Christianity is a religion that has its roots in Judaism and can be traced back to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Over the years, there have been arguments and debates about whether Christianity has pagan influences and connections. One of the main arguments is that Christianity adopted many pagan symbols and traditions during its early years. For example, the celebration of Christmas on December 25th is believed by some to have been chosen to coincide with pagan winter solstice celebrations. Similarly, the use of Easter eggs and the Easter bunny are seen as pagan symbols that were incorporated into Christian Easter celebrations. Furthermore, the idea of a dying and resurrecting god, which is commonly found in pagan religions, is also seen by some as having influenced the Christian concept of Jesus' death and resurrection.
Furthermore, the idea of a dying and resurrecting god, which is commonly found in pagan religions, is also seen by some as having influenced the Christian concept of Jesus' death and resurrection. Additionally, the worship of saints and the use of icons and statues in Christian worship are seen by some as being similar to pagan practices of idol worship. On the other hand, there are arguments against Christianity being pagan.
Is Christianity a Bloody, Pagan Religion?
Ask Pastor Tyler: Often I will have people ask amazing questions via email, text, or in person. So, I will occasionally turn them into blog posts for those interested. I’ve found that so many of us are all thinking about the same things.
Today’s question is this: Christianity seems to be a very bloody religion. Is animal sacrifice (to the gods) a pagan concept that Christianity ripped off?
As Christians, we sing a lot about the “blood of Christ.” Some of these songs as famous favorites, but the imagery is still a little strange: “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. . .Oh precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow. . .” Or:
“There is a fountain that I see//Filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s vein//The sinners, sinners plunged beneath that blood//Lose all their guilty stains.”
That last one is particularly odd; a “fountain of blood” sounds more like a horror flick than good news to modern ears. Although these songwriters probably took the image a little far, the picture and visual of blood does come from the Bible, like 1 John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” And Ephesians 2:13: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
As my friend asked me recently, does this make Christianity a bloody, barbaric, pagan religion?
On the surface, because the ancient culture of the Bible is so different from our own, many things in it can seem primitive and pagan. But if we look closely at Christ’s death, we’ll see that it’s very different from these ancient religions. There are some clear contrasts with paganism and Judeo-Christianity.
For example, pagan gods are often hungry, needy, volatile, and demanding. They’re moody and they need constant blood. And their bloodlust is not just limited to animals, pagan gods often demanded infants, children, or adults. Human blood. And the gods need people to feed and serve them. In fact, this is paganism’s “chief end of man”: to pacify the gods and serve them forever.
But in Christianity, God makes humans to be in relationship with them. When that relationship gets broken, and things go off the rails, God eventually comes down to us, in the person of Jesus, and serves US through a sacrifice. In Christianity, God doesn’t demand blood, he becomes human and gives of his blood (sacrifices his life).
In this, Christianity isn’t very bloody at all! Only one person dies. He gives his life voluntarily, taking all the sin, suffering, and evil onto himself. In this way, Christ’s death is less pagan, and more like the stories we all love and remember. So many stories and books and movies demonstrate that this theme means so much to us as humans, like in Harry Potter or Stranger Things. I would argue that these myths that deeply resonate with us point to the source of these myths, a God who sacrifices himself for us. In this, it’s not so much the blood itself that forgive us. There’s nothing magical about it. But blood is a powerful piece of life, and of death. When we say “the blood of Jesus” forgives us, we mean that Jesus’ substitute and sacrificing his life is what brings us forgiveness.
Now, when some people think of a bloody Christianity, they might be referring back to the Old Testament. But even before Jesus, Judaism (Old Testament) is also very different from paganism.
A) One fact that often gets missed is that animal sacrifice, in the Old Testament, sometimes function as a BBQ. A party. Simply enjoying some good meat with family and friends. Yes it's bloody, in the same way that a butcher shop is bloody. Not a bad thing if you clean up well.
B) Also, as mentioned above, God commands animal sacrifice, unlike the surrounding cultures which killed humans. God is moving his people in a different direction (eventually ending all sacrifice with Jesus).
C) Sometimes these sacrifices are meant to show the seriousness of a moral failure, highlighting the principle that our actions affect those around us. In this ancient culture, these signs and symbols were hugely important. But Christianity put a stop to these practices.
Christianity is definitely still strange, and as Russell Moore has argued, we should keep it that way. Our culture is desperate for the transcendent and true. We should explain Christianity in the vernacular (common language), without religious clichés, but still in a way that keeps the central message (which is a strange one). But remember, Christianity was just as strange back then as it is now. God breaks in on both paganism AND progressivism, rattling pre-modernity, modernity, and post-modernity. So, #KeepChristianityWeird, but also in a way that’s historically reliable and culturally understandable.
Frank Dunkle serves as a professor and Coordinator of Ambassador Bible College. He is active in the church's teen summer camp program and contributed articles for UCG publications. Frank holds a BA from Ambassador College in Theology, an MA from the University of Texas at Tyler and a PhD from Texas A&M University in History. His wife Sue is a middle-school science teacher and they have one child.
One of the main points is that while Christianity may have adopted some symbols and traditions from paganism, it transformed and gave them new meanings. The use of pagan symbols in Christian celebrations allowed early Christians to connect with their pagan neighbors and later convert them to Christianity. By adopting these symbols and giving them Christian meaning, it was a way to incorporate pagan elements into Christian worship. Furthermore, Christianity can be seen as a unique and distinct religion with its own set of beliefs and teachings that are different from pagan religions. The central focus of Christianity is the belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ and the salvation offered through him. This central belief sets it apart from pagan religions that often involve multiple gods and different paths to salvation. In conclusion, while there are arguments and debates about whether Christianity has pagan influences, it is important to recognize the unique and distinct nature of Christianity. While Christianity may have adopted some symbols and traditions from paganism, it has transformed and given them new meanings. Ultimately, Christianity is a religion that has its own set of beliefs and teachings that differentiate it from paganism..
Reviews for "Examining the Pagan Origins of Christian Saints and Deities"
1. Sam - 1/5 stars: I found "Is Christianity Pagan" to be a poorly researched and biased piece of work. The author seems more invested in promoting their own agenda than providing accurate information. The arguments presented lack depth and rely on cherry-picked evidence to support their claims. As someone who is open to different perspectives, I was disappointed by the lack of objectivity and critical analysis in this book. I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a balanced examination of the topic.
2. Emma - 2/5 stars: While "Is Christianity Pagan" raises some interesting points about the influence of pagan beliefs on Christianity, I found the author's reasoning to be flawed and unconvincing. The book lacks coherence and fails to provide a comprehensive analysis of the subject matter. The arguments presented are often based on faulty premises and limited evidence, which makes it difficult to take the author's claims seriously. Overall, I was left wanting a more well-researched and logical exploration of the topic.
3. John - 1/5 stars: "Is Christianity Pagan" is nothing more than a conspiracy theory disguised as a scholarly work. The author's arguments lack credibility and are heavily influenced by personal biases. It is clear that their intention is to undermine Christianity rather than provide a nuanced examination of its historical foundations. The book is filled with misinformation, logical fallacies, and cherry-picked references. As someone who values intellectual rigor and objectivity, I was highly disappointed by this publication. I would caution others against wasting their time and money on this piece of pseudo-scholarship.