Parallels Between Osiris and Jesus

[Justtristo]

DM Murdock (aka Acharya S) in Christ in Egypt: The Horus-Jesus Connection argues how Christianity was profoundly influenced by Egyptian religion. That would explain a lot why in the first centuries of Christianity's existence, Christianity was more dominant in Egypt than anywhere else in the Classical world.

Acharya S arguments have made me seriously consider that Christianity originated in Egypt, rather than in Palestine. Which would match my views that earliest Christianity (as we would recognise it) was of the sort which would later develop into Gnosticism. Only later on a Judaized variant, which would later be called Orthodoxy emerged.

[Minimalist]

Beginning in the late 4th century BC though the Egyptian ruler, Ptolemy I began implementing the cult of Sarapis which phased out the old Osiris-based religion. Sarapis was a sort of Hellenized variant of Osiris and some other gods but portrayed in Hellenistic symbolism.

Acharya seems to forget that. The center of Egyptian power in the Ptolemaic era was in Alexandria, not Thebes.

[Confused Ape]

People like to push these similarities beyond all reason.

Resurrecting gods were a dime a dozen in the ANE. Jesus is nothing special. It is not necessary to make connections to every aspect of the story.

Christians like to point out that Jesus was only resurrected once, unlike vegetation deities who go down to the underworld and come back every year.

Osiris died and was resurrected once. The same applies to the Sumerian goddess, Inanna.

Inanna's Descent To The Underworld

The Anna, the seven judges, rendered their decision against her. They looked at her – it was the look of death. They spoke to her – it was the speech of anger. They shouted at her – it was the shout of heavy guilt. The afflicted woman was turned into a corpse. And the corpse was hung on a hook."

Three days and three nights passed, and Ninshubur, following instructions, went to Enlil, Nanna, and Enki's temples, and demanded they save Inanna.

Things went as Enki said, and the gala-tura and the kur-jara were able to revive Inanna.

This is as far as one can go with drawing parallels to Jesus, however, because -

Demons of Ereshkigal's followed (or accompanied) Inanna out of the underworld, and insisted that she wasn’t free to go until someone took her place.

Jesus's father was a deity who impregnated a human woman but his parentage isn't unique. Perseus's father was Zeus who impregnated Danae - Perseus -Origin at Argos

Minimalist is right in that it isn't necessary to make connections to every aspect of the story.