Christian theology borrowed more than the myth of the saving godman. Initiation by baptism, communion with the God through a holy meal, the Holy Spirit, monotheism, and immortality of the soul all belonged many ancient faiths. They were simply part of ancient Mediterranean culture.
Christianity also borrowed elements of Jesus' mythology. Sons of God born of a mortal woman, and miracles (including turning water into wine, walking on water, and especially healing the sick) were common elements of pre-Christian Pagan religions. Mithras had 'em. So did Dionysus, Attis, Osiris, and Orpheus. And more.
And they had them centuries before Christianity was a twinkle in Saint Paul's eye.
http://medmalexperts.com/POCM/index.html
2007-08-02 07:45:34 · 23 answers · asked by 自由思想家 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thank you for stating what should be obvious. But, they're gonna get you for this! LOL!
2007-08-02 07:48:50 · answer #1 · answered by Keltasia 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are many elements that are taken from a variety of sources that ended up in Christian beliefs. Easter and Christmas are not really so much borrowed from Paganism in general, but from Roman traditional belief. The two holidays were put on those days to replace traditional roman festivals, to make the transition to Christianity easier for the roman people. Jesus would not have been born on December 25, according to the bible the sheppards were out in the fields with their sheep, which would have placed the timing at around the middle of May. It was changed to replace the roman festival of Saturnalia. Easter is not a replacement for the celtic holiday of Ostara, but rather a replacement for another similar roman festival. Many of the other, non christian specific, traditions we have for the holidays come from a variety of sources.
Much of the mythology surrounding Jesus comes from a variety of sources, most paricularly the Egyptian Horus and the Persian Mythras. Most of the statues of Mary holding Jesus are exactly the same as the statues of Isis holding Horus.
Initiation by baptism is an egyptian practice of purification through water, and also a hebrew practices of purification through bathing or immersion.
The eucharist, the ceremony of communion, is used in many cultures going back as far as Zoroastianism. Many of these cultures are unrelated, but have similar elements to the ceremony. Breaking bread has been a ceremony amoung the hebrews and other cultured for thousands of years.
There is a lot of mixing between meditteranean and mesopotamian cultures, especially the hebrews, egyptians, and persians. A great deal of catholic ritualism takes it basis from both hebrew and egyptian sources.
2007-08-02 21:51:32 · answer #2 · answered by Lord AmonRaHa 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We actually borrowed several things from the pagans of the world such as Easter, Christmas, Halloween, and much more if you go to a site were they do cultural studies through out history they usually cover religion.
2007-08-02 15:19:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
spiritual is from a union with nature, a union with nature brings knowledge, what is refered to as pagan is from this union with nature, all spiritual knowlege comes from nature, what is the difference between borrowed or stolen? The information gathered in the bible comes from an attempt to monopolize and take credit for the knowlege and work there in... but understanding it requires to work within it... christianity not only does not work within it, it condemns as evil those who have.... therefor a pagan would understand the bible better than a christian could, for a christian although reads and studies does not work at it. he simply seeks to interpret the knowlege to feed to the ones seeking the power of the knowledge.... it didn't work.
2007-08-02 16:28:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Satan is very good at imitating God's plan.
He knew the plan and has instituted many copycats and precursors that would be similar.
Satan is very good at this indeed.
He has been a sniveling jealous one from the Beginning.
Yes, many Christians error calling Passover and Resurrection - Easter. Jesus was concieved about December 25.
Do you have anything else?
2007-08-02 21:43:33 · answer #5 · answered by troll to troll 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It sounds like you already answered your own question. They borrowed pretty much everything from one faith or another. Just as the Jews borrowed aspects of any other deity to add to Yahweh's profile, until he was the god of everything.
From time immemorial popular and political religions have borrowed from their contemporaries and predecessors in order to seduce the more simple minded masses,so as to have a larger faith, financial, power, base.
2007-08-02 17:48:57 · answer #6 · answered by farmacistdmc 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Prayer is the attempt to manipulate energy. Magic is the samee. We celebrate with cakes and ale. They celebrate with the host and wine. We celebrate the masculine and the femenine. They have elevated the Virgin Mary.
2007-08-02 14:52:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm reading a book called 'The Jesus Mysteries' right now that covers the same stuff! Cool!
2007-08-02 14:52:32 · answer #8 · answered by strpenta 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Valentine's Day
Yule
Halloween
Easter
2007-08-04 19:58:36 · answer #9 · answered by Jymie D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The halo is a stolen symbol of the Sun Worshippers.
2007-08-02 14:49:06 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't forget Zoroaster and Quetzalcoatl! Their stories bare a striking resemblance to Jesus.
2007-08-02 14:49:03 · answer #11 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋