Quetzalcoatl
Quetzalcoatl was a Mesoamerican god who was worshiped starting around the year 400 BCE. Jesus Christ was supposedly a man living in the first century CE, and is the god worshiped today by Christians. There are a number of parallels between the two, suggesting the possibility that Christianity could have borrowed some of its central legends and beliefs from those of Quetzalcoatl worshipers.
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Characteristics
Jesus is believed by Christians to be the creator of the world. The New Testament claims that Jesus is responsible for the creation in Genesis, creating light, water, land, stars, animals, and humans. Quetzalcoatl, as was believed, created the world, light, animals, and humans. The Mayans referred to him as a creator, maker, and forefather. The Popul Vuh says:
| "This is the recital of how everything was without life, calm and silent, all was quiet and motionless; void was the immensity of the heavens; the face of the earth did not manifest itself yet; only the tranquil sea was and the space of the heavens. All was immobility and silence in the night. "Only the Creator, the Maker, the Dominator, the Serpent covered with feathers, they who engender, they who create, were on the waters as an ever-increasing light; they are surrounded by green and blue." |
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This describes Quetzalcoatl, who was believed to be a feathered serpent. It is very similar to the Christian story in Genesis.
Quetzalcoatl was believed to be the son of a virgin, a goddess named Coatlicue.
Quetzalcoatl and Jesus were both designated the "morning star."
Jesus is considered both human and divine, both god and man. Quetzalcoatl was also a god depicted in human form.
Quetzalcoatl was a universal god. He was worshiped all over the place, and sometimes had different names, such as Kukulcan, Ququmatz, and Gukumatz. Jesus is considered a universal god who can be worshiped by anybody. Every aspect of everyday life was related to Quetzalcoatl. Christians feel the same about Jesus today.
Quetzalcoatl was commonly depicted as wearing white. Jesus is depicted in many places in the Bible as wearing radiant white clothes.
Quetzalcoatl was believed to have white skin and a beard, which is one of the reasons why natives believed Cortéz to be the second coming of Quetzalcoatl. In the massive amount of Christian art produced during years of Christian rule, Jesus is shown with white skin and a beard.
Quetzalcoatl originated as a water god, the "spirit of the waters" as he was called. Jesus is shown to have interesting powers over water, for example when he calms the storm in Matthew 8:23-27.
Quetzalcoatl was considered the "opposite" of the evil god Tezcatlipoca. In Christian beliefs, Jesus is seen as the opposite of the devil, Satan, who is shown as an evil god. Jesus is considered a savior from evil and the devil. Quetzalcoatl was considered a savior from the power of Tezcatlipoca, and the people held him close to their hearts.
Actions and Life Story
They were both supposedly born on December 25.
Quetzalcoatl and Jesus both performed numerous miracles. Quetzalcoatl was most noted for creating fire and healing eye ailments, blindness, and skin afflictions. Interestingly, Jesus is said to have cured the exact same illnesses, healing blind men and lepers (who had a specific skin disease).
Jesus was said to be tempted by Satan for 40 days. Quetzalcoatl was tempted in a similar way by Tezcatlipoca.
Quetzalcoatl is said to have gone to the underworld, Mictlan, after the destruction of the fourth sun. Jesus is said to have gone to the underworld, Hell, after his death and before his resurrection. The sky supposedly became dark when Jesus died, similar to how the destruction of the sun would bring darkness.
Teachings
Jesus is well known for moral teaching, and in the Bible calls himself a path to virtue. Quetzalcoatl was described as: "He was just, saintly and good. He taught them by deeds and words the path of virtue, forbidding them their vices and sins, giving laws and good doctrine."
Jesus is said to have established the church's priesthood. Quetzalcoatl similarly created a priesthood. Quetzalcoatl created the Tonalmatal, the Book of the Destiny Days, a holy book. Jesus is similarly said to have inspired the Christan holy book, the Bible.
Jesus promised a second coming, which Christians still wait for today. Quetzalcoatl also promised a second coming. When Cortéz came to conquer the Aztecs, however, they believed he was the return of Quetzalcoatl, and as a result were destroyed by the Christian conquistadors.
Miscellaneous
The Popul Vuh, a book of Mayan mythology, contains a genealogy for Gukumatz (the Mayan name for Quetzalcoatl). The Bible similarly contains a genealogy for Jesus.
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