Shipwrecked Faith

I have been dialoguing with the disillusioned on Atheist blogs lately and find their faith has been shipwrecked by learning of parallels between pagan mythology and similar Christian doctrines and practices. Yet the Word of God tells us that we are NOT following “cunningly devised fables” (2 Peter 1:16). There is a difference between what the Bible says and what the Churches do and teach as they present "another jesus." Unlike pagan counterfeits, the True Messiah, Yeshua/Jesus, fulfilled myriad Bible prophecies written centuries before His Incarnation. Here is one resource delineating some of them:

Prophecies Fulfilled

This should be convincing to those willing to be convinced. How could a mere man, a fraud, manage to pull this off? Fulfilled Bible prophecy, along with riddles-solved Bible Chronology, is very strong evidence that demands a verdict!

One book cited as troublesome concerning pagan parallels to Christianity is The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook of Ancient Texts. In this book, Marvin W. Meyer explores the sacrifices and prayers, the public celebrations and secret ceremonies, the theatrical performances and literary works, the gods and goddesses that were a part of the mystery religions of Greece in the seventh century B.C. to the Judaism and Christianity of the Roman world of the seventh century A.D. (emphasis mine).

One blogger’s comments are probably representative of many others in the Atheist blogosphere:

Personally, the similarities between Christianity and the Mystery Religions were disturbing to my former faith. Learning about them has forced me to consider that Christianity is a product of the Hellenistic period rather than a divine revelation from God.

Should anyone find a solid way to reverse my outlook on this topic, they could potentially cause me to rethink my deconversion process.

That won't be easy, though. But if you've "got the goods", I'd like to see 'em.

The Ancient Mysteries pre-date Christianity by a few hundred years. That bothers me, too. Were these Mysteries counterfeit versions of Christianity? Was Christianity the true Mystery Religion and the others were only shadows of the truth?

Or was Christianity just one more variant of a string of pagan beliefs?

It is true that Christianity became corrupted over the centuries, amalgamated with paganism, heresies, Gnosticism, etc. The Apostle Paul and others were already refuting erroneous doctrines and syncretism in the first century. Judaism also became corrupted over the centuries. There is "nothing new under the sun,” as Solomon said. Since the first prophecy concerning a coming Redeemer (Genesis 3:15), spiritual counterfeits and false messiahs have abounded. Yet God has preserved His truth in His Word. He has also preserved a remnant of true believers all along. He called it a “little flock,” so it is not surprising that faithful disciples of Yeshua are hidden, persecuted, and isolated, not mainstream. The gates of hell have harassed but not prevailed. The battle for souls continues. Satan beguiles and tempts today just as he tempted in the Garden. “Yea, hath God said...?” the seducing serpent whispers, casting doubt on the Word of God. He masquerades as an angel of light under various “mystery” forms. Gnosticism/Paganism/Mystery Religion is alive and well in the 21st century. It will culminate in the short-lived reign of the ultimate Antichrist, who will deceive many. One-world Government and One-world Religion are on the horizon. In these perilous times, Yeshua exhorts His people to “come out” from Mystery Babylon and “be separate” because this religious system is destined for desolation (Rev. 17 & 18).

Here are a couple of reviews of a book that provides a good overview of how Mystery Babylon infiltrated the Church, with many references for further research. Click here for more information and to see the table of contents. Recommended reading for those who value balancing the writings of skeptics and infidels with the writings of those attempting to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Also recommended for Christians who need this information for themselves and to share with others.

See also my Sidebar (Interesting Webpages) for selected articles and audio sermons for cogent consideration. I also list links to various Apologetics resources that may be helpful. Please keep in mind that much of Christianity is still contaminated with the remnants of Rome’s paganism, that Protestant churches are no longer protesting and are “daughters of Babylon” for the most part, and that secular publishers have bought up Zondervan and other Christian publishers and thus control what is published. There is a dearth of strong apologetic resources available as a result. Perhaps the disillusioned, if they should return to faith, will write the scathing and/or erudite apologetics that are desperately needed to effectively answer the neo-atheists, skeptics, and Gnostics who are leading many to Apostasy.

Babylon Religion, David W. Daniels (Chick Publications)

Reviewer: Daryl Coats, Ph. D.

As I see it, the book's assets are as follows:

(1) For most 21st century readers, it IS easier to read, grasp, and understand than Hislop's The Two Babylons. Nothing against that wonderful book, but Hislop did not have to worry about nearly illiterate readers who spend most of their time watching TVs, computer monitors, movies, and videos and DVDs. We could lament the deplorable state of the American mind---or we could try to reach contemporary readers much as we would try to reach those who do not understand English. To that end, the text is easy to read and well constructed visually, and the cartoons not only serve to illustrate and supplement the text, but they even work if someone doesn't read the strictly textual portions. The art is another great feature. This is some of the best work that Bro. Jack has ever produced, and I hope that you will pass along my congratulations and appreciation for a job well done.

(2) It serves as a capable "defense" of Hislop's work, incorporating recent discoveries to further demonstrate the validity of Hislop's original thesis.

(3) It does a great job of addressing the world's myths and legends and showing their TRUE significance. For most of the past 150 years, mythology has been used to suggest that the Bible is unreliable and that Christianity is merely an amalgamation of elements taken and adapted from various myths. (The Golden Bough and The Hero of Many Faces are good examples of this approach.) More than once in my graduate studies I heard the Lord Jesus dismissed as nothing more than another "fertility myth." I have no idea how many believers have been shipwrecked as a result of such falsehoods, but your book works to show that many (most?) of the world's myths are merely distortions and perversions of truth preserved (and only found) in the Bible. (Hey, if modern Hollywood can't get a Bible story straight, why would we think that ancient pagans would do a better job?)

(4) The amount of research is incredible! Footnotes at the bottom of many pages provide a quick reference for anyone who might wish to (a) investigate further, or (b) make sure that you're telling the truth. And the more detailed endnotes are clearly pointed out in the main text and do not slow down a reader who does not wish to consult the notes as he reads. As I mentioned on the phone, with a Ph. D. in English, I've done a fair amount of research and study on my own, and I can appreciate the amount of work that you put into this book. (And since the Bible says, "Let no man deceive you by any means," I'm one of those people who DO check out footnotes and put them to the test when they concern matters with which I am not already acquainted. I am thankful to say that from the time I started doing this---roughly the time when the Angel of Light? comic first came out---I have never found a faulty or phony reference citation in a Chick publication. Whether it was a person about whom I was told that I could write for additional information, or a reference to a book that I could purchase for myself, or a book that I had to obtain through inter-library loan, I've put those comics and tracts and books to the test. Granted, some people may dismiss the original source material in some instances, but they CAN'T honestly dismiss the citation of it.

(5) The picture format allows the reader to SEE a lot of the things you talk about (especially when the pictures reproduce idols from other cultures, or pages from Codex Vaticanus). Somewhere in my files is a photo I found from an early 20th-century precursor to Frazier and Campbell, a photo of a clay figure found more than 20 feet underground in Idaho during the digging of a well. The figure in question was a woman holding a young infant. Jung would call it "a universal archetype," but Bible-believers know better. The pictures in this book often work to lend additional support to your thesis.

(6) There is a lot of humor in the book---humor used to mock false doctrine and false deceivers. This only serves to make the book more readable.....

..............

Reviewer: Kurt Kuersteiner

"Babylon Religion" blends the exhaustive research of David Daniels with the detailed cartoons of Jack Chick. The result is a book that is both fun and informative, serious but amusing, and complicated yet simple to understand. The content is controversial, something any sincere discussion of religion should be. The fact that most publishers will not confront such issues raises the obvious question if they are sincere about anything other than making money. But Chick Publications has strong religious beliefs and has never been afraid to promote them in full view of the public.

"Babylon Religion" is a rare reminder that diversity of thought is the most important diversity a free society has, and we should do everything we can to protect our free market place of ideas, rather than the feelings of various special interest groups. Whether you agree or disagree with the conclusions of "Babylon Religion", you will be impressed with the skill and artistic efforts Daniels and Chick made to present their case. I found myself marveling over the work and detail that went into crafting over 180 pages with information and stunning illustrations. This is one book that will not gather dust on my bookcase!

Chick.com