1.0 out of 5 based on 3 reviews. – Customer review on 18/10/2009

This is probably the worst book I have ever read. I think the first thing to note is that Acharya S (using such a ridiculous pseudonym, might I add) simply has no idea what she is talking about. She is not a scholar, and she does not have any scholarly education in the field. If one were to ask why no scholar agrees with her - it is because no scholar has access to her idiosyncratic mind where she simply makes things up.

Yes, I am well aware that this is a harsh review - but if you had read the book you would understand.

She attempts to draw parallels between belief in Jesus and with various non-Christian Pagan deities. However, she fails miserably. She appeals to common 'dying and rising gods' yet it turns out that there is no category of dying and rising gods. As is noted by renowned scholar J.Z. Smith:
"The category of dying and rising gods, once a major topic of scholarly investigation, must now be understood to have been largely a misnomer based on imaginative reconstructions and exceedingly late or highly ambiguous texts." (J.Z. Smith, "Dying and Rising Gods" in Encyclopedia of Religion, ed. M. Eliade, vol. 4. p.521)

Complete ignorance of (1) the ancient sources and (2) any sort of contemporary or reliable scholarship is the hallmark of this book.

1.0 out of 5 based on 3 reviews. – Customer review on 29/04/2006

The author is rolling out an old theory that was idscredited early in the last century.

True, Constantine desired a unifying religious force to hold his empire together, and many historians question the veracity of his faith, but the men who met at the council of Nicea bore the scars of their faith on their bodies, having suffered under previous imperial reigns. Their concern was the gospel, not an emperor's desire - that's why Athanasius so vehemently opposed Arius - the sake of the gospel.

Also, the whole "Jesus is just another dying and rising god" is old hat - C.S. Lewis addresses it in his book Miracles, for cying out loud. Christ like Herakles? I love the classical figure of Herakles, but he's a long way from the depth of character and wisdom portrayed in Christ. Like Mithras? OK - 12 follwers, dided, 3 days later rose again... but most of the references we have for Mithras post-date Christianity, so it's more likely that the popular Christian religion influenced Mithraism (A.D. 79, Pompeii - not one image of Mithras found in archaeological excavations).

These guys will keep churning out this stuff because it sells...but it can't stand up to decent scrutiny/

5.0 out of 5 based on 3 reviews. – Customer review on 07/07/2007

Great book tells the real truth,unpalatable as it is to the brainwashed.
"Convince a fool against his will,he's of the same opinion still."[old Scottish proverb]Christianity flees from fact because fact is the instrument of it's ultimate and deserved destruction.