Did Christians take from Paganism?

Question

I am pagan and have been for a long time. I had always believed that Christians took beliefs from the Pagan religions and added it to their own. However, after much research, I have learned that this is not true. The reason is because all of the myths that are similar to Christianity are not really older than Christianity. These myths, Dyonisus for example, were not told or written until after the 1st Century. Many respectable Biblical Scholars believe this. I was wondering if anyone had any input on the subject. Does anyone know of any sources that might possibly prove that Christians took at least something from us?

To the Christians.....
I am not disrespecting your religion. You must understand that I am just very curious about this and would like answers based on actual facts.

Answer 1

. Christians were/are opportunistic - - - they borrowed traditions & rituls from Pagans as well as Greeks & Zorastarians and others, even themselves! ! ! The Christian Easter is set at the time of Passover - - - no cooincidence.
When Spanish Conquistadors swept through Mexico and Central & South America they 'melded' many of their traditions & rituals with existing Aztec & Mayan & Incan beliefs, weeding out only the more 'odious' practices such as sacrifice and teen boy sex (see Mayansz for explanation).
Several South American Churches celebrate 'Christian' events that are a clever blend of their own 'Earth Moither' and the Cult of Mary Mother of God.

Thus Christins have both destroyed and preserved ancient cultures (this isn't a Dyonisian party, we're just paying tribute towhen Noah got drunk and nearly steered the ark onto a rock). Religion is an interesting process..

Pax-------------

Answer 2

You're not going to like this answer, but here goes anyway. There have absolutely been people that are referred to as "Pagans" longer than there have been people referred to as "Christians." However, Christianity is somewhat based on Judaism. See, the Jews are forever expecting the Messiah to appear. Christianity was founded when Jesus the Christ was proclaimed the Son of God (ei: the Messiah). That's where the word "Christian" comes from, by the way. It means "Follower of Christ." So the Christians actually took the Jewish beliefs (Old Testament) and added what Jesus said to it (New Testament). If any inquiries as to theft should be made, it should probably be made by the Jews.

But perhaps you are thinking of some other aspects of religion. If so, could you elaborate?

Answer 3

Many of the stories in Genesis for example creation and the flood existed in the cultures of the middle east before the old testament was written. Zoroastrian concept of the "war" between good and evil predated Christianity. Many of the books of the new testament were written by people who were educated in and influenced by Greek philosophy after the death of Jesus. The structure of the Catholic Church was modeled after Rome. Which of the many Christian writing that were put in th bible was selected by this authoritarian body. Religious holidays were set to coincide with pagan holidays; Christmas and Easter. Also some symbols were adopted or made more important to conform to local pagan customs such as holy water.

Answer 4

The most pagan retrial the most people take part in is the Christmas feast it falls 3 days after the shortest day when pagans celebrated the promise of spring

Answer 5

the Christian church needed to convert people...so as they encountered people in a new area they would try and break them of their pagan rituals...most of the time their rituals were so ingrained into their lives that they would continue to practice them even while learning the new Christian doctrine...the Church couldn't have this because it would be sacreligious, so instead of declaring entire nations of people as heretics they would instead, adopt some of the rituals and practices into the "accepted" practices of the Christian church...
Easter was largely tied to a pagan ritual of rebirth (that's why it is associated with eggs), and even the name Easter is a derivation of the name of a pagan Goddess...Eastrea (sp?).
the practices of Halloween were a pagan ritual that people in the North wouldn't give up so the church created all saints day, or all hallows, or all hallowmas...hallows means saints and mas is like mass so it was a mass for the saints...the day before became known as hallows eve which turned into halloween...
other Christian holidays and ritual days were purposely set on days that roughly coincided with pagan holidays so that the celebrations taking place during those times (pagan festivals) would eventually mesh with the Christian holiday and get lost...like Christmas...

Answer 6

Yes The Christians did. My only example is their choice of thee December 25th date for Christmas Day. I saw this on the History Channel.