The Pagan Origins of Christianity Essay - 4088 Words

The first part of this paper will explore the mystery-religions, the reasons behind their popularity, and the Hellenistic world in which they grew that began with Alexander the Great. Next, their characteristics and connections first with Judaism and later with Christianity will be more deeply discussed. In the second part it will be shown that the mystery-religions helped to clear the pathway for the Christianization of the Greco-Roman world by men such as Paul the Apostle. Finally, the Emperor Constantine’s role in this story will be mentioned, during whose reign the mystery-religions declined and Christianity became the major religion of Europe and the near east. The paper will conclude with a brief speculation about the significance of†¦show more content†¦After learning these mysteria, members were considered reborn or â€Å"born again.† Christianity in fact began along these lines of practice. Its most important ceremony, the Mass or Eucharist, in which t he body and blood of Christ were symbolically eaten in the forms of bread and wine, was forbidden to all but a select few who had completed three levels of initiation. Most early Christians, whether of Jewish or Gentile origin, would have been familiar the concept of mysteria. Throughout the Mediterranean world, religious communities based on this idea of secret teachings thrived. Another common element in the mystery-religions was their tendency to worship the divine on what we today would think of as a higher spiritual level than standard Greek and Roman religions did. The idea of a spiritual world as separate from the material world, first promoted by Plato, was fully adopted by the mystery-religions and provided them with a basis for belief in life after death. Conversely, ancient Greco-Roman religion and Judaism contained nothing that addressed this new concept of separate worlds. Traditional public worship in both Jewish and Gentile communities generally emphasized the material world in its requests for good crops, healthy children and success in business. Worship in a closedShow MoreRelatedEssay about Pagan Christmas788 Words   |  4 Pages25 March 2013 Mythic Dimensions of Literature â€Å"The Origins of Christmas† Christmas is a holiday celebrated by members of the religion of Christianity. The holiday acknowledges the birth of the Christian prophet Jesus Christ. It is celebrated on December 25th by an estimated two billion members of the Christian religion. The holiday is also celebrated by many non-Christians, who highlight the secular aspects of the holiday. Many of the symbols, traditions, and rituals widely attributed to ChristmasRead MoreChristianity During The Roman Empire1526 Words   |  7 PagesChristianity in Rome Religion is an important feature in most cultures throughout time. Different religions have been more prominent than others, one of the most popular being Christianity. Christianity developed during the time of the Roman Empire. It began as a minority religion and grew into something much more than that. Christianity’s importance to the empire increased over time. At first, Christian values seemed different than those of pagan Roman civilization and Romans were not sure how toRead MoreComparing Pagan Romans And Christians Essay1107 Words   |  5 PagesPagan Romans and Christians in the 2nd 3rd C.E. Introduction: What relationship did the Christians and Pagan Romans have with one another? Explain emperor Nero, and his part in how the persecutions began on a higher level. Glimpse of some of the accusations Christians went under. B. Introduce Primary source Pliny and his letter to Trajan. Explain the reason this letter relates to the relationship of the Christians and Pagan Romans. C. Thesis: The Christians faced tumultuous, andRead MoreChristianity : The Rise Of Christianity1512 Words   |  7 PagesBefore the rise of Christianity as a major religion in the European area, Paganism was a belief that was common among all people across Europe. Paganism involved polytheistic beliefs with ritualistic tradition and animal sacrifice. This belief was common in the Anglo-Saxon tradition, which is from where the epic poem Beowulf is thought to have originated circa 550 AD. Due to the origins of Beowulf being surrounded by Pagan tradition and culture and reliance on the method of oral recitation of theRead MoreChristian Influence On Greco- Roman Paganism1037 Words   |  5 Pagesreligious texts were in existence, and pagan believers had little to refer to. They followed tradition, allowing certain beliefs to fall through the cracks, and other beliefs to flourish. There was virtually no religious text dealing with Greek or Roman beliefs and as a whole the pagan s ystem was vague. The Greek author Hesiod’s Theogony was one of the sole written interpretations of Greek paganism and instead of offering a guide to followers, it focused more on origin stories and tales of heroes. AccordingRead MoreTheme Of Paganism In Beowulf1179 Words   |  5 Pagesacts. Christian and Pagan Influences in Beowulf: The Pagan deities, rituals as well as pagan ideas influenced Beowulf, when it was being created, though the passing down of the epic narrative in verbal form, the Christianity age would provide a residual effect to the story. The ideas mixed is not signifying a struggle to attain religious power in the entire story, but the poem is blended with heroic ideals of Paganisms as well as self-sacrificing values which govern Christianity. The elements of ChristianityRead MoreChristianity And Its Effect On The World1128 Words   |  5 Pages Since the religion of Christianity was first practiced, it has been spread to the far reaches of the world. The spread of the religion has led to some major political, social, and economic consequences. Christianity started as a small sect of Judaism and has become the most practiced religion in the world. Aided by cultural diffusion, missionaries, and war, the church expanded and more. There have been many causes for the spread of Christianity, a nd it has led to numerous effects. Many of theseRead MoreThe Origins And Central Beliefs Of Islam1735 Words   |  7 PagesThree Theologies for Thee The origins and central beliefs of Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity should be common knowledge to understand our world today and its history. Islam is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion that professes that there is only one god. Muhammad is the last messenger of the god Allah. It’s the world’s fastest growing religion and the second largest in the world. Muslims make up 23% of the world’s population. Islam teaches that Allah is peaceful, all-minded, and unique, and he hasRead MoreKeeping Briton’s Religious Origins Alive through Ancient Literature1129 Words   |  5 Pagesheroes and heroines in the stories. Furthermore, the persistence of these religious genres is evidenced in ancient literature such as Beowulf, The Myth of Arthur’s Return, or Diedru and the Exile of the Sons of Uisliu, as they retained remnants of origins of the Britons’ religious beliefs. In Beowulf, King Hrothgar, the ruler of Danes, is troubled by the rampages of a demon named Grendel. Fortunately, a young Geat warrior, Beowulf, travels from his own kingdom across the seas, to Heorot Hall offeringRead MoreComparison Between Roman And Roman Empire953 Words   |  4 PagesRoman society had changed in two things: Christianity had become a powerful social, political, and religious force, and the Roman spectacles had grown to enormous proportions. Even though the games were supported by the emperors, those spectacles experienced some changes, especially because of a special legislation that produced norms on their performance. Emperors made laws against paganism, idolatry, and sacrifices. In 380, Theodosius declared Christianity the official and only legitimate religion