ZEITGEIST: THE MOVIE

23. The fact of the matter is there are numerous saviors, from different periods, from
all over the world, which subscribe to these general characteristics. The question
remains: why these attributes, why the virgin birth on December 25 th , why dead for
three days and the inevitable resurrection, why 12 disciples or followers? To find out,
let’s examine the most recent of the solar messiahs. Jesus Christ was born of the
Virgin Mary on December 25 th in Bethlehem...
The December 25 th birthday is not given in the gospels; rather, it is a traditional date assigned to the birth
of Jesus based on prior Pagan traditions. As we have seen, ―December 25 th ‖ is one of the dates viewed
by the ancients as the end of the winter-solstice period, when, from a geocentric perspective, the sun
begins its long journey north towards the summer solstice.
If we factor in the other solar and astrotheological motifs within Christianity, both in the New Testament
and in Christian tradition, along with the highly important Pagan festivals of the day such as celebrations
of the solstices and equinoxes, we can understand why Christians later appended the December
25 th /winter-solstice holiday to their religion. In fact, certain early Church fathers were clear on this point of
having their savior born at the winter solstice. For example, concerning the origins of this solar holiday
vis-à-vis Christianity, the authoritative Catholic Encyclopedia states:
The earliest rapprochement of the births of Christ and the sun is in [the writings of Church father]
Cyprian [200-258]… ―O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun
was born…Christ should be born.‖
In the fourth century, Chrysostom…says:… ―But Our Lord, too, is born in the month of
December…the eighth day before the calends of January [25 December]…, But they call it the
‗Birthday of the Unconquered.‘ Who indeed is so unconquered as Our Lord…? Or, if they say that
it is the birthday of the Sun, He is the Sun of Justice.‖ 204
The Roman ―Unconquered Sun‖ is both Sol Invictus and Mithra, and we have seen other gods share this
winter-solstice birth, with good reason, as the return of the sun was one of if not the most important days
of the year for many peoples, especially in the far north. Hence, we have a relatively early Church father
who not only admits but also insists that Christ‘s birth usurps that of the sun. He also insists on the logical
equation of Christ with the sun, which had been established in the Old Testament book of Malachi, just
before Matthew‘s gospel, with him prophesying the coming Messiah as the ―Sun of Righteousness.‖ (Mal
4:2)
The December 25 th /winter-solstice birthday was adopted by Christianity in the third century. The Christian
world has thus been celebrating Jesus‘s birthday on December 25 th for the past nearly 1700 years—it is
obvious why this birthday was attached to Christian tradition: Because it represented the winter solstice,
the time of the year when the sun is ―born,‖ and Jesus was the ―new sun‖ of the Christians.
24. ...his birth was announced by a star in the east,
which three kings or magi followed to locate and adore
the new savior.
In the New Testament (Mt 2:1-12), the number of ―wise men‖ or magi—
i.e., astrologers—following the star at Jesus‘s birth is not given.
However, it is traditionally assumed to be three because of the three
gifts (frankincense, myrrh and gold) presented by these magi or ―kings‖
during their visit with the divine child. The earliest extant numbering of
the three magi is by Church father Origen (185-224 AD/CE) in his
Homilies on Genesis (14.3), 205 who seems not to blink an eye
in his equation, as if it were solidly part of Christian tradition by
this time.
204 CE, III, 727.
205 Origen/Heine, 198.
Phrygian-capped ―magi‖ approach the divine child
Fresco, 4 th cent. AD/CE
Catacomb of Marcus & Marcellianus,
Rome, Italy
(Jensen)