Description
A facsimile reprint of a controversial book published in 1910 (Chicago: Open Court), which itself was a translation of a third edition (no citation given for the original). Drews, a German philosopher, looks at the mythology of Christ in pre-Christian times and in early Christianity, pointing to evidence that a pre-Christian cult of Jesus existed, and arguing that interest in the life of a historical Jesus is misplaced. He traces many of the stories told about the life of Jesus to the mythologies of the Greeks, Phoenicians, Jews, Sumerians, Hindus, Buddhists, and others. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
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First published in 1910, The Christ Myth drew violent criticism from theologians, the press, and the public. Eminent German philosopher Arthur Drews (1865-1935) reacts to the "romantic cult of Jesus," which, he says is undermining intellectual truthfulness. He exposes the Jesus of the gospels as a mythical character, arguing that no basis exists for seeking a historical figure behind the Christ myth. Through a comparative study of ancient religions, Drews shows that Christianity is a syncretism of various pagan and Jewish beliefs, and that a strong pre-Christian cult of Jesus as son of God and messiah existed. This is a valuable sourcebook for students of religion, and all those interested in examining the origins of Christianity.
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