What advantages did Christianty have over paganism?

Question

THANKS did these advantages help the rise of Christianity and how? >_<

Answer 1

They were better at hunting and burning witches.

Answer 2

As a 'mystery' religion, Christianity offered the concept of 'salvation' simply for learning a few tenets and believing in the Jesus character. The special, personal relationship with the deity was no small benefit.

Paganism had lots of gods, but they were more distant and concerned with the activities only of important or exceptional humans. It was so much easier to be a 'believer' and get 'saved' than to try to become exceptional in some way. Plus, when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, refusing to convert from paganism meant ostracism, loss of income, or even torture and death. This combination of "everybody's welcome" and "don't dare refuse to join" made Christianity an offer most could not afford to refuse.

To sweeten the pot, Christianity itself became a pagan religion, adopting pagan holidays, traditions, and gods as 'saints' or 'martyrs' so that the people who celebrated those holidays, followed those traditions or worshipped those gods would tag along without complaint.

Answer 3

I despise the answer "paganism worships the created and not the creator." Paganism worships the truth of Nature, pure and simple: that God is manifest in all things of Heaven and Earth. No holy writ gives any human being the right of manifest destiny over the Earth and Her creatures, nor the right to claim providence enough to pronounce another's faith wrong.

The sheer ignorance reflected in some of the answers here pertaining to Paganism only illustrates more earnestly how neccesary it is that we Pagans do more to educate the mainstream.

Answer 4

The backing of Emperor Constantine and the legions of Rome.

It was written rather than oral tradition, this allowed it to be spread easily and rigidly. Many Celtic beliefs that were taken down were spread by word of mouth and told differently. They put 1 book together with a "complete package" of Christianity. This also actually improved literacy in some places.

The doctrine allowing them to eradicate "Pagans".

The fact that they only needed one temple per settlement and laws were more rigid.

They assembled a hierarchy imcomparable with those of most religions before hand.

Answer 5

None. It was Pagans who had all the advantages. After all, we did provide them with all of their holidays. I guess those poor ignorant Christians didn't have the imagination to come up with their own. So they killed pagans for theirs.

Answer 6

It was more inclusive in that you didnt have to learn any special rituals or incantations to get into Gods good grace. All you had to do was believe.
That, and the fact that Christianity co-opted a lot of pagan rituals to make people feel more comfortable

Answer 7

Well, the biggest advantage of being Christian over being Pagan would be they wouldn't kill ya. I guess if they threatened to kill you if you didn't convert, most would convert. And yes, it definitely helped the rise of Christianity because death is still a pretty big motivator.

Answer 8

It wasn't about advantages, it was about persecution. Christianity caught on because the pagans were persecuted.
The only advantage is that if you said you were Christian, you weren't persecuted.

Answer 9

before Christ
there was teh LAW and the prophets.
and everything that hangs on the law is the law of
LOVE GOD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART, MIND AND SOUL
AND LOVE OTHERS AND LOVE/RESPECT YOURSELF.
WHICH Jesus fullffill the requirement of the laws and prophets of 600rules (jews still follows it, muslim got part of that bible in their too)
enter come grace..through JESUS as lamb offering
sin payment required BLOOD.
JESUS became the lamb.
NOW the difference is.>GOD IS LIGHT AND TRUTH AN LOVE.
what is satan? death, darkness..lies.
oh..pride vs humility.
satan follower goes to hell period.
christians don't have to be perfect..and they go to heaven.
because they say what they believe.JESUS IS THE SON OF OGD.
false prophets, teachers.apostles..can't say this.without discomfort..because it require humility/submission.

atheism has no love, for others..it's selfish, selfgod.
and look at russia the crash of atheism.
paganism..is worship of pain..domineering, self lust, self pride, manipulator, deciver, and a smooth talker. that why we had/have cult that promote killing thyself..for GOD. or killling of others in the name of their god.
christianity is what save this world..form ruthless killer like hitler and many are here like him and before 9/11.million had died wihtout cause.senseless killing.or..? geincide ..ethic cleansing..is all part of satan doing..who hate jews and christians become we bring the LIGHT into his dominion/kingdom..the earth.

Answer 10

Quite simply, paganism worships the created and not the Creator. Nothing created can benefit anyone in any way. Only the Creator can do anything for you. You could, if you wanted to, worship me. I can't do anything for you. The sun cannot do anything for you except provide heat and light, and it does so because the Creator told it to, and it can only do what it does because He told it to. Is it better to worship that which can only do what it does because of Him Who told it to do it, or to worship He Who is doing the telling? Of course it's better to worship the Teller, the Creator, the One who shows Lordship over all other things. The rise of Christianity is a direct result of the work of this same Creator, who sent a small bit of Himself in the form of Jesus Christ, to do the thing that no other god could do: atone eternally for sin.

Answer 11

a centralized structure that made it more conducive to being a pawn of the government.