been fixed by the Ecclesiastical councils. While it is always on a
Friday that the Crucifixion is commemorated, the week in which the day
occurs varies from year to year. "Good Friday" falls not before the
spring equinox, but as soon after the spring equinox as the full moon
allows, thus making the calculation to depend upon the position of the
sun in the Zodiac and the phases of the moon. But that was precisely
the way the day for the festival of the pagan goddess Oestera was
determined. The Pagan Oestera has become the Christian Easter. Does
not this fact, as well as those already touched upon, make the story
of Jesus to read very much like the stories of the Pagan deities.

The early Christians, Origin, for instance, in his reply to the
rationalist Celsus who questioned the reality of Jesus, instead of
producing evidence of a historical nature, appealed to the mythology
of the pagans to prove that the story of Jesus was no more incredible
than those of the Greek and Roman gods. This is so important that we
refer our readers to Origin's own words on the subject. "Before
replying to Celsus, it is necessary to admit that in the matter of
history, however true it might be," writes this Christian Father, "it
is often very difficult and sometimes quite impossible to establish
its truth by evidence which shall be considered sufficient."
[Footnote: Origin _Contre Celse._ 1. 58 et Suiv. Ibid.] This is a
plain admission that as early as the second and third centuries the
claims put forth about Jesus did not admit of positive historical
demonstration. But in the absence of evidence Origin offers the
following metaphysical arguments against the sceptical Celsus: 1. Such
stories as are told of Jesus are admitted to be true when told of
pagan divinities, why can they not also be true when told of the
Christian Messiah? 2. They must be true because they are the
fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. In other words, the only