INTRO

INTRODUCTION. ЧЧЧЧЧ
THE idea of publishing the work here presented did not suggest itself until a large portion of the material it contains had been accumulated for the private use and personal gratification of the author. In pursuing the study of the Bible Myths, facts pertaining thereto, in a condensed form, seemed to be greatly needed, and nowhere to be found. Widely scattered through hundreds of ancient and modern volumes, most of the contents of this book may indeed be found; but any previous attempt to trace exclusively the myths and legends of the Old and New Testament to their origin, published as a separate work, is not known to the writer of this. Many able writers have shown our so-called Sacred Scriptures to be unhistorical, and have pronounced them largely legendary, but have there left the matter, evidently aware of the great extent of the subject lying beyond. As Thomas Scott remarks, in his English Life of Jesus: УHow these narratives (i. e., the New Testament narratives), unhistorical as they have been shown to be, came into existence, it is not our business to explain; and once again, at the end of the task, as at the beginning and throughout, we must emphatically disclaim the obligation.Ф To pursue the subject from the point at which it is abandoned by this and many other distinguished writers, has been the labor of the author of this volume for a number of years. The result of this labor is herewith submitted to the reader, but not without a painful consciousness of its many imperfections. (Page) iv INTRODUCTION. The work naturally begins with the Eden myth, and is followed by a consideration of the principal Old Testament legends, showing their universality, origin and meaning. Next will be found the account of the birth of Christ Jesus, with his history until the close of his life upon earth, showing, in connection therewith, the universality of the myth of the Virgin-born, Crucified and Resurrected Saviour. Before showing the origin and meaning of the myth (which is done in Chapter XXXIX.), we have considered the Miracles of Christ Jesus, the Eucharist, Baptism, the Worship of the Virgin, Christian Symbols, the Birthday of Christ Jesus, the Doctrine of the Trinity, Why Christianity Prospered, and the Antiquity of Pagan Religions, besides making a comparison of the legendary histories of Crishna and Jesus, and Buddha and Jesus. The concluding chapter relates to the question, What do we really know about Jesus? In the words of Prof. Max Muller (The Science of Religion, p. 11): УA comparison of all the religions of the world, in which none can claim a privileged position, will no doubt seem to many dangerous and reprehensible, because ignoring that peculiar reverence which everybody, down to the mere fetish worshiper, feels for his own religion, and for his own god. Let me say, then, at once, that I myself have shared these misgivings, but that I have tried to overcome them, because I would not and could not allow myself to surrender either what I hold to be the truth, or what I hold still dearer than truth, the right of testing truth. Nor do I regret it. I do not say that the Science of Religion is all gain. No, it entails losses, and losses of many things which we hold dear. But this I will say, that, as far as my humble judgment goes, it does not entail the loss of anything that is essential to true religion, and that, if we strike the balance honestly, the gain is immeasurably greater than the loss.Ф INTRODUCTION. (Page) v. УAll truth is safe, and nothing else is safe; and he who keeps back the truth, or withholds it from men, from motives of expediency, is either a coward or a criminal, or both.Ф But little beyond the arrangement of this work is claimed as original. Ideas, phrases, and even whole paragraphs have been taken from the writings of others, and in most, if not in all cases, acknowledged; but with the thought in mind of the many hours of research this book may save the student in this particular line of study; with the consciousness of having done for others that which I would have been thankful to have found done for myself; and more than all, with the hope that it may in some way help to hasten the day when the mist of superstition shall be dispelled by the light of reason; with all its defects, it is most cheerfully committed to its fate by the author. BOSTON, MASS., November, 1882. CONTENTS. ЧЧЧЧ PART I.

INTRODUCTION.
ЧЧЧЧЧ

THE idea of publishing the  work here presented did  not suggest itself until a large portion of the material it  contains had been accumulated for the private use and personal gratification of the  author. In  pursuing the  study of the Bible Myths, facts pertaining thereto, in a condensed form, seemed to  be greatly needed, and nowhere to be  found.   Widely  scattered through hundreds of ancient and modern volumes, most  of   the contents of this  book may  indeed be  found; but any previous attempt to trace exclusively the  myths and  legends of   the  Old and New  Testament to their  origin, published as a separate work, is  not known to the  writer of  this.   Many  able  writers have  shown our so-called   Sacred Scriptures to  be unhistorical, and have pronounced them largely legendary, but   have there left the  matter, evidently aware  of the great extent of the  subject lying  beyond.   As  Thomas Scott remarks, in  his English Life of  Jesus:   УHow these narratives (i. e.,  the New Testament narratives), unhistorical as they have been shown to  be, came into existence, it  is  not our  business to  explain; and once  again, at  the  end of  the task, as at the  beginning   and throughout, we  must emphatically disclaim the  obligation.Ф   To  pursue the subject from the  point at  which it  is abandoned by this and many  other distinguished writers, has  been the  labor of the  author of this  volume for a  number of  years. The  result of this  labor is herewith submitted to   the reader, but not without a painful consciousness of   its many imperfections.

(Page) iv INTRODUCTION.

The work naturally begins with the Eden  myth, and is  followed by a  consideration of the principal Old Testament legends, showing their universality, origin and  meaning. Next will be  found the  account of the  birth of Christ  Jesus, with his history   until the  close of his  life upon  earth, showing, in  connection therewith, the  universality of the  myth of the Virgin-born, Crucified and Resurrected  Saviour.
Before showing the origin and meaning of the  myth (which is  done in Chapter XXXIX.), we  have considered the  Miracles of Christ  Jesus, the  Eucharist, Baptism, the Worship of the  Virgin, Christian Symbols, the Birthday of Christ  Jesus, the Doctrine of the  Trinity, Why Christianity Prospered, and the Antiquity of Pagan Religions, besides making a comparison of the legendary histories of Crishna and  Jesus, and Buddha and  Jesus. The  concluding chapter relates  to the question, What do  we really  know about  Jesus?
In the  words of Prof. Max Muller (The  Science of  Religion, p. 11):   УA  comparison of all the religions of the  world, in  which none can claim a privileged position, will no  doubt seem to  many dangerous and reprehensible, because ignoring that peculiar reverence which everybody, down  to the mere fetish worshiper, feels for his  own religion, and for his own  god. Let  me say, then, at  once, that I  myself have shared these misgivings, but that I have tried to overcome them, because I would  not and could  not allow myself to  surrender either what I  hold to  be the  truth, or what I  hold still  dearer than truth, the  right of testing truth. Nor  do I regret  it. I do  not say that the  Science of Religion is all  gain. No, it  entails losses, and losses of many things which we hold  dear. But  this I will say, that, as  far as my humble judgment goes, it does not entail the  loss of anything that is essential to true religion, and that, if we  strike the  balance honestly, the  gain is immeasurably greater than the  loss.Ф

INTRODUCTION. (Page) v.

УAll truth is  safe, and nothing else is  safe;
and he  who keeps back the truth, or withholds it
from men, from motives of  expediency, is either
a  coward or a  criminal, or  both.Ф
But little beyond the  arrangement of this  work is claimed as original. Ideas, phrases, and even whole paragraphs have been taken from the writings of others, and in  most, if  not in all  cases, acknowledged; but with the thought in  mind of the many hours of research this book may save the  student in this particular line of study; with the consciousness of having done for  others that which I would have been thankful to  have found   done for  myself; and more than  all, with the  hope that it  may in some  way help to  hasten the  day when the  mist of superstition shall be dispelled by the light of  reason; with all its defects, it  is most cheerfully committed  to its  fate   by the  author.

BOSTON, MASS., November, 1882.

CONTENTS.
ЧЧЧЧ
PART I.

	PAGE
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LIST OF AUTHORITIES, AND BOOKS QUOTED FROM . . . . . CHAPTER I. THE CREATION AND FALL OF MAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER II. THE DELUGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER III. THE TOWER OF BABEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER IV. THE TRIAL OF ABRAHAMТS FAITH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER V. JACOBТS VISION OF THE LADDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER VI. THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER VII. RECEIVING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER VIII. SAMSON AND HIS EXPLOITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	iii xi 01 19 33 38 42 48 58 62
(Page) viii CONTENTS. CHAPTER IX. JONAH SWALLOWED BY A BIG FISH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER X. CIRCUMCISION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER I. CONCLUSION OF PART FIRST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	PAGE 77 85 88
ЧЧЧЧ PART II.
CHAPTER XII. THE MIRACULOUS BIRTH OF CHRIST JESUS . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XIII. THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XIV. THE SONG OF THE HEAVENLY HOST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XV. THE DIVINE CHILD RECOGNIZED, AND PRESENTED WITH GIFTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XVI. THE BIRTH-PLACE OF CHRIST JESUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XVII. THE GENEALOGY OF CHRIST JESUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XVIII. THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XIX. THE TEMPTATION, AND FAST OF FORTY DAYS . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XX. THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST JESUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXI. THE DARKNESS AT THE CRUCIFIXION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	111 140 147 150 154 160 165 175 181 206
CONTENTS. (Page) ix CHAPTER XXII. У HE DESCENDED INTO HELL.Ф . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXIII. THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION, OF CHRIST JESUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXIV. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST JESUS, AND THE MILLENNIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXV. CHRIST JESUS AS JUDGE OF THE DEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXVI. CHRIST JESUS AS CURATOR, AND ALPHA, AND OMEGA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXVII. THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST JESUS, AND THE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXVIII. CHRIST CRISHNA AND CHRIST JESUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXIX. CHRIST BUDDHA AND CHRIST JESUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXX. THE EUCHARIST OR LORDТS SUPPER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXXI. BAPTISM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXXII. THE WORSHIP OF THE VIRGIN MOTHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXVIII. CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXXIV. THE BIRTH-DAY OF CHRIST JESUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXXIV. THE TTRINITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	PAGE 211 215 233 244 247 252 278 289 305 316 326 339 359 368
(Page) x CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXXVI. PAGANISM IN CHRISTIANITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXXVII. WHE CHRISTIANITY PROSPERED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE ANTIQUITY OF PAGAN RELIGIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XXXIX. EEXPLANATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XL. CCONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ЧЧЧ APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	PAGE 384 419 450 466 508 533

Doane, Bible Myths and their Parallels
in other Religions, CHAPTER ONE, pages 01Ч09.

INDEX of Subjects.

Martian Visitor ( Home )

Metaphysics: Which is PRIMARY?

The Pagan origins of Easter

THE WORLDТS
SIXTEEN CRUCIFIED SAVIORS
or
Christianity Before Christ
CONTAINING
New, Startling and Extraordinary Revelations In
Religious History, Which Disclose The Oriental
Origin Of All The Doctrines, Principles,
Precepts, And Miracles Of The
CHRISTIAN NEW TESTAMENT
And Furnishing A Key For Unlocking Many Of
ItТs Sacred Mysteries, Besides comprising the
History Of 16 HEATHEN CRUCIFIED GODS
BY
KERSEY GRAVES Copyright, 1875