Why has the Christian church taken some pagan beliefs and practises and made them its own?

Question

and yet they discount others and call them evil?

Just interested

Thanks for the links Cosmic Eye Candy, and to christians who think they have no pagan beliefs or practices, how about these?
You already know Christmas trees and Easter eggs were originally Pagan, and you probably know the traditional mid-winter and spring timing of the two holidays was Pagan too. Mildly interesting. Not what you'll find here.

What you'll discover here is that Christianity inherited everything from the Pagans. The core of Christianity -- the worship of a dying Godman who is resurrected, ascends into heaven and brings salvation to mankind -- was also the core of a number of ancient Pagan religions that began in the Near East two thousand years before Jesus.

Christian theology borrowed more than the archaic myth of the dying-resurrected Godman. Initiation by baptism, communion with the God through a holy meal that represented the flesh of the dead God, the Holy Spirit, monotheism, and immortality of the soul were all core beliefs of many ancient faiths. They were simply part of ancient Mediterranean culture.

Christianity also borrowed elements of Jesus' mythology: the virgin birth, the miracles (including turning water into wine, walking on water, and especially healing the sick) were all 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.

Answer 1

All these wonderful links will explain to you why
http://home.earthlink.net/~pgwhacker/ChristianOrigins/
http://home.earthlink.net/~pgwhacker/ChristianOrigins/PaganHistory.html
http://altreligion.about.com/library/graphics/bl_savior11.htm
http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/jesus_similar.html
http://www.truthbeknown.com/origins2.htm
http://members.cox.net/deleyd/religion/solarmyth/christ2002.htm
http://www.litjournal.com/docs/fea_pagan3.html
http://culturalvision.net/html/merry_mithras.html
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/origen048.html
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcpa1.htm#rea

http://www.nobeliefs.com/exist.htm

http://geocities.com/christprise/

http://mama.indstate.edu/users/nizrael/jesusrefutation.html

http://www.rationalresponders.com/a_silence_that_screams_no_contemporary_historical_accounts_for_jesus

http://www.harrington-sites.com/bondage.htm#b3

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_carrier/resurrection/lecture.html

http://www.geocities.com/paulntobin/virgin.html

http://www.rationalrevolution.net/articles/ten_commandments.htm

Answer 2

I think that you'd need to be more specific about the beliefs.

Many holidays were Pagan but were used by the church to make Pagans more "comfortable" celebrating Christian holidays. A way to help in converting them to Christianity.

There were also many different "sacrifice" stories in religions other than Christianity, stories of other deities who were sacrificed and re-born.

I've often heard this charge from Wiccans and other Pagans. But the fact that many cultures that existed in the same time and vicinity would share many of the same type of beliefs is hardly unusual. Ideas, customs, and traditions cross boarders continuously. It would be truly bizarre if there weren't any "cross-pollination" of myths and ideas. Christianity is certainly not the only religion that has evidence of this.

Edit:

Okay. So Christianity was the ONLY religion that shares mythology with other religions. Please give me examples of the Pagan faiths that have no similarities with other religions.

Edit, again:

Yes, there are elements and parts of stories that are similar to other faiths. You still have not pointed out where all of these more TRUE and more HONEST Pagan faiths had NOTHING of other faiths that existed at the times that they did or in earlier times.

I have seen far too many claims from Pagans stating that the big big bad Christianity was and is the horror of all horrors and that Christians are all evil, stupid or in denial about how evil it is.

There is NO faith in existence that someone has not done evil in the name of. Pagans don't get a slate clean from any past evil done in the name of their faiths either. I am sorry, but it is not CHRISTIANS or Christianity that is evil. People are evil. If the Church of Rome had been Pagan they would STILL have managed every massacre, every inquisition, and every burning that ever happened.

People of every religion, race creed, or philosophy are EQUALLY capable of evil, Pagans included. Stop looking at a label and look at the PERSON when you are deciding what label to slap onto them.

Answer 3

Did you watch Zeitgeist?

SOME things that you say are true. SOME elements of Christianity (holidays, certain rituals) were "borrowed" as it were from paganism. The reason for it was to make the conversion easier for pagans in the 4th century.

However, you're wrong on the idea of resurrecting gods. Most of them (such as Horus) were resurrected either daily (with the rising of the sun) or in the spring. I STUDIED these myths when I wasn't a Christian, and I found that they had nothing in common with Christianity.

Osiris was not a dying and rising god. In Egyptian mythology, after Isis pieced his body back together, he was sent to be lord of the underworld.

Mithras was not born of a virgin, he was born of a rock.

Some of the other gods did perform miracles; however, these were added in much later after the "gods" lived (READ: After all "eyewitnesses" would have been dead, unlike the New Testament, which was written within less than sixty years after the events). NONE of the other "dying and rising gods" can have that said of him. None of them can have it said that there are any historical details in their stories.

Jesus went before Pontius Pilate, who was a historical person. Were any others executed by historical people? I can tell you, they were not.

You have a little bit more studying to do before you can make such judgements about Christianity.

Answer 4

The beginnings of the church were to

A) Gain power and riches

B) Put women on a lower status then men

C) Control the populace

Look up the real meaning of most any major holiday it has pagan origins.

Look up the story of jesus compare it to Lord Krishna of india, Horus of Egypt, Mithra of Persia, Attis of greece, Dionysus of greece. All of these ancient beliefs are extrememly similar to Jesus's tale. They were born on dec. 25 of a virgin a star in the east signaling their coming some were crucified and risen after 3 days. Even horus at the age of 12 became a teacher(so did jesus) at age 30 began his ministry(so did jesus) Once you put facts together it becomes obvious to you

women prior to Christianity enjoyed greater and more widespread privileges than alot of places in the world today. Many were powerful rulers and could own property and vote.
But why the near-slave like place after Christianity rose? the women could not be a priest, nor vote, nor hold property, and were the subject of accusations of witchcraft and or adultery which were both punishable by death. why? Because eve tempted Adam with the apple, this was a constant reference in medieval times. that a women would tempt a man into sin, that they were natural sinners.

The church had a death grip on Europe for hundreds of years, exercising widespread power that sparked several fruitless wars that killed countless people, and in many cases were more powerful than the king of the country. Also such events as the dark ages and Spanish inquisition again results of the church.

Answer 5

Because early Christians wanted to convert Pagans and didn't have an original idea in their heads.

They blended Judaism with a number of Pagan religious practises to make it more appealing to other races.

Answer 6

Marketing.

It has done it constantly over the ages to give the faithful what they are seeking.

There was an excellent item on paganism in the US - now counted the fastest growing religion in the country - on BBC News yesterday. Pagans have for the first time been allowed to use their own symbology on graves in Arlington Cememtry.

Answer 7

The Scriptures tell us that God has never been without a voice among any people.

We should EXPECT to see similarities, types, shadows and prophetic signs pointing toward the coming Savior Jesus Christ! Why would we not. I have a close friend in India who shows from the Vedas prophetic signs pointing clearly to the message of salvation in Christ Jesus.

I certainly believe Jesus came not only to 'fulfill' Judaism, but to fulfill paganism as well.

Answer 8

By adapting pagan beliefs, symbols (like the cross) and rituals they made it easier to convert pagan nations into their Abrahamic religion. You see the sword was not always successful therefore some syncretism would solve the issue and convince pagan populations that Christianity is not that far from their ways. Talking about deceitfulness right? And all that in the name of god… it makes you wonder about that god doesn’t it?

Answer 9

nicely, for one project, it won't be in a position to be shown actual (or fake) by using fact that is consistent with evaluations and ideology, not info. despite the fact that, in the hypothetical project of it being a hundred% actual, i could oppose God plenty that i could flow to hell. As to why, nicely, that is tremendously elementary. Sin is this type of great temptation by using fact it is so relaxing. Hell is crammed with sin, so that is crammed with relaxing issues. additionally, in some area of the Bible (do not submit to in suggestions what e book/financial ruin/verse or i could quote it), it says that for the period of heaven there isn't any night and no ocean. if it is so, i don't prefer to flow to heaven. additionally, when you consider that people are the only creatures with souls, basically people could be in heaven. Being a misanthrope, that could quite such.

Answer 10

In order to convert pagans. That's why there is the Christmas tree and Easter egg. I find it funny.

Answer 11

That is what Satan is saying to deceive the masses. One who is an offense to the kingdom of God is one by whom many are led astray from the truth and caused to stumble. You are but one voice among many declaring the same doctrine of demons throughout the world. We are fast entering that period the Bible calls the great falling away, the Apostasy. The mystery of iniquity is at work here. It will get worse before it gets better. Yet in the end when the Lord Jesus suddenly appears, He will send His angels to gather everything that offends and is contrary to His will, and they will gather them all and throw them into a fiery furnace. There will be great wailing and gnashing of teeth. For now though it is your day. Your heart has become calloused, your ears you have stopped, and your eyes you have shut. You have become wise and in your wisdom you have denied God. So God in His wisdom has willed that the despised and inferior are saved by believing the foolishness of the preaching of the cross of Jesus Christ. You are too wise to believe such foolishness. I believe.