An unabridged, unedited printing of J. G. Jackson's pamphlet 'Christianity Before Christ' -

An unabridged edition to include original scripture and footnotes, with quotes by the author at book's end, 'There are many prayers that it would not be right to pray in public, but they are very dear to God's ear in private.'

Timely, relevant, and illuminating, this essential book by respected cultural historian, teacher, and author John G. Jackson sheds long overdue light on standard Eurocentric and distorting approaches to the history of Africa from early African civilizations to Africa's significance in world history.

With brilliantly objective scholarship, respected historian and author John G. Jackson reexamines the outdated, racist, and Westernized history of Africa that is still taught in schools, and presents one infinitely more rich, colorful, varied--and truthful. Challenging the standard dehumanizing and exploitive approaches to African history, from the dawn of prehistory to the resurgent Africa of today--including the portrayal of Africans as savages who ultimately benefitted from European enslavement with its blessings of Christian civilization--Jackson confronts the parochial historian, devastates the theoretical pretensions of white supremacists, and expands intellectual horizons.

Accessible and informed, fascinating and candid, Introduction to African Civilizations is an important historical guide that will enhance antiracist teachings for the general reader and the scholar alike.

Introduction by John Henrik Clarke, pioneer of African Studies and author of Christopher Columbus and the African Holocaust

Foreword by Runoko Rashidi, historian, activist, and author of Introduction to the Study of African Classical Civilizations

2016 Reprint of 1941 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. In this pamphlet Jackson sources the pagan origins of Christian doctrine with particular focus on the creation and atonement myths. Rooted in historical facts, Jackson's claims are steeped in research and demonstrate how Christianity synthesizes the rituals, beliefs, and characteristics of savior gods from ancient Egyptian, Greek, Aztec, and Hindu origins. Initially published in 1941, this concise introduction remains an insightful contribution to comparative religion studies.

In Pagan Origins of the Christ Myth, John G. Jackson sources the pagan origins of Christian doctrine with particular focus on the creation and atonement myths. Rooted in historical facts, Jackson's claims are steeped in research and demonstrate how Christianity synthesizes the rituals, beliefs, and characteristics of savior gods from ancient Egyptian, Greek, Aztec, and Hindu origins. This concise introduction remains an insightful contribution to comparative religion studies.

With brilliantly objective scholarship, respected historian and author John G. Jackson reexamines the outdated, racist, and Westernized history of Africa that is still taught in schools, and presents one infinitely more rich, colorful, varied-and truthful. Challenging the standard dehumanizing and exploitive approaches to African history, from the dawn of prehistory to the resurgent Africa of today--including the portrayal of Africans as savages who ultimately benefitted from European enslavement with its blessings of Christian civilization-Jackson confronts the parochial historian, devastates the theoretical pretensions of white supremacists, and expands intellectual horizons.

Accessible and informed, fascinating and candid, Introduction to African Civilizations is an important historical guide that will enhance antiracist teachings for the general reader and the scholar alike.

Introduction by John Henrik Clarke, pioneer of African Studies and author of Christopher Columbus and the African Holocaust

The history of Ethiopia could also be called the history of humanity. The question is not if this history is well documented, but why it is not thought widely in schools. The time necessary to study the tomes that refer to the Nubians as the forbearers of our civilization is enormous. The world owes Ethiopia for its history, astronomy, agriculture and all the other sciences, and John G. Jackson gave ample references to validate this claim. Ethiopia's history is incredible and a treasure to the world and it is a shame that it has been distorted by the persistent Eurocentrism.

Pagan Orgins Of The Christ Myth Hardcover

2015 Reprint of 1938 Edition. Full Facsimile of the original edition. Not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. This early pamphlet is Jackson's first discussion of this important topic, one that he would go on to elaborate upon for the remainder of his life. In it he expounds upon his Afrocentric view that most great ideas had their origin in Africa, especially Egypt. Was there Christianity before Christ? Dr. Jackson explores African culture and reveals how the elements that went into the makings of Christianity did in fact exist thousands of years before the religion 'Christianity' was officially established.

The history of Ethiopia could also be called the history of humanity. The question is not if this history is well documented, but why it is not thought widely in schools. The time necessary to study the tomes that refer to the Nubians as the forbearers of our civilization is enormous. The world owes Ethiopia for its history, astronomy, agriculture and all the other sciences, and John G. Jackson gave ample references to validate this claim. Ethiopia's history is incredible and a treasure to the world and it is a shame that it has been distorted by the persistent Eurocentrism.

Drawing from sources of ancient, classic, and contemporary literature, the author shows how European culture was derived from the older civilizations of Africa and Asia.

2017 Reprint of 1939 Edition. This essay is an effort to highlight the influence of Ethiopia in the history of Civilization. It also devotes consider time to suggesting that Ethiopia's contribution has been either misunderstood or intentionally ignored by mainstream historians and scholars. Jackson culls research from Archaeology, Comparative Religion, History and Classical Antiquity to propose that contributions from Ethiopia were at the forefront of many of the developments later taken credit for by White scholars.

2015 Reprint of 1937 Edition. Full Facsimile of the original edition. Not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. This edition reprints the original publication of 1937 and not later editions. At the time of its publications Jackson's work constituted a new approach to African history, from prehistoric to modern times, focusing on the contributions of African civilization to the cultural evolution of early Europe. The picture we get today of Africa in past ages from the history taught in our schools is that Africans were savages and that, although Europeans invaded their lands and made slaves of them, they were in a way conferring a great favor on them, since they brought to them the blessings of Christian civilization, writes John G. Jackson. With brilliantly objective scholarship, Jackson obliterates that picture and presents one infinitely more rich. This book challenges all the standard approaches to African history, from the dawn of prehistory to the resurgent Africa of today. It will challenge the parochial historian, devastate the theoretical pretensions of white supremacists, and expand intellectual horizons. It is a fascinating book to be read and reread by the layman and the scholar for pleasure and knowledge.

An Unabridged Edition to Include All Four Parts with Footnotes -

Jackson was born in Aiken, South Carolina, on April 1, 1907, and raised Methodist. At the age of 15 he moved to Harlem, New York, where he enrolled in Stuyvesant High School. During this time, he became interested in African-American history and culture and began writing essays on the subject. They were so impressive that in 1925, while still a high school student, Jackson was invited to write for Marcus Garvey's newspaper, Negro World. From 1930 onwards, Jackson became associated with a number of Pan-African historians, activists and writers, including Hubert Harrison, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, John Henrik Clarke, Willis Nathaniel Huggins and Joel Augustus Rogers. He also authored a number of books on African history, promoting a Pan-African and Afrocentrist view. Was Jesus Christ a Negro? is one of these tracts. It is accompanied by a second related tract The African Origin of the Myths and Legends of the Garden of Eden, also included in the second part of Was Jesus Christ a Negro? in which he argued that Jesus may have been a black man.

Explore the Ancient Origins of Christianity

Orthodox Christians recognize him as a god, Unitarians as a man, and Rationalists as a myth, wrote John G. Jackson about the central figure of one of the world's great religions. A Pan-African scholar, Jackson has authored many books on the African origin of civilization, and lectured widely on world history and comparative religion.

Drawing upon the ancient lore and mythology of Babylon, Syria, India, Egypt, and Greece, in Christianity Before Christ Jackson reveals striking parallels to the traditional Christian story. In Egypt, 3000 years ago, the birthdate of the sun-god was celebrated on the equivalent of] the 25th of December, the first day to noticeably lengthen after the day of the Winter Solstice. He continues, culture by culture, to unearth examples of virgin birth, performance of miracles, and symbols we associate with the Christian Church which had been in use long before that era.

Extensively quoting other scholars, Jackson presents his case as the disciplined researcher he is. An unapologetic atheist, he was cautioned to be more discreet when lecturing 1970's university students on the historical origin of Christianity. But one need not share Jackson's philosophy to enjoy this thorough, well-paced odyssey comparing archaic traditions with what we think of today as Christianity. World religion students, historians, and any free thinker will find this important and worthwhile reading.

Includes 56 illustrations.

Nothing is new or original in Christianity. All features and components of what is now known as Christianity were present in mythologies that flourished before Jesus is alleged to have lived, and this book shows how those myths evolved into today's religion.