So "hell" is pagan in origin and was adopted by the christian church?

Question

Source:
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/OriginandHistory.html#c6

Quotes from Murdock's Mosheim, History of Theology

Answer 1

The link is to an incredibly long article, and I did not find the reference to hell as a pagan concept in the scan I gave it. I noted, however, that the link brought me to the center of the article, so perhaps it was further up.

Still, it would not surprise me if this were true. Remember that pagan is a very generic term, and it may well be that some religion about which I know nothing originated the idea of hell. I do know that the early Christians, and well into the middle ages, adapted many concepts from the pagans they encountered. The church is by no means simply the words of Jesus himself, after all. Nor himself and his Jewish ancestors. And after all, those Jewish ancestors also incorporated ideas from wherever they went.

I do not say this is a bad thing. Indeed, I consider it a good idea to use whatever concepts seem right to you, regardless of their origin.

Answer 2

Well, for one thing, it can't be proven true (or false) because it's based on opinions and beliefs, not facts. However, in the hypothetical situation of it being 100% true, I would oppose God so much that I'd go to hell. As to why, well, it's pretty simple. Sin is such a great temptation because it's so enjoyable. Hell is full of sin, so it's full of enjoyable things. Also, in some part of the Bible (don't remember what book/chapter/verse or I'd quote it), it says that in heaven there is no night and no ocean. If that's the case, I don't want to go to heaven. Also, since humans are the only creatures with souls, only humans would be in heaven. Being a misanthrope, that would really such.

Answer 3

Hell is not a Pagan concept, however the devil is more than likely a twisted version of the Pagan Horned God. Pagan's do not believe in a hell, I'm pretty sure it's Christian in origin if not taken from another religion.

Answer 4

Helheim was the place the dishonoured dead (the evil or those who died of illness or old age) in Norse mythology went.It was run by a Goddess named Hel.

Most of Christianity is stolen from much older Pagan religions.

Answer 5

Read some Dan Brown books, while the main plot is fictional their are many interesting tid bits about the make up of religion and how they are all made up of different parts of each other.

And yes, I think the idea of Hell did originate from the Pagans (If not earlier).

Answer 6

One of the sources was Zoroastrianism, which the Hebrews encountered while they were in Babylon during the Captivity.

You'll notice that hell is mentioned nowhere in Genesis, because they had no concept of hell (or devils, or angels) at the time.

Answer 7

Not really.

The new church adapted local traditions (like Catholicism in like Philippines) to make it easier for the natives/indigenous converts to understand.

So they demonising the old local faiths was an attempt to discredit the 'old ways' - creating a place of evil - being hell.

.

Answer 8

Not quite.
The first mention of 'hell' with fire and brimstone is Hindu in origin.
Remember that nothing in the christian mythos is new. All of it is a re-hashing of older mythologies.

Answer 9

No.

Hell was invented BY the cat lick church to encourage people to convert and to behave. It was the old "Carrot and stick" method of behaviour modification.

Answer 10

90% of christianity is pagan in origin, including the jesus story