Here's a great article by Patrick Zukeran from Probe Ministries answering this challenge that Christianity is just derived from other pagan religions that we all know aren't true. Thus Christianity isn't true, either. Here are some of the problems with that claim:
1. The first is the composite fallacy. Proponents of this view lump together pagan religions as if they are one religion when making comparisons to Christianity....However, when the individual myths themselves are studied, the reader soon finds major differences and very little commonality.
2. A second fallacy is a fallacy of terminology. Christian terms are used to describe pagan beliefs, and then it is concluded that there are parallel origins and meanings. Although the terms used are the same, however, there are big differences between Christian and pagan practices and definitions.
3. A third fallacy is the chronological fallacy. Supporters of the theory incorrectly assume that Christianity borrowed many of its ideas from the mystery religions, but the evidence reveals it was actually the other way around.
4. Christianity gains its source from Judaism, not Greek mythology.
Read the rest of the details that fill out these problems with the theory.
And here's Greg's article on the subject "Jesus: The Recycled Redeemer."
(HT: @Apologetics315)
Aww.. The "details" link seems to be broken.
But Greg's article is good.
Posted by: Mike Westfall | August 12, 2011 at 07:56 AM
Mike, it's working for me right now. Try it again.
http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4217655/
Posted by: Amy | August 12, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Did it borrow what?
Posted by: RonH | August 13, 2011 at 07:55 AM
Another insightful question from RonH, reading all the way through the title of the post, but no further, it would seem.
Did you get a response back from Pete Williams?
Posted by: Daron | August 13, 2011 at 01:58 PM
RonH
"Did it borrow what?"
Core beliefs.
Posted by: Louis Kuhelj | August 13, 2011 at 04:17 PM
Isn't it odd that RonH would pretend to be confused about the supposed connection between Christianity and mythology, when he was so insistent
in a previous post on placing the claim of Jesus' resurrection in the same category as these myths.
So RonH, why don't you tell us--what's the common thread between mythology and the historical accounts of Jesus' life, death, burial, and resurrection?
Posted by: Jesse | August 14, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Did the moderators (Amy) notice the website on the previous post? It just copied and pasted the material anyways. Probably should be deleted.
Posted by: Austin | August 15, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Austin, I'm not the moderator anymore, but I took care of it anyway. Thanks!
Posted by: Amy | August 15, 2011 at 12:57 PM