Christian Orgins Options

Ok so im searching for some knowledge here. I was wondering were the belief of christianity evolved from. I have heard something on the judeo belief but im not to sure on what this is any help on this would be great thanks just trying to get the history of christianity. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blablabla.gif)

See the following for a sound, heretical perspective.
Not a light read.

"Not in His Image: Gnostic Vision, Sacred Ecology, and the Future of Belief "
~ John Lamb Lash

See the following for a sound, heretical perspective.
Not a light read.

"Not in His Image: Gnostic Vision, Sacred Ecology, and the Future of Belief "
~ John Lamb Lash

Thank you i will be looking this up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Christian belief is probably derived from a mix of Essene Judaism (an extinct ascetic, mystical sect of Judaism), Pagan Gnosticism, Hermeticism, and mysticism and quasi-monotheism of Greco-Roman mystery cults. It was in the making at least a century before the legendary time given for Jesus's birth and didn't become more or less what it became (along with the censorship or destruction of thecompeting beliefs that it emerged from and with) until about the 3rd to 5th centuries of the Common Era.

The moral ideas espoused in the traditional gospels were not "new"; and moral religion as well as qualified monotheism was being bounced around and growing in popularity in the ancient world--long before the development of Christianity. The dying/resurrecting god motif --which the Gnostics regarded as metaphor--ties in with pagan motifs and afterlife/redemption theology of mystery cults. Mystical aspects--which were more part of the Gnostic tradition--also were concepts developed over time and also influenced by Pagan Gnosticism,Hermeticism, etc. (even Buddhism is said to have influenced Hermetic mysticism). ("Gnosticism" is a subset of Hermeticism, btw).

I'd direct you to an article published in the last issue of Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft, (an academic jrnl published by the University of Pennsylvania) but a friend has the issue and I can't remember the title of the article or name of the author . --But it basically discusses how pagan culture segued from polytheistic cultism to a kind of monotheism that then gave way to Christian cutlure.

For insight Read up/Web browse on "the historicity of Jesus," the Essenes," and read about or read the writings of folks like Simon Magus and Apollonius of Tyana. Also beware of all the conspiracy theories, cut-and-paste mis- and disinformation, and bad scholarship out there on this subject. A scholar named Tobias Churton is one of a number of experts on the history of Gnosticism, and his writing can supply some insight.

Christian belief is probably derived from a mix of Essene Judaism (an extinct ascetic, mystical sect of Judaism), Pagan Gnosticism, Hermeticism, and mysticism and quasi-monotheism of Greco-Roman mystery cults. It was in the making at least a century before the legendary time given for Jesus's birth and didn't become more or less what it became (along with the censorship or destruction of thecompeting beliefs that it emerged from and with) until about the 3rd to 5th centuries of the Common Era.

The moral ideas espoused in the traditional gospels were not "new"; and moral religion as well as qualified monotheism was being bounced around and growing in popularity in the ancient world--long before the development of Christianity. The dying/resurrecting god motif --which the Gnostics regarded as metaphor--ties in with pagan motifs and afterlife/redemption theology of mystery cults. Mystical aspects--which were more part of the Gnostic tradition--also were concepts developed over time and also influenced by Pagan Gnosticism,Hermeticism, etc. (even Buddhism is said to have influenced Hermetic mysticism). ("Gnosticism" is a subset of Hermeticism, btw).

I'd direct you to an article published in the last issue of Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft, (an academic jrnl published by the University of Pennsylvania) but a friend has the issue and I can't remember the title of the article or name of the author . --But it basically discusses how pagan culture segued from polytheistic cultism to a kind of monotheism that then gave way to Christian cutlure.

For insight Read up/Web browse on "the historicity of Jesus," the Essenes," and read about or read the writings of folks like Simon Magus and Apollonius of Tyana. Also beware of all the conspiracy theories, cut-and-paste mis- and disinformation, and bad scholarship out there on this subject. A scholar named Tobias Churton is one of a number of experts on the history of Gnosticism, and his writing can supply some insight.

Wow this was very helpful i will be doing some more reasearch. Thank you for the post and information very interesting. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Hi Grim
As Soror and MG have mentioned, the origin of Christianity probably isn't quite as cut and dry as the Christian leaders make out. For instance the Psalms of Solomon is copied from older Sumerian scriptures. And the story of Jesus has a number of uncomfortable similarities with other mythical and semi-mythical religious founders such as Buddha, Mythras, Dionysus, etc. There are a number of books that have come out in recent decades that write about things that might have been unthinkable in earlier generations. Questioning the origins of Christianity still isn't a popular subject among certain sectors. But the New Testament seems to have evolved. The Books that make up the New Testament weren't written down until about forty to eighty years after the death of Jesus (if he existed). Then the Christians had a number of writings floating around that were considered semi-sacred, but it wasn't until the Council of Nicea that they decided which Books were approved and which were not. So the New Testament was assembled around 325 AD. IMHO opinion they chose which Books to put in the New Testament according to political reasons rather than being moved by the Holy Spirit. If you look at the careers of the Bishops involved in the choices you will see that some were more politicians than spiritual leaders. I'm sure that some were sincere spiritual leaders, but a lot were not.

If you look at what they espoused you will see that it was much different than what Christians believe today. I would encourage you to read whatever you can on church history written by people who are primarily historians rather than being primarily Christian in a narrow sense. It should be educational. It may not affect your religious beliefs in a major way, or it may disillusion you. While reading these books your opinions will probably go back and forth. Give yourself time to digest these facts and ideas before arriving at a conclusion. No conclusion is final however. They may find more evidence that might cause you to re-evaluate your conclusions. All answers are provisional on what evidence you possess.

Hi Goibniu

Thank you for the response i have been trying to do some reasearch on the history mainly because everyone in my life believes in so called"jesus". I have been christian all my life untill about 2 years ago i staarted to get out of the faith mainly do to the fact that most of what i comprhend in the bible does'nt seem to add up to what its cracked up to be. I do not at all belive in this jesus figure or follow the bible but i must be prepared to say why i do not when people ask (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sport_boxing.gif) .This was helpful i see your point on the priest being like congressman ha all to true. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)