Many today do not realize that the knowledge of the true God and true Christianity, which Paul brought to Greece and Rome, was soon corrupted with a mixture of pagan religious ideas. As Roman Catholic historian Will Durant writes: "Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it." The form of Christianity that developed in Europe and later spread to America and the rest of the world "was the last great creation of the ancient pagan world" (Caesar and Christ, Durant, 1944, p. 595). Durant and other historians explain that belief in the one true God became belief in a Trinity as a result of the influence of pagan philosophy. They note that perverted Gnostic ideas "obscured the Christian creed" and that theologians schooled in pagan philosophy tried to explain the nature of God through speculation instead of teaching what God had revealed about Himself in Scripture. After centuries of such discussion and debate,
2007-07-29 20:13:18 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
it is not surprising that the often abstract God of modern Christianity bears little resemblance to the true God of scripture.
ONE OF THE MANY GOOD SITES TO CHECK OUT
http://www.onenessweb.com/apostolicpillar//articles/trinity.html
Just to let you all know, I do believe JESUS IS GOD but NOT apart of a Trinity.
2007-07-29 20:16:59 · update #1
Durant's points make a lot of sense.
The Trinity Doctrine, aka the Nicene Creed was developed by a committee of men trying to please everyone. Makes sense that some of it came from Pagan beliefs.
There is nothing in the Nicene Creed that can be reconciled in the New Testament (parts of it can be, but every point has a a contradicting point that discounts the original)
This Christan is glad you posted this!!
2007-07-29 20:21:11 · answer #1 · answered by hunter621 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
When I have brought up a similar point,
(Harper’s Bible Dictionary
Baal / Bel ,
“Baal translates into English is Lord
Baal is the offspring (son) of El, (Hebrew for God)
Baal is worshiped as a triad / trinity.”
Where did I hear this teaching recently?
Sounds like a teaching of Satan, What do you think?)
To two 'born again Christians' both said Satan is a copycat.
Yet, according to John chapter 8, I find that Satan is a liar.
Deut. 6:4 and Mark 12:29 make it very plain that the Lord is one,
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
4"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
4`Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God [is] one Jehovah;
Amplified Bible (AMP)
4Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord].
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah:
The Message (MSG)
4 Attention, Israel! GOD, our God! GOD the one and only!
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 “Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.
Darby Translation (DARBY)
4Hear, Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah;
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
4Listen, Israel! The LORD our God is the only true God!
In All these bibles, you have
‘ONE,
ONLY TRUE GOD,
ALONE,
THE ONE AND ONLY!,
ONE LORD (THE ONLY LORD)’
.
2007-07-30 08:50:31 · answer #2 · answered by TeeM 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
While it is easy to see how Christianity was soon corrupted by the ever increasing secularization and other religions rubbing off on it, I see the trinity as not only a Biblically apparent doctrine, as Jesus stated that he and the father were one, and that they were together in the beginning before all creation, it is also logically necessary for them to be one. If there were to be multiple Gods one or all of them could not be infinite in their characteristics and they would have to have differences in their morality. If something is infinite, it has no measurement, therefore all things infinite are the same. Also God is infinitely good and infinitely loving, all parts of God are this way and that is what defines God, "God is love." So if they all three love in infinite amounts, they are the same. While God has different parts, it's no different than the body having different parts that do different things.
2007-07-30 06:18:15 · answer #3 · answered by opalance 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Actually, christianity came from paganism. As did the entire biblical reference. A good study of how the Hebrews adopted there belief structure will teach anyone that the Hebrews didn't have anything new, or different. It was all adopted. The institution of christianity does not want you to do a well rounded study, they will tell you to stay in the bible. That's pretty one-sided I think. And could not be considered well rounded...........
2007-07-30 04:34:03 · answer #4 · answered by duaneb_59 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
When Christianity was born after the Resurrection of The Messiah. (Jesus)
It was strong and vibrant and as we learn from the book of Acts thousands were living the teachings of Christ in and outside of Jerusalem.
Then it was Truth, in it's purest form. (for lack of a better word)
When it was brought to Rome, it became a philosophy.
When it came to America it became a business.
Paganism hasn't corrupted the divine nature of the True "Godhead."
weak Christians don't pray read the Bible for themselves to see the Powerful One True God in His awesome wonder.
How sad that they miss out on such a wonderful revelation found in scripture.
2007-07-30 03:23:53 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Did you know that the Trinity doctrin is an [essential] beliefe in the chritian faith. Gen 1:26 and God said let US create man in OUR own immage and OUR own likeness. How many persons were there,God the Father, God theSon & God the Holy Spirit. 1x1x1=1 k.j.v. 1st John 5:7
2007-07-30 03:32:58 · answer #6 · answered by GREGORIOUSITY 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Did you know almost everthing things including every holiday can be traced back to pagan origins. Is it a coincidence that once the jews rejected christianity, they turned to pawning their belief on the pagans and you see paganism everwhere in christianity?
2007-07-30 03:17:37 · answer #7 · answered by Gawdless Heathen 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
*yawn* This again ? Pick up Robert Morey's book "The Trinity: Issues and Evidences". He covers every piece of material on the topic including intertestemental literature, OT, NT passages and pre-Nicene material to show that a Triune understanding of God was the norm.
Some roaches never die, no matter how many times you stomp on them.
2007-07-30 19:12:33 · answer #8 · answered by kerry1914 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'll take it a step further: the gospels are a forgery created by the Piso's, a well-connected Roman aristocratic family, and Jesus never existed. The bible was created in Egypt by a secret society; it's astrological sun-worship. The common folk (superstitious poor people) are meant to take it literally while the initiated are taught to understand the coded messages.
2007-07-30 03:27:17 · answer #9 · answered by Christopher 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Was Moses a pagan? Moses is Genesis 1 tells us God said let US create man in OUR image in Genesis 2 shows that God created man in his image by creating him from the dust (flesh) breathing in life(spirit) and man became a living soul.
In order to understand God and his teaching you need to submit to God's revealtion.
The JW's have twisted the Gospel the good news is that Jesus atoned for sin.
2007-07-30 03:19:19 · answer #10 · answered by djmantx 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋