Jesus:
1) Born of a virgin. Was not conceived through sexual intercourse between a mortal and a god. (Matthew 1:18-25)
2) Born in a cave/stable. Was placed in a manger. Birth heralded by angels and a star in the east. Was visited by magi and a group of shepherds. Was taken to Egypt when his parents fled from Herod the Great, fulfilling Old Testament Prophecy. (Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:13-15)
3) Preformed many miracles and turned water into wine. (John 2:1-11)
4) Jesus had twelve male disciples and multiple other followers including women. Unlike Dionysus however, there was nothing inherently attractive about Jesus. (Isaiah 53:2-6)
5) Instructed his followers to commemorate his death with the ceremony of Holy Communion. (Luke 22:19-18) He did this by giving a new symbolic meaning to the Jewish Passover Ceremony in which the bread and wine symbolized the body and blood of the lambs that were slain during the first Passover. (Exodus 12, John 1:19-29)
6) Had a three year ministry as a traveling teacher. He lived a sinless life and taught others to follow his example of moral excellence. (Ephesians 5:1-14) Jesus also taught that people needed to be spiritually "born again" in order to enter the Kingdom of God. (John 3:1-21)
7) Had a "Triumphal Entry" into Jerusalem while riding on a donkey. (Luke 19:28-40, Zechariah 9:9)
8) He was arrested and tried before Pontius Pilate who sentenced him to death by crucifixion. He died and was buried for three days before rising from the dead, whereupon he was seen by multiple witnesses. (1 Corinthians 15:3-9)
9) Defeated death and the grave by rising from the dead.(1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
10) Died sacrificially in order to fulfill Old Testament Prophecy and the requirements of the Law of Moses for the redemption of mankind. He was the "Lamb of God," an atoning sacrifice to take away the sins of the world by taking that sin upon himself. (John 1:29-30, 3:16-21, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 8-10)
Dionysus:
1) Dionysus was born out of a sexual encounter between Zeus and a mortal woman named Semele who was the daughter of Cadmus the king of Thebes. However, according to myth, Semele later asked to see Zeus' true form as a god which resulted in her being killed by his lightning bolts. Zeus then cut the unborn Dionysus from his mother's womb and sewed him into his thigh. Later, when the baby was old enough to be born, Zeus cut him out of his leg on Mount Pramnos on the island of Ikaria.
2) Dionysus was reportedly born on Mount Pramnos and was later raised by nymphs on the mythical Mount Nysa. There were no magi, shepherds, or angles in the Dionysus myth. Nor is there any mention of a miraculous star in the east. However, Zeus' wife, Hera, did send Titans to kill the baby Dionysus. In some myths, they ripped him apart as an infant, while in other stories he was in the form of a bull. Regardless of his form, Dionysus was ripped apart and eaten by Titans leaving only his heart behind. Zeus retrieved the heart and, depending on the myth, either sewed it back into his thigh or gave it to Semele to eat so that Dionysus could be reborn. For this reason Dionysus was sometimes known as the "twice born."
3) As a child, Dionysus discovered the art of cultivating vines and learned how to make wine and was regarded by the ancient Greeks as the first to do so. In some accounts it is implied that wine was miraculously created from Dionysus' tears, while other myths assert that he simply learned how to make wine and taught that knowledge to mankind. In that respect one could argue that Dionysus turned water (his tears) into wine. However the vast majority of ancient sources agree that no such miracle was ever performed by Dionysus.
4) Dionysus had many followers and was sexually attractive to both men and women. However no exact number of followers is ever given. Nor are they ever referred to as "disciples." Instead, Dionysus is most often depicted surrounded by mythical creatures and "Raving Women" (Maenads) who participated with him in his wine-induced orgies.
5) The followers of the Dionysus Mystery cult practiced a ritual commemorating the death of the infant Dionysus in which they drank wine to the point of intoxication and ripped apart animals, devouring them raw, just as the Titans had done to Dionysus. (Though there is evidence that suggests the earliest rites involved human sacrifice and cannibalism.) These rituals usually climaxed in a wild frenzy of drunkenness and sexual indulgence among devotees. The rampant immorality associated with the Dionysus cult was so great that the Roman government attempted to regulate its practices and even went so far as to outlaw the religion altogether.
6) Dionysus did not have a specific ministry. He was, however, afflicted with madness by Zeus' wife, Hera, which lead him to wander through Syria and Egypt for a time. The myths of Dionysus also state that he traveled to India and taught the local people how to cultivate grapes and to make wine.
That said, the majority of ancient traditions state that Dionysus taught wine-making and grape cultivation, not moral principles. In fact, it is clear that any spiritual teachings Dionysus may have brought were anything but moral—even by pagan standards.
Ironically, despite his propensity for violent dismemberment and wanton disregard for social order, Dionysus was viewed by his worshipers as a peace-loving god of culture and civilization. In the Orphic traditions he was even seen as a god of resurrection who would guide initiates to eternal life through reincarnation.
7) Dionysus was often portrayed in a Triumphal Prepossession. Sometimes he is shown riding on a mule, though he is most often depicted dressed in leopard skins and riding in a chariot, followed by dancing centaurs, satyrs, and Meanads. Because of this, the Romans believed that Dionysus ("Bacchus" in the Roman Pantheon) was the originator of the Triumphal Procession. He did not ride on a donkey or a donkey's colt, nor did he appear in anyway humble.
8) In one myth, Dionysus was arrested by a king named Pentheus. However, Dionysus revealed himself to be the god of intoxication and had Petheus torn to pieces by mad women. He was neither crucified nor buried, nor did he rise from the dead after three days.
9) Several myths depict Dionysus descending into the underworld to bring people back to the mortal realm. The most common story is that he traveled to the underworld in order to bring his mother back to life. Upon freeing her from the underworld, he carries her to Olympus where she remains.
Other Greek myths have a similar tone of descending into the underworld alive in order to bring someone else back to the mortal realm either through bribery, acts of valor, or trickery. Though at least one of these stories involving Dionysus is not a myth at all. Rather it is a comedy written by the ancient playwright Arisophanes.
10) Dionysus did not die sacrificially for anyone. Nor did he take anyone's sin upon himself. In fact, Dionysus demonstrated, condoned, and encouraged the very behaviors that Jesus himself condemned. (Mark 7:20-23, Romans 1:18-32)
Sources:
Greek gods and goddesses
Olympian gods
Dionysus
Dionysus and Jesus
See Also:
Mythology and the Messiah
Debunked: Jesus vs. Horus
Debunked: Jesus vs. Mithras
Debunked: Jesus vs. Asclepius
Debunked: Jesus vs. Orpheus
Debunked: Jesus vs. Krishna
The Dying and Rising God: Jesus or Osiris?
2) Dionysus was reportedly born on Mount Pramnos and was later raised by nymphs on the mythical Mount Nysa. There were no magi, shepherds, or angles in the Dionysus myth. Nor is there any mention of a miraculous star in the east. However, Zeus' wife, Hera, did send Titans to kill the baby Dionysus. In some myths, they ripped him apart as an infant, while in other stories he was in the form of a bull. Regardless of his form, Dionysus was ripped apart and eaten by Titans leaving only his heart behind. Zeus retrieved the heart and, depending on the myth, either sewed it back into his thigh or gave it to Semele to eat so that Dionysus could be reborn. For this reason Dionysus was sometimes known as the "twice born."
3) As a child, Dionysus discovered the art of cultivating vines and learned how to make wine and was regarded by the ancient Greeks as the first to do so. In some accounts it is implied that wine was miraculously created from Dionysus' tears, while other myths assert that he simply learned how to make wine and taught that knowledge to mankind. In that respect one could argue that Dionysus turned water (his tears) into wine. However the vast majority of ancient sources agree that no such miracle was ever performed by Dionysus.
4) Dionysus had many followers and was sexually attractive to both men and women. However no exact number of followers is ever given. Nor are they ever referred to as "disciples." Instead, Dionysus is most often depicted surrounded by mythical creatures and "Raving Women" (Maenads) who participated with him in his wine-induced orgies.
5) The followers of the Dionysus Mystery cult practiced a ritual commemorating the death of the infant Dionysus in which they drank wine to the point of intoxication and ripped apart animals, devouring them raw, just as the Titans had done to Dionysus. (Though there is evidence that suggests the earliest rites involved human sacrifice and cannibalism.) These rituals usually climaxed in a wild frenzy of drunkenness and sexual indulgence among devotees. The rampant immorality associated with the Dionysus cult was so great that the Roman government attempted to regulate its practices and even went so far as to outlaw the religion altogether.
6) Dionysus did not have a specific ministry. He was, however, afflicted with madness by Zeus' wife, Hera, which lead him to wander through Syria and Egypt for a time. The myths of Dionysus also state that he traveled to India and taught the local people how to cultivate grapes and to make wine.
That said, the majority of ancient traditions state that Dionysus taught wine-making and grape cultivation, not moral principles. In fact, it is clear that any spiritual teachings Dionysus may have brought were anything but moral—even by pagan standards.
Ironically, despite his propensity for violent dismemberment and wanton disregard for social order, Dionysus was viewed by his worshipers as a peace-loving god of culture and civilization. In the Orphic traditions he was even seen as a god of resurrection who would guide initiates to eternal life through reincarnation.
7) Dionysus was often portrayed in a Triumphal Prepossession. Sometimes he is shown riding on a mule, though he is most often depicted dressed in leopard skins and riding in a chariot, followed by dancing centaurs, satyrs, and Meanads. Because of this, the Romans believed that Dionysus ("Bacchus" in the Roman Pantheon) was the originator of the Triumphal Procession. He did not ride on a donkey or a donkey's colt, nor did he appear in anyway humble.
8) In one myth, Dionysus was arrested by a king named Pentheus. However, Dionysus revealed himself to be the god of intoxication and had Petheus torn to pieces by mad women. He was neither crucified nor buried, nor did he rise from the dead after three days.
9) Several myths depict Dionysus descending into the underworld to bring people back to the mortal realm. The most common story is that he traveled to the underworld in order to bring his mother back to life. Upon freeing her from the underworld, he carries her to Olympus where she remains.
Other Greek myths have a similar tone of descending into the underworld alive in order to bring someone else back to the mortal realm either through bribery, acts of valor, or trickery. Though at least one of these stories involving Dionysus is not a myth at all. Rather it is a comedy written by the ancient playwright Arisophanes.
10) Dionysus did not die sacrificially for anyone. Nor did he take anyone's sin upon himself. In fact, Dionysus demonstrated, condoned, and encouraged the very behaviors that Jesus himself condemned. (Mark 7:20-23, Romans 1:18-32)
Conclusion:
The stories of Jesus Christ are not based on the myths of Dionysus.
* * * * * * *
The stories of Jesus Christ are not based on the myths of Dionysus.
* * * * * * *
Sources:
Greek gods and goddesses
Olympian gods
Dionysus
Dionysus and Jesus
See Also:
Mythology and the Messiah
Debunked: Jesus vs. Horus
Debunked: Jesus vs. Mithras
Debunked: Jesus vs. Asclepius
Debunked: Jesus vs. Orpheus
Debunked: Jesus vs. Krishna
The Dying and Rising God: Jesus or Osiris?
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