# Did Christianity Absorb any Ideas from the Ancient Egyptian Mythology?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christianity-absorb-any-ideas-from-the-ancient-egyptian-mythology/468183>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 16, 2008, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christianity-absorb-any-ideas-from-the-ancient-egyptian-mythology/468183 "2008-10-16T12:41:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christianity-absorb-any-ideas-from-the-ancient-egyptian-mythology/468183/41 "2008-10-17T21:19:42Z")

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> [@Peter\_Morris](#):
>
> Some aspects of the Egyptian religion were adopted into Judaism, and hence into Christianity. Psalm 104 is thought to be based on an Egyptian [Hymn to the Sun.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hymn_to_the_sun)

I KNEW IT! It always sounded Akhenatenish to me. Some of the other Psalms have an Egyptian feel to me, but that one stuck out like a sore thumb while being theologically okay.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christianity-absorb-any-ideas-from-the-ancient-egyptian-mythology/468183/42 "2008-10-17T21:41:29Z")

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> [@JThunder](#):
>
> That, and the fact that the early church did NOT regard December 25th as the birthdate of the Messiah.

It was one of several possible dates.

> **[CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Christmas](https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm)**
>
> Provides a detailed overview of the holiday from the fourth century through the modern age. Includes links to related topics

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**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-christianity-absorb-any-ideas-from-the-ancient-egyptian-mythology/468183/43 "2008-10-17T22:24:50Z")

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Right. It was only offered as one of several possibilities, and as far as we can tell, not until late into the 4th century.

So the birthday of the invincible sun was NOT set on December 25th, and it did not predate Jesus Christ. On top of that, the church only offered this date as one of multiple possibilities for the birth of Christ, and not until fairly late into its existence. In light of all those inconsistencies, I think the claim that Christ’s birthdate was borrowed from that of the Invincible Sun is a real stretch.

Which kinda makes the whole “Mithra came out of solid rock rather than being born of a virgin” business more than just a minor inconsistency.

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