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RE: Chritianity Originated From Pagan & Jewish Mystery Religions

in #christianity7 years ago

Christianity was started by the followers of Jesus Christ. This is just one example:

(1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV) For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, {4} that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, {5} and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. {6} After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. {7} Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, {8} and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

The Apostle Peter testifies about Jesus as well,

(2 Peter 1:16 NIV) We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

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I’m not denying that Christianity began with the followers of Jesus. What I’m saying is that early Christianity was only one of many mystery cults that were around at the time. This is aptly demonstrated in your example. Paul in 1 Cor. 15 is talking about revelations ie; hallucinations, he and others had about a celestial Jesus. This is one of the hallmarks of a mystery cult.

As I mention in my post about Paul in which I wrote;

This is totally consistent with the earliest form of Christianity being a Judeo-Hellenistic mystery religion. Like other mystery cults, Christianity had secret doctrines that only initiates were privy to and were rooted in esoteric astral or metaphysical theology. The general public were only being told Christian beliefs through myths and allegory. To obtain the true meaning Christian leaders (ie Paul) regularly hallucinated and believed their dreams were divine communications. They also achieved trace states, practised glossolalia (the speaking of tongues – not proper languages but rather gibberish - see 1 Corinthians 14) and were susceptible to psychosomatic illness.

As for your second example; 2 Peter is known as one of the most widely recognised forgeries in the New Testament. It was written after Matthew which itself was penned between 80 to 110 AD. so there is absolutely no way that the author of Peter was a witness to any living Jesus and he was again referring to revelation experiences. This passage is just answering critics of Christianity who are questioning the faith as the old prophecies of an imminent judgement day and Christ’s return haven’t been fulfilled.

They will say, "Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter. 3:4 - NIV)