Q: ISN’T THE STORY OF JESUS SIMPLY TAKEN FROM OTHER ‘MYSTERY RELIGIONS’?

“That was a very popular argument at the beginning of the century, but it generally died off because it was so discredited. For one thing, given the timing involved, if you’re going to argue for borrowing, it should be from the direction of Christianity to the mystery religions, not vice versa”. (Dr. Gregory Boyd, from the book ‘The Case For Christ’)

While some other religions had stories of dying and rising, these stories centered around natural life – crops die in the fall and come to life in the spring – and were always told in legendary form. They are “Once upon a time stories”. In contrast Jesus, who lived several decades earlier, names actually names – crucified under Pilate when Caiaphas was the high priest – these are facts that can be verified by the Bible and even sources outside the Bible.

The other issue you have to deal with is while the Mystery Religion stories were written “after the fact” (once upon a time), the account of Jesus being crucified and raised is told in advance in the Old Testament. They are called Messianic Prophecies. Jesus fulfilled every prophecy including being born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), and that He came to pay the penalty of our sins (Isaiah 53).