The Egyptian Origin of Christianity [Paperback]

Lisa Ann Bargeman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2005

The Egyptian Origin of Christianity focuses on the ceremonial parallels between the modern Roman Catholic Church and ancient Egyptian ceremony. While all forms of Christianity display strong parallels to the rituals of ancient Egypt, perhaps the strongest examples can be seen in Roman Catholicism. Ancient travelers dispersed from North Africa, carrying with them their traditions and customs. The importance of the Egyptian sway can no longer be denied. It has prompted great thinkers like Siegfried Morenz, Director of the University of Liepzig Institute of Egyptology, to remark that "the influence of the Egyptian religion on posterity is mainly felt through Christianity and its antecedents. Egypt's contribution to the Old Testament is actually a product of that country's relationship with Syria; its contribution to the New Testament, indeed, even to early Christian theology, must be seen as a special instance of that general influence exerted by Egypt upon the Hellenistic world." It is that influence which is explored in The Egyptian Origin of Christianity in order that the true nature of religion as a whole may be elucidated.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Intriguing.... persuasive.... A good contribution to scholarship.... I recommend it to anyone interested in religion, African studies, and humanities...." -- Harrison Ola. Akingbade, PhD, African Studies

This book will be used for the global restructuring of textbooks everywhere on religious history -- Jessica Jannicelli, Editor, Humana Press

a fascinating and scholarly sourcebook for those interested in either Egyptology or religious scholarship. -- Adrienne Howell, Writer/Editor, Connectivity --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Lisa Ann Bargeman graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature. She has written several books on World Religion and currently works for a scientific publisher.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Blue Dolphin Publishing (July 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577331524
• ISBN-13: 978-1577331520
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,899,432 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An informative, iconoclastic analytical survey, October 7, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Egyptian Origin of Christianity (Paperback)

Now in a revised second edition, Lisa Ann Bargeman's The Egyptian Origin Of Christianity offers an informative, iconoclastic analytical survey of those non-Biblical contributions to the concepts and ecumenical development of Christianity drawn from the Egyptian religious myths and rituals of antiquity. The juxtaposing of texts from the Bible and from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the comparison of similarities between the story of Osiris and the story of Jesus, the observations of cosmology, physical symbolism, and tradition, are all revealed in startling and unexpected ways that will give serious students of both Egyptian and Christian metaphysics a great deal of food for thought and reflection. Lisa Bargeman adheres to a very high standard of scholarship both in her presentation and in her interpretative commentary. The Egyptian Origin Of Christianity is a welcome and much appreciated contribution to Metaphysical Studies.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewer:The Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, February 6, 2005

By 

Book Editor - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Egyptian Origin of Christianity (Paperback)

"This... is intended for all those who question the origin of Christian symbols, rituals and ceremonies. This book clearly demonstrates the similarities between Egyptian religion and Christianity in general and the modern Roman Catholic Church in particular. The facts are presented in a well-organized structure based on a number of different themes such as: the ceremonial parallels, the Genesis, the Great Flood, the seven Sacraments, the Jesus/Osiris connection, the Mary/Isis connection and the Trinities. It is in the Animism chapter that the author juxtaposes extracts from the Bible and from the Book of the dead. This chapter is eminently revealing.... The topic of this book, and the Egyptian / Christian religious parallel in particular, is rarely addressed in modern literature. Ms. Bargeman meticulously and definitively demonstrates that the Egyptian influence on modern theology can be easily discerned in Christian practices, and that Christianity as a whole is greatly indebted to its Egyptian antecedents. This book should be a welcomed addition to the TO DO list of all (not yet satisfied) avid readers of the now famous "The Da Vinci Code".
- Denis et Claudette Goulet, Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Better books on this subject, July 3, 2007

By 

M. Hellinger - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Egyptian Origin of Christianity (Paperback)

With this book, I ordered Egyptian Mythology and Egyptian Christianity. I am so glad I did! Let's put it this way: if I had just ordered THE EGYPTIAN ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY, I probably wouldn't have given this topic much further thought.

When it comes right down to it, THE EGYPTIAN ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY is poorly written. The title is certainly arousing, but the thesis is poorly supported. The author jumps haphazardly from concept to concept and it is clear that the author's historical grasp of ancient Egyptian theology is lacking... perhaps limited to the ancient Egyptian BOOK OF THE DEAD. Specific supporting examples are far from compelling. In comparison, the author of EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY AND EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANITY presents considerable background information, shows hieroglyphs, and considers overall parallel concepts. Transitions within EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY AND EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANITY are also much smoother. It really seems as if the author of THE EGYPTIAN ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY hasn't done her homework, which is really inexcusable considering that EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY AND EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANITY was written 100 years earlier.