Influences of Ancient Hinduism on Early Christianity

Contents: Preface. Introduction. I. Influences and influencing: 1. Something about influences. 2. Conclusion. II. Religions as games: 1. Something about assumptions. 2. Something about games: the prescription for liberation from suffering. 3. The five noble truths of Buddhism. 4. Something about interpreted paradigms. 5. The influences of Vedism and Brahmanism on Hinduism. 6. Conclusion. III. The Harappan religious game: 1. The Harappan religion. 2. Conclusion. IV. The Dionysian religious game: 1. The Dionysian religion. 2. The influence of the Harappan religion on the Dionysian religion. 3. Conclusion. V. The Christian religious game: 1. The Christian religion. 2. The influence of the Dionysian religion on the Christian religion. 3. Conclusion. VI. Influences, questions and problems: 1. Something about transitivity. 2. Three problems about religious influences. 3. Conclusion. Acknowledgements. Index.

"This is a work about influences and what "influences" means. Following an analysis of this elusive concept, A.L. Herman presents compelling evidence that the following hypothesis is testable, defendable, and probably true: that the Indus Valley religion with its Savior-God, Siva (2500-1800 B.C.E.), significantly influenced a Greek religion with its Savior-God, Dionysus (1450 B.C.E.-300 C.E.), which, in turn influenced the early Christian religion with its Savior-God, Jesus of Nazareth (50-300 C.E.), such that it can be meaningfully claimed that the religion of the Indus Valley civilization probably influenced early Christianity." (jacket)