You know whats the weirdest part about christianity?

[Neomage]

Not to start a flame war or anything but... why do christians, worship Jesus Christ, a jewish, when their religious background is based on paganism?

[Shiyume]

Re: You know whats the weirdest part about christianity?

Many Christian customs and Holidays are based on Paganism, but the actual religion isn't. Christianity actually developed within Judaism and spread out, becoming separate based largely on Jesus of Nazareth's teachings.

[Neomage]

Re: You know whats the weirdest part about christianity?

Many Christian customs and Holidays are based on Paganism, but the actual religion isn't. Christianity actually developed within Judaism and spread out, becoming separate based largely on Jesus of Nazareth's teachings.

Well... I suppose that makes sence then.

[Sabaron]

Re: You know whats the weirdest part about christianity?

The reason Christian holidays always occur on the same days as Pagan festivals is because the RC Church used the calendar as part of their method of converting the various populations they encountered. Christmas is an old Roman Holiday, Easter--the vernal equinox, All Saints Day is Samhain, etc.

[DieselBoy09]

Re: You know whats the weirdest part about christianity?

The reason Christian holidays always occur on the same days as Pagan festivals is because the RC Church used the calendar as part of their method of converting the various populations they encountered. Christmas is an old Roman Holiday, Easter--the vernal equinox, All Saints Day is Samhain, etc.

Exactly. The influence is also evident in literature such as Beowulf, etc.. It was to better relate, alter, and then convert.

[Jei]

Re: You know whats the weirdest part about christianity?

From what I understand. Paganism was the original religious of the Romans at the time of Jesus. I'm not sure what Jesus' original teachings were. But Christian as a religion we know today was crafted by Augustine 400 years after the death of Jesus. Augustine being a Roman, it makes sense if Roman's pagan festival are carried over.

[Legal Fish]

Re: You know whats the weirdest part about christianity?

I was going to say talking snakes, but it seems you've answered your own question.

[Shiyume]

Re: You know whats the weirdest part about christianity?

From what I understand. Paganism was the original religious of the Romans at the time of Jesus. I'm not sure what Jesus' original teachings were. But Christian as a religion we know today was crafted by Augustine 400 years after the death of Jesus. Augustine being a Roman, it makes sense if Roman's pagan festival are carried over.

That sounds about right, Jei. Jesus' original teachings weren't actually far from Judaism, but different enough to make them outcasts within the community (to what extent depends on who you're getting the story from). Christianity as an organized religion needed time to come together after his death because, as I understand it, he didn't have much structure, he just went around teaching people. In that time, it was hard for it -not- to pick up other religions' traditions because they were so far from the source, and didn't have a lot to go on.

Plus, they probably wanted breaks from work/school

[Caspian]

Re: You know whats the weirdest part about christianity?

Original "church" was just christians getting together in their homes and in the catacombs and worshiping and studying. Not really any organization at all. Deacons came about shortly after his death.
Christmas likely came about b/c its the around about time that corresponds to when he was born, and there was already Chanukah and other holidays at that time.
Easter is actually about right on. He was crucified the Friday of Passover and Rose on the third day, so thats where that comes from.
Those are the big two, probably some other lesser known Christian holidays that I'm unaware of or don't celebrate.

[Cometgreen]

Re: You know whats the weirdest part about christianity?

Many religions and cultures assimilate the traditions and rituals of others. Many elements of the Jewish/Christian (and I assume Islamic, though I haven't really read it) bible can be traced back to previous regional tribes. And most Christian holidays or events came from Roman Catholicism, which is big on rituals and thus favors the meaning behind an event than its historical accuracy. Then again, I don't know if any protestant groups celebrate things like the Pentecost.

Also, not to go too far offtopic, but does anyone else find it odd that Jesus is always refered to as Jewish? He was obviously born from Jewish parents and all that, but if we are to believe the Gospels and that Jesus did believe himself to be the Son of God, wouldn't that essentially make him Christian? "Christian" did not exist then, but so long as he believed in his own divinity, his religious views would be more Christian than Jewish.

...Yes, I'm bored.

[Caspian]

Re: You know whats the weirdest part about christianity?

It is in reference to his ethnicity, not his religion.

[DakAttack]

Re: You know whats the weirdest part about christianity?

Jesus was Jewish. There was no Christianity at his time, it only occured after his death that Christianity became a splinter sect of Judaism. The Jews believed that a messiah would come and that this messiah would offer salvation. Ultimately they didn't believe Jesus was this messiah, but rather a preperation for Judaism and the rest of the world for the coming of the real messiah. Jesus was so influencial that many of the Jews rallied behind his purpose and teachings. Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, but most importantly the teachings of Christ. Catholicism on the other hand is, at its simplest level, Christianity as an institution.

If you want to go far, far back, Judaism was once a polytheistic faith. It was only until their interaction with Zoroastrianism that brought them most of their Judeo-Christian theology and religious concepts. Zoroastrianism is a Persian religion that originated in and around Iran, but left due to religious persecution. When the Babylonians exiled the Jews from Judea, the Persians re-conquered Judea, kicked the Babylonians out, and invited the Jews back. There the Jews found the people practicing Zoroastrianism.

[711rocks]

Re: You know whats the weirdest part about christianity?

lolreligion