Golden Dawn party attempts to shut down Mythicism Conference
May26

Golden Dawn party attempts to shut down Mythicism Conference

  On May 18th the Golden Dawn party attempted a brazen intervention on the democratically founded right of Greek Citizens to express their opinions in public (in this case the fruits of their scholarly endeavours) just 4 days before the 1st Panhellenic Conference on Mythicism was to take place at the Community Centre of the Municipality of Athens. Ilias Panagiotaros, MP of the far right party, sent a letter to the Ministry of Education requesting that the Conference be canceled, since -as he put it- it aims to “destroy the faith of Greeks” (!). We’d rather not comment on the fact that Mr. Panagiotaros is ignorant on the nature of the scholarly field of Mythicism, which is neither a religion nor a philosophical path, but a field of study open to anyone, believer and non-believer alike, nor on the fact that he confused the city of Milwaukee (and the local mythicist organization) with… Oklahoma. It appears that Golden Dawn has yet another reason to dislike Milwaukee, other than the participation of the successful Greek basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo in the local NBA team. On our part, we ask the friends and visitors of our website to consider the fate of all our free-thinking peers who publicly express their opinions and ideas in case these people ever get any real power. Since, for the time being, that scenario is science fiction, let’s take a moment to appreciate the democratic rights we enjoy as a society… Greek Mythicists – 25/5/2016   The following is the letter of the Golden Dawn MP, Ilias Panagiotaros. TO: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS SUBJECT: “Panhellenic Conference of Mythicists in Athens” The Mayor of Athens, G. Kaminis, granted the use of the “Antonis Tritsis” hall of the Municipality of Athens Community Centre to the organization of Mythicists, so they can organize their first panhellenic conference, with international participation and Mr. Stratos Theodosiou as the keynote speaker (President of the Union of Greek Physicists and Deputy Professor of the University of Athens). This conference will support the idea that Christ is a mythological figure and never existed historically. Participation is free of charge and will take place on May 22nd, 2016. The competent minister is being asked: 1) Does the Ministry have knowledge of this panhellenic greek mythicist conference (in collaboration with the relevant Oklahoma USA mythicist department) with the topic that Christ never existed historically and is a mythological figure alone? 2) The Greek Constitution stated that the Orthodox Christian Faith is the dominant religion of our homeland. How can the ministry protect protect the holies of 2000 years of our homeland, if it...

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All the Gods That Rose From the Dead in Spring Before Jesus Christ (Garrett Griffin)
Mar27

All the Gods That Rose From the Dead in Spring Before Jesus Christ (Garrett Griffin)

  In the same way many ancient Mediterranean societies told tales of gods born to virgins(some on December 25) before the time of Christ, the archetype of gods rising from the dead is likewise older than Christianity, an uncomfortable historical fact for many religious people but not necessarily unforeseeable given the power of human imagination and the long stretch of human history before the Common Era (or Anno Domini, A.D., if you prefer). By Garrett Griffin In human religion, gods often die and return to life, sometimes in their old form, sometimes in a new one (see All About Adam and Eve, Richard Gillooly, and Godless, Dan Barker). They also often came to earth disguised as mortals, especially in Greek and Hindu myths. Dionysus was killed, descended into hell, and was reborn — in Zeus’ thigh of all places. Greek gods, goddesses, and mortals often descended into hell for various reasons and later rejoined the living. Demeter’s daughter, Persephone, descended into Hades and returned in the spring. Attis, a Phrygian-Greek vegetation god born of the virgin Nana, castrated himself and, depending on the version, either bled to death from this or was hanged on a pine tree. He was reborn after three days, his blood redeeming the earth as it fell from his body. His worshipers celebrated the salvation from death offered to them by Attis by decorating a pine tree each spring. This took place on March 25, a date later used by Christians for the Easter celebration (while no longer used for Easter, Catholics still use it to celebrate the Feast of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary). In Egypt, Osiris died, was resurrected, and ascended into heaven. Horus came back from the dead. Like many gods related to vegetation, Adonis, worshiped in Babylonia and Syria as early as the 7th century B.C., died annually (in the fall) and was resurrected (in the spring). In Greece, Heracles was mortal but rose into heaven to take his place among the gods just before he died. In Hindu mythology, Shiva cut off Ganesha’s head but Pavarti convinced him to bring the god back to life. Krishna is accidentally killed by a hunter, but comes back to life and ascends into heaven. The Sumerian king Tammuz was killed but resurrected by the gods and made a god himself. According to the Mesoamerican people, Quetzalcoatl killed himself, but after a few days in the underworld returned to heaven. Then there’s Mithra, made the “Protector of the Empire” by the Romans in 307 AD, right before Christianity was declared the official religion, but actually a Person god worshipped before 200 B.C. Some versions of Mithra’s story make...

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Mythicism against religious intolerance (Greek Mythicists)
Nov15

Mythicism against religious intolerance (Greek Mythicists)

  In January 2015, the Greek Mythicists publicly declared their horror for the murders of the Charlie Hebdo newspaper employees in Paris, intended as a blow against the freedom of expression in the heart of the French capital. By Greek Mythicists Eleven months later, the home of the Illustration received an even heavier blow, the mass murders of dozens of French citizens, perpetrated a few hours ago by Islamist extremists who, according to eyewitnesses, where shouting “God is great” as they shot at their defenceless victims. There is no doubt that this is yet another wound for the Western world, which after 9/11 is once again experiencing the sentiments of fear and terror at its doorstep. Naturally, we have to acknowledge the fact that the West has indeed been digging its own grave, by financing and supporting illegal organizations aimed at destroying secular states of the Orient during the last few decades. Now the hands they themselves have armed are turning against them in a most typical manner. Mythisicm, on the other side, is neither a religious movement nor a political organization, nor even an organized group. In spite of that, all individuals and all groups involved in this investigation, agree that “the establishment of dogmas and the claims of a “unique truth”, which have been typical of monotheistic religions for centuries and which have often caused bloodsheds in mankind, is promoted in great part by blind faith in the acts of personages who apparently have never existed historically.” From this viewpoint, the study and spreading of Mythicist ideas is not merely a field of investigation promoting scientific research, but an approach that may offer a fresh perspective to the course of the world’s religions (everyone is free to believe in the transcendent or not), eliminating violence and fanaticism between believers. Particularly in our days, when the Dark Middle Ages seem to be once again before our planet’s gates and everyone is seeking the generative causes of this situation exclusively in the field of politics. Warm greetings and support to our colleagues of the Cercle Ernest Renan in Paris. Greek Mythicists,...

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Jesus ‘not a real person’ many believe (BBC News)
Nov08

Jesus ‘not a real person’ many believe (BBC News)

Forty percent of people in England do not believe Jesus was a real person, a Church of England survey suggests. However, 43% of the people asked said they did believe in the resurrection – although many did not think it happened as described in the Bible. The figures found while 57% classified themselves as Christian, fewer than 10% read the Bible and prayed regularly, or go to church at least once a month. The Church of England’s General Synod will discuss the survey in November. The survey of more than 4,000 people was commissioned by the Church, Hope – which represents churches of all denominations – and the Evangelical Alliance – which represents evangelical Christians in the UK. Many scholars agree that Jesus was a real man, who lived in Galilee more than 2,000 years ago, although many details surrounding his life are still debated. But, the Church of England survey found that four in 10 people did not believe Jesus was a real person, with a quarter of 18 to 34 year olds believing he was a mythical or fictional character. The poll was part of a wider research project looking at both practising Christians and the wider population. After Christians, the second biggest group identified in the poll – 12% – were atheists, while 9% were agnostics, Muslims represented 3%, with Hindus and Jews both making up 2%. English Christians are more likely than the average English adult to work in education, or professional jobs, but less likely to work in finance or insurance, the survey concluded.  ...

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Help Make A Better Movie on the Jesus Myth!
Sep29

Help Make A Better Movie on the Jesus Myth!

  Mythicist Milwaukee & King’s Tower Productions are going to produce a well-researched film about the Jesus myth theory that deliberately eliminates the flaws of past films (like that awful Zeitgeist thing) and pays attention to the best scholarship on the issue, while also introducing a lot of entertaining features as well as educational ones. By Dr. Richard Carrier They have a great plan. They have a great team. I and others will be vetting the end product. I highly recommend that you help them out by contributing to their IndieGogo campaign. The working title is Batman & Jesus. Their theme is to compare the evolution of mythology for both characters and use that as a springboard to explain how demigods come to exist and what they represent. They have a detailed four minute appeal video here. Well worth watching, to see what their plans are, what they need, and how well they have thought this out. They offer a lot of levels of support with varying benefits. So check out the options and help make this film happen!  ...

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Jesus is a MYTH’: Christ stories appeared decades after his “death”
Apr18

Jesus is a MYTH’: Christ stories appeared decades after his “death”

Jesus Christ was not a real person and is probably the result of a combination of stories about several different individuals, according to a writer and leading atheist activist. David Fitzgerald, a San Francisco based author, believes he has compiled compelling evidence that proves Jesus did not exist. He claims there are no contemporary mentions of Jesus in historical accounts from the time when he was supposed to have lived, yet other Jewish sect leaders from the time do appear. Instead he insists the disciples of Jesus were also probably not real and their names only later attached to the gospels to lend them credence. In a new book due to be published later this year, he will argue that the figure of Jesus was actually a combination of pagan rituals and stories about other people. Speaking to MailOnline, he said: ‘There is a paradox that Jesus did all these amazing things and taught all these amazing things yet no one heard of him outside his immediate cult for nearly 100 years. ‘Or it means he didn’t do all these things at all. ‘The first gospel of Christianity appears to have been a literary allegory that were written decades after the time they portray. ‘I believe that Christianity started as one of the many mystery faiths that appeared at the time where old Gods and old traditions were rebooted. ‘Christianity appears to have been a Jewish mystery faith. ‘By the time of Paul there appears to have been plenty of different “Lord’s suppers” as he complains about the existence of other gospels and messiahs. ‘It appears that early Christianity managed to take the stories from these other faiths and incorporate them into the story of Jesus.’ Mr Fitzgerald, whose first book ‘Nailed: Ten Christian Myths that Show Jesus Never Existed at All’ was published in 2010, believes it is no longer reasonable to assume there has to be a single historic figure who began Christianity. Instead he says early Christians drew upon the beliefs and rituals of other cults and faiths around in the first century. He argues that John the Baptist’s cult is one such example and had initially been a competitor to the cult of Jesus before being incorporated into the Christian story. Mr Fitzgerald said: ‘There is nothing implausible to think that Jesus was a real person, but I just don’t think that he can have been a single person if he existed at all. ‘We also have no mention of Jesus in other historical texts from the time. There were certainly people writing about Judea at the time like Philo of Alexandria. ‘During this period...

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