Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Evolutionist · 08-23-2003, 09:00 AM

i came across this on another thread:

Quote:

on a side note, the christians got where they are by stealing every myth they came across.

this made me think- i know many myths accociated with christianity which are blatant thefts from other religions/myths at the time- but are there any original ideas in christian dogma, and the bible?

these are the plagerisations that i can think about off the top of my head

the virgin birth
date for easter and xmas
the great flood
the resurrection
the "god man" (one parent human, the other a deity)

etc

are there any myths in the bible which are originals?

conkermaniac · 08-23-2003, 09:42 AM

Yeah, the gory details of the Hebrews' massacre of their enemies is probably unique to the Bible, and these passages could very likely have been used by Hebrew leaders to rally their people into war.

Is the story about David and Goliath original? Hmm...

JaeIsGod · 08-23-2003, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by conkermaniac
Yeah, the gory details of the Hebrews' massacre of their enemies is probably unique to the Bible, and these passages could very likely have been used by Hebrew leaders to rally their people into war.

Is the story about David and Goliath original? Hmm...

Im sure some hero in some myth has killed a giant =p

SiliconWolf · 08-23-2003, 10:47 AM

What about the stuff in Revelation? How many other religions have the strong end times beliefs that are common in much of Christianity?

Heathen Dawn · 08-23-2003, 11:53 AM

NO religion is original. They all evolve, just like languages (and living organisms - though here evolution is Darwinian rather than Lamarckian) do.

Doctor X · 08-23-2003, 02:29 PM

Indeed, similar cultures had masacre stories as well as eschatology. Granted, John may have spent a bit longer out in the Sun after he went mushroom hunting. . . .

--J.D.

[Edited for various scribal errors.--Ed.]

Shinobi · 08-23-2003, 04:12 PM

Siliconwolf: Regarding end of the world in myths the Norse mythology has Ragnarok which foretells the end of the world and the death of most gods.

EGGO · 08-23-2003, 07:26 PM

If memory serves me correct, the Bible isn't the originator of our lovely angels.

Jeremy Pallant · 08-23-2003, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shinobi
Siliconwolf: Regarding end of the world in myths the Norse mythology has Ragnarok which foretells the end of the world and the death of most gods.

I seem to recall some speculation that Ragnarok was the result of the monks doing the translating incorporating Revelation into the Norse myths.

Sorry, no source that I can readily recall.

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08-23-2003, 09:42 AM	#2
conkermaniac Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: American in China Posts: 620	Yeah, the gory details of the Hebrews' massacre of their enemies is probably unique to the Bible, and these passages could very likely have been used by Hebrew leaders to rally their people into war. Is the story about David and Goliath original? Hmm...

08-23-2003, 10:47 AM	#4
SiliconWolf Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: A soulless suburb of Chicago Posts: 1,000	What about the stuff in Revelation? How many other religions have the strong end times beliefs that are common in much of Christianity?

08-23-2003, 11:53 AM	#5
Heathen Dawn Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 4,656	NO religion is original. They all evolve, just like languages (and living organisms - though here evolution is Darwinian rather than Lamarckian) do.

08-23-2003, 02:29 PM	#6
Doctor X Banned Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,794	Indeed, similar cultures had masacre stories as well as eschatology. Granted, John may have spent a bit longer out in the Sun after he went mushroom hunting. . . . --J.D. [Edited for various scribal errors.--Ed.]

08-23-2003, 04:12 PM	#7
Shinobi Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 357	Siliconwolf: Regarding end of the world in myths the Norse mythology has Ragnarok which foretells the end of the world and the death of most gods.

08-23-2003, 07:26 PM	#8
EGGO Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Amerrka Posts: 688	If memory serves me correct, the Bible isn't the originator of our lovely angels.

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