Christo-paganism

Christo-paganism or Christopaganism, also known as Pagan Christianity, is a syncretistic system of beliefs and practices based on the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the canonical gospels and the apocryphal gospels and on pagan doctrines.

Beliefs

Christo-pagans profess belief in the teachings of Jesus, who they usually regard as a god. They commonly emphasize the role of Jesus as savior. However, they also profess belief in pre-Christian doctrines and deities.

Some segments of Christopagans believe in the teachings of Jesus and the principles of the Bible, but believe the higher power or God is embodied in the spirit of nature and the Earth. They celebrate traditional pagan holidays which line up closely to most Christian holidays in timing and in symbols and traditions--making it easy to "blend in". They may also celebrate traditional Christian holidays, depending on the degree to which they believe in Christian principles. For instance, some Christopagans might celebrate Christian Easter as a means of remembering that our spirits are eternal (because Jesus was resurrected from the dead) as opposed to celebrating it for the Christian meaning of sins being forgiven through the death of Jesus Christ. Other Christopagans will celebrate Ostara and forget about Christian Easter completely.

Many Christopagans don't profess a belief in any deity but acknowledge a stronger force of the world. Some acknowledge that force as the traditional Christian God and feel that the earth they honor through pagan worship is part of honoring the creation of God. Others may profess a belief to multiple deities since many of the old pagan gods were transformed into Christian saints. They might acknowledge them through the original pagan role and name, or through the Christian saint role and name.

History

Christo-paganism was not unheard of in the first centuries of the Christian era. For example, emperor Alexander Severus (222-235) built a shrine to Jesus next to his shrines to other gods in his own home. However this syncretistic tendency almost completely disappeared as the Catholic Church decreed that beliefs at odds with the orthodox doctrine were heretical and that heretics were condemnable.The historical phenomenon of Christianization compelled many people (notably in Europe) to adhere to an outer form of Christianity and several rites derived from pagan practices were introduced into the Church's liturgy or customs.

ee also

* Christian Wicca: a particular Christo-pagan denomination.

External links

* A number of introductory articles on a form of Christo-paganism.
* A website about a form of Greek Christo-paganism.