Is it the same person?
Traducción
Carolina Alfaro
Christ at "America"
According a paint of the saints of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day or Mormons
Some Saints of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day don't have any problem when they compare to Quetzalcoalt - A god from Precolumbian Mesoamerica with Jesus. How do they dare to say that both are the same person, How is it possible?
Historical searching of the Mormon's white Christ.
Searching in the history
the white Crist from the Mormons
Some Saints; as we know the Mormons; they believe that Christ was in Americas bringing the Gospel. Since there's no a book that proves such historical tale beside their own saint books, they search and research archeological evidences among the Precolumbian American Civilization having the hope to find the way to validate their historical doctrine that they share.
They need to prove that it's for real that Christ was between the American native around 1000 years before the arrival of the Vikings to Labrador and 1500 years previous the Spanish conquest . Did Christ was in America? Nobody can prove such assertion.
However: it attracks attention that, in the task to search any mythological celebrity with similarities with Jesus, the Saints of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day focused their attention in the cosmological Aztec narrative and Maya in such cemetery of guardians of gods in which appears a weird god " bearded and white" named Quetzalcoatl o Kukulkan.
Evidences from Mormon's book.
Website that has the intention to prove that
Christ was Quetzalcoalt
Click here (aquí)
How it was that this god becomes to be identified with Christ? due the color of his skin and part of the biblical story. Beside, It is fair to mention, the Pre-Columbian narrative " affirms" that Quetzalcoalt arrived from East and it was white and blonde.
We can do in an imagination exercise , to declare that our faith is good enough powerful, that this weird god with white skin and abundant pilosity was Egyptian, Hebrew, Phoenician, Carthaginian , Viking,Celtic or from any other race. Using imagination everything is possible.
What Quetzalcoalt means?
Quetzalcoatl from Nahuatl: quetzalcōātl, snake with feather quetzalli, plumage; cōātl, snake is one of the gods from the Mesoamerican culture, main god of cemetery pre-Hispanic join to Tezcatlipoca.
The bronze snake in the Biblical Judaeo-Christian story
and his relationship with the white Christ of the Mormons.
From where it comes the idea of the Mormons that Christ deserves to be equalize with Quetzalcoalt? According some theologist of Saints of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day, from the verse of the book of Numbers 21:4-9, which prefigure to Jesus
4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?
For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” 6 So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.
7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
However: It is good to remark that the Mormons do not read the Bible but they add verses to another books that are sacred for them. As example they quote the above with 1 Nefi 17:41 from Mormon book which says:
41 And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.
When they join together the Biblical narrate with what it says the book of the Mormons, the Saints of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days, they conclude that Christ is Quetzalcoatl, the snake with feathers, Did Quetzalcoatl fly ? Well, Marc, what a question; it is obvious that yes, of course does it has feathers?
The reader had realize that there is a fundamental detail in the last narrative. It says that the snakes that attack to the Hebrews during their traveling for the desert " did they fly?" . The Bible did not mention such as detail. It just said that they "burn" not in the sense of flamboyant but the fact of their bite. However: since; in order to fly it will be necessary to have wings and feathers, the Saints say in one of their website,refer that the mythical Quetzalcoatl " snake with feathers" yes and only yes, it should be Jesus since the bronze snake that it's hanging in the shaft prefigures to Christ crucified.
The serpent was destroyed
When Nicodemus visited to Jesus one night (John 3:1-15) during the chat the Lord referred to himself as the Messiah, he recalled to him the episode of the bronze snake that Moses raised up on the desert, as example to illustrate his job and death. Since Nicodemus was Israel master, he could not left the symbolism happen overlooked from that episode. Just like the snake was raised up for salvation, Christ has to die and to be "raised up from the cross" to save all the people that believe on Him.
Christ was become in sin for us, he was raised up in the cross and he carried the curse that overwhelmed to the human being. Nevertheless, the snake was useful only for a determined period although, its symbolism, it is obviously commanded to be destroyed. The Israelites had started to adore the bronze snake no matter the warning from God behalf. So, seen how serious was the issue, the king Hezekiah ordered to destroy it. (2 Kings 18:4)
One detail, as prefiguration of Jesus it does not mean that the snake will be the same Jesus. It was a representation of a future fact that the Israelites of the Exodus not even could understand. It was Jesus who explained later what it represented at its moment.
Who was Quetzalcoatl?
There are a lot of explanation about Quetzalcoalt. Several authors " taught" who was that person making an interpretation from their own point of view but, they did not allow to ask or talk to the native. Few of them believe that was a Viking. others, any navigator from the Mediterranean; some of them considered it as alien. Some of them presume as cosmic divine person, whose characteristic was the love. They did not take into account that it could be American or albino. Among a lot of explanations we are left bewildered . Anyone has asked to the native who was Quetzalcoalt? The History Channel says.
"The first adoration records to this god, date from the first century before Christ and it was expanded to all Central America until the 900 A.C. It was linked with wind gods, from Venus, from the dawn, from dealers and artisan, just like with the learning science and knowledge; for this reason it was patron of the priests.
It appears represented commonly by one snake with feathers, this express a widely concept settled with all the religions: the dualism of one supreme god with earthly features, invokes in a reptile body, and spiritual features, aforesaid through the feathers.
In the Aztec mythogical, it is about a transgressive deity between the heaven and the earth, who created the human being, and whose name appointed to the maximum priestly title. In one of the histories about Quetzalcoatl, it affirms that this was seduced by Tezcatlipoca (his heavenly antithesis) to get drunk and to sleep with celibate priestess ( it seems that she was his own sister); prisoner of this own regret for this action, he burn up by himself and he was become the morning start.
It is also appears in anthropomorphism representations as a white man and with beard, this cause the possibility that the natives confused to Hernan Cortes with Quetzalcoatl".
List of presumed similarities
between Christ and Quetzalcoalt
according
The Mormons
1. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl were recognized as creator of all things. (Mosiah 4:2; Saenz 1962:19, 40)
2. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl were born of virgins. (Alma 7: 10; Gamiz 95)
3. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl are described as being white or as wearing a white robe. (3 Nephi 11:8; Torquemada 47)
4. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl performed miracles. (3 Nephi 26:15; Sejourne 136‑137)
5. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl taught the ordinance of baptism. (3 Nephi 11:23; Irwin 1963:170)
6. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl prophesied of future events. (Ixtlilxochitl: 40)
7. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl were universal as opposed to just being recognized as local gods. (3 Nephi 16: 1; Sejourne 1962)
8. A great destruction was associated with both Christ and Quetzalcoatl at exactly the same time period in history. (3 Nephi 8:5; Ixtlilxochitl: 40)
9. The cross was a symbol to both Christ and Quetzalcoatl. (3 Nephi 27:14; Irwin 1963:165)
10. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl sent out disciples to preach their word. (3 Nephi 12:1; Wirth 1978:55)
11. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl promised they would come a second time. (2 Nephi 6:14; Sahagun 1:40)
12. A new star is associated with both Christ and Quetzalcoatl. (3 Nephi 1:21; Anales de Cuauhtitlan 7)
The Mormons that postulate this theory
Are they utilize a catholic misrepresentation about Quetzalcoalt history?
are they support the doctrine that Christ was in America before Columbus?
One of the things that we used to hear is that Quetzalcoatl was a person white skin and blue eyes. Not so far from the true. But How this idea rise up?
The monks from XVI century did try to find the reason of why the presence of the natives in this part of the planet looking for an answer from the Bible, concluding that they are part of the Israel tribes disperses. The above mentioned it is reinforced with the finding of crosses, with the seed of this thought was given. God had decided that one disciple came to spread the gospel before the arrival of the Spaniard.Turning out that in the XVI century as Bernal Diaz del Castillo mentioned that in Yucatan were found "sign of crosses" (Diaz del Castillo, 1943), the same information is repeated by Franciscan Lopez de Cogolludo in his History of Yucatan (Lopez, 1957). By the other hand, the image of Quetzalcoalt, a personality that did not accept human being sacrifice and he was celibate, all this was suitable for the idea of the monks to considerate that it was about one discipleMonk Diego Duran says:" That venerable man, the one is called Topiltzin [...] was according the native traditions a celibate and penitent priest, from whom it remembered his episode that seems to be miracles [...] this saint man was some apostle that God put in this earth" (Duran, 1967)Lopez de Gomara add about Quetzalcoatl that was a virgin man, penitent, honest, calm, religious and saint; to Monk Bartolome de las Casas was white,tall with big bear. To Monk Juan de Torquemada agrees that he was white, blonde and with beard. At the same time, it is given to him the knowledge of agriculture and other issues.In this way the bases are done to idealized the image of a human being that began from some native tales, added with some significantly needs of the monks to justify, according the Bible, his preaches in front of thousand of thousand of natives. But these ideas was not settled there, but brings serious repercussions.Based on José Ignacio Borunda records, who had written his general key of interpretation from the Mexican hieroglyphics, in which established that the blanket from Juan Diego where it was captured the Guadalupana (Mexican Virgin) but it was the dressing of Saint Thomas/ Quetzalcoalt, mount an attack against the Spanish in order to deny that they were the first to preach in the Nueva España, since that was done by the apostle century years ago, in the figure of Quetzacoatl."
It is clearest that the Quetzalcoatl with beard and blonde was just, a creation from the catholic priests whose, following an antique practice from missionary Catholicism, they took a tutelary aboriginal god, they changed the name y they saved the hard task to preach, convince and transform thousand of hearts from the people. It is for this reason most of the Catholics live a syncretism faith blended native gods with some judeocristhian practices.
The fact that Quetzalcoatl had been white, with beard and blue eyes " it is a historic lie that the monks from the XVI century created to provide an explanation to the deity and to incarnate to the apostle who came to preach" Moctezuma got upset about it.
Matos Moctezuma adds
""Quetzalcoatl maybe is the most god named in the prehispanic cemetery. However, it is necessary to see the double character that is with him: be a man and be a god.
It is well know that when a leader or cultural hero take a noted roll inside the society that belongs to, they are idolized after their death. Examples like these, we can find a lot in several towns around the world. In this case it is essential to separate what belongs to the history and what belongs to legend. Quetzalcoatl is one of this figures.First at all we must say that not all snake with feathers is, Quetzalcoatl necessarily. It is enough to remember the named Templo de Quetzalcoatl or the snake with feathers in Teotihuacan; the building of the snake with feathers in Xochicalco and the ofidio's image in the wall of Cacaxtla.
In all of them we can see the snake decorated with big feathers of quetzal. In Teotihuacan case we agree that the interpretation is given based on the sense of the water from the rain joined with the water from the earth (rivers, spring, underground water); beside that, it keeps relations with the power of the leaders.
Whereas, between the Mexican or Aztecs the attributes and characteristics of god goes transformed, related a little bit more with the wind, that is why it wears an oral mask with the shape of beak's duck . Its temple is circular, which differs from the above mentioned, that have square or rectangular floor. Let's see , who is this person and its importance in the center of Mexico's history
Antiques Chronicles told the history of Ce Ácatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl. Thus, in the Ce Ácatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl we read the following about the character:
Year 1 Cane. In it, it says about, it refers, Quetzalcoatl were born, it was called our prince, the priest 1 Cane Quetzalcoatl. And it says that his mother was the one called Chimalman. And thus, it refers in how Quetzalcatl was placed on his mother breast: she did swallow a precious stone.
After that he stayed during four years in Tulancingo, he was brought to govern in Tula. In this place Quetzalcoatl built his houses and he made penance. As priest, he invokes the deities, to the supreme duality that take the highest bench in the new heaven. He lives in retreat and abstinence, he did sacrifice birds, butterflies and snakes. It is given to him the knowledge of many things".In another part of the Anales we read:
" He discovered big natural wealth, jades, genuine turquoises, precious metal, yellow and white, the coral and the snail, the feathers of quetzal and the turquoise bird, feathers from red and yellow bird, the one from tzinitzcan y del ayocuan. Also he discovered all kind of cocoa tree, all kind of cotton. The Toltec was so big in all kind of creations.....
As much in the Anales as in the general History of the new things in the New Spain, from priest Bernardino de Sahagún, we can see how someone started to conspire against Quetzalcoatl. A wizard named Tezcatlipoca, according the first version, he showed to him a mirror, and when he sees his face with big bags and sunken eyes, Quetzalcoatl, with big sorrow exclaim: " If the people from town sees me, had they run?"
The chronicles coincide in the arrival of others wizards that invite to him to drink a ferment beverage. Quetzalcoatl gets joyful and drank already request to bring his sister Quetzalpetlatl, that makes penance in the nonohualcas hill. Together they used to drink and they lie together.
When Quetzalcoatl comes to one's sense and he did cry and he started to go to east, looking for the read and black earth, the Tlillan Tlapallan where he "burned up", I asked to you, the reader, did you se any similarity between Christ and Quetzalcoatl? none. Unfortunately some white people do not allow that Mesoamerica people develop their culture by their own. They see them with eyes full of social Darwinism that it seems impossible the ability that they had to build what they built.
Conclusion
To affirm that one god from Mesoamerica is Jesus, it is difficult to accept it since it is compare no less with an snake with feathers who; to form the first human couple; he needs to ask cooperation to others gods; beautiful bones from woman and man. At the contrary the Christ from the Bible, does not request anything from others. He just creates according his will through him it was created everything. I asked myself How it can be called creator of human being to a deity which requires human bones existent already to form the human being? Contradictory.
