In 1936 a book was published, written by Fitzroy Somerset, the 4th Baron of Raglan. It was called, "The Hero, A Study in Tradition, Myth and Drama." It theorized that hero figures of mythology got their stories from drama, not historical fact. It listed some features in ancient mythology that were common among mythical heroes:
The hero's mother is a royal virgin;
His father is a king, and
Often a near relative of his mother, but
The circumstances of his conception are unusual, and
He is also reputed to be the son of a god.
At birth an attempt is made, usually by his father or his maternal grandfather, to kill him, but
He is spirited away, and
Reared by foster parents in a far country.
We are told nothing of his childhood, but
On reaching manhood he returns or goes to his future kingdom.
After a victory over the king, and/or a giant, dragon, or wild beast,
He marries a princess, often the daughter of his predecessor, and
Becomes king.
For a time he reigns uneventfully, and
Prescribes laws, but
Later loses favor with the gods and/or his subjects, and
Is driven from the throne and city, after which
He meets a mysterious death,
Often at the top of a hill.
His children, if any, do not succeed him.
His body is not buried, but nevertheless
He has one or more holy sepulchers.
When this list is applied to heroes, the more points that match up (and getting a lot can not be coincidental) the more likely the hero is a myth. Getting a score of 7 or higher verifies that the hero is mythical, and can not be historical. Lord Raglan actually doesn't apply the list to Jesus (out of fear of the repercussions) but it can very easily be applied to him.
Jesus scores a 15. And that's being conservative.
That is higher than what Heracles and Zeus score.
Like I said, it can't be a coincidence. Jesus is a myth.
http://www.amazon.com/Hero-Study-Traditi...+tradition
The hero's mother is a royal virgin;
His father is a king, and
Often a near relative of his mother, but
The circumstances of his conception are unusual, and
He is also reputed to be the son of a god.
At birth an attempt is made, usually by his father or his maternal grandfather, to kill him, but
He is spirited away, and
Reared by foster parents in a far country.
We are told nothing of his childhood, but
On reaching manhood he returns or goes to his future kingdom.
After a victory over the king, and/or a giant, dragon, or wild beast,
He marries a princess, often the daughter of his predecessor, and
Becomes king.
For a time he reigns uneventfully, and
Prescribes laws, but
Later loses favor with the gods and/or his subjects, and
Is driven from the throne and city, after which
He meets a mysterious death,
Often at the top of a hill.
His children, if any, do not succeed him.
His body is not buried, but nevertheless
He has one or more holy sepulchers.
When this list is applied to heroes, the more points that match up (and getting a lot can not be coincidental) the more likely the hero is a myth. Getting a score of 7 or higher verifies that the hero is mythical, and can not be historical. Lord Raglan actually doesn't apply the list to Jesus (out of fear of the repercussions) but it can very easily be applied to him.
Jesus scores a 15. And that's being conservative.
That is higher than what Heracles and Zeus score.
Like I said, it can't be a coincidence. Jesus is a myth.
http://www.amazon.com/Hero-Study-Traditi...+tradition
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”
- Buddha
"Anyone wanting to believe Jesus lived and walked as a real live human being must do so despite the evidence, not because of it."
- Dennis McKinsey
- Buddha
"Anyone wanting to believe Jesus lived and walked as a real live human being must do so despite the evidence, not because of it."
- Dennis McKinsey
