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Paganism in Our Christianity

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I was very much anticipating the receipt of this work, because I was looking for critical evidence of the influence of Paganism in Christianity. Although there are references he uses, many of his thoughts, it seems, are just his beliefs stated with minimal or no support. Now I don't disagree with most of what he had to say but in many areas he must assume that support or an extended explanation is not needed. In many ways it reminds me of the writings of a non-professional parishioner discussing his non-orthodox beliefs written down for others to read rather than a scientific textual critique of the subjects. I wanted more extensive justification of how or why such and such might have ended up the way it was. He needed to make a case for much of what he talked about, but he did not. This would not be a work that a critical thinker could use to raise doubt in the mind of orthodoxy.

It's great to discover some authors brave enough to write about the true origin of certain beliefs generally held to be Christian.

Commencing with the second century it appears that certain theologians chose not to take scripture at face value, but rather sought to describe salvation in complex philosophical terms (predominantly platonic). Athanasius could not accept that Jesus Christ was simply the "Son of God", for fear that that implied Jesus had the freedom (like angels and humans) to exercise free will, and could potentially change his mind (about saving us). No, Jesus must become God with the Father. But ditheism (belief in two gods) was contrary to Hebrew scripture (God was one). Consequently, multiple philosophical theories were hypothesized in an attempt to blend both monotheism and, eventually, tritheism - a mathematical impossibility. Trinitarianism was born, and destined to become a complicated, drawn out, and ultimately a violent affair.

The good news of God's kingdom, salvation from death and sin inherited from Adam, and other scriptural truths had an intended audience: common people like Jesus' disciples and us. Jesus Christ is the way and the truth and the life. Not theologians, those educated in secular philosophy, and certainly not pagan Roman Emperors like Constantine and Theodosius. If the true nature of God is of trinity, Jesus would have explicitly revealed this to us. He did not. Instead, the Trinity was formulated over several centuries, and at a cost of much blood.

Moreover, the Trinity is a THEORY of many differing flavours. It is an ELABORATION on scripture. For the followers of one particular flavour to label all others as heretics worthy of persecution reveals the true nature of this doctrine.

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (New International Version)

Chris.

Just because the author is not scholarly or technical, does not mean the information is inaccurate. Christianity is blatantly tainted with the paganism from the culture in which it developed. The blending of paganism and Christianity was a political and power move on the parts of Roman Emperor Constantine and the Roman church.

Many years ago, I began to notice discrepancies between the "Old Testament" and the "New Testament". I began to search and study. I studied pseudepigraphal writings, the Apocrypha, Roman and Greek mythology, and various other writings. Most importantly, I learned to read Hebrew because I wanted to know for myself what the Scriptures were saying.

One of the discrepancies I discovered is in Psalm 22 in which the word "pierced" was mistranslated and interpolated into the Christian Bible to depict the crucifixion of Jesus. The phrase "pierced were my hands and feet" was placed into Psalm 22. The word "pierced" simply does not appear in Psalm 22. This psalm has NOTHING to do with Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, in Isaiah 7, the Hebrew word "almah" literally means a young woman (review reference #5959 in the Strong's Concordance). The Hebrew word "almah" does not mean virgin. Christian scribes translated the Hebrew word "almah" into the Greek word, "parthenos" which means virgin. Roman and Greek mythology declare various demi-gods were born to virgin women. Christianity just plagarized the same theme for the Jesus Christ birth story. I went through the Hebrew Scriptures line by line and compared it with the Christian Scriptures. I saw for myself that the prophecies people pointed to in the Hebrew Scriptures do NOT make any references to Jesus Christ at all. It simply is not there.

And of course, I researched information on how Emperor Constantine in the fourth century changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday on March 7, 321 CE; I researched what happened at the Council of Nicea in the year 325 CE when Jesus was "deified" as God; and I researched details about the pagan Saturnalia and Mithra holidays celebrated on December 25th hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus Christ. These holidays were also part of the winter solstice celebrations. Pagan holidays like Christmas and Easter simply took took on "Christianized" names so the Christians and pagns could celebrate harmoniously.

Nowhere in the Bible does it tells us to celebrate Christmas or Easter. Instead, we are told to celebrate the Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and even Chanukkah. According to the New Testament, Jesus celebrated Chanukkah, which was also called the Feast of Dedication (see John 10:22).

Hundreds of thousands of Christians would be horrified if they really knew the pagan origins of Christianity. However, there are many ministries that are beginning to tell their members not to celebrate Christmas and Easter. Good, that's a start. There are too many similiarities between Jesus Christ and the Roman/Greek mythological gods.

This is a book that every honest Christian should read. Its really a book that explains the strong connection with Paganism. At that time the Christians were as not clever as the Romans so instead of telling them the Truth, they merged their idea with the Paganism to tell them hey look we in essence believe in the same religion, here is the similarities and the Paganism looked and said this is similar to our religion and started incorporating Christianity and Paganism.

Do good research, there is no need for emotion, look and see. I know every Christian wants to protect their religion at all cause but if you really want to protect Christianity have a look at your leaders first! O Christians, research your religion carefully, because it has been altered so much that you are actually seeing and believing in Paganism.

3:64 Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will). Quran

This is a very dangerous and discussting book.

I have read several books about the topic, and this one, "Paganism in our Christianity", is a frontal attack to the roots of the Christian Faith. It negates everything!

To the autor, what is in the Bible, and what is in the Christian faith to day is just a collection of lies and fiction events that have never ever occurred!

Without Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection, Christendom has not reason to exist, and the autor of this book, by using similarities and analogies with the Greco-Roman mythology, denies the fundamental bases of the Christian faith: Jesus' death and resurrection to save all those who believe in His message, His sacrifice as the Lamb of God,and His resurrection in order to give us, the believers in Him, the eternal life in heaven.

Also, it called my attention that this book has the Free Manson's symbol in its first page...

With all due respect

IZ

The only thing I can say badly about this book is that I can't find a copy to buy. I have to continue asking for it from my local library through InterLibrary Loan. If you know of a way that I could get a copy of this book, please email me and let me know....ADDITION: I did eventually find a copy for only [price]. It took 3 months of searching out of print book sellers but a very nice man in Canada was willing to let go of his copy. If he reads this, THANK YOU!