Quetzalcoatl, the Maya Maize God, and Jesus Christ

Title

Quetzalcoatl, the Maya Maize God, and Jesus Christ

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

2002

Authors

Wirth, Diane E. (Primary)

Journal

Journal of Book of Mormon Studies

Pagination

4-15, 107

Volume

11

Issue

1

Terms of use

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Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

Many scholars suggest that Quetzalcoatl of Mesoamerica (also known as the Feathered Serpent), the Maya Maize God, and Jesus Christ could all be the same being. By looking at ancient Mayan writings such as the Popol Vuh, this theory is further explored and developed. These ancient writings include several stories that coincide with the stories of Jesus Christ in the Bible, such as the creation and the resurrection. The role that both Quetzalcoatl and the Maize God played in bringing maize to humankind is comparable to Christ’s role in bringing the bread of life to humankind. Furthermore, Quetzalcoatl is said to have descended to the Underworld to perform a sacrifice strikingly similar to the atonement of Jesus Christ. These congruencies and others like them suggest that these three gods are, in fact, three representations of the same being.

Mesoamerica
Atonement
Jesus Christ
Quetzacoatl
Maize God
Underworld
Popol Vuh
Native Americans - Maya

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