How much of Christianity is based on Paganism?

@Smileyrius,

Methinks Romeo is doing his a2k sashay

1 Reply

@neologist,

I am starting to see it, the double side step and turn.

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@Smileyrius,

And do si do Very Happy

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Quote:

Lordy said: the Christian hierarchy are up to, and have been up to ever since it became clear that a quick buck could be made, and people could be manipulated by fear

Listen mate...SQUELCH!
That mushy sound you heard was your argument being squashed like a grape, and here's the boot that did it.. Smile

-
"Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit...be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (2 Cor 2:17,1 Peter 5:2-3)

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@Romeo Fabulini,

Honestly, Romeo.
How many religious leaders actually fit that description?

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@Romeo Fabulini,

Old mick here lords it over us every day

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@Romeo Fabulini,

Quote:

For example George Harrison sang "My Sweet Lord" and got sued because it happened to sound like the old Chiffons number "He's so Fine" with different lyrics..Smile

The Chiffons didn't write 'He's So Fine'. Who did?
If you don't know it shows the shallowness your ability to research a subject, doesn't it? Let me know when you find out.

And to blow off The Virgin Birth, the Resurrection and the Great Flood as just so many "ancient myths and legends flying about' shows your lack of honesty.

Look, there is no shame in having Christianity be based upon Pagan beliefs and practices, none at all. So why not own up to the fact that the entire fabric of the Christian Religion was co-opted from many sources??

Oh, wait. I forgot for a moment that Christianity's claim that it is the one true, holy, apostolic faith might be,,,, um, jeopardized, if it could be shown that all of the aspects and beliefs of Christianity can be traced to previous, pagan, cults.

Joe(and it can be done)Nation

2 Replies

@Joe Nation,

Quote:

if it could be shown that all of the aspects and beliefs of Christianity can be traced to previous, pagan, cults.

All of Christianity? That would be going too far. There are many original elements in it, such as the "love your enemy".

1 Reply

@Joe Nation,

Was it a hamburger?

http://www.mcdonalds.com/content/dam/McDonalds/item/mcdonalds-Big-Mac.png

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Quote:

Joe Nation said:- the entire fabric of the Christian Religion was co-opted from many sources

Mate you disappoint me, and you an ex-hippy too!
Christianity fearlessly strutted its stuff without looking over its shoulder at 'other sources'!
Jesus's young cousin John was a 'sort of hippy' living rough-
"In the wilderness of Judea...John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey" (Matt 3:1-4),
sometimes going in town to yell insults at the snooty priests and corrupt rulers.
Jesus's verdict on him?-
"John is the greatest man ever to be born" (Matt 11:11)

John getting stuck into Herod and Salome-

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/johnvHerodC_zpsf997ccff.gif~original

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@Olivier5,

The concept of 'love your enemy' was part of Buddhism some 600 years before Christ came along. With a little digging, I'll bet you I can find some texts from even more ancient Babylonian codes that says the same thing. Ancient people didn't relish the idea of constant war, living in peace with your enemies is an old idea.

You have to remember that the Babylonian and Egyptian civilizations predated the Israelites by several thousand years. The Israelites spent a lot of time as 'guests' of both places. They would have picked up a lot of ideas, legends, myths, laws and folkways during those times. Lots of ancient peoples taught that there would be a savior or redeemer to bring about a new age of prosperity or health or any number of things to whatever tribe or clan they belonged to. The Jews were no different.

Keep looking for original ideas in the Old Testament or the New, you might find some.

Joe(good luck)Nation

1 Reply

@izzythepush,

Well, this is a cheeseburger which violates the rules of Kosher: no meat and dairy in the same dish.

Also I don't like sesame seeds.

Joe(I hope I haven't ex-seeded your expectations)Nation

1 Reply

Quote:

Christianity fearlessly strutted its stuff without looking over its shoulder at 'other sources'!

Truly a untruthful statement, I'm sure it's inadvertent. All you have to do is read 'The Acts of the Apostles' and the Epistles of both Peter and Paul to see that Christianity was constantly in a state of flux in the early years while they figured out what parts of their own culture(s) they would keep as followers of Christ.
To say that those early Christian paid no attention to those other beliefs defies belief especially once you see how they managed to fit in, not by changing everything, but by co-opting what existed and fitting it with what they believed Christ had taught.

Joe(Christianity, a nice idea, someone should try it)Nation

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@Joe Nation,

Maybe Buddhism got to it first, although I haven't seen any proof of that. Anyway, even so, the "love your enemy" idea was not imported by Christianity from Buddhism. It was developed anew within proto-Christianity, and given a strong emphasis.

Let's not throw baby Jesus with the bathwater... Smile

1 Reply

@Joe Nation,

None of that stops it writing a pop song.

1 Reply

@Olivier5,

You have to read my posts all the way through, remember I mentioned I might be able to find something from Babylon??

Quote:

Do not return evil to your adversary; Requite with kindness the one who does evil to you, Maintain justice for your enemy, Be friendly to your enemy.
- Akkadian Councils of Wisdom (from the ancient Babylonian civilization that existed two millennia before Jesus was born)

http://etb-biblical-errancy.blogspot.com/2012/04/jesus-was-not-first-to-teach-love-your.html
The idea of love your enemies was not developed by the Early Christian Church, even the Romans, for crying out loud, made outreaches to anyone they vanquished in order to keep in control of the territories they conquered. It was the Israelites who were directed in the Old Testament to kill everybody except the virgin women when they won a war, but maybe they picked up the idea during the Babylonian Captivity.

Quote:

Maybe Buddhism got to it first, although I haven't seen any proof of that.

You haven't? Go do some reading, you'll find proof.

Joe(again it's okay that Christian ideas and ideals aren't original. Now if someone would just start living up to them, that would be good.)Nation

1 Reply

@izzythepush,

True. But I think you are getting a Big Mac confused with Ronnie Mack.

Heh... good one, Izzy.

Joe(cheers)Nation

1 Reply

@Joe Nation,

How do you know that Ronnie wasn't known as Big Mac to his friends? Just because I've made it up doesn't mean it's not true.

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Quote:

Joe Nation said: The concept of 'love your enemy' was part of Buddhism some 600 years before Christ came along

So what? You hippies preached love and 'flower power' too but that don't mean you pinched the idea off buddhism or anything else.. Smile

Anti-Nam protest 1967

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/anti-Nam-1967_zpsc3798f1e.jpg~original

1 Reply

Quote:

Romeo said: Christianity fearlessly strutted its stuff without looking over its shoulder at 'other sources'!
Joe Nation replied: Truly a untruthful statement, I'm sure it's inadvertent...To say that those early Christians paid no attention to those other beliefs defies belief

You gotta be jivin us boy!
No Christian has ever given a rat's ass about other beliefs because a major theme of Christianity is to AVOID losers.. Smile

"What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?..Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters" (2 Cor 6:14-18)
"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm" (Provs 13:20)
"Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Cor 15:33)
"If you hang around with losers you become a loser" (Donald Trump)
"Don't receive unbelievers into your house nor greet them" (2 John 1:10)

"Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen!" (Jer 10:2)

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/fury.gif

1 Reply

How much of Christianity is based on Paganism?

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