The Jesus mysteries : was the original Jesus a pagan god?

The myth of Dionysus bears some resemblances to the the story of Jesus Christ.

It compares with the biblical story in the following ways: Dionysus is God made flesh and is hailed as the "Saviour of Mankind" and the "Son of God"; his father is God and and his mother is a mortal virgin who afterwards becomes worshipped as the "Mother of God"; he is born in a cowshed; he drives out demons, turns water into wine and and raises people from the dead; and he rides triumphantly into town while people wave palms to honour him.The date revered by the first Christians as Jesus' birthday was originally that of Dionysus, also the three day Spring Festival of Dionysus celebrating his death and resurrection coincides with the Christian festival of Easter.

The last Supper and the Eucharist also parallel Dionysian rites.