Borrowed pagan religious symbolisms betray the antecedents of Christianity, from the Orpheus Tradition to the Pythagorean, from the Mithraic to the Zoroastrian, in fact so intrinsic and intertwined in Christianity are pagan symbolisms that many Christians will live their threescore and ten years none the wiser, and what’s more, the church leaders prefer it that way. Here are a few examples.

For centuries the Catholic Church claimed that the bones of Peter were buried under St. Peter’s Basilica (the Church of the Vatican) now we know that it is the site of a large necropolis on Vatican Hill that lies directly underneath the Vatican, actually the area directly under the high Altar is a Mithraic Temple. The area was seized and destroyed by Christians in 376CE. It is also known that in Britain, the remains of Mithraic temples still exist just a few steps away from St. Pauls Cathedral.

Mithraism was the most popular of Pagan religions amongst the Romans at the time of Jesus. Mithra according to myth was born out of a rock, what are the odds that Jesus (or those who wrote the Gospels) knew a thing or two about Mithraism, Jesus had a nick-name for that most-capricious of his disciples, you guessed it…the rock!

Christian bishops of Rome appropriated the Mithraic high priest's title of Pater Patrum who was known as the "Papa” (Pope) he wore a red cap and a ring, in addition the Mithaic high priest also carried a shepherd’s staff.

Another curious piece of symbolism that occurs in Christianity is the Fish of Pisces represented by the 12th sign of the Zodiac, encapsulated with two crescent moons, one waxing, one waning, it is one of the oldest symbols used by early Christians to identify themselves as believers.

Tertullian wrote about this, saying:
"But we, the Christians, are little fishes after the type of our great Fish Jesus Christ, born in the water".

A good example of the pagan fish symbolism making a crossover to Christianity can be found in the Gospel of John 21 describing the fish story of Jesus miraculously helping his disciples land a catch of 153 fish. (what fisherman counts his fish?) The bible writers in their haste to infer a miracle neglect to inform it’s audience that this same feat is also strangely achieved by Pythagoras five hundred years earlier. Pythagoras himself predicting the exact number of fish to be caught, with the 153 being a sacred Pythagorean number associated with the "Vesica Piscis" or "Vessel of the Fish which we explain the following manner;

When the circumference of one sphere touches the centre of the other they generate the fish shape known as the vesica piscis. The ratio of length to height of this shape is 265:153, and is known as the 'measure of the fish'. It is a powerful mathematical tool, being the nearest whole number approximation of the square root of three and the controlling ratio of the equilateral triangle. The formula was also known to Archimedes. Bible writers simply had to formulate a narrative in order to explain why they were using such symbolism.

Continuing with the theme of the insertion of pagan symbols and doctrines into early Christianity and eventually gaining wide acceptance.

In Hermetism the doctrine of the “thrice great”, the human soul is enveloped when descending through the seven or five planetary spheres as it were in seven or five garments, with seven or five vicious energies. When ascending to heaven it has to get rid of all these foul outer bodies and replace them by as many heavenly robes.

We see the introduction of this pagan concept in Christianity in Paul’s writing to the Colossians. In chapter 3v9 Paul evidently alludes to Hermetic symbolism, as he exhorts the Christians to put off the "old man" together with the five evil qualities of anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, and to put on the Christ as the " new man," together with the five virtues, "bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and long-suffering."

I need not say that the idea of wrapping the convert in a mystic robe, in order to identify him with the divinity is alien to Jewish religious thought but very much a Pagan idea. The simile was used by Paul obviously under the influence of Hermetism.

It is hugely significant that in the passage in Acts 14v12 Paul is taken for an incarnation of Hermes by the people of Lystra.

Christianity obviously stole lots of Pagan religion ideology. A 419 religion at best

ifeness:
Christianity obviously stole lots of Pagan religion ideology. A 419 religion at best

Whatever you say, whatever you do, you will always be a christian.

Ifeness! You are a christian, but just a backslider.

And for those who might have missed the obvious (or not so obvious) In the “Fish Symbolism” account of John 21, Jesus asks the disciples to bring some of the fish they have caught, but they are all subsequently fed on the one single fish which they already find on the coal-fire when they come ashore.

The author of John did not intend by use of symbolism to suggest that the newly caught fish i.e, the “converts” were devoured by the Apostolic fishermen. Rather the author wished to show how some of the symbolically captured, namely the fully converted are allowed to witness and even to partake of the sacred communion in the flesh of the one “Redeemer” a conclusion which indicates that the author connected the fishing symbol to the eucharistic rite. I am correct in this regards as contemporary pictographic depictions in the catacombs (S. Callisto) has been shown to confirm this.

Needless to say, the entire story is allegorical, the clue is in the exact distance Peter had to traverse to the boat.

ifeness:
Christianity obviously stole lots of Pagan religion ideology. A 419 religion at best

Maybe borrowed.....and forgot to return.