Was Jesus Just A Pagan Copycat? - The Myth That Won’t Die

There’s a growing movement—popularized by viral YouTube videos, skeptical podcasts, and documentaries like Religulous and Zeitgeist—that argues Jesus Christ never existed, or if He did, His story was just a recycled version of earlier mythological gods. Names like Horus, Mithras, Dionysus, Krishna, and Osiris get thrown into the mix, accompanied by charts and soundbites claiming they were also born of virgins, had 12 disciples, performed miracles, were crucified, and rose from the dead.

At first glance, the similarities seem compelling. That’s exactly what they’re meant to do—sound convincing without encouraging deeper research. But when you dig into the actual historical records of these so-called parallel “saviors,” the comparisons quickly fall apart. In most cases, the gods in question were never said to be born of a virgin, never had 12 disciples, never died by crucifixion, and never physically rose from the dead. These claims are often based on distorted interpretations of ancient mythology—or outright fabrications. [source]

One of the biggest issues with these comparisons is that they’re built backwards. Instead of looking at actual mythology first and then evaluating potential similarities, critics start with the story of Jesus, then go hunting for fragments in other religions that vaguely resemble pieces of it. Once a few connections are found—however flimsy—a sweeping conclusion is made: “See? Jesus is just another myth.”

This kind of reasoning is a classic example of the Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy. Imagine a man with a rifle firing dozens of shots at the side of a barn. Afterward, he walks up to the barn, finds the cluster of bullet holes that landed closest together, paints a bullseye around them, and then claims he’s a sharpshooter. He didn’t aim at that target—he created it after the fact. That’s what’s happening with these so-called “mythic parallels.” A few vague similarities are pulled out of context, a target is painted around them, and the result is presented as meaningful. But it’s not.

Even many non-Christian historians reject this “copycat” theory. Renowned New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman—a self-described agnostic—has written extensively on the historicity of Jesus. While he doesn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God, he firmly opposes the mythicist argument, stating: “The view that Jesus existed is held by virtually every expert on the planet. The mythicist position is not taken seriously by the academic community.” [source: Bart Ehrman’s Blog]

So why does this myth keep getting recycled? Because it offers a quick, surface-level dismissal of Jesus without having to wrestle with the real historical data—or the radical claims Jesus made about Himself. For many, it’s easier to believe that Christians copied from ancient myths than it is to consider the possibility that Jesus is who He said He is: the way, the truth, and the life.

In the sections that follow, we’ll examine these alleged parallels one by one—starting with Horus, Mithras, Krishna, and others. You’ll see the actual stories, the real timelines, and how drastically they differ from the life, teachings, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We’ll also explore why Christianity’s historical and theological roots make it fundamentally different from myth-based belief systems—and why that difference still matters today.

Click here to learn how to be saved by Jesus Christ.

Horus – Claim vs. Reality

Of all the gods cited in “Jesus copycat” theories, Horus is often presented as the most similar. These claims are especially prominent in the documentary Zeitgeist, which states that Horus was born of a virgin, had 12 disciples, performed miracles, was crucified, and rose again. But are any of these claims actually true when we examine the original Egyptian sources?

📜 The Claims

• Born of a virgin named Isis
• Born on December 25th
• Had 12 disciples
• Performed miracles like healing and walking on water
• Was crucified
• Was buried for three days and resurrected

🔍 The Reality

Born of a virgin? No. Horus was the son of Isis and Osiris. According to Egyptian mythology, after Osiris was murdered and dismembered, Isis reassembled his body and used magical means to become pregnant. The union was spiritual and magical, but not considered a virgin birth in any meaningful sense—even in Egyptian terms. [source]

Born on December 25th? No. There is no Egyptian record that Horus was born on December 25th. This date was not associated with his birth in any ancient Egyptian texts. The claim appears to be retrofitted based on the much later Roman date for Sol Invictus, and then falsely mapped onto Horus. [source]

Had 12 disciples? No. There is no record in Egyptian myth of Horus having 12 followers or disciples. In one version of the myth, Horus is associated with **four sons**, not twelve. The “twelve disciples” claim is fabricated without any basis in Egyptian literature. [source]

Performed miracles? Horus was a god and had divine powers, as most mythological gods did. However, the miracles he performed were not parallel to Jesus’. There’s no record of Horus healing the sick or walking on water. Some legends describe battles with Set, but this was more in the realm of mythic warfare than compassionate healing. [source]

Crucified? Absolutely not. Horus was never crucified. In fact, crucifixion as a method of execution was invented by the Persians and perfected by the Romans centuries later. Egyptian myths describe Horus engaging in conflict with Set and sometimes being wounded, but there is no concept of crucifixion, much less a redemptive death. [source]

Resurrected after three days? No. Horus does not die and rise again in Egyptian mythology. That role was more closely tied to Osiris, his father. Even then, Osiris’s “resurrection” was symbolic—he became the god of the underworld, not a risen, living presence among the people like Jesus was claimed to be. [source]

📌 Summary

The comparison between Horus and Jesus falls apart when we examine actual Egyptian mythology. The alleged similarities are either flat-out incorrect or grossly distorted. Most of these ideas originated in pseudo-scholarship from the 19th and 20th centuries, and have since been repeated in popular media without verification.

This is why the Texas Sharpshooter analogy is so powerful—critics are drawing a target around disconnected fragments and pretending it’s a bullseye. But truth doesn’t operate that way. When we follow the evidence, it’s clear: Jesus Christ stands alone.

Mithras – Claim vs. Reality

The Roman god Mithras is another figure often cited as a “prototype” for Jesus Christ. Critics claim that Mithras was born of a virgin, celebrated on December 25th, had 12 disciples, performed miracles, died, and resurrected. These claims have been echoed in books like The Pagan Christ and movies like Religulous—but once again, they don’t align with the actual historical data.

📜 The Claims

• Born of a virgin on December 25th
• Had 12 disciples
• Performed miracles
• Died and was resurrected
• Called “the way, the truth, and the light”
• Celebrated with communion (bread and wine)

🔍 The Reality

Born of a virgin on December 25th? No. Mithras was said to be born fully grown from a **rock**, not from a virgin. Ancient Roman depictions show him emerging from the stone with a torch and dagger in hand. The December 25th claim is retroactively applied and lacks documentation in the earliest Mithraic sources. Scholars argue that the Roman Mithraic cult adopted December 25th later due to the influence of Sol Invictus, not vice versa. [source]

Had 12 disciples? No. There is no ancient Mithraic text or artwork that records Mithras having 12 followers or disciples. The idea likely arises from depictions of Mithras surrounded by the 12 zodiac signs, which were symbolic and cosmological—not biographical. [source]

Performed miracles? As with most deities in mythology, Mithras was believed to have divine powers. However, there is no surviving Roman text describing specific miracles like healing the sick or walking on water. Much of what we know comes from artwork, not scripture or narrative texts. [source]

Died and resurrected? No. There is no account of Mithras dying, let alone being resurrected. In fact, one of the defining features of Mithraic religion is the **absence** of a death/resurrection motif. Most scholars agree that the Mithras cult was centered on loyalty, initiation rites, and cosmic struggle—not a dying and rising savior. [source]

Called “the way, the truth, and the light”? No such titles are found in Mithraic inscriptions or dedications. This phrase is specific to the Gospel of John and has no documented connection to Mithraism or its theology. [source]

Celebrated with communion? Some inscriptions describe Mithraic banquets, but these were communal meals after initiation rites—not symbolic reenactments of Mithras’ body and blood. The Christian Eucharist is grounded in historical events from Jesus’ life and is theologically distinct from pagan feasts. [source]

📌 Summary

The version of Mithras presented by modern skeptics is a myth in itself—constructed from scattered symbols, reinterpretations, and assumptions. Ancient Mithraism was a Roman mystery religion with no accessible scriptures, no crucified savior, and no virgin birth. And unlike Christianity, it was secretive and exclusive—reserved only for men in the Roman military.

When we look at the actual evidence, the comparison doesn’t hold. Jesus Christ wasn’t copied from Mithras. The two figures share no meaningful historical or theological overlap—only the illusion of similarity painted by the Texas Sharpshooter fallacy.

Krishna – Claim vs. Reality

The Hindu deity Krishna is frequently included in lists claiming that Jesus was based on earlier gods. The assertions often include virgin birth, miraculous feats, death by crucifixion, and resurrection. These claims are widespread in pop-atheist media but rarely come from actual Hindu scholars—or primary Hindu texts.

📜 The Claims

• Born of a virgin
• His birth was heralded by a star
• Performed miracles, including raising the dead
• Was crucified
• Rose from the dead
• Called the "Son of God"

🔍 The Reality

Born of a virgin? No. Krishna was the eighth son of Princess Devaki and her husband Vasudeva. Devaki was not a virgin—she had multiple children before Krishna. There is no mention in Hindu scriptures of a virgin birth. The virgin birth claim is an attempt to reinterpret the story through a Christian lens. [source]

His birth was heralded by a star? No ancient Hindu text mentions a star announcing Krishna’s birth. While his birth is surrounded by miraculous elements (such as his safe transfer from prison during a storm), there is no cosmic star guiding wise men as seen in the Gospel of Matthew. [source]

Performed miracles? Yes, Krishna performed many miracles, especially as a child—lifting mountains, defeating demons, and multiplying food. However, these miracles come from a Hindu mythological context and are not historically claimed in the same way Jesus’ miracles are (which were attested by multiple eyewitnesses in the first century). The stories are fundamentally different in genre and purpose. [source]

Crucified? No. Krishna was not crucified. According to the Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana, Krishna died after being accidentally shot in the heel by a hunter named Jara, mistaking him for a deer. This has no connection to Roman-style crucifixion, and there is no indication of a redemptive death for sins. [source]

Rose from the dead? No. Krishna's soul is said to have ascended to the spiritual realm, but this is not framed as a bodily resurrection. Unlike the Gospel accounts, Krishna’s death is not followed by public appearances, empty tombs, or historical testimonies. It is more in line with Hindu metaphysical beliefs about reincarnation and transcendence. [source]

Called the "Son of God"? Not in the Christian sense. Krishna is considered an avatar (manifestation) of Vishnu—one of the principal deities in Hinduism. He is divine, but within a polytheistic and cyclical worldview that is fundamentally different from the Christian concept of the one true Son of God. [source]

📌 Summary

Krishna is a major figure in Hindu mythology and theology, but the supposed parallels to Jesus are superficial at best—and fabricated at worst. His story includes miracles and divinity, yes—but in a context that is mythic, cyclical, and polytheistic. There is no virgin birth, crucifixion, or bodily resurrection. The Krishna-Jesus connection often promoted online falls apart under any real examination of Hindu texts.

Once again, we see the Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy at work—forcing together details that don’t belong, and ignoring the overwhelming differences. The story of Jesus is not a patchwork myth. It is rooted in verifiable history, grounded in prophecy, and centered on a Savior who entered the world not as legend, but as truth.

Dionysus – Claim vs. Reality

Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, fertility, and revelry, is sometimes presented as a precursor to Jesus—mainly because of his association with wine and symbolic death-and-rebirth themes. Critics argue that Dionysus was born of a virgin, turned water into wine, died and rose again, and was worshipped with a communion-like rite. But how accurate are these claims when we turn to actual Greek mythology?

📜 The Claims

• Born of a virgin
• Turned water into wine
• Died and was resurrected
• Called “Son of God”
• Had a sacred meal of bread and wine

🔍 The Reality

Born of a virgin? No. Dionysus was born from the union of the god Zeus and a mortal woman named Semele. Zeus seduced Semele and impregnated her. In fact, she was destroyed by seeing Zeus’s divine form, and the unborn Dionysus was later sewn into Zeus’s thigh until he reached full term. This is certainly a mythic origin—but not a virgin birth. [source]

Turned water into wine? This is a misreading of Dionysian myth. Dionysus is associated with wine because he is its god, and some plays and myths show wine flowing miraculously from fountains or vines. However, there is no record of Dionysus turning literal water into wine as Jesus did at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1–11). The Gospel account is rooted in a specific time, place, and eyewitness setting—radically different from Dionysian lore. [source]

Died and resurrected? Sort of, but not in any historical or salvific sense. There are different versions of Dionysus’s death depending on the myth. In one, he is torn apart by the Titans and brought back to life by Rhea or Zeus. But these events are symbolic or cyclical myths—not bodily resurrection with witnesses or a redemptive purpose. [source]

Called “Son of God”? He was the son of Zeus, yes—but so were many Greek heroes (like Hercules). The title "Son of God" in pagan mythologies is very different from how it's used in the Bible. Jesus was uniquely declared the Son of the one true God, with authority, divinity, and exclusive identity. The term in Greek myths implies divine parentage, not unique messiahship. [source]

Communion with bread and wine? Some Dionysian cult rituals involved drinking wine and ecstatic celebration. But these were emotional, frenzied festivals—very different from Jesus’ deliberate, solemn institution of the Lord’s Supper. There is no concept in Dionysian worship of remembering a sacrifice or receiving salvation through a meal. [source]

📌 Summary

Dionysus was a god of wine, fertility, and chaos—not a redeemer. The stories of his life are symbolic, ever-changing, and often contradictory. While there are some loose poetic themes (like life from death or joy from suffering), they bear no resemblance to the historically grounded and theologically consistent claims made about Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

Once again, critics are drawing a target after the fact—painting Jesus into pagan stories He never came from. The myth doesn’t match the Messiah.

Holy Days or Hijacked Holidays?

One of the most persistent objections against Christianity is the idea that major Christian holidays were borrowed—or stolen—from earlier pagan festivals. The most common accusations involve Christmas (Dec 25), Easter, and Halloween (All Hallows’ Eve). Critics claim Christians simply baptized pagan traditions and dates to make conversion easier, thereby casting doubt on the authenticity of Christian practices.

But the question remains: Who borrowed from whom? And does overlapping a date mean copying a belief? Let’s examine each case closely using historical sources.

🎄 Christmas – Was Jesus' Birth Copied from Pagan Festivals?

The most popular accusation is that Christians chose December 25 to replace or mimic pagan festivals such as the Roman Saturnalia (Dec 17–23) or the celebration of Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun") which was associated with the winter solstice.

However, the earliest reference to December 25 as the date of Jesus’ birth comes from **Hippolytus of Rome**, around 204 AD—**well before** the Roman Empire made Sol Invictus an official celebration (274 AD under Emperor Aurelian) [source].

In early Christian thought, there was a belief that prophets died on the same day they were conceived. Jesus was believed to have been crucified on **March 25**. Add 9 months to that, and you arrive at December 25. This suggests the selection of that date came from internal theological reasoning—not pagan co-opting. [source]

Saturnalia (Dec 17–23) ended before Dec 25, and while Sol Invictus was celebrated on the 25th, there is growing evidence it may have **adopted that date in response to Christianity**, not the other way around. [source]

🐣 Easter – Based on Ishtar?

A popular meme claims Easter was derived from the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, often accompanied by a linguistic "gotcha": “Easter = Ishtar.” But this is based on phonetic coincidence, not etymology or history. The name “Easter” comes from **Old English Eostre**, a spring goddess mentioned only once in a single line by the monk **Bede** (8th century AD) [source].

In almost every language besides English and German, the name for Easter is derived from the Hebrew word for **Passover**: Pascha (Greek Πάσχα). That’s because the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus occurred during the Jewish Passover feast—a fact rooted in real history and detailed in all four Gospels. [source]

As for eggs and bunnies? These are later folk traditions representing new life. They’re cultural additives—not theological foundations—and they have no bearing on the claim that Jesus rose from the dead.

👻 Halloween – Christian Origins or Pagan Roots?

Critics often say Halloween is just the Christian version of the Celtic festival Samhain, which marked the end of harvest and the beginning of winter. While Samhain did involve beliefs about spirits and the dead, Halloween itself stems from a Christian observance called **All Hallows’ Eve**, the vigil before **All Saints’ Day (Nov 1)**.

All Saints’ Day was originally celebrated on **May 13** (established in the 4th century), and it wasn’t moved to Nov 1 until the 8th or 9th century—possibly to offer a Christian alternative to Samhain in parts of Europe. However, the day was not created to copy Samhain, but to honor Christian martyrs. [source]

Even if dates overlapped, **intent and content matter**. Christian holy days were focused on Christ, martyrs, resurrection, and hope—not appeasing spirits or worshiping nature.

📌 Summary

The idea that Christianity “stole” its holidays from pagans is a modern myth, not a historical fact. While some dates may overlap, that does not mean beliefs were copied. In many cases, the Christian observance **predates** or was established for reasons entirely separate from pagan celebrations. Even when replacement occurred, it was often **intentional transformation**, not imitation.

The calendar doesn’t define the truth of the gospel. Jesus Christ didn’t rise on Easter Sunday because of a spring fertility goddess—He rose because death could not hold Him. Click here to learn how to be saved by Him.

Why Jesus Stands Alone

After reviewing the evidence, one truth rises above the noise: Jesus Christ is not a recycled myth. He wasn’t stitched together from ancient stories, nor was His life a retelling of seasonal gods, sun worship, or fertility rites. His birth, death, and resurrection are grounded in history, witnessed by real people, and preserved through texts that have withstood centuries of scrutiny.

Unlike the gods of mythology, Jesus didn’t dwell in legend or symbolism. He walked among us. He ate with sinners. He healed the broken. He fulfilled detailed prophecies written centuries before His birth. And He alone conquered death—not as a metaphor, but as a historical and eternal reality.

If you’ve ever questioned whether there’s any truth in the Bible… if you’ve ever been told Jesus is just another myth… or if you’re simply searching for something real in a world full of deception—take this moment to look again. The truth is worth it. Your soul is worth it.

🔗 Explore More:

• How to Be Saved by Jesus
• 60 Major Messianic Prophecies & Fulfillments
• Did Jesus Really Exist? Historical Evidence
• FAQ: Honest Questions. Truthful Answers.

Jesus doesn’t ask you to believe blindly. He invites you to seek—and promises that those who seek will find. And when you do, you’ll discover not just history or theology… but a Savior who knows your name.