A thought-provoking study of all the pagan influences which permeate Christianity and of which most adherents of that religion know nothing. Written by a church sabbath day reformer and theologian at Alfred University, New York, this work delves into the origins of the practices of modern Christianity, many of which will astound the reader.
While the adoption of the pagan festivals of the year-end Yule ("Christmas") and of the Spring fertility rite of Ostara ("Easter") are well-known, this work reveals that almost all of the rituals and even belief systems as practised by modern Christian churches are pagan in origin.
The author shows how early Christian antisemitism led many of the first originators of that religion to reject many of Christianity's founding principles, which were based firmly on older Jewish concepts and religious rules. This, he shows, led to a reinterpretation and revision of much of the original theological framework by pagan-influenced Gnostics.
Then he showed how this initial disruption of the founding principles of Christianity opened the doors to a flood of pagan practices which were absorbed into the rituals of the church. These included baptism, the use of "holy water" (the latter two, the author shows, come directly from Indian, Egyptian and Northern European mythology), the very idea of "church buildings," the layout and format of all church services, the items used in church rituals (such as the communion cup and others), candles, lights, the clothing worn by religious figures, child-naming ceremonies, Sunday observance, the "mother and child" symbolism of Mary and Jesus; the universally-used "Chi-ro" symbol, and even the symbol of the cross itself.
A riveting book for believers and non-believers alike, and essential reading for anyone interested in the origin and development of Christianity.