📖 Overview
The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors is an 1875 religious history text by American freethinker Kersey Graves. The book examines the stories of 16 different deity figures from various cultures who share similarities with the Christian narrative of Jesus Christ.
Graves presents research and historical documentation to explore common elements between these religious figures, including virgin births, miracles, crucifixions, and resurrections. His investigation spans multiple ancient civilizations and religious traditions, drawing heavily from the works of earlier scholars like Godfrey Higgins.
The text presents comparative analysis of religious mythologies and belief systems across different cultures and time periods. The book's central focus is on examining parallels between pre-Christian religious traditions and Christianity.
This controversial work raises questions about the origins of religious narratives and the nature of cultural transmission between ancient civilizations. It represents an early example of comparative religious scholarship that influenced later discussions about the historical origins of Christianity.
👀 Reviews
Readers view this 1875 text with skepticism due to its questionable scholarship and lack of citations. The book attracts both secular humanists interested in comparative religion and critics who question its historical accuracy.
Likes:
- Presents lesser-known parallels between religious figures
- Challenges traditional Christian narratives
- Writing style remains accessible to non-academics
Dislikes:
- Makes claims without proper documentation
- Contains factual errors and misrepresentations
- Relies on outdated or debunked sources
- Shows clear anti-Christian bias that impacts objectivity
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.7/5 (259 ratings)
Amazon: 3.8/5 (156 ratings)
Common reader comments:
"Interesting ideas but poor scholarship" - Goodreads reviewer
"More propaganda than history" - Amazon reviewer
"Should be read with extreme caution" - LibraryThing user
Most modern readers treat it as a historical curiosity rather than a reliable academic source. Critics note that many of its central claims have been disproven by contemporary scholarship.
📚 Similar books
The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold by D.M. Murdock
Documents parallels between Jesus Christ and other ancient deities through examination of archaeological and historical records.
The Origins of Christianity by Joseph Wheless Traces the development of Christian beliefs through examination of pre-Christian myths and religious practices.
Pagan Origins of the Christ Myth by John G. Jackson Examines Egyptian, Greek, and Roman religious traditions to identify connections between ancient pagan beliefs and Christian theology.
The Golden Bough by James George Frazer Maps the common patterns in religious myths across cultures with focus on dying-and-rising deity figures.
Christianity Before Christ by John G. Jackson Presents historical records and archaeological evidence linking Christian narratives to earlier religious traditions from Egypt and the ancient Near East.
The Origins of Christianity by Joseph Wheless Traces the development of Christian beliefs through examination of pre-Christian myths and religious practices.
Pagan Origins of the Christ Myth by John G. Jackson Examines Egyptian, Greek, and Roman religious traditions to identify connections between ancient pagan beliefs and Christian theology.
The Golden Bough by James George Frazer Maps the common patterns in religious myths across cultures with focus on dying-and-rising deity figures.
Christianity Before Christ by John G. Jackson Presents historical records and archaeological evidence linking Christian narratives to earlier religious traditions from Egypt and the ancient Near East.
🤔 Interesting facts
📚 The book was first published in 1875 during a period of intense religious debate and emerging scientific thought in America
🔍 Kersey Graves was a former Quaker who later became a prominent freethinking writer and lecturer, known for challenging traditional religious doctrines
⚜️ Among the sixteen savior figures discussed are Krishna of India, Mithra of Persia, and Osiris of Egypt - each said to have been born of virgin births
🗣️ The work heavily influenced later writers like Tom Harpur, who referenced it in his 2004 bestseller "The Pagan Christ"
🎓 While some of Graves' sources and conclusions have been questioned by modern academics, his work helped pioneer the field of comparative religious studies in the United States