[AlguyA]

"Oh, no, I readily concede that orthodox Christianity is hellenized."

So, then, wouldn't any Christian perforce have to accept some degree of hellenization to remain truly a Christian? Either that, or it seems to me one would have to totally reject the Virgin Birth, and, hence, virtually all the Gospels as untrue. Thus, to speak of Christianity somehow being tainted by 'paganism' three hundred years after Christ is to miss the point that that 'taint' is evident within the first few sentences of the New Testament. Indeed, it seems we must accept that 'taint' as, in fact, God's will.

Or we can reject Jesus as the Christ.

[malakhi]

So, then, wouldn't any Christian perforce have to accept some degree of hellenization to remain truly a Christian? Either that, or it seems to me one would have to totally reject the Virgin Birth, and, hence, virtually all the Gospels as untrue. Thus, to speak of Christianity somehow being tainted by 'paganism' three hundred years after Christ is to miss the point that that 'taint' is evident within the first few sentences of the New Testament.

No real argument here. Although I would point out that, chronologically, Paul's epistles are earliest. And also that, virgin birth or no, Jesus's teachings as recorded in the gospels are worthy of study.