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Christianity: An Ancient Egyptian Religion
Contends that the roots of Christian belief come not from Judaea but from Egypt
• Shows that the Romans fabricated their own version of Christianity and burned the Alexandrian library as a way of maintaining political power
• Builds on the arguments of the author's previous books The Hebrew Pharaohs of Egypt, Moses and Akhenaten, and Jesus in the House of the Pharaohs
In An Ancient Egyptian Religion author Ahmed Osman contends that the roots of Christian belief spring not from Judaea but from Egypt. He compares the chronology of the Old Testament and its factual content with ancient Egyptian records to show that the major characters of the Hebrew scriptures--including Solomon, David, Moses, and Joshua--are based on Egyptian historical figures. He further suggests that not only were these personalities and the stories associated with them cultivated on the banks of the Nile, but the major tenets of Christian belief--the One God, the Trinity, the hierarchy of heaven, life after death, and the virgin birth--are all Egyptian in origin. He likewise provides a convincing argument that Jesus himself came out of Egypt.
With the help of modern archaeological findings, Osman shows that Christianity survived as an Egyptian mystery cult until the fourth century A.D., when the Romans embarked on a mission of suppression and persecution. In A.D. 391 the Roman-appointed Bishop Theophilus led a mob into the Serapeum quarter of Alexandria and burned the Alexandrian library, destroying all records of the true Egyptian roots of Christianity. The Romans' version of Christianity, manufactured to maintain political power, claimed that Christianity originated in Judaea. In An Ancient Egyptian Religion Osman restores Egypt to its rightful place in the history of Christianity.
• Shows that the Romans fabricated their own version of Christianity and burned the Alexandrian library as a way of maintaining political power
• Builds on the arguments of the author's previous books The Hebrew Pharaohs of Egypt, Moses and Akhenaten, and Jesus in the House of the Pharaohs
In An Ancient Egyptian Religion author Ahmed Osman contends that the roots of Christian belief spring not from Judaea but from Egypt. He compares the chronology of the Old Testament and its factual content with ancient Egyptian records to show that the major characters of the Hebrew scriptures--including Solomon, David, Moses, and Joshua--are based on Egyptian historical figures. He further suggests that not only were these personalities and the stories associated with them cultivated on the banks of the Nile, but the major tenets of Christian belief--the One God, the Trinity, the hierarchy of heaven, life after death, and the virgin birth--are all Egyptian in origin. He likewise provides a convincing argument that Jesus himself came out of Egypt.
With the help of modern archaeological findings, Osman shows that Christianity survived as an Egyptian mystery cult until the fourth century A.D., when the Romans embarked on a mission of suppression and persecution. In A.D. 391 the Roman-appointed Bishop Theophilus led a mob into the Serapeum quarter of Alexandria and burned the Alexandrian library, destroying all records of the true Egyptian roots of Christianity. The Romans' version of Christianity, manufactured to maintain political power, claimed that Christianity originated in Judaea. In An Ancient Egyptian Religion Osman restores Egypt to its rightful place in the history of Christianity.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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About the author
Ahmed Osman
50 books45 followersAhmed Osman (Arabic: أحمد عثمان) is an Egyptian-born author and Egyptologist. He has put forward several theories which are mainly rejected by mainstream Egyptologists
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 9, 2020
Yazarın, hristiyan mitolojisine ve tarihine dair verdiği bilgiler gayet iyiydi. Ayrıca, orta doğu ve mısır coğrafyasına ait bilgiler de konuyu anlamanıza yardımcı oluyor. Yaptığı ilginç tespitler var, çıkarımların bir kısmı benim de aklıma yattı :). Lakin, sonuca çok hızlı ulaşıyor ve ileri sürdüğü şeyler spekülasyondan öteye gidemiyor.
Yine de dediğim gibi, verdiği tarihi ve mitolojik bilgiler hoşuma gitti.
Herkese iyi okumalar.
Yine de dediğim gibi, verdiği tarihi ve mitolojik bilgiler hoşuma gitti.
Herkese iyi okumalar.
August 9, 2011
Ridiculous and idiotic - more twisting of fact to meet theory
March 25, 2021
This book was elucidating on some aspects of the historicity of biblical stories and characters, and offers an engaging well-researched opinion on the significance of the Egyptian Amarna Dynasty and its theological reformation in shaping the early religious beliefs and writings of the Israelites who absconded from Egypt, and subsequently the New Testament Gospels (they being, its claimed, a reiteration of an ancient tradition). This last point undermines the idea of a 1st century historical Jesus figure being responsible for the Christian religion and basically shifts the onus to another time and place entirely, that is Egypt of the fourteenth millennium BC. It also suggests a deep connection between that period's ruling dynasty and the Isrealites, that ended shortly after the death of Tutankhamun with a military coup and the ascension of a new dynasty, eviscerating the spiritual legacy of the previous dynastic mono-theist "heretics". I'm fairly obsessed with learning about the roots of Christianity and religion in general, as well as all things ancient Egyptian, and this book didn't disappoint.
Next on my list in this regard is a book which also pertains to the nonfactual historicity of the Jesus story, and actually provides evidence that the New testament was a codification and reiteration of a Messianic tradition in writing by a Roman elite who wished to quell and satiate a Jewish revolt in the 1st century by proffering them a peaceful "turn the other cheek" type savior, thus saving themselves the hassle of constant uprisings, and providing them with a mechanism of control that ended up being much more powerful than violent force. It's called "Caesar's Messiah - Joseph Atwill". If true, that would have to be an example of the most effective propaganda ever created.
And of course, an historical Jesus isn't really required for the validity of a positive spiritual message, as Osman's book also contends; that there is a spiritual aspect of Christ that is distinct from any historical claims to truth, this being the underlying spiritual teaching passed down for centuries before being co-opted (and possibly partly created) by the Roman empire. In this regards, I suggest investigation of the Gnostic christian tradition, which provides a literature apparently untouched by ancient authoritarian influence due to being hidden when the authorities were systematically destroying the physical vestiges of rival ideologies, as all authoritarian states/ideologies have done and do. I'm referring to the Nag Hammadi texts, and the Judeo-Christian Essenes' Dead Sea Scrolls.
Next on my list in this regard is a book which also pertains to the nonfactual historicity of the Jesus story, and actually provides evidence that the New testament was a codification and reiteration of a Messianic tradition in writing by a Roman elite who wished to quell and satiate a Jewish revolt in the 1st century by proffering them a peaceful "turn the other cheek" type savior, thus saving themselves the hassle of constant uprisings, and providing them with a mechanism of control that ended up being much more powerful than violent force. It's called "Caesar's Messiah - Joseph Atwill". If true, that would have to be an example of the most effective propaganda ever created.
And of course, an historical Jesus isn't really required for the validity of a positive spiritual message, as Osman's book also contends; that there is a spiritual aspect of Christ that is distinct from any historical claims to truth, this being the underlying spiritual teaching passed down for centuries before being co-opted (and possibly partly created) by the Roman empire. In this regards, I suggest investigation of the Gnostic christian tradition, which provides a literature apparently untouched by ancient authoritarian influence due to being hidden when the authorities were systematically destroying the physical vestiges of rival ideologies, as all authoritarian states/ideologies have done and do. I'm referring to the Nag Hammadi texts, and the Judeo-Christian Essenes' Dead Sea Scrolls.
August 26, 2021
Rating is about some content
Great book if only the author had ended the book at the time of the Hebrew Joseph. Had a good case going based on the fact that Sarai slept with the pharaoh and the timing of Isacc’s actual birth would have made him 1/2 Egyptian. Talmud and other documents pointed to an Egyptian/Hebrew line from Sarai. The idea of a monotheistic Egyptian religion was foisted on the Egyptians by Akhenaten is curios that it seems to be part of the Hebrew rewritten stories? However, When the author started to head down the idea that since Joshua’s name was Yeshua and Jesus’s name was Yeshua and therefore they were somehow coordinated it destroyed all his prior good work… Yeshua was a common Hebrew name and the author never really brought forth any reasonable evidence for the connection. He should of stuck with the Hebrew story of Sarai, Jospeh, Moses, etc. as being an Egyptian story as there appeared to be some solid evidence. I would recommend reading the book to the point of the city of Zarw and stop. The rest appears nonsensical.
Great book if only the author had ended the book at the time of the Hebrew Joseph. Had a good case going based on the fact that Sarai slept with the pharaoh and the timing of Isacc’s actual birth would have made him 1/2 Egyptian. Talmud and other documents pointed to an Egyptian/Hebrew line from Sarai. The idea of a monotheistic Egyptian religion was foisted on the Egyptians by Akhenaten is curios that it seems to be part of the Hebrew rewritten stories? However, When the author started to head down the idea that since Joshua’s name was Yeshua and Jesus’s name was Yeshua and therefore they were somehow coordinated it destroyed all his prior good work… Yeshua was a common Hebrew name and the author never really brought forth any reasonable evidence for the connection. He should of stuck with the Hebrew story of Sarai, Jospeh, Moses, etc. as being an Egyptian story as there appeared to be some solid evidence. I would recommend reading the book to the point of the city of Zarw and stop. The rest appears nonsensical.
January 12, 2021
Misleading title. It should be called Ancient Egyptian Religion - It's all Christianity.
Takes the bible as fact, not objective at all, and says things like "King Tut was represented as Osiris"
and "The bible is actually following the Tuthmosside dynasty"
Just silly. 90% of this book is describing the bible. Just read the bible.
Takes the bible as fact, not objective at all, and says things like "King Tut was represented as Osiris"
and "The bible is actually following the Tuthmosside dynasty"
Just silly. 90% of this book is describing the bible. Just read the bible.
January 25, 2018
The author's conclusions, if not completely convincing at times, certainly deserves consideration.
September 21, 2022
Brilliantly drawn parallels of Ancient Egypt and Christianity, thought provoking and presented with clarity. A real delight to read! Would definitely read again.
December 23, 2023
Nonsense. Osman builds his theories on whims, and scientific no-gos. Not convincing, badly supported by reason.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews