Crossed: a local pastor and a local atheist debate

Feb. 12, 2016

Christianity vs. Greek Mythology – What’s the Difference?

Rev. Dr. William C. Myers

Senior Pastor at Presbyterian Church of Traverse City

Why is Greek mythology fiction, and Christianity not? Aren’t they the same? These were the questions behind Gary’s invitation to compare Christianity with Greek mythology. For Gary, “both tell amazing stories of fantastical occurrences without a shred of evidence to support them.”

I don’t know much about Greek mythology, but I know a little about logic. Gary is begging the question. There are “amazing stories” of “fantastical occurrences,” and even myths in Christianity. However, there’s more than “a shred of evidence” to support the truth of Christianity.

Jesus is the point person for Christianity. His life is chronicled by Christians and non-Christians. His trial before Pilate is recorded by no less than four non-Christian sources: Tacitus, Flavius Josephus, the Talmud, and the Letter of Mara bar Serapion.

Jesus was a real person. Zeus wasn’t. Score one for Jesus. But what about the “amazing stories” and “fantastical occurrences?” I get why people made up stories about Zeus; he didn’t exist. He could be anything they wanted. Why not make him great and powerful, like the Wizard of Oz?

But Jesus? He was real. People knew him. People wrote about him. There has to be some truth to what was said. Jesus was a rabbi. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, cared for the poor, spoke the truth to power — all documented by Christians and non-Christians.

Zeus has no witnesses. Score two for Jesus!

The greatest proof? After 2000 years, there is still a living witness to Jesus. Zeus worship has been dead for awhile. Score three for Jesus! They may share “amazing stories,” but only one is true. Looks like Zeus and Gary have struck out!

Gary Singer

Gary helps businesses with their Internet marketing. He was raised a Catholic.

To fundamentalists, this will appear to be a crass and cynical castigation of all that they find holy. That is not my intent, but I see no way to avoid it. Biblical stories, not to be confused with facts, have their place. As do Greek mythology, Aesop’s Fables, and Disney. All are valuable tools that suggest ways to be moral and upstanding.

Many followers of Christianity feel that the salient difference between their beliefs and those of the ancient Greeks is that the legends of Jesus Christ are historically accurate while those of Zeus are not. In fact, there is significant research that indicates Jesus never actually existed — conversation for another column.

Regardless, most scholars accept that the earliest Gospel (Mark, a pseudonym assigned sometime during the 2nd Century) was written no earlier than 65 CE, at least 30 years after Christ’s alleged execution. Furthermore, the entirety of today’s Bible that many take for granted as historically accurate was completely overhauled by Emperor Constantine in the 4th Century.

In effect, the document that 32% percent of the world’s population accepts as “gospel” truth is an assemblage of stories and myths without a verifiable source. Consider the similarities between Greek mythology and Christianity: Heaven and Olympus; God and Zeus; Jesus and Prometheus; Eve and Pandora.

The only difference between Greek mythology and today’s Christianity is that so many blindly accept the Bible as factual and base their behavior accordingly. In my estimation, they are simply afraid to consider what might become of them after they die if they refuse to do so. For me, abandoning that fear provided the release I needed to dismiss my Christian beliefs.

BILL’S RESPONSE
Speaking of fairy tales! Gary claims Jesus didn’t exist “because there is no credible evidence.” That is, if you ignore the evidence!

Above I identify four non-Christian sources bearing witness to Jesus and his crucifixion. Gary, no Christian is offended by what you wrote. You’re non-theist! But until you can say why so many non-theists wrote historically about Jesus, you won’t be taken seriously. By the way, the letters of Paul, another real person, were written less than twenty years after Jesus’ death. Christians and non-Christians answer clearly. The difference between Jesus and Zeus? Jesus lives!

GARY’S RESPONSE

Bill is attempting to be both the opponent and the umpire. Either way, the game is under protest.

Regarding “sources,” Tacitus was born in 56 CE, Flavius in 37 CE, and the Testimoniom Flavium paragraph so often cited by fans was written 300 years later. The Talmuds (commentaries) appeared the 5th and 6th centuries. The Bar- Serapion letter from 70 CE has zero references to Jesus. How can these be evidential when none of the writers was even alive at the time?

The evidence for Noah’s Ark (not coincidentally, Greek mythology also had exterminating floods), plagues of locusts, and walking on water is similar — none.

Zeus worship is dead because those stories were never intended to convey factual events. The same is true of the Bible. The authors were completely disassociated with anyone named Jesus or other Biblical characters and it has zero historical validity, assigning the same criteria as you would to any other document. The Bible does not get a free pass.

And, what on Earth is a “living witness to Jesus?” There aren’t even any dead ones!

Bill and Gary agree that the Bible has much to offer everyone. Interpretations of all religious texts will always be a matter of personal faith and should stimulate conversations such as this.