I read the Bible and found it to be decidedly paganistic..what do people think is so great about Christianity?

Question

I mean, it touches on all the bases: sacrifice, blood atonement, idol worship, divination, etc...

many Christians beleive in possesions, too... they just call it "the power of the spirit" or something like that... The whole thing reeks of paganism... it's only minor variations on the same old things done by indigenous tribes in Africa and South America and old Nordic and Greek and Roman Mythologies...

what makes Christianity so popular, so different (and supposedly so un-pagan) if it really is just the same old thing with a different cover?

Answer 1

Maybe if ya ask dead people.
10 seconds after we die...I will have as much money as Bill Gates. Think about it.

Answer 2

Everyone needs something to believe in, and believing that you can be saved by a merciful, loving god if you live your life as Christ did is much more appealing--and reasonable-- than believing some of the other bs out there. People want to feel that they are a part of something, that there's a reason we're here, that someone or something greater has a plan for us, and Christianity encompasses all of that. Religion is the only thing that keeps some people going. Oh--and as far as your comment on sacrifices, you might try studying the Bible a little closer. If you did, you'd realize that times were very different in the Old Testament. The ways in which we are taught to honor God now make much more sense than sacrificing animals...because we live in a different time. Naturally we aren't going to go about things the same way. And I do agree with you about the fact that many Christians use religion as an excuse to do--an aquire--things that are not holy. Many people are misguided, but that doesn't mean that Christianity within itself is pagonistic. You're going to believe whatever you want, but I hope you consider some of this.

Answer 3

The truth of God's existance is universally known. That's why every cultural group on the planet believes in God in some form.

Many cultural groups have not yet heard the whole truth.

Still others actively rebell against it.

Paganism stems from rebellious people trying to explain the universe while removing God from the equation.

Of course there are similarities, because the historical experiences of mankind (largely chronicled in the bible) is the basis for all human experience.

Just because two things are similar doesn't make them the same. Both apples and pomagranates are roughly round, contain seeds, and are red. They are both edible fruit. But that doesn't make them the same.

So no, the bible is not modeled after pagan beliefs, but the other way around. Many pagan beliefs are built around bible patterns.

Incidentally, the similarities between major religions is anthropologically supportive of the existance of God. Their belief structures about spiritual topics (such as posession) DO parallel eachother closely.

Answer 4

Christianity is absolutely a pagan religion. The truth of the matter is that Christianity won out because of its appeal to the poor. It promised that there was someone that cared about their plight, and Jesus says several times that poor people would be better off in heaven - "the last shall be the first," etc. Because of this promise of Heaven (and the promise of eternal hell for anyone they didn't like), Christianity quickly became very popular. And it didn't hurt that Theodosius (the Roman Emperor) made Christianity the official religion of the world's greatest (at the time) empire. Rome gave way to Constantinople, which preserved Christianity, and the crowning of Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor was a sign of Europe's Christianization, which started with Clovis, the first Christian emperor of the Franks. Vladimir of Kiev converted the Russian empire, and the Vikings also had a Christianisor (I can't remember his name at the moment). The rest is history.

Answer 5

With due respect, I'm not certain you are understanding what the term Paganism means. It is the belief in a deity other than one God i.e. Idols, trees, spirits etc.

The bible clearly and unambiguously says there is ONE true God---in fact believing in any other God would be considered a sin and is one of the ten commandments. Your reference to "indigenous tribes in Africa and South America and old Nordic and Greek and Roman Mythologies" all have something in common with each other and stand in stark contrast to Christianity---they believed in many Gods. I guess I'm not seeing your assertion.

To the second part of your pretense, and what most non-Christians have a bit of trouble wrapping their brain around is the concept of faith. Christianity requires faith, it does not supply indisputable proof of Gods existence. If you are the sort who requires absolute proof to things in life, the chances are nil that you would become a Christian.

Answer 6

Verses in the bible are basically transcripts of what 'believers' of Christianity wrote or spoke to 'unbelievers'. As such, many of the stories are anecdotal and were written for the pagan masses to understand and comprehend.

This is weaved all throughout the historical writtings of Christianity. One great example is the familiar Celtic Cross. This is the 'Irish' cross that has the cross and a circle. The reason behind this is that Chirstian missionaries were dealing with pagans and druids. These were people who worshiped the sun. As such, incorporating the circle (sun) on the cross made it easier converts to worship.

Another are the four gospels. They are each basically a story of Christ's life, told by four different people to four different groups of peolpe at different times.

These are just two examples.

Hope this helps you understand a bit better,
BIlly!

Answer 7

It is in the Qur'an that we find the most accurate account of the second book of the Torah “Exodus". Because the Torah underwent much textual corruption after it was originally revealed to Moses. An important proof of this is that in the five books of the Torah—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy—there are many contradictions. The fact that the book of Deuteronomy ends with an account of the death and burial of Moses is indisputable proof that this portion would have to have been added after Moses' death.
So, from the outset the Israelites were determined in their perversion of the message of God. One of the important facts concerning the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, as related in the Qur'an, is that they rebelled against the religion revealed to them by God in spite of the fact that God had rescued them through Moses from the tyranny of Pharaoh. The Israelites were not able to comprehend the monotheism that Moses communicated to them, but tended continually toward idolatry.
The Qur'an describes this strange tendency here:

We conveyed the tribe of Israel across the sea and they came upon some people who were devoting themselves to some idols which they had. They said, "Moses, give us a god just as these people have gods." He said, "You are indeed an ignorant people.
What these people are doing is destined for destruction. What they are doing is purposeless." (Qur'an, 7: 138-139)

So on the story goes, from the Golden Calf to Jesus the man God or the God man. it wouldn't make an iota of a difference, would it?

Answer 8

Like most religions, it gives people a sense of belonging and comfort. People like the idea that there may be another life after this one, which presumably would be better; many religions (such as Islam) propagate this belief, even though there is not a shred of evidence to support it.

Answer 9

Christian "education" is based on two very important principles. One, keep the mark completely ignorant of other sources of knowledge. Don't let them know this stuff. Two, instill the dogma into a child too young to think critically, using heavy doses of fear and guilt, so that it is very difficult to remove later in the adult mind.

Answer 10

None of that's true. Some Christians become greedy and self-centered, and act like idiots, and give the rest of us a bad rep., but that's not what Christianity is all about, that's what it's been turned into.

Answer 11

I invite you to read my testimony, it is not all that long, of my first day of The Christian Faith. From there you may also find in the menu the link to my Bible page. Which may be of interest to you
It is not a fancy website. just an old guy,me, talk'n about all the God stuff... I will give you the direct link to my testimony so you do'nt have to go through all the intro... you may go to the welcome if you like as well.

http://pages.zdnet.com/mikevanauken/mikesinternetoutreach/id109.html

All honest seekers welcome