Pagan Christianity

http://www.tentmaker.org/pagan-christianity.htm ^ | Steve Eastman

[cdga5for4]

Can you summarize the reason for the title, Pagan Christianity ?

Sure. The title neatly packs the entire point of the book into two words. Pagan Christianity is actually an oxymoron . . . both terms carry concepts that are mutually exclusive. And that is precisely what we have on the earth today. Modern Christianity, whether Protestant or Catholic, is a blending of pagan and Christian practices and mindsets.

The book demonstrates that virtually all of the practices of the modern church have their roots in pagan culture rather than the Word of God. The book contains over 1100 footnotes documenting (historically) this proposal. A secondary purpose of the title is that it is shockingly thought-provoking. So I've been told anyway.

[cdga5for4]

Pagan Christianity is a really interesting read. George Barna and Frank Viola write in a very well sourced and written book about how much of today's Christian rituals are actually pagan rituals passed down through the generations. While it focuses mostly on protestant churches, I'm sure much applies to Catholic churches.

While I don't agree with some of what was written, it is an eye-opening read.

[wideawake]

It's actually a load of garbage predicated on two very shaky principles of analysis:

(1) That historical descriptions of pagan rituals by non-pagans contain no interpretive bias.

(2) That Christians are incapable of creating their own rituals as part of their own cultural expression.

This book is extremely sad and silly.

[ClearCase_guy]

Haven't seen the book, so perhaps I'm missing the point ...

Gatherings of humans need some choreography. Many meetings follow Roberts Rules of Order. It makes things easier if everyone knows how the machinery is expected to work.

Rituals and practices within Christianity are (mostly) old and traditional. People know how things go and they take comfort in the old familiarity. If some of the practices originate in pagan customs, I don't see the harm.

The essentials of faith (not ritualistic practices) are what matters. The Apostles' Creed (for instance) matters a great deal -- and it does not have roots in pagan belief systems.

[wideawake]

The essentials of faith (not ritualistic practices) are what matters. The Apostles' Creed (for instance) matters a great deal -- and it does not have roots in pagan belief systems.

This book makes arguments (and I wish I was joking) to the effect that seminaries are "pagan" because (1) the New Testament does not mention any formal training of pastors and (2) pagans before Christ had schools, like Plato's academy.

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

I highly recommend these two books, which examine what the Bible tells us on “how to do church”. Each one is a good antidote to the best selling books that please man rather than God.

http://antonbosch.com/books.html

http://www.amazon.com/Deliberate-Church-Building-Ministry-Gospel/dp/1581347383

[LiteKeeper]

read later