Pre-Christian pagan deities

[SocialReign]

It’s common for those hostile to the faith to point to pre-Christian religions as “proving” that nothing in Christianity is unique (e.g. the cult of Mithras, the epic of Gilgamesh, etc), and there are two ways to tackle this.

One, to point out the differences in those stories.

Or two (as I prefer), to point out that God could build on those pagan myths in salvation history by accomplishing the redemption in a way that would be more accessible to those people.

Now, here’s my question: To what degree do you think it’s acceptable to look to pagan deities, myths, etc., as prefiguring Christian figures? I’m no saying I have a devotion to Greek gods or anything, but what do you think of a quasi-devout reading of the great epic poetry and mythology, believing that God indeed could have prefigured the events of Christ’s life in those things? Obviously I would have to read those things critically, but St. Justin and others obviously saw God as working through Greek philosophy, and today the Church acknowledges the truths in other religions.

Kind of a tough question to answer but open to your thoughts.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Pagan peoples were naturally drawn to God, even if they had no knowledge of the true God. There is nothing wrong in acknowledging this.

 

[rock022]

When I am confronted with the accusations of copying mythology I like to ask them a few questions.

Is that your faith?

• if yes then I ask them to explain they faith to me so I can learn something, but I have yet to meet such a person.
• If no then I ask them how do they know so much about something they do not believe in and can they show me their research.

I also ask them which pagan faith had God become man and died for all?

• There should be no such answer because Jesus is not a demigod, and no other faith had God become man and died for us, that is strictly Christian.

There are many great topics that can arise from such a conversation and evangelize.

I recommend reading Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI) book: Introduction to Christianity.

 

[Jon_S_1]

It’s common for those hostile to the faith to point to pre-Christian religions as “proving” that nothing in Christianity is unique (e.g. the cult of Mithras, the epic of Gilgamesh, etc), and there are two ways to tackle this.

One, to point out the differences in those stories.

Or two (as I prefer), to point out that God could build on those pagan myths in salvation history by accomplishing the redemption in a way that would be more accessible to those people.

Now, here’s my question: To what degree do you think it’s acceptable to look to pagan deities, myths, etc., as prefiguring Christian figures? I’m no saying I have a devotion to Greek gods or anything, but what do you think of a quasi-devout reading of the great epic poetry and mythology, believing that God indeed could have prefigured the events of Christ’s life in those things? Obviously I would have to read those things critically, but St. Justin and others obviously saw God as working through Greek philosophy, and today the Church acknowledges the truths in other religions.

Kind of a tough question to answer but open to your thoughts.

The truths in other religions of “love your neighbor” or “God created the world” are fine but it seems you are making a two fold error;

1. that the Bible contains myths

It doesn’t, for example some sort of flood happened, the epic of Gilgamesh is simply a retelling of the same story.

1. that there is truth in the Greek myths like the Bible has truth.

Certainly there are life lessons in the myths but to put them on the same level of the Bible (or lowering the Bible to their level) is a serious error.

 

[Nelka]

Everybody’s soul yearns for God which is why civilisations around the world that were untouched by the old world all had a belief in God in some way but displayed this wrong whether by human sacrifice or something like this.

This is why some atheists want aliens to exist so badly, they think it will plug the hole where God should be.

 

[SocialReign]

I wouldn’t put these things on a par with Christian revelation (e.g. the Bible), but the word “myth” is misunderstood. John Paul II and Benedict XVI also speak of “mythology” in Genesis and Old Testament history. Myth is not just something false.