PAGANISM IN CHRISTIANITY.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Doane, T. W. (Thomas William)
Our assertion that that which is called Christianity is nothing more than the religion of Paganism, we consider to have been fully verified. We have found among the heathen, centuries before the time of Christ Jesus, the belief in an incarnate God born of a virgin; his previous existence in heaven; the celestial signs at the time of his birth; the rejoicing in heaven; the adoration by the magi and shepherds; the offerings of precious substances to the divine child; the slaughter of the innocents; the presentation at the temple; the temptation by the devil; the performing of miracles; the crucifixion by enemies; and the death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. We have also found the belief that this incarnate God was from all eternity; that he was the Creator of the world, and that he is to be Judge of the dead at the last day. We have also seen the practice of Baptism, and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper or Eucharist, added to the belief in a Triune God, consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Let us now compare the Christian creed with ancient Pagan belief.
Christian Creed.
Ancient Pagan Belief.
1. I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth:
1. I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth:[384:1]
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, Our Lord.
2. And in his only Son, our Lord.[384:2]
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary.[384:3]
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.
4. Suffered under (whom it might be), was crucified, dead, and buried.[384:4]
5. He descended into Hell;
5. He descended into Hell;[385:1]
6. The third day he rose again from the dead;
6. The third day he rose again from the dead;[385:2]
7. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
7. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;[385:3]
8. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
8. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.[385:4]
9. I believe in the Holy Ghost;
9. I believe in the Holy Ghost;[385:5]
10. The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints;
10. The Holy Catholic Church,[385:6] the Communion of Saints;
11. The forgiveness of sins;
11. The forgiveness of sins;[385:7]
12. The resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
12. The resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.[385:8]
The above is the so-called "Apostles' Creed," as it now stands in the book of common prayer of the United Church of England and Ireland, as by law established.
It is affirmed by Ambrose, that:
"The twelve apostles, as skilled artificers, assembled together, and made a key by their common advice, that is, the Creed, by which the darkness of the devil is disclosed, that the light of Christ may appear."
Others fable that every Apostle inserted an article, by which the Creed is divided into twelve articles.
The earliest account of its origin we have from Ruffinus, an historical compiler and traditionist of the fourth century, but not in the form in which it is known at present, it having been added to since that time. The most important addition is that which affirms that Jesus descended into hell, which has been added since A. D. 600.[385:9]
Beside what we have already seen, the ancient Pagans had many beliefs and ceremonies which are to be found among the Christians. One of these is the story of "The War in Heaven."
The New Testament version is as follows:
"There was a war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels, and prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world, he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."[386:1]
The cause of the revolt, it is said, was that Satan, who was then an angel, desired to be as great as God. The writer of Isaiah, xiv. 13, 14, is supposed to refer to it when he says:
"Thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the North; I will ascend before the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High."
The Catholic theory of the fall of the angels is as follows:
"In the beginning, before the creation of heaven and earth, God made the angels, free intelligences, and free wills, out of his love He made them, that they might be eternally happy. And that their happiness might be complete, he gave them the perfection of a created nature, that is, he gave them freedom. But happiness is only attained by the free will agreeing in its freedom to accord with the will of God. Some of the angels by an act of free will obeyed the will of God, and in such obedience found perfect happiness. Other angels, by an act of free will, rebelled against the will of God, and in such disobedience found misery."[386:2]
They were driven out of heaven, after having a combat with the obedient angels, and cast into hell. The writer of second Peter alludes to it in saying that God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down into hell.[386:3]