Crucifixion+Thesis

Today crucifixion is the most powerful symbol of the world. Christianity knows this symbol as Jesus Christ, Son of God being crucified for our sins. Christians see this symbol as redemption, hope, and eternal life. Crucifixion was influenced by paganism. Many pagan gods were crucified or dismembered pre-Christianity. Crucifixion was in use particularly among the Persians, Seleucids, Carthaginians, and Romans from about the 6th century BC to the 4th century AD. Pagan gods such as Osiris, Horus, Mithras, and Dionysus have all been crucified or dismembered.

Y our first statement might be a little "over the top." Don't forget there are Islamic countries, a Jewish state, and a vast country called China. The statement may be provocative, but it might also be taken to be provincial, chauvinistic, narrow-minded. How would you measure and prove "most powerful symbol"?

That being said, you have a lot to work with! We would like to hear more about the pagan gods you mention who were crucified or dismembered. How does crucifixion appear in the Mystery Religions? You need to go into some details and come up with a provocative idea of what crucifixion means beyond the Christian teaching. Your statement here does not yet really have a thesis about crucifixion, about what it means now or meant at one time in history. Was it used to shock people to see a god pinned down and killed? What did this mean to ancient people? If it meant a sacrifice to later Christians (God's son suffering for human sins), what did crucifixion mean prior to that for the initiates of the Mystery Religions? Freke's chapter 9 in __Lost Goddess__ has a lot of good leads for you to trace down and explain to us. Good luck! Shall I start with the Egyptian Ankh, plemora and Kenoma. I like the part in chapter nine where is says The father (mystery) sacrifices his son (consciousness) through crucifixion/dismemberment so that we (the many seeds of consciousness ) can experience life.