Chritianity Originated From Pagan & Jewish Mystery Religions
Christianity Has Its Origins In Pagan & Jewish Mystery Religions.It is beyond doubt that the earliest known form of Christianity was a Judeo-Hellenistic mystery religion.
What do I mean by a mystery religion? If we define a mystery religion as:-
- A Hellenistic cult where individual salvation was achieved by ritual initiation into a set of ‘mysteries’.
- The knowledge of and participation in these mysteries were key to ensure an eternal life.
- All mystery religions are centred on a central saviour deity.
- This deity is always a son (or daughter) of god.
- This deity undergoes some sort of trial or ordeal.
- By undergoing this ordeal the deity ensures salvation for all who participate in their cult.
7.All the mystery religions involve a ritual meal in which initiated members are united in communion with each other and their god.
Christianity fulfils these criteria. The religions initiation rituals (for example baptism and the Eucharist) also involve an induction into a set of ‘mysteries’ which are required to be followed to achieve eternal life (Pauls letters routinely call essential Christian doctrines ‘mysteries’). Christianity is obviously centred on Jesus as the son of god. Christianity also has Jesus undergo the ordeal of crucifixion and by so doing, he ensures the salvation of his followers. Interestingly these deaths or trials of the diety were called a ‘passion’ (from patheon which literally means ‘sufferings’). The Christians ritual meal is the Eucharist and is epitomised by the telling of the story of the last supper.
Mystery religions were very popular in the era that Christianity arose and all belonged to the same kind of cultural syncretism. For example, Mithraism was a mixture of Perian and Hellenistic elements while the Isis and Osiris cult incorporated Egyptian and Hellenistic elements. Christianity was nothing more than a continuation of this trend.
We know that the Isis cult included an initiation of a ‘voluntary death’ after which the person is reborn. The person was baptized into the cult with an ablution of water and the day of initiation was a new ‘birthday’. The priest performing the ritual became the persons ‘father’. This is mirrored in the Christian ritual of initiation which involves a baptism symbolising death and resurrection and one is then reborn with a new father – God, although early Christians would call the person performing the ceremony father as well. The Isis initiation was consummated with a sacred meal on the third day which fully united the person to their saviour god or goddess and the other cult members. The Mithras cult also had baptism as an initiatory ritual.
We can see that Christianity is a distinctive Hellenistic mystery religon. It is a mixture of a local or national system of Hellenistic religious ideas. As with all mystery religions, Christianity also had a monotheistic trend where it has evolved from poytheism (many competing gods) to henotheism (one god reigning over subordinate deities) to monotheism (one god). There was also a move to individualism focusing on the salvation of the individual rather that the welfare of the community as a whole and cosmopolitanism where membership was open to all.
Given all the evidence available, it is undeniable that Christianity was a Judeo-Hellenistic mystery cult. It conforms exactly to the religious developments that befell nearly all other national cultures within the Roman Empire.
Sources
‘On the Historicity of Jesus – Why We Might Have Reason for Doubt’ by Richard Carrier – Chapter 4 – ‘Background Knowledge (Christianity)’ – Section 6. ‘Elements of Christian Religion’ – Element 11.
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Mark, Matthew, Luke, & John
Christianity was started by the followers of Jesus Christ. This is just one example:
(1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV) For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, {4} that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, {5} and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. {6} After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. {7} Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, {8} and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
The Apostle Peter testifies about Jesus as well,
(2 Peter 1:16 NIV) We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
As I mention in my post about Paul in which I wrote;