Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions Part 58

[212:1] See Jameson's Hist. of Our Lord in Art, vol. ii. pp. 250, 251.

[212:2] Nicodemus: Apoc. ch. xvi. and xix.

[213:1] Nicodemus: Apoc. ch. xx.

[213:2] I. Peter, iii. 17-19.

[213:3] Acts, ii. 31.

[213:4] See Asiatic Researches, vol. i. p. 237. Bonwick's Egyptian Belief, p. 168, and Maurice: Indian Antiquities, vol. ii. p. 85.

[213:5] See Monumental Christianity, p. 286.

[213:6] See Dupuis: Origin of Religious Belief, p. 256, Bonwick's Egyptian Belief, and Dunlap's Mysteries of Adoni, pp. 125, 152.

[213:7] See Chap. x.x.xIX.

[213:8] See Bell's Pantheon, vol. i. p. 12.

[213:9] See Higgins: Anacalypsis, vol. i. p. 322. Dupuis: Origin of Religious Belief, p. 257, and Dunlap's Mysteries of Adoni, p. 33.

[213:10] See Taylor's Mysteries, p. 40, and Mysteries of Adoni, pp.

94-96.

[213:11] See Bell's Pantheon, vol. ii. p. 72. Our Christian writers discover considerable apprehension, and a jealous caution in their language, when the resemblance between _Paganism_ and _Christianity_ might be apt to strike the mind too cogently. In quoting Horace's account of Mercury's descent into h.e.l.l, and his causing a cessation of the sufferings there, Mr. Spence, in "Bell's Pantheon," says: "As this, perhaps, may be a mythical part of his character, _we had better let it alone_."

[214:1] See Bonwick: Egyptian Belief, p. 169, and Mallet, p. 448.

[214:2] See Mexican Antiquities, vol. vi. p. 166.

[214:3] See the chapter on _Explanation_.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF CHRIST JESUS.

The story of the resurrection of Christ Jesus is related by the four Gospel narrators, and is to the effect that, after being crucified, his body was wrapped in a linen cloth, laid in a tomb, and a "great stone"

rolled to the door. The sepulchre was then made sure by "sealing the stone" and "setting a watch."

On the first day of the week some of Jesus' followers came to see the sepulchre, when they found that, in spite of the "sealing" and the "watch," the angel of the Lord had descended from heaven, had rolled back the stone from the door, and that "_Jesus had risen from the dead_."[215:1]

The story of his _ascension_ is told by the _Mark_[215:2] narrator, who says "he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of G.o.d;"

by _Luke_,[215:3] who says "he was carried up into heaven;" and by the writer of the _Acts_,[215:4] who says "he was taken up (to heaven) and a cloud received him out of sight."

We will find, in stripping Christianity of its robes of Paganism, that these miraculous events must be put on the same level with those we have already examined.

_Crishna_, the crucified Hindoo Saviour, _rose from the dead_,[215:5]

and _ascended bodily into heaven_.[215:6] At that time a great light enveloped the earth and illuminated the whole expanse of heaven.

Attended by celestial spirits, and luminous as on that night when he was born in the house of Vasudeva, _Crishna_ pursued, by his own light, the journey between earth and heaven, to the bright paradise from whence he had descended. All men saw him, and exclaimed, "_Lo, Crishna's soul ascends its native skies!_"[215:7]

Samuel Johnson, in his "Oriental Religions," tells us that _Rama_--an incarnation of Vishnu--after his manifestations on earth, "_at last ascended to heaven_," "resuming his divine essence."

"By the blessings of Rama's name, and through previous faith in him, all sins are remitted, and every one who shall at death p.r.o.nounce his name with sincere wors.h.i.+p shall be forgiven."[216:1]

The mythological account of _Buddha_, the son of the Virgin Maya, who, as the G.o.d of Love, is named _Cam-deo_, _Cam_, and _Cama_, is of the same character as that of other virgin-born G.o.ds. When he died there were tears and lamentations. Heaven and earth are said equally to have lamented the loss of "_Divine Love_," insomuch that _Maha-deo_ (the supreme G.o.d) was moved to pity, and exclaimed, "_Rise, holy love!_" on which _Cama_ was restored and the lamentations changed into the most enthusiastic joy. The heavens are said to have echoed back the exulting sound; then the deity, supposed to be lost (_dead_), was restored, "_h.e.l.l's great dread and heaven's eternal admiration_."[216:2]

The coverings of the body unrolled themselves, and the lid of his coffin was opened by supernatural powers.[216:3]

_Buddha_ also ascended bodily to the celestial regions when his mission on earth was fulfilled, and marks on the rocks of a high mountain are shown, and believed to be the last impression of his footsteps on this earth. By prayers in his name his followers expect to receive the rewards of paradise, and finally to become one with him, as he became one with the Source of Life.[216:4]

_Lao-Kiun_, the virgin-born, he who had existed from all eternity, when his mission of benevolence was completed on earth, _ascended bodily into the paradise above_. Since this time he has been wors.h.i.+ped as a _G.o.d_, and splendid temples erected to his memory.[216:5]

_Zoroaster_, the founder of the religion of the ancient Persians, who was considered "a divine messenger sent to redeem men from their evil ways," _ascended to heaven_ at the end of his earthly career. To this day his followers mention him with the greatest reverence, calling him "The Immortal Zoroaster," "The Blessed Zoroaster," "The Living Star,"

&c.[216:6]

_aesculapius_, the Son of G.o.d, the Saviour, after being put to death, _rose from the dead_. His history is portrayed in the following lines of _Ovid's_, which are prophecies foretelling his life and actions:

"Once, as the sacred infant she surveyed, The G.o.d was kindled in the raving maid; And thus she uttered her prophetic tale: Hail, great Physician of the world! all hail!

Hail, mighty infant, who in years to come Shalt heal the nations, and defraud the tomb!

Swift be thy growth, thy triumphs unconfined, Make kingdoms thicker, and increase mankind.

Thy daring art shall animate the dead, And draw the thunder on thy guilty head; _Then shalt thou die, but from the dark abode Shalt rise victorious, and be twice a G.o.d_."[217:1]

The Saviour _Adonis_ or _Tammuz_, after being put to death, _rose from the dead_. The following is an account given of the rites of Tammuz or of Adonis by Julius Firmicius (who lived during the reign of Constantine):

"On a certain night (while the ceremony of the Adonia, or religious rites in honor of Adonis, lasted), an image was laid upon a bed (or bier) and bewailed in doleful ditties. After they had satiated themselves with fict.i.tious lamentations, light was brought in: then the mouths of all the mourners were anointed by the priests (_with oil_), upon which he, with a gentle murmur, whispered:

'Trust, ye Saints, your G.o.d restored.

Trust ye, _in your risen Lord_; For the pains which he endured Our salvation have procured.'

"Literally, 'Trust, ye _communicants_: the G.o.d having been saved, there shall be to us out of pain, _Salvation_.'"[217:2]

Upon which their sorrow was turned into joy.

G.o.dwyn renders it:

"_Trust ye in G.o.d, for out of pains, Salvation is come unto us._"[217:3]

Dr. Prichard, in his "_Egyptian Mythology_," tells us that the Syrians celebrated, _in the early spring_, this ceremony in honor of _the resurrection of Adonis_. After lamentations, his restoration was commemorated with joy and festivity.[217:4]

Mons. Dupuis says:

"The obsequies of _Adonis_ were celebrated at _Alexandria_ (in Egypt) with the utmost display. His image was carried with great solemnity to a tomb, which served the purpose of rendering him the last honors. Before singing his return to life, there were mournful rites celebrated in honor of his suffering and his death. The large wound he had received was shown, just as the wound was shown which was made to Christ by the thrust of the spear. _The feast of his resurrection was fixed at the 25th of March._"[218:1]

In Calmet's "Fragments," the resurrection of _Adonis_ is referred to as follows: