Originally posted by Melcórë
There are many elements of Christianity that have been amalgamated from "pagan" beliefs - as in Judaism before it, wherein Babylonian and Persian mythological beliefs penetrated Rabbinic literature.Par exemple, "Christmas" is an adaptation of various "pagan" rituals, including the Roman Saturnalia - although, in defence of this adoption, one may assert that the "pagan" festival expresses many "Christian" beliefs, such as equality, fraternity, etc., etc.
Indeed, on intellectual grounds, the entire existence of "Christ" (and, indeed, the stories of his birth/ministry) could be called into historical and spiritual question....but I do believe that falls without the bounds of my presumptiveness, as well as the purpose of this thread....
BTW: I have presumed that such "customs" were the intent of the "pagan" dig at Christianity posted above....
Pagan rituals were later reinstated when Rome accepted Christianity as its official religion, to accommodate the pagans of the time.
In its making, Christianity had nothing to do with Roman paganism.
Customs are exclusively Jewish.
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Pagan rituals were later reinstated when Rome accepted Christianity as its official religion, to accommodate the pagans of the time.In its making, Christianity had nothing to do with Roman paganism.
Customs are exclusively Jewish.
In terms of customs and worship, Christianity has long had little in common with Judaism - aside from the same "God," who has been rather marginalized with regards the relation to its "Son." The old Laws were discarded relatively quickly by the Church Fathers, who sought to distance themselves from common Jews. The Eucharist (et al.) do not derive from Judaism, but from Christ-worship inspired by the Gospels.
BTW: Again, the striking similarity between this "Christ" and other religious figures of the same time is....well, rather enlightening. The question then becomes: "Which came first?" And if you believe the answer to be so easy, then you must ask yourself as well: "Why is there so little (historical) evidence in support of said decision?"
well there is always the possibility that he was more than one person, much like Homer the acclaimed author of The Iliad and The Odyssey i do believe, is thought to be written by more than one person, and that Homer himself was more of a group of people than one man, its one of those things that simply cannot be proven, at least with the amount of information available.
Originally posted by Melcórë
In terms of customs and worship, Christianity has long had little in common with Judaism - aside from the same "God," who has been rather marginalized with regards the relation to its "Son." The old Laws were discarded relatively quickly by the Church Fathers, who sought to distance themselves from common Jews. The Eucharist (et al.) do not derive from Judaism, but from Christ-worship inspired by the Gospels.BTW: Again, the striking similarity between this "Christ" and other religious figures of the same time is....well, rather enlightening. The question then becomes: "Which came first?" And if you believe the answer to be so easy, then you must ask yourself as well: "Why is there so little (historical) evidence in support of said decision?"
Christians kept the Old Testament. Unless you're a Jehova's Withness, you obey by the old testament, and those are Jewish laws. Jesus was a Jew, and a devout Jew for that. He aimed to revision, not change Jewish religion.
Again, Christianity was institutionalized when Rome took it to be its official religion. What happened thereafter was not within original formation of Christianity.
Christians were long persecuted after Jesus. Their religion was not an institution, and therefore, their laws and original scope was Jewish.
The later practices which morphed into pagan or whatever else is a different matter.
Christian customs come from pagan customs but Judaism isn't pagan at all. In fact Judaism was the first monotheistic religion.
Christian customs were changed to appeal to the romans and the pagan tribes in eastern europe. Jesus wasn't born anywhere near dec. 25, that date was just chosen because it was close to the winter solstice which pagans celebrated. The christmas tree came from german pagans. Easter's date was chosen because it coencided with the pagan's celebration of spring.
So yeah Christian customs are pagan but Judaism is in no way pagan.
Originally posted by leonheartmm
not really true. judaism was the first abrahamic relegion. vedic hinduism initially was the first monotheistic relegion{or the oldest one i know of that can be interpreted as monotheistic} , the concept of brahma and all which to some, means one god.
well brahma is one thing but it is represented in many different gods