The Two Babylons [Paperback]

Alexander Hislop (Author), Alexander Hislop (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0937958573 | ISBN-13: 978-0937958575 | Publication Date: 1998 | Edition: 4th

Where did the practices and beliefs of Roman Catholicism come from? In this scholarly classic, first published over eighty years ago, Alexander Hislop reveals that many Roman Catholic teachings did not originate with Christ or the Bible, but were adopted from ancient pagan Babylonian religion, and given Christian names.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The enemy has been very busy, since he got kicked out of the Garden and out of Heaven.

How better to prevent mankind from entering Heaven than to pervert the Word of God through mixing holy and unholy doctrines?

Get this book today!

- Rev. John Harper

--Rev John Harper

From the Publisher

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Chick Pub; 4th edition (1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0937958573
• ISBN-13: 978-0937958575
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #638,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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37 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's obvious, February 11, 2008

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Two Babylons (Paperback)

I read this book and found that it helped piece together a huge part of a very complicated puzzle. Not an easy read but definately a wealth of information. I think the author retracted for reasons other than poor research methods. I think he retracted his work for the same reasons many other controversial books are pulled from publication. I was born and raised Catholic and to this day the priests still wear the attire worn by Ancient Dagon Priests. The Pope also uses the same instruments used by Ancient Pagan Priests affiliated with Babylonian Religion. There are many more similarities that are just too hard to ignore. I know it's a tough pill to swallow when you've been spoon fed this nonsense for years but it's pretty obvious. Catholics eat fish on Friday in honor of Dagon (Pagan Fish God). I mean folks if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it just might be......... you guessed it. Let's use some common sense, remember common sense????

30 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Highly controversial, August 2, 2008

By 

Aj Viljoen (Kuwait) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Two Babylons (Paperback)

A current trend among Christians is to start questioning the origins of "Christmas" and "Easter" and the baptism of infants and the deification of Mary and numerous other "sacraments", beliefs and traditions. And that is good. In a way, Hislop started all of this with this book, more than 100 years ago.
At the time it seemed to have been very well researched, but cracks in the woodwork has appeared since. This doesn't mean that everything he writes is wrong, but simply that what is written cannot be accepted as the undisputed truth.

Hislop does, however come very close to the truth for the most part. It is, luckily, also quite easy to discern where he bases arguments on facts, and where he makes deductions. In is in the deductions where the fault lies, because he is a little too liberal in his deductions, and these should be taken with a pinch of salt, or simply disregarded. As I said, the factual parts are however, highly informative and often very shocking.

Another problem is that the book is written in a highly academic way and is by no means an easy read. Add to this the subject matter, and it rapidly becomes a "study" rather than a "read". But a fascinating study, nonetheless.

So the bad news is that the book isn't entirely accurate, and plain difficult. That said however, it almost qualifies as "essential reading" for the Christian who is in any way concerned with the pagan origins of current Christian practices or the history of the Catholic Church. As I said, controversial.

Many people simply reject the evidence that Mr Hislop presents because of its controversial nature. And that is the easy way out. It is not easy to critisize one's own church, especially if one is a devout and committed Christian. But, in spite of all its shortcomings, this book does present one with evidence that demands further contemplation.

This book however, goes further than that, in the sense that Hislop shows the reader how all the religions fit together, from Jesus Christ to Buddha to the temple prostitutes of Diana and Adonis. Fascinating stuff, but presented in the most boring way imaginable.

So, this is a tedious book, for serious scholars. But it does deliver. And it is controversial and it is relevant, 150 years after it was written. It is certainly not everyone's cup of tea, but it is by far the best publication to date on the ancient origins of religion, mythology and doctrine. It is the kind of book I would seriously study from cover to cover, but not expect anyone else to read.

41 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A History of Traditions., July 17, 2007

By 

R. McRae (Saugus, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Two Babylons (Paperback)

When the Roman Catholic Church makes its traditions superior to scripture, and still under its latest pope declares all other Christian groups false in recent proclamations, who really are the "bigots" as other's have labeled this book? Where then do many of these uniquely unusual Catholic rituals originate? Certainly not the Bible. And if not the Bible, then give a more precise historical source. Even most Catholics would be surprised just how much of their church's background and practices have absolutely nothing to do with Christianity. The major reason for the Reformation and the establishment of Protestantism. The only problem today is that most so called "Protestants", accept the handed down traditions over scripture as well.