Acharya S is the pen name of D. M. Murdock. A proponent of the Jesus myth hypothesis, she has authored two books and operates a website named "Truth be Known". Her contention is that all religion is founded in earlier myth and that the characters depicted in Christianity are the result of the plagiarizing of those myths to unify the Roman State. Her views are also believed to to be inspiration for the counter culture film 'Zeitgeist the movie', which has a beginning chapter on religion entitled 'The Greatest Story Ever Told'. A pen name or nom de plume is a pseudonym adopted by an author. ... This article is about the hypothesis of Jesus as a myth. ... Roman Empire between AD 60 and 400 with major cities. ...

Books

In 1999, Acharya published The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold. The book is based on development and expansion of an essay from her website, The Origins of Christianity and the Quest for the Historical Jesus Christ. Christ Conspiracy argues the concept of Jesus Christ as myth, and states that the Christ story is a fabrication based on earlier pagan mythology. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Look up pagan, heathen in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

A follow-up book, Suns of God: Krishna, Buddha and Christ Unveiled, was published in 2004. In Suns of God, she comments on the Hindu story of the life of Krishna, as well as the life of Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama). She claims parallels to the Christian stories of the life of Jesus, presenting this as evidence that the story of Jesus was written based on existing stories, and not the life of a real man. Suns of God also seeks to address some of the criticisms leveled at Christ Conspiracy. A Hindu ( , Devanagari: हिन्दु), as per modern definition, is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, and the religious, philosophical and cultural system that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... This article is about the Hindu deity. ... Media:Example. ...

Claims about Christianity

Acharya denies the historical existence of Jesus Christ, describing the New Testament as a work of mythic fiction with an historical setting. The story of Christ, she maintains, is actually a retelling of various pagan myths, all of which represent "astro-theology" or the story of the Sun. She asserts that the pagans understood these stories to be myths but that Christians obliterated evidence to the contrary through the destruction and control of literature once they attained control of the Roman Empire. This article is about the veracity of Jesus existence. ... The word mythology (from the Greek μυολογία mythología, from mythologein to relate myths, from mythos, meaning a narrative, and logos, meaning speech or argument) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use the supernatural to interpret natural events and... Look up pagan, heathen in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... It has been suggested that Sun cults be merged into this article or section. ...

This purportedly led to widespread illiteracy in the ancient world and ensured that the mythical nature of Christ's story was hidden. Scholars of other sects continued to oppose the historicizing of a mythological figure. Where no evidence exists, Acharya claims that this is because the arguments were destroyed by Christians. However, Christians preserved these contentions, she states, through their own refutations.

Acharya compares Jesus' history to that of other "saviour gods" such as Mithra, Horus, Adonis, Krishna, Quetzalcoatl, and Odin—claiming that the similarities result from a common source: the myth of the sun-god or solar deity. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... This page is about the Egyptian deity. ... Adonis is an archetypal life-death-rebirth deity in Greek mythology, and a central cult figure in various mystery religions. ... This article is about the Hindu deity. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... For other meanings of Odin, Woden or Wotan see Odin (disambiguation), Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Sun cults be merged into this article or section. ...

In "The Christ Conspiracy" she describes this theory, noting for instance the allegorical parallels between the story of Christ, and the story of the solar deity: "The sun 'dies' for three days at the winter solstice, to be born again or resurrected on December 25th", and "The sun enters into each sign of the zodiac at 30 [degrees]; hence, the 'Sun of God' begins his ministry at 'age' 30." Allegory of Music by Filippino Lippi. ...

Claims about other religions

Acharya S is highly critical of certain aspects of Judaism, in particular Hasidism. She writes online about the possible creation of a theocratic New World Order which would impose the Noahide Laws: This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Hasidic Judaism (Hebrew: Chasidut חסידות) is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article describes an alleged conspiracy to establish a unitary world government. ... The Rainbow is the ancient symbol of the Noahide Movement reminiscing the seven coloured rainbow that appeared after the Great Flood of the Bible. ...

If the Hassidic Jewish Movement has its way, the so-called Noahide Laws would be followed to the letter, as would many others found in the "Old Testament," prescribing capital punishment for abortion, euthanasia and "sexual deviation" such as adultery and homosexuality. The punishment, in fact, for breaking any of the Noahide Laws is decapitation [1].

In another online essay, she quotes allegations by conspiracy researcher Mae Brussell that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints smuggled uranium to Australia "for future use when it would attempt to obtain world conquest and single world government.... The rumor was... that the Mormon Church had arranged to assist Israel in bringing off Armageddon." [2] Her criticisms have also been directed against Islam and Buddhism. The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... General Name, Symbol, Number uranium, U, 92 Chemical series actinides Group, Period, Block n/a, 7, f Appearance silvery gray metallic; corrodes to a spalling black oxide coat in air Standard atomic weight 238. ... Global domination, global conquest, taking over the world, world conquest, or world domination is an ambitious goal in which one government, one ideology or belief system, or even one person, seeks to secure complete political control of the entire planet. ... The evangelist John of Patmos writes the Book of Revelation. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ...

Critiques: Pro and Con

Earl Doherty, historian and author and also a proponent of the view that the Gospel accounts are borrowed from pagan sources, wrote: Earl Doherty, currently living in Canada, is the author of The Jesus Puzzle, a work published in 2000 by the Canadian Humanist Association arguing that Jesus never lived. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ...

"Acharya S has done a superb job in bringing together this rich panoply of ancient world mythology and culture, and presenting it in a comprehensive and compelling fashion."[3]

Barbara Walker, American feminist author, wrote: Barbara Walker is an English teacher at Princeton Day School. ...

"[The Christ Conspiracy] is a well-crafted, thought-provoking work that belongs in the library of every thinking individual. It should be read by every person concerned about the moral, ethical, and spiritual aspects of our culture; it should be read particularly by those who profess belief in any of the numerous varieties of Christianity." [4]

Alex Burns, an editor at "disinformation" wrote:

"The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold (Adventures Unlimited Press, 1999) is an explosive book which dares to scholarly analyze the Gospels' depiction of Jesus Christ with pre-existing religious rituals and mystery schools. Comparing Christ to Mithras, Heracles/Hercules, Dionysus, Krishna and Horus (The Younger), Acharya reveals the mythopoeic Cultural Scripts at the heart of the world's major monotheistic religions. [...] What sets Acharya's research apart is her attention to detail and footnoting. The resulting book that has attracted praise from Adam Parfrey, Kenn Thomas and Robert Sterling amongst others." [5]

Robert Price, a professor of Theology and another proponent of the Christ-myth hypothesis, was at one time critical of Acharya's writing: Adam Parfrey (born 1957) is an American journalist, editor, and the publisher of Feral House books. ... Kenn Thomas is a writer and editor, and is the publisher of Steamshovel Press, a conspiracy magazine. ... Robert Sterling, born William Sterling Hart (November 13, 1917 – May 30, 2006), was an American film and television actor. ... Robert McNair Price was born July 7, 1954 in Mississippi and is a Professor of Theology and Scriptural Studies. ...

"Writing at second hand, she is too quick to state as bald-faced fact what turn out to be, once one chases down her sources, either wild speculations or complex inferences from a chain of complicated data open to many interpretations." [6]

Acharya subsequently wrote a rebuttal to Price's review. Price has since retracted his attack on Acharya. On Sept. 1, 2006, Price and Acharya guested together on the Infidel Guy radio show and the two have plans for future works together. Price has also written a complimentary review of her recent ebook, a summary of the "life of Jesus" titled WHO WAS JESUS?[7]. Reginald Vaughn Finley, Sr. ...

A number of Christian apologists have criticised Acharya's work. James Patrick Holding has presented a list of criticisms of Christ Conspiracy, replacing an earlier essay titled S is for Stench, which was rebutted by Acharya, and was later rebutted by J. P Holding. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Christian apologetics is the...

Apologist Mike Licona of the North American Mission Board has also presented a critique which was subsequently rebutted by Acharya, to which Licona wrote another response. The North American Mission Board (NAMB) was founded in 1997 out of the roots of the Home Mission Board. ...

Acharya's Views on Spirituality

Someone asked Acharya on her discussion group [8] about her views on spirituality: "Acharya, have you ever considered writing about YOUR spirituality? Laying it all on the line ... revealing your very soul? So you think that christianity is where it's NOT; well, where IS the action? What/who is god? Energy, force, power, intelligence, ... ?"

Acharya responded as follows:

• Thanks for the interest and query. I do believe my soul is revealed in bits and pieces at least throughout my writing. Possibly at this moment, the most concise writing in this regard is "The Gospel According to Acharya S," which can be found at:[9]
• Briefly, I do not believe there is a single, male God in charge of the cosmos, but I do CHOOSE to experience an awe of creation whenever I can. For example, I walk through the woods, and the flora and fauna rejuvenates me. I climb a mountain, and the sight takes my breath away.
• Do I believe in an afterlife? I stay away from the term "believe," as it can be rather irrelevant. If I believed there was a Cosmic Porcupine, would my mere belief make it so? I HOPE there are afterlives of a wide variety, because the Christian heaven would be my hell, etc. I hope my mother and father are still alive somewhere "out there." Ditto with all lost loved ones.
• Do I have any concrete proof of such wishes? Of course not. Do I feel like there is something indestructible about us? Yes, I do, but its definition is capricious. It could merely be the molecules of our bodies. It could also be our experiences passed onto others. And, it could be something more "soulful."

Life

Acharya S is classically educated in archaeology, history, mythology and languages. Her formal training includes a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Classics, Greek Civilization, from Franklin and Marshall College. She also attended the American School of Classical Studies at Athens in Greece. Classics, particularly within the Western University tradition, when used as a singular noun, means the study of the language, literature, history, art, and other aspects of Greek and Roman culture during the time frame known as classical antiquity. ... The Bachelor of Liberal Arts (B.L.A.; occasionally A.L.B.) is the title of an undergraduate academic degree. ... Classics, particularly within the Western University tradition, when used as a singular noun, means the study of the language, literature, history, art, and other aspects of Greek and Roman culture during the time frame known as classical antiquity. ... Franklin and Marshall College is a four-year private co-educational liberal arts college in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. ... Founded in 1881, The American School of Classical Studies at Athens provides graduate students and scholars from some 168 affiliated North American colleges and universities a base for research and study in the history and monuments of Hellenic civilization. ...

She is a fellow of the Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion, a division of the Council for Secular Humanism. The Council for Secular Humanism (originally the Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism, or CODESH) regards itself as the only exclusively secular humanist organization in the USA. In 1980 CODESH issued A Secular Humanist Declaration. ...

While preserving her privacy, she has been interviewed on a variety of radio stations. In an interview she said she came from a moderate Christian background. Though not traumatic or "Fundamentalist", she described it as "boring" and said she ceased attending church regularly at age 12.

Her inspiration for exploring the Jesus myth theory was reportedly Joseph Wheless's book Forgery in Christianity. She then read other works, such as Kersey Graves' The World's 16 Crucified Saviours, and Barbara Walker's The Woman's Encyclopaedia of Myth and Secrets. The Jesus-Myth is a historical theory usually associated with a skeptical position on the historicity of Jesus, which claims that Jesus did not exist as an historical figure. ... This biographical article needs to be wikified. ... The Worlds Sixteen Crucified Saviors, or Christianity Before Christ was an 1875 book written by 19th century lecturer and sceptic Kersey Graves. ...

External links

Acharya S' web site

• Truth be Known

Interviews

• Interview with Acharya S in Paranoia Magazine
• Part 1 audio interview at freethoughtmedia
• Part 2 audio interview at freethoughtmedia

Reviews

• Earl Doherty reviews The Christ Conspiracy, see Earl Doherty
• David Bergland review
• Robert Price reviews Suns of God
• Paranoia Magazine review of Suns of God by Joan d'Arc
• "A Refutation of Acharya S's book, The Christ Conspiracy" by Mike Licona
• ebtx.com reviews The Christ Conspiracy
• Tekton Apologetics Ministries reviews The Christ Conspiracy