Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
C.S Lewis was concerned about the why the pagan mythologies resembled several elements of Christianity. But a walk with J.R.R. Tolkien one day transformed his understanding of these myths. Why did the gods and heroes of Osiris, Balder, Adonis, and others have similar story arcs to the Gospel account of the dying and rising of Jesus?
0:14 Lewis' concern over the pagan myths
1:00 Lewis' meeting with Tolkien
1:53 Dying-and-rising gods
3:43 Other similarities to Christianity
4:13 Mithraism's rituals
5:10 Similar Christian/Pagan art
5:35 How the myths fall short
6:31 Christianity as myth fulfilled
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C.S Lewis was concerned about the why the pagan mythologies resembled several elements of Christianity. But a walk with J.R.R. Tolkien one day transformed his understanding of these myths. Why did the gods and heroes of Osiris, Balder, Adonis, and others have similar story arcs to the Gospel account of the dying and rising of Jesus?
0:14 Lewis' concern over the pagan myths
1:00 Lewis' meeting with Tolkien
1:53 Dying-and-rising gods
3:43 Other similarities to Christianity
4:13 Mithraism's rituals
5:10 Similar Christian/Pagan art
5:35 How the myths fall short
6:31 Christianity as myth fulfilled
Join our Substack for in-depth essays:
thinkingwest.substack.com
Join this channel to get access to special perks and support our mission:
youtube.com/channel/UCgJSeqS_3WKesXOP7q3Z9fQ/join










