Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions by T. W. Doane

CHRIST JESUS AS JUDGE OF THE DEAD. According to Christian dogma, "God the Father" is not to be the judge at the last day, but this very important office is to be held by "God the Son." This is taught by the writer of "The Gospel according to St. John"--whoever he may have been--when he says: "For the Father judgeth no man, _but hath committed all judgment unto the Son_."[244:1] Paul also, in his "Epistle to the Romans" (or some other person who has interpolated the passage), tells us that: "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men," this judgment shall be done "by _Jesus Christ_," his son.[244:2] Again, in his "Epistle to Timothy,"[244:3] he says: "_The Lord Jesus Christ_ shall judge the quick and the dead, at his appearing and his kingdom."[244:4] The writer of the "Gospel according to St. Matthew," also describes Christ Jesus as judge at the last day.[244:5] Now, the question arises, _is this doctrine original with Christianity_? To this we must answer _no_. It was taught, for ages before the time of Christ Jesus or Christianity, that the Supreme Being--whether "Brahmá," "Zeruâné Akeréné," "Jupiter," or "Yahweh,"[244:6]--was not to be the judge at the last day, but that their _sons_ were to hold this position. The sectarians of _Buddha_ taught that he (who was the _Son of God_ (Brahmá) and the Holy Virgin Maya), is to be the judge of the dead.[244:7] According to the religion of the Hindoos, _Crishna_ (who was the _Son of God_, and the Holy Virgin Devaki), is to be the judge at the last day.[245:1] And _Yama_ is the god of the departed spirits, and the judge of the dead, according to the _Vedas_.[245:2] _Osiris_, the Egyptian "Saviour" and son of the "Immaculate Virgin" Neith or Nout, was believed by the ancient Egyptians to be the judge of the dead.[245:3] He is represented on Egyptian monuments, seated on his throne of judgment, bearing a staff, and carrying the _crux ansata_, or cross with a handle.[245:4] _St. Andrew's cross_ is upon his breast. His _throne_ is in checkers, to denote the good and evil over which he presides, or to indicate the good and evil who appear before him as the judge.[245:5] Among the many hieroglyphic titles which accompany his figure in these sculptures, and in many other places on the walls of temples and tombs, are "Lord of Life," "The Eternal Ruler," "Manifester of Good," "Revealer of Truth," "Full of Goodness and Truth," &c.[245:6] Mr. Bonwick, speaking of the Egyptian belief in the last judgment, says: "A perusal of the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew will prepare the reader for the investigation of the Egyptian notion of the last judgment."[245:7] Prof. Carpenter, referring to the Egyptian Bible--which is by far the most ancient of all holy books[245:8]--says: "In the 'Book of the Dead,' there are used the very phrases we find in the New Testament, _in connection with the day of judgment_."[245:9] According to the religion of the _Persians_, it is _Ormuzd_, "_The First Born of the Eternal One_," who is judge of the dead. He had the title of "The All-Seeing," and "The Just Judge."[245:10] Zeruâné Akeréné is the name of him who corresponds to "God the Father" among other nations. He was the "One Supreme essence," the "Invisible and Incomprehensible."[245:11] Among the ancient _Greeks_, it was _Aeacus_--Son of the Most High God--who was to be judge of the dead.[245:12] The Christian Emperor Constantine, in his oration to the clergy, speaking of the ancient poets of Greece, says: "They affirm that men who are the _sons of the gods_, do judge departed souls."[246:1] Strange as it may seem, "there are no examples of Christ Jesus conceived as judge, or the last judgment, in the _early_ art of Christianity."[246:2] The author from whom we quote the above, says, "It would be difficult to define the _cause_ of this, though many may be conjectured."[246:3] Would it be unreasonable to "conjecture" that the _early_ Christians did not teach this doctrine, but that it was imbibed, in after years, with many other heathen ideas? FOOTNOTES: [244:1] John, v. 22. [244:2] Romans, ii. 16. [244:3] Not authentic. (See The Bible of To-Day, p. 212.) [244:4] II. Timothy, iv. 1. [244:5] Matt. xxv. 31-46. [244:6] Through an error we pronounce this name _Jehovah_. [244:7] See Dupuis: Origin of Religious Belief, p. 366. [245:1] See Samuel Johnson's Oriental Religions, p. 504. [245:2] See Williams' Hinduism, p. 25. [245:3] See Bonwick's Egyptian Belief, p. 120. Renouf: Religions of the Ancient Egyptians, p. 110, and Prog. Relig. Ideas, vol. i. p. 152. [245:4] See Bonwick's Egyptian Belief, p. 151, and Prog. Relig. Ideas, vol. i. p. 152. [245:5] See Bonwick's Egyptian Belief, p. 151. [245:6] See Prog. Relig. Ideas, vol. i. p. 154. [245:7] Egyptian Belief, p. 419. [245:8] See Ibid. p. 185. [245:9] Quoted in Ibid. p. 419. [245:10] Prog. Relig. Ideas, vol. i. p. 259. [245:11] Ibid. p. 258. [245:12] See Bell's Pantheon, vol. ii. p. 16. [246:1] Constantine's Oration to the Clergy, ch. x. [246:2] Jameson: History of Our Lord in Art, vol. ii. p. 392. [246:3] Ibid.