues to express his views obliquely for the very reason of having fanatics attacking him, etc.
What part of the following did you not understand?
I said: "My impression is that 'Christ' has become for him an archetypal solar concept that transcends form and culture but that incorporates many enlightening and spiritual notions."
And he replied: "As usual, I think the author has articulated this better than I can."
Please read the above and stop repeating yourself, as we will not continue to put through your messages saying the same erroneous thing over and over again based on your lack of reading comprehension.
I'm sorry if this subject of Christ being a myth hurts your feelings, but the facts concerning this issue are as I have conveyed them. I don't "misrepresent" things.
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|2010-10-06 18:37:43 PennyPete Boubel "Although I haven't read your book yet, I am very interested in atheism of all brands ... the opposing atheistic view never gets close to the core reasons why I am a Christian."
So, Pete Boubel, please be more specific and explain those core reasons why you are a Christian?
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|2010-04-12 10:27:10 Amy - Yay for Acharya!Congrads!
It is people like you and your work that is going to change religion for the better. Keep up the good work!
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|2010-04-12 09:07:53 ValbrookerI defy anyone going to theology college to not be aware of Judaism, Christianities and Islams pagan origins by the end of their first semester. They keep quiet to protect their nice cushy little earner, stealing from the poor by lying their heads off. Evil is as evil does.
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|2010-04-26 15:36:54 Gary O'Connor - Strengthened faith?It does not surprise me that an intelligent and open minded minister can deepen faith with a better understanding of the roots and evolution of the Christian faith. What Jeshua (Jesus), a Jewish mystic, actually taught about man's relationship with God and the other dimensions of reality is a far cry from what is taught and believed by most Christians. I believe that the myth developed originally as a way to compete with the other pagan religions of the day, and adding the mythological trappings would have made the new religion more "competitive" and acceptable to the average level of consciousness during that period of time. I don't believe Jeshua intended to form a religion or believed himself to be any more divine than any of the rest of us. I do believe that he attained a much higher level consciousness than was available at the time, and that he was able to experience/communicate with the highest level of consciousness that we call God, not the anthropomorphized great wihite father envisioned by so many modern day Christians. So gaining deeper faith from better understanding the psycho/social/religious background of the day is entirely plausible to me.
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The Alexandrian Roots of Christianity story in CIE would make a great movie. It has all the materials of dramatic conflict, plot, location and characters, with the story of how the message of Jesus turned into the New Testament.
Clement and Origen were Alexandrian theologians who were half Gnostic, showing how Christian origins owe much to Gnostic thought.
An astrotheological movie mystery starring Clement and Origen...
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|2010-04-27 17:27:57 Anne B - MovieSuch a movie would be very intriguing. I would certainly be among the 500 or so people in the country who would pay to see it. Unfortunately, a LOT of education has to happen before such an enterprise could be commercially viable.
On the other hand, maybe the massive outrage and protests against the "satanic" movie would generate enough public interest.
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|2010-04-28 06:40:05 Nick - Movie?There IS a movie out about the library at Alexandria and how it was destroyed by the early Christian. Fantastic movie. It's called Agora and stars Rachel Weisz
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1186830/
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|2011-10-04 03:00:42 jerry greene - my heroAcharya S is my heroess - she has set me free from the horrible chains of my religon - ya - all religions - thank you Acharya S, I LOVE YOU FROM AFAR!
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|2011-11-14 13:36:23 jay - my ears are prickedAfter a few hours of continually reading reviews of your book i am about to order it i find it fascinating and somewhat hilarious reading certain individuals rebuttals i am an active member of the Eden project and genuinely believe you hold the key to unlock and close the Christ myth that causes more bloodshed than any disease known to man/womankind thanks to your research the age of Aquarius will usher in a brave New world.
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|2012-01-23 01:28:37 William s. Harbin - Needs to be required reading in elementary schoolHaving majored in archaeology as an undergrad I have studied many a myth and understand the usefulness they served, in their respective cultures, but in todays world I see all too clearly that the Bible and the Koran need to be put on the shelve, besides there are much better myths out there for lite reading!. The damage these religions do to children(I consider it child abuse) relationships , and people's lives is disgraceful . Perpetuating these myths are fast pushing us into a new dark ages (maybe we are already there ?) . Ok I've rambled enough, Think I will order several! spread the word ! Let's live in the NOW - it's kind of eminent .
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|2012-12-28 04:29:38 StephenYes, tyhe alleged Jesus Vs Horus connection is totally bogus! For more proof as to why visit my blog at http://ggkgh.blogspot.com/2012/11/blog-post.html
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|2012-12-27 22:39:42 Acharya SAs my book that is the subject of this original post proves, the Horus-Jesus connection most assuredly is not "totally bogus." In order to make such a claim, one would need to be ignorant of the massive amount of data I have put together in this volume, as well as elsewhere on my websites.
It becomes obvious that the Jesus story is significantly a remake of the myths and traditions regarding Osiris, Isis and Horus. If you would like to know more about the subject, you could read my book Christ in Egypt: The Horus-Jesus Connection or any of the articles and blog/forum posts you can find by doing a search on this site.
Here is one such article:
Rebuttal to Chris Forbes regarding Zeitgeist, Part 1
Cheers.
