JESUS was supposedly born on December 25 as the result of an immaculate conception by his virgin mother to a supreme divinity, God. Jesus healed the sick, walked on water, turned water into wine and magically produced loaves and fishes. Aged about 33, he was crucified but arose after three days to ascend into heaven to become part of the Holy Trinity. Here are just a few of the tens of thousands of gods who preceded him. MITHRAS was born on December 25, about 600 years before Christ, Mithraism extending from its origin in Persia eastwards to India, to westwards as far as Spain. With his twelve disciples, Mithras was a travelling teacher who performed miracles, conducted baptisms which included ceremonies of bread, water and consecrated wine. Mithra's sacred day was Sunday. Before being reportedly crucified, Mithras had a last supper with twelve disciples. He was buried in a tomb but resurrected three days later at Easter and was symbolised by a cross. HORUS was born of the virgin Isis as the only son of the God Osiris. Ancient Egyptians paraded a manger and child representing Horus through the streets at the time of the winter solstice (about December 21). He was threatened with death during infancy when Herut tried to have him murdered. Handling the threat, God tells Horus' mother "Come, thou goddess Isis, hide thyself with thy child." An angel tells Jesus' father to, "Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt." Like Jesus, there's a break in his life's history with no details between ages of 12-30. Like Jesus, he was aged 30 at baptism and like Jesus' baptiser, John the Baptist, Horus' baptiser was beheaded. Horus walked on water, cast out demons, healed the sick, restored sight to the blind. Was crucified, descended into hell and resurrected after three days. ATTIS of Phrygia was born on December 25 of the Virgin Nana. He was considered the saviour who was slain for the salvation of mankind, his body was symbolically eaten as bread by his worshippers. He was both the Divine Son and the Father. On Black Friday, he was crucified on a tree from which his holy blood ran down to redeem the earth. After crucifixion, Attis descended into the netherworld but after three days, was resurrected. ZOROASTER was born of a virgin and "immaculate conception by a ray of divine reason" to be baptised in a river. In his youth he astounded wise men with his wisdom. He was tempted in the wilderness by the devil. He began his ministry at age 30. Zoroaster baptised with water, fire and "holy wind", casting out demons and restoring the sight to a blind man. He taught about heaven and hell, revealed mysteries including resurrection, judgment, salvation and the apocalypse. He was slain upon which his "Word made flesh." Zoroaster's followers expected a Second Coming in the virgin-born Saoshynt or Saviour, who is to come in 2341 AD and begin his ministry at age 30, ushering in a golden age. GLYCON was the son of the God Apollo, who came to Earth through a miraculous birth, was the earthly manifestation of divinity, came to earth in fulfilment of divine prophecy, gave his chief believer the power of prophecy, gave believers the power to speak in tongues, performed miracles, healed the sick, and raised the dead. HERACLES is the son of the god, Zeus. It is recorded that Zeus is both the father and great-great- great grandfather of Heracles, just as Jesus is essentially his own grandpa, being both "the root and offspring of David" (Revelation 22:16) as he is part of the triune God which is the father of Adam and eventually of Jesus. Both are doubly related to the Supreme God. Hera tries to kill Heracles as an infant by sending two serpents after him, yet Heracles survives by strangling them which parallels Herod's slaughter of the innocents in an attempt to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:13-16). Heracles makes a descent into Hades and returns from it just as Jesus descends into the "lower parts of the earth". Heracles' body is not found and he is assumed to have been taken to heaven by the gods. DIONYSUS was born of a virgin on December 25 and, as the Holy Child, was placed in a manger. He was a travelling teacher who performed miracles, he riding "in a triumphal procession on an ass." Dionysus was killed but arose from the dead on March 25. He turned water into wine, was called "King of Kings", "God of Gods", was considered the "Only Begotten Son," Saviour," "Redeemer," "Sin Bearer," Anointed One", "Alpha and Omega", was identified with the Ram or Lamb. His sacrificial title of "Dendrites" or "Young Man of the Tree" intimates he was hanged on a tree or crucified. ROMULUS is born of a vestal virgin, his mother proclaiming that God impregnated her, yet this is not believed by the King. Romulus and his twin brother, Remus, are tossed in the river and left for dead, a "slaughter of the innocents" tale which parallels that of Matthew 2:13-16. Romulus is hailed as the son of god. He is "snatched away to heaven" by a whirlwind, it being assumed that the gods took him, and makes post mortem appearances. Plutarch records that there was a darkness covering the earth before his death just as there was during Jesus' death according to Mark 15:33. He also states that Romulus is to be known afterwards as Quirinus, a god which belonged to the Archiac Triad, a triple deity identical to the Holy Trinity. Homeric tales about ODYSSEUS emphasise his life's suffering just as in the book of Mark, Jesus said that he, too, would suffer greatly. Odysseus is a carpenter like Jesus, and wants to return to his home just as Jesus wants to be welcomed in his native home and later to God's home in Jerusalem. Odysseus is plagued with unfaithful and dim-witted companions who display tragic flaws. They stupidly open a magic bag of wind while Odysseus sleeps and release terrible tempests which prevent their return home. These sailors are comparable to Jesus' disciples, who disbelieve Jesus, ask foolish questions, and show general ignorance about everything. It's amazing that either Odysseus or Jesus ever manage to accomplish anything, given the blockheaded companions they have, but this simply demonstrates the power and ability of the one true leader who has a divine mandate to lead the people out of darkness and into a brighter future. KRISHNA is believed to have been born without a sexual union, but by "mental transmission" from the mind of Vasudeva into the womb of Devaki, his mother. Christ and Krishna were called both God and the Son of God. Both were sent from heaven to earth in the form of a man, both were called Saviour and were the second person of the Trinity. Krishna's adoptive human father was also a carpenter, a holy spirit being their actual father. Krishna and Jesus were of royal descent. Both were visited at birth by wise men and shepherds who were guided by a star. Angels in both cases issued a warning that the local dictator planned to kill the baby and had issued a decree for his assassination. The parents fled. Mary and Joseph stayed in Muturea, Krishna's parents stayed in Mathura. Both Christ and Krishna withdrew to the wilderness as adults where they fasted. Both were identified as "the seed of the woman bruising the serpent's head." Jesus was called "the lion of the tribe of Judah." Krishna was called "the lion of the tribe of Saki." Both proclaimed, "I am the Resurrection", both were without sin, both were considered both human and divine. Both performed many miracles, including the healing of disease. One of the first miracles that both performed was to make a leper whole. Each cured "all manner of diseases." Both cast out demons and raised the dead. Both selected disciples to spread his teachings. Both were meek, and merciful. Both were criticised for associating with sinners. Both celebrated a last supper. Both forgave his enemies. Both were crucified and both were resurrected. BUDDHA, like Jesus, went to their temples at the age of twelve where he is said to have astonished all with his wisdom. Both supposedly fasted in solitude for a long time, both wandered to a fig tree at the conclusion of their fasts. Both were about the same age when they began their public ministry. Both were tempted by the devil at the beginning of their ministry, to Buddha, he said: "Go not forth to adopt a religious life but return to your kingdom, and in seven days you shall become emperor of the world, riding over the four continents." To Jesus, he said: "All these [kingdoms of the world] I will give you, if you fall down and worship me" (Matthew 4:9). Buddha answered the "devil": "Get you away from me" while Jesus responded with "begone, Satan!" (Matthew 4:10). Both strove to establish a kingdom of heaven on earth. According to the Somadeva, a Buddhist holy book, a Buddhist ascetic's eye once offended him, so he plucked it out and cast it away. Jesus said: If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, and throw it away." (Matthew 5:29).

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