Before Greeks and Romans converted to christianity, what exactly were their beliefs?

Question

Did they have any other "saviors" or "sons of God"? Did they have a place of eternal damnation in the underworld in their religions? Did they have any gods that impregnated humans to produce saviors of mankind? Did they have blood baptisms that washed away sin?

What about Jews? What did they believe before coming into contact with Greeks and Romans? Did they have any "savior sons of God"? Did they have a place of eternal damnation in the underworld? Did they have any gods that impregnated humans to produce saviors of mankind? Did they have blood baptisms that washed away sin?

For those that say "the devil imitated the prophecies," why didn't he do that with Jews? If he knew the prophecies, then he knew that the Messiah was supposed to be a Jew, not a Greek or Roman or Egyptian, but a Jew. Why waste his efforts with people that couldn't possibly fit the prophecies? Why wouldn't he fake the prophecies the way they were written?

LOL @ Laptop... I'm sure you see why I question christian critical thinking skills?

(((((Riegan))))) NOOOOO! My wife would kill me, and send you a nasty email. Ask Laptop.

Answer 1

Dionysus/Bacchus was Crucified and supposedly for "His People". Hades, the place of the dead... some stories show it to be a place of torment, others as just a place where the dead go (I believe they viewed it as a place that judged your deeds and you got rewarded accordingly). Zeus is the father of many "Saviors", though it was mainly for their own people (Just like Jesus claimed he came only for the lost tribes of Israel - it isn't until Paul that you see Gentiles included). Mithras mystery religions had a blood bath of sorts, though it was of a bull.

For the Jews, the "Messiah" was a Priest King who ruled over the Jews. There is no indication that this Messiah was God, but a man chosen by God to be annointed as King of Israel and to bring the Jews together. No, the Jews did not and do not have a Hell like Christianity. Hell to them is the Grave. It would be blasphemy in Judaism to suggest that God impregnates a woman. And no, there is no blood baptism. As far as I know, they didn't have Baptism at all. What they did have was Annointing, which is where they placed oil on the head of the King to show he is King (and I think they did these things to Priests as well).

I find it amusing when they say the Devil Imitates God.... it seems God imitates Pagan traditions as the Old Test doesn't indicate that the Messiah would have to die in order to Save the World (it doesn't even suggest he does save the world - but establishes a Godly Gov't IN Israel and ONLY in Israel). It doesn't say anything about the Messiah being resurrected and coming back - he's supposed to fulfill those prophecies within his lifetime, before death. Most of what I've seen in the New Test that claims Jesus is the Messiah seem to be forced prophecies, some can't be found in the Old Test at all.

Answer 2

1) I assume that their beliefs were pretty much what we learned about in history class--and their gods had kids with human women all the time, that's were most of the heroes of Greek and Roman mythology came from. I don't think they would have had much use for the blood baptism, although that's pure speculation on my part.

2) As far as Jews are concerned, no we never believed any of those things and still don't.

3) That's a very good question, especially since many of the the things you mentioned are what we object to most in Christianity, although they would have had greater appeal to surrounding peoples.

Answer 3

you will stay, so do no longer subject approximately it. one million) this does not instruct something. The creation account is purely a caricature creation the scriptures. It says no longer something to the effect that the creatures in the international are the only ones ever to have existed. 2) Jesus Christ. God entered the international interior the flesh. The burning bush.... 3) in seek of scientific help isn't against scripture. human beings with the aid of the Bible sought help with injuries and ailment. God's miracles have been few and lots between, yet with specific applications. 4) If that's authentic, then how is it that I, as an person, prepared spoke back the call to salvation (or perhaps went to church without being first invited)? Am I the only one? of direction no longer. 5) the version is that individuals reject data. How ought to I instruct to a blind individual that colorations exist if that guy or woman rejects the testimony of people with sight? The supernatural will not greater wholesome into naturalistic paradigms. 6) This argument has been around over a hundred years a minimum of, and replaced into effectively refuted via scholars some years in the past. it is resurfaced returned in contemporary times with the internet as maximum all of us can set up blogs posting those issues as shockingly new, backed with pseudo-technological information and pseudo-scholarship. 7) right here, you should do a splash prognosis. hint: averting propaganda information superhighway web content could be advantageous for you. learn involves honest analyzing, and you interior of reach public library might nicely be a large start up. 8) returned, your interior of reach public library is a large place to start up. "i do no longer think of i pass to get with the aid of to any Christians yet I wrote all this and that i hate to work out a sturdy debate pass." Jerry Springer is actual stable leisure for some, definite.

Answer 4

The Romans, prior to Christianity, practiced religion romana...a religion based on a dizzying set of deities, reverence of ancestors and respect of the land. If you go to the site below, there is a lot of information. Bottom line, though, is that their gods very much mirrored the gods of the Greeks; although the names are somewhat different, the representative responsibilities are pretty much the same.

The Greeks were devout, they had a state religion. Around 3rd or 4th century BC, their religious foundations started to weaken...several factors were in play, from new gods and religious groups coming to Greece (from Egypt and other Med. countries), to the growth of intelligentsia, which questioned the religious wisdom of the day. Much of what we know to be Greek Mythology is, in fact, Greek religion. You can read lots more at the site below.

Answer 5

I would just like to take this opportunity again to NOT flirt with you and to point out that everyone on the internet weighs 350 pounds and are bald old dudes.

;)

(platonic hugs to you)

In answer to your question, take Zoraster. He did what Christ did, with a lot more flair and he did it before Jesus. Or Horus! I know of several Christians who dropped their belief when they researched this god who was a "copy" of their Jesus, until they found out he preceeded Christ by 1000 years.

Answer 6

Mithra was a favorite of the Romans.

To sell the story of Jesus, Paul knew the Romans would accept it more readily if he copied the story of Mithra and applied it to Jesus, the MAN.

Answer 7

I think that every culture worthy of the name has had a Savior Myth of some kind.

Answer 8

You are really ignorant of the story aren't you. No idea what you are talking about.
To have or voice an opinion on something you know absolutely nothing about has got to be the epitome Of coarse rude behavior.
The only thing this confirms is your blatant stupidity.

Answer 9

They were all pagans.They worshiped different gods,god of the sun goddess of the moon and so on.

Answer 10

if laptop's not going to flirt with you, can i?

funny how they're so sure that they're following the right religion, when everyone else was equally sure