What are some Pagan origins of Christianity?

Question

In terms of symbolism, holidays, terms, worship, etc.... Please describe & include references if you have them.

Answer 1

The trinity idea came from Pagan trinities. Nowhere in the bible does it mention that [G]od, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are three parts of one godhead - trust me, I've looked. And Pagan trinities can be found anywhere. The most common of which is the triple goddess: Maiden, Mother, and Crone: three goddesses that make up one deity.

http://www.sabbatarian.com/Paganism/HecateTrinity.html

Christmas, Easter, and the three October/November holidays (All Hallow's Eve, All Saint’s Day, All Soul's Day - and yes, Halloween is CHRISTIAN; the Catholic Church created it from Pagan tradition centuries ago) are all Pagan in origin. Christmas came from Winter Solstice celebrations, specifically Natalis Solis Invicti of Mithraism. Easter came from Spring Equinox celebrations, but I am unsure of which one specifically the church took from. Halloween (and the others) sprang from the Celtic New Year - Samhain - which doubled as a harvest celebration. Other "Christian" holidays have also been created from ancient Pagan celebrations, but these are the main three most often discussed.

http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa122397b.htm
http://www.zenzibar.com/Articles/easter.asp
http://www.tylwythteg.com/Hallow.html

There are many different Pagan tales that bear undeniable resemblance to the story of Jesus, and ALL of them predate Jesus' life. It is far fetched to believe that the story of Jesus' life was not simply copied from earlier Pagan works, but would be difficult to pinpoint which one, if it was not a case of taking bits from all of them. Here is one comparison:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcpa5.htm

Just to name a few...

Answer 2

The celebration of Easter by Christians may be a mix of paganism and Passover and Resurrection Sunday. It is natural that the Christians would celebrate Passover (especially the Jewish ones) and the Christians Would celebrate His Resurrection on the weekend of Pentecost. As a matter of fact, they meet on the first day of the week every week to celebrate His Resurrection.
They probably did use symbols of other religions to help get the new (to pagans) thought across. Like an evergreen tree to symbolize the power of God over Odin, an egg to symbolize the new life in Christ, etc. It makes sense to use what is prevalent in a people to explain a new concept to them. Like Jesus being the Bread of Life, or offering living water. Paul used an idol to an unknown God to introduce Christ on Mars Hill.
It makes sense to celebrate Christ's coming on the darkest day of the year. Because He came in to a world dark with sin and He was the Light of the world.
David T. is probably right about the saints, too. The Bible says there is only one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. I have studied Spanish and in some of the Latin countries they even openly equate the saints with their gods. I don't have a reference for this, but I have seen one of their candles that named them and described them and the saint they went with (sorry I can't remember what catholic worship candles are called).
The Bible is not based on Paganism, but I cannot say none of Christians' current practices are based on a Pagan practice. I'm waiting to see what those who always say we stole ours from other religions are going to post.
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God foretold the coming of a savior since the very beginning. It is not surprising that others would have such stories. As they neglected God they would put their beliefs about Him onto things, the sun being one that would represent Him best in their minds.
The trinity is not mentioned by that name in the Bible. It is based on several scriptures. John 1:1-3,14, Gen. 1:1-3, Psalm 110, and others.
By the way Pagan Origins of the Christ... , assumes we got our ideas from Pagan ideas, I believe it might seem that way to some who hadn't followed God's His-Story, It is obvious to anyone believing the old testament that others would have a similar belief to ours (not the other way around). They also believe that His associates are not the ones who wrote the gospels. While it cannot be proved with absolute certainty to nonbelievers, It is very likely it was written by those who knew Him personally and their immediate followers.

Answer 3

There are no Pagan ORIGINS of Christianity. It's origin is the birth of Jesus, followed by His teachings and eventual death and resurection.

Now, as to RELIGIOUS practices OF Christians, well, there are quite a few. The 'Christian' holidays of Christmas and Easter, as they are practiced, are blendings of Pagan festivals with religious observances; In these cases, Winter and Spring Solstice festivals. But neither of these holidays, as they are practiced today, are espoused in the Bible. The New Testament specifically states, in the teachings of Paul, that our faith is not based on the observances of special days, or festivals, or feasts, etc., as was the practice in the Old Testament.

A good deal of the religious festivals/holidays that we observe today are hybrids of Pagan observances/festivals. In the early days of the faith, in an attempt to make the Christian faith more 'palatable' to Pagans, or to make the transition into the Christian faith less 'culturally shocking', the church leaders decided to incorporate aspects of the Pagan practices. So the celebration of Christmas, was blended with the Winter Soltice festivals and thus was born the 'Christ'mas Tree. Easter, the celebration of Christ's rising from the dead was blended with Spring/Fertility festivals and thus was born the Easter Bunny.

Similar practices surround other observances. This is why some sects/denominations and even so-called 'Christian' cults don't celebrate these or any other 'Christian' holidays. Because they aren't mentioned in the Bible. The observance of these holidays does not, however, negate or otherwise 'spoil' a person's faith so long as they are acknowledging Christ and giving Him the glory. These holidays do, however, have the very real potential of leading people to distraction. Case in point being the absolute insanity surrounding the obscene expenditure of money on presents, all in the name of 'celebrating Jesus'. As such, I for one do not get carried away with them.


In response to some of the others here: There is no doubt that there are similarities between Christianity and other religions. This, in and of itself, does not negate the legitimacy or truthfulness of Christianity. As to the ridiculous notion that Jesus is a myth, well the simple fact of the matter is that there is more FACTUAL information about the life and times of Jesus than there is for ANY of the Roman emperors, for example. If you want to deny the divinty of Christ, well, that's your perrogative, but to deny His existence at all. There is not a single historian of note, anywhere in the world, who would deny the historical existence of Jesus.

As to all the texts that are offered for source material - having an entire list that supports only one side of the argument is hardly presenting a fair and balanced look at the issue. I find it interesting that critics of Christianity so often fail to read and truly understand - whether they believe or not - the Bible and supporting texts, yet presume to know unequivicobaly that the Christian faith is 'false'. I have a very strong faith in Christ, but I read books that support BOTH sides of the issue and am able to recognize and even agree with certain criticisms. It's a shame that so many in the 'anti' crowd can not afford the same effort or show the same respect to the 'pro' crowd.

Answer 4

Let's start with the most central concept of christianity - belief that there was an individual who was the saviour.

There is an ancient Egyptian myth, the god-man myth, the details of which are virtually those of the myth of jesus. But the Egyptian myth is far, far older. It was very much the basis of the christian myth.

This process, the grafting of a more "modern" story onto a pagan myth, is not the least bit unusual. In fact, it was pretty much common practice, and it was done in order to make the new ways more acceptable to more people.

Answer 5

Most of the stuff we celebrate at christmas is pagan. Holly is a symbol of continued life. The evergreen tree was originally decorated with apples symbolizing life and rebirth. The date itself is from yule when the days start getting longer again at winter solstice.

Answer 6

Christmas is the same day as a Roman God's birthday. Also, Christians worship on Sunday because Emperor Constantine had the day of worship moved from the traditional Sabbath (Saturday) to the day of the Sun in honor of the sun God. The idea of saints also stems from the need to worship multiple gods.

Try looking on the History Channel. They have very informative shows on this stuff. Try: http://www.history.com/

Answer 7

No one knows what day Jesus Christ was born on. From the biblical description, most historians believe that his birth probably occurred in September, approximately six months after Passover. One thing they agree on is that it is very unlikely that Jesus was born in December, since the bible records shepherds tending their sheep in the fields on that night. This is quite unlikely to have happened during a cold Judean winter. So why do we celebrate Christ’s birthday as Christmas, on December the 25th?

The answer lies in the pagan origins of Christmas. In ancient Babylon, the feast of the Son of Isis (Goddess of Nature) was celebrated on December 25. Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.


Not to mention Mithras.

1. Mithra was born of a virgin on December 25th in a cave, and his birth was attended by shepherds.
2. He was considered a great traveling teacher and master.
3. He had 12 companions or disciples.
4. Mithra's followers were promised immortality.
5. He performed miracles.
6. As the "great bull of the Sun," Mithra sacrificed himself for world peace.
7. He was buried in a tomb and after three days rose again.
8. His resurrection was celebrated every year.
9. He was called "the Good Shepherd" and identified with both the Lamb and the Lion.
10. He was considered the "Way, the Truth and the Light," and the "Logos," "Redeemer," "Savior" and "Messiah."
11. His sacred day was Sunday, the "Lord's Day," hundreds of years before the appearance of Christ.
12. Mithra had his principal festival of what was later to become Easter.
13. His religion had a eucharist or "Lord's Supper," at which Mithra said, "He who shall not eat of my body nor drink of my blood so that he may be one with me and I with him, shall not be saved."
14. "His annual sacrifice is the passover of the Magi, a symbolical atonement or pledge of moral and physical regeneration."
15. Shmuel Golding is quoted as saying that 1 Cor. 10:4 is "identical words to those found in the Mithraic scriptures, except that the name Mithra is used instead of Christ."
16. The Catholic Encyclopedia is quoted as saying that Mithraic services were conduced by "fathers" and that the "chief of the fathers, a sort of pope, who always lived at Rome, was called 'Pater Patratus.'"

Answer 8

The cross:

Christian symbol for christ
Pagan symbol for multidirectional energy

The Holidays:
Christian celebrations of christ
Pagan celebtrations of moon phases, rulers of that moon phase

Halloween (Samhain), Christmas (Winter Solstice, Yule), Easter (Spring Solstice), 4-th of July, fireworks for all.

Answer 9

Christianity has no pagan origin but Constantine in his effort to manage his people who were both Christian and of the religion of Nimrod allowed the council of Nicea to wed Christianity to the religion of Nimrod. The Christian teachers were replaced with the teachers of the Nimrod religion.

The original satan or lucifer was Nimrod who was "a mighty man before the Lord." When we abandon myth, superstition and prejudice we see how sensible Gods religion really is. Religion is for the good of humanity but gets turned away from God by the clergy class.

The religion of Nimrod took over Christianity as it has other religions before Christianity. It is easy to see that the rituals, traditions and holidays of Nimrod were superimposed upon Christianity and it was all over by 325 AD at the council of Nicea.
Since then the Christians have been immersed in the trinity which is from Nimrod and the false belief that Jesus resurrected in the flesh as Nimrod was said to have done by his wife Semiramis who was said to be the first to give birth as a virgin. Her husband Nimrod was executed after having been duly tried in an Egyptian court for teaching people to turn away from God. She became pregnant soon after and claimed that the fruit of her womb was none other than Nimrod reincarnated. Nimrod was widely held to be god and so it was, at least in the minds of the deluded believers, that Semiramis son was the incarnation of god into a human body. Originally Nimrod was an angel who knew the plan of God but was desirous of power and craved the admiration of and power over his acolytes and worshippers more than he loved the One True God. The spirit of Nimrod, his corruption, is still active in the world today, still turned away from God and absent of the light.

There are lots of historical references on this subject and I could go on and on about it but I won't.

Answer 10

Halos Sun worship