(In answer to Why did Greek and Egyptian beliefs (among others) become mythologies but Jewish and Catholic beliefs became religions?”)
Because the Greek and Egyptian religions were simply myths and legends and nothing else, whereas Judaeo-Christianity is a true revelation from the really existing God, acting in human history.
10 comments
"Really existing god”… Oh really? The Judeo-Christian god promised to end all evil. Odin promised to end all giants. Now I don’t know about you, but I’m seeing no giants around yet I do see a suspicious amount of evil. Seems to me, Odin has more proof he exists than YHWH does.
But in all seriousness, why did the 3 Abrahamic religions survive the passage of time while all the other, polytheistic ones, didn’t? I’m actually curious, is monotheism simply more appealing? Because, IMO, Norse & Greek mythologies seem a lot more interesting and exciting! Aaaah, the epic tales of heroes exploring the unknown, battling fearsome creatures and gaining true glory for mankind… Faaaaar more pleasant than a singular cosmic horror story where humans never accomplish anything and only exist to suffer.
@Timjer #37695
Consider how the Abrahamic religions spread. I mentioned there are places here in states I hide being Pagan. My aunt is atheist, she lives in NC. When I was in college as well as when I would visit her after she used to tell me not to be out about wirshipping Isis for obvious reasons as well as other deities. Historically it was worse. In Dark Ages Europe remember who was tortured and often killed. The Abrahamic religions don't coexist well and so suppressed other beliefs or demonised them.
@Timjer #37695
“But in all seriousness, why did the 3 Abrahamic religions survive the passage of time while all the other, polytheistic ones, didn’t? I’m actually curious, is monotheism simply more appealing?”
As soon as the Empire became Christian, this toleration ceased. The only writings to be permitted were those supported by the line currently regarded as orthodox. By 326 Constantine had authorised the confiscation and destruction of anything that challenged orthodoxy (i.e. the orthodoxy established the previous year). This included non-Christian places of worship as well as works by pagan authors and by all other Christian factions. Soon afterwards Constantine's mother Helena and Macarius, the Bishop of Jerusalem, were supervising the destruction of a temple in Jerusalem dedicated to Aphrodite, and building a Christian basilica on the site. This basilica, now the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, was imagined to be the very burial site of Jesus and to encompass the place of crucifixion. Evidence was conveniently discovered in the form of a tomb and miracle working splinters of the True Cross. Countless thousands of architectural treasures from classical times were soon being vandalised in the same way and turned into Churches.
Christianity’s rivals were destroyed through mandate.
Source: http://www.badnewsaboutchristianity.com/gi0_vandalism.htm
@Conscience #37697
I didn’t know you were a pagan, actually. But I can imagine it must be hard living somewhere surrounded by zealous fundies. I mean, if I’d find myself there, I don’t know how I would be able to balance my atheism with the fear of being ostracized at best.
That being said, I’m fully aware how the Abrahamic religions solidified their strength during the Dark Ages, mostly through instilling immense fear into the masses to force them into mindless obedience. I just wonder how they managed to get to that point in the first place.
@Timjer #37699
Here in Maryland it is not bad. But in Bible Belt area you are encouraged to feign Christianity more or less
I think it might be about existing worshippers. I mean, we don’t speak about Hindu mythology even though, as a religion with Indo-European influences, it had common points with Greek and Norse mythology.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
To post a comment, you'll need to Sign in or Register . Making an account also allows you to claim credit for submitting quotes, and to vote on quotes and comments. You don't even need to give us your email address.
