The Pagan Christ on CBC

A documentary based on Tom Harpur's excellent book "the Pagan Christ" is set to air on the CBC. Harpur is former Professor of New Testament at the University of Toronto's Toronto School of Theology and Toronto Star Religion Editor and his book is, for me, where modern Christianity meets the work of Joseph Campbell.

So, what if it could be proven that Jesus never existed? What if there was evidence that every word of the New Testament – the cornerstone of Christianity – is based on myth and metaphor?



Based on Tom Harpur’s national bestseller, The Pagan Christ examines these very questions. During his research, Harpur discovered that the New Testament is wholly based on Egyptian mythology, that Jesus Christ never lived, and that – indeed – the text was always meant to be read allegorically. It was the founders of the Church who duped the world into taking a literal approach to the scriptures. And, according to Harpur, this was their fatal error – and the very reason Christianity is struggling today.

The book has, no doubt, raised the ire of many Christian extremists, and I'm sure the documentary will as well. That should surprise no one though as it is that very extremism that the book is meant to confront. It is, at it's core, about how to preserve the better teachings and values of Christianity (the love thy neighbour, turn the other cheek, do not judge kind) without the need for a literal interpretation an actual Christ or the ridiculous theories that come out of "Bible as literal history".
It attempts to introduce a Christianity that can survive in modern times and withstand the scrutiny of known history and modern science. I highly reccomend reading the book - but for a taste and (I'm sure) some intriguing video - you can catch the documentary Thursday December 6, 2007 at 9pm on CBC-TV and again on Newsworld Saturday December 8, 2007 at 10pm ET.