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A:Several scholars have put forward the thesis that Christianity was influenced by the pagan mystery religions. One view is that Christianity actually began as a mystery religion, and that the figure of Jesus of Nazareth was only added much later as the religion evolved away from its 'mystery' roots.

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Mystery religions reduced reality to a personal experience of enlightenment. Through secret ceremonies initiates experienced an esoteric transformation of consciousness that led them to believe that they were entering into a higher realm of reality. While followers of Christ were committed to essential Christian doctrines, devotees of the mysteries worked themselves into altered states of consciousness. They were committed to the notion that experience is a better teacher than words. Converts to Christianity singularly placed their faith in the One who said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".

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Q: Was Christianity influenced by pagan mystery religions?
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Related questions

What religion founded Christianity?

Christianity grew out of Judaism. The founders of Christianity were all Jewish.Another answer:Furthermore, Christianity was slightly influenced by Zoroastrianism and Pagan Graeco-Roman religions.


What religions are considered pagan?

Christianity.


What came first Pagan or Christianity?

Paganism predates Christianity by thousands of years. Paganism refers to a broad set of traditional, polytheistic spiritual beliefs and practices that were widespread in pre-Christian societies. Christianity emerged later in the first century AD with the teachings of Jesus Christ.


What religions do not trace their origin back to Abraham?

Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Paganism, Wicca, etc. Eastern religions and pagan religions are not Abrahamic.


Is wicca and pagan the same religion?

no. paganism is a range of religions, like Christianity. Wicca is a type of pagan, but a pagan isn't necessarily a Wiccan.


What is the one factor that all pagan religions share?

They are all considered 'different' to other religions (eg. Christianity or buddismn), or they aren't 'book religions'


How did European Pagan Religions influence the formation and creation of Christianity?

Many practices and customs of Pagan people were so deeply rooted in the hearts of the Pagan people that the Christians wanted to convert so they found ways of combining them into the new practices of Christianity to make it easier for converting Pagan people to Christianity.


What religion did Jews refuse to convert to?

If you are referring to religions that others attempted to force on the Jews, they were Christianity, Islam, and many pagan religions.


What are some current Pagan religions?

Paganism is an umbrella term that encompasses all of the non-abrahamic religions. This means that every religion that has not descended from Judaism, Christianity, or Islam is pagan. Wicca, Ásatrú, Hellenic Polytheism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, and Taoism are all examples of pagan religions.


Who were priestesses in Greek Orthodox Christianity?

There are no priestesses in Greek Orthodoxy as it showed the difference between them and Pagan religions.


What problems did Saint Catherine of Alexandria solve?

She made intelligent answers regarding Christianity over pagan religions.


Do pagan people still exist?

Pagans lived in the medieval times and most of them converted to Christianity. Their religion is still practiced by some people. Druidism, Shamanism and Asatru comes under Pagan religions. There are some other new religions stemmed from Pagan religions and those are called Neo-Paganism. Wicca, Witchcraft includes in Neo-Pagan religions.