Posted by simus on January 12, 2004, at 23:07:57
In reply to Re: How to justify pagan roots? » Miss Honeychurch, posted by rayww on January 12, 2004, at 10:23:26
> Isn't wondering about Pagan roots of Christianity somewhat like asking what comes first, the chicken or the egg. I always thought that Christ was the God of the Old Testament, that Christianity began with Adam, and pagan / idol worship evolved away from.
>The real root of Christianity dates back farther than Osiris. The fact that all influences are felt, may have more to do with tradition than religion. For instance, in most cultures, you can retain the culture and still worship. There are many cultural practises that don't go along with Christianity, but not all.
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> So, my opinion is that we do not have to justify pagan roots, because they are just a branch off the main. I believe there has never been a moment in time that the earth was left completely void, without a branch of true Christianity, rooted firmly in Jesus Christ, whether on the earth, or in the earth, in the Americas or in Europe, Asia, or isles of the sea. It has always been somewhere. Aside from this, the language of symbolism should not be confused with idol worship, but I really don't know what it is you are referring to when you say pagan roots. What time period did this originate? Don't all christians accept Jesus Christ (part of trinity) as the God of the Old Testament? Don't they beleive Adam and Eve were Christians? That they spoke with Jesus Christ in the Garden of Eden? Just wondering.
Where do you find Christ mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible, possibly other than in the prophetic writings that were referring to the coming of Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah? I am not a scholar, but I do not see any sign of Christianity in the Old Testament. My understanding of the Bible is that the "Old Testament" is referring to the covenant that God made with His people before the coming of Jesus, the Christ. In the Old Testament, the people were under the Mosaic laws, and were required to offer animal sacrifices for their sins. I don't know of any occasion where God's people worshipped, or even knew Jesus.Upon the birth, life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our salvation, the "New Testament", or new covenant, came into being. This is the first place I see the term "Christian" used. So, even though I am a Christian to the core of my being, I do not accept Jesus as the God of the Old Testament. Adam and Eve had no opportunity to be Christians that I can see. Whether or not Adam and Eve talked to Jesus, I don't know. They talked to God, they talked to angels and they talked to Satan, so I suppose it is possible that they could have talked to Jesus too. I just don't see it in the Bible, so I don't know. But, like I said, I am not a great scholar, just a Bible reader.
poster:simus
thread:297550
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20030908/msgs/300033.html