"20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some." --1 Cor 9
I was expecting possible heresy here; absolutely none detected (except it doesn't talk about Orthodoxy but hey, I didn't write it.) Like the icons of the Philosophers in Churches in Greece, Christ blesses and saves the native culture, elevating the people so that they may attain union with God. Great essay!
Gotta say, I really dig this article. It explains exactly what I've wanted to tell people for years, but couldn't because I didn't know how to phrase it: that elements of "pagan" culture from before were not appropriations nor a secret persistence of paganism beneath a Christian veneer, but a merging of local culture with the legacy of Christ's sacrifice where Christ was both accepted while local tradition was also integrated organically apart from a handful of heretical tidbits. Though it is worth pointing out that Estonia might be a singular exception where Christianity didn't succeed at taking off on a deeper level in Europe, due to historical reasons. (though I only started learning more about their history recently, so I could be wrong)
This also reveals (to me, anyway) something I didn't notice before: Iceland's increasing return to paganism. (though I guess you'd put paganism in quotes based on what you said about return) For awhile, I thought that maybe the Icelanders, being so far away from Rome, really were surface-level Christians. But as Jesus the Chieftain is substituted with Jesus the Shepherd once again, it seems to correlate with the rise of paganism in Iceland. Correlation doesn't always mean causation, of course, but it says a lot. Europe really does need a chieftain, even in these relatively more peaceful times. It explains why in Poland they built an enormous statue not of Jesus as shepherd, but Christ the King.
By the way, I'd love to share this on my Substack if it's all right with you. (I like to ask first: just weird like that, I guess)
Reading this I’m reminded of a podcast I was listening to before, where the hosts were talking about how people accuse Christianity of “appropriating” pagan festivals (Christmas appropriated Yuletide / Winter Solstice, etc.) but how the reality is that it was simply that the newly-converted peoples were free to still celebrate their own festivals - in other words, they still retained their parochial traditions as well as being Christians. Gradually over time the pagan elements fell into the background; but this proves that Christianity was, from its earliest moments in Europe, not opposed to different tribes still adhering to their traditions.
I’ve explained this terribly but I hope you get my point.
Great essay! It discusses something I feel Christians need to do more of, emphasize the Western European nature of Christianity rather than the Eastern Jewishness. The age of the Jews ended with the coming of Christ followed by the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 AD. There is no need to revere them so much as their time has passed.
Excellent piece, although I do disagree with one point. I do not think we should abandon European cultural heroes and stories, but Christians ought to emphasize those found in the Old Testament because of the ancient Israelite’s covenant with God. It’s the Hebrew’s special relationship with God that makes those stories and figures important to study. That said, European cultural history definitely should not be ignored.
Very interesting. Much of this resonates with my understanding of Scripture. It also echos thoughts of GK Chesterton in Everlasting Man and CS Lewis in That Hideous Strength. All Truth is God's Truth so it should not be surprising that we see truth in other cultures not Christian. Nor why many diverse flood and orign myths are familiar to us. It is why Aristotle can be read with profit.
I'm new to your writing, but in this context what role do you assign to the Hebrew Scripture, aka the Old Testament?
Thanks. I should have been more clear; my question your view of its authority. Your initial question could be taken in many different directions, not all of them good.
God chose to reveal Himself, His character and His law through a people He specifically called. They were chosen to be the bloodline of the promised Messiah who then more fully revealed the Father and His purpose for the true people of God, the Church.
Is Christianity Jewish? No, it is the fulfillment of all that God revealed through Moses and the prophets.
This is a great piece, it’s something I’ve felt for a while but never fully had the gumption to write, I was working my way towards it but didn’t have the time. This makes me feel like others are seeing the same point, really encouraging. Thank you for this.
When I was reading “Albion’s Seed” I noticed that before the Puritans many Europeans stuck to their naming customs and Hebrew OT names only really started showing up after. I was named after a Hebrew OT name and I like it, but my wife and give our kids traditional European “Pagan” names because as Catholics especially, we feel we are able to honor our pre-Christ ancestors without any qualms because of the exact points you’ve made, and will raise them understanding their heritage on the pre-and-post sides of Our Lord’s redemptive work. In fact, our catholic faith has given us a whole new window into a lot of our pre-Christian heritage as it’s survived in our Christian traditions in a really positive light... but I digress. Thanks again.
There are several good reasons why the Jewish "mythology" is elevated within Christianity - and rightfully so - whereas other ethno-cultural mythologies are not:
1) From the earliest days of Christianity this "mythology" was canonised by the Apostles and the successors of the Apostles. Such a status is not attributed to the any other world mythology.
2) The Jewish "mythology" is the only one quoted by Christ Himself. Not just quoted by Christ, but revered by Him.
3) Christ entrusted Jews to be His first evangelists; the Apostles and Paul taught to Asians, Europeans and Africans in a distinctly Jewish way, referencing the Old Testament - i.e., the Jewish "mythology" in their teachings.
4) The New Testament - the Christian Text - is utterly dependent on the Old Testament - the Jewish "mythology".
5) The Jewish "mythology" is narratively inseparable from Christ, His lineage and His mission.
Yes, there is value to be found in the native folklore of our people and yes, it has sadly been resigned to the peripheries of our society. But this post is as much of a reach as it is a cope. Yes, we can have cultural influences in the practice of our religion, such as music styles, aesthetics, even forms of prayer. But actual metaphysical beliefs like Yggdrasil? Give me a break. Just accept Christ fully, be totally reborn in Him and stop trying to find a way to justify Odin LARPing online on the back of seeing a few survivethejive videos on youtube.
The Church, as in the Church with a capital "C" established by Christ and led by His Vicar on Earth, always, in its missionary activities, allowed maintenance and incorporation of local cultural elements into their adoption of the Faith, provided that those elements were not idolatrous, pagan, or contrary to the Faith. This was done throughout the world, from Africa to Asia. We don't have to look further than Southern Italy where Greeks were allowed to retain the Rite of Constantinople and enthusiastically encouraged to do so.
You cannot syncretize paganism with Christianity in such a gratuitous way. Christianity is reformed Judaism, and therefore everything revolves around a messianic prophecy where the arrival of a Messiah is expected, and to fulfill it the Gentiles must abandon their gods and worship the god of Israel. The new pact between Jesus and Yahweh does not include any small print where Christianity and paganism can be syncretized. Gentiles must be Christians according to the standards of the New Testament.
If you try to paganize Christianity, by doing so you are hindering the arrival of the Messiah Jesus, again distancing the Gentiles from the god of Israel, not to mention that Jesus and Saul would never have approved things like medieval Catholicism, which is nothing more than European paganism with Christian aesthetics and a pinch of Christian theology.
The problem is that 97% of nationalist Christians know nothing about their religion, much less read and analyze the Bible, for them Christianity is the British, French, Spanish, Portuguese Empire... the Crusades, the orders of chivalry, King Arthur, Charles Martel, the Reconquista, medieval epic poems and all the heroic deeds performed in the name of a God who in that new covenant never asked for such a thing because the New Testament said that Gentiles should be Christianized voluntarily and without coercion, in addition to of course doing so when they are already adults, the problem as I say, is that they know nothing and do not want to accept that they have been deceived by the Jews when Saul created a false Messiah so that the Gentiles would worship the god of Israel as an indispensable requirement for the arrival of the Jewish Messiah as told in the Torah.
In order to make this logic work, you're making it out like the monotheistic Muslims and modern day Jews worship the same God as Christians who believe in the Trinity. They don't. Generic monotheism has never been a religion.
I'm highly sympathetic to what you're trying to do here and I like a lot of your conclusions. But I'm beginning to think we're wasting our time trying to reach the small groups of neo-pagans online. They'll keep making the same critiques they have for years. They don't answer our questions and they don't acknowledge our answers to their questions. The debate never moves forward.
I'm a bit late to the party on this one but I take a more pagan point of view. The problem Christians have is that they are completely wedded to universalism. You can see Saxon Cross trying to get round this, which ultimately ended up as a proposition of generic monotheism as you put it.
From what I've seen, I think a lot of spiritually-inclined Europeans-who feel no affinity with Christianity are delving into the ancestral religions of the past to find fulfillment. To my mind this can only be a good thing.
Christianity is wedded both to universalism and particularism, rejecting the conflict between the two. This reflects the nature of the Incarnation itself, where the divine and human are united, without division nor confusion. In the same way, we Christians are united under one religion through our own culture and people, not in spite of.
"20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some." --1 Cor 9
Paul sounds like a con artist to me.
I was expecting possible heresy here; absolutely none detected (except it doesn't talk about Orthodoxy but hey, I didn't write it.) Like the icons of the Philosophers in Churches in Greece, Christ blesses and saves the native culture, elevating the people so that they may attain union with God. Great essay!
Gotta say, I really dig this article. It explains exactly what I've wanted to tell people for years, but couldn't because I didn't know how to phrase it: that elements of "pagan" culture from before were not appropriations nor a secret persistence of paganism beneath a Christian veneer, but a merging of local culture with the legacy of Christ's sacrifice where Christ was both accepted while local tradition was also integrated organically apart from a handful of heretical tidbits. Though it is worth pointing out that Estonia might be a singular exception where Christianity didn't succeed at taking off on a deeper level in Europe, due to historical reasons. (though I only started learning more about their history recently, so I could be wrong)
This also reveals (to me, anyway) something I didn't notice before: Iceland's increasing return to paganism. (though I guess you'd put paganism in quotes based on what you said about return) For awhile, I thought that maybe the Icelanders, being so far away from Rome, really were surface-level Christians. But as Jesus the Chieftain is substituted with Jesus the Shepherd once again, it seems to correlate with the rise of paganism in Iceland. Correlation doesn't always mean causation, of course, but it says a lot. Europe really does need a chieftain, even in these relatively more peaceful times. It explains why in Poland they built an enormous statue not of Jesus as shepherd, but Christ the King.
By the way, I'd love to share this on my Substack if it's all right with you. (I like to ask first: just weird like that, I guess)
Poland is a really good example of this
and yeah feel free to share, thanks
This is just rewriting history to remain Christian lol
can you stop sperging out in my comment sections with sub-90 IQ pagan LARP please
Nah.
Reading this I’m reminded of a podcast I was listening to before, where the hosts were talking about how people accuse Christianity of “appropriating” pagan festivals (Christmas appropriated Yuletide / Winter Solstice, etc.) but how the reality is that it was simply that the newly-converted peoples were free to still celebrate their own festivals - in other words, they still retained their parochial traditions as well as being Christians. Gradually over time the pagan elements fell into the background; but this proves that Christianity was, from its earliest moments in Europe, not opposed to different tribes still adhering to their traditions.
I’ve explained this terribly but I hope you get my point.
Great essay! It discusses something I feel Christians need to do more of, emphasize the Western European nature of Christianity rather than the Eastern Jewishness. The age of the Jews ended with the coming of Christ followed by the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 AD. There is no need to revere them so much as their time has passed.
Easily your best essay yet. Well done mate.
Excellent piece, although I do disagree with one point. I do not think we should abandon European cultural heroes and stories, but Christians ought to emphasize those found in the Old Testament because of the ancient Israelite’s covenant with God. It’s the Hebrew’s special relationship with God that makes those stories and figures important to study. That said, European cultural history definitely should not be ignored.
Very interesting. Much of this resonates with my understanding of Scripture. It also echos thoughts of GK Chesterton in Everlasting Man and CS Lewis in That Hideous Strength. All Truth is God's Truth so it should not be surprising that we see truth in other cultures not Christian. Nor why many diverse flood and orign myths are familiar to us. It is why Aristotle can be read with profit.
I'm new to your writing, but in this context what role do you assign to the Hebrew Scripture, aka the Old Testament?
could you clarify the question? Obviously I consider it scripture but I assume you mean something beyond that?
Thanks. I should have been more clear; my question your view of its authority. Your initial question could be taken in many different directions, not all of them good.
God chose to reveal Himself, His character and His law through a people He specifically called. They were chosen to be the bloodline of the promised Messiah who then more fully revealed the Father and His purpose for the true people of God, the Church.
Is Christianity Jewish? No, it is the fulfillment of all that God revealed through Moses and the prophets.
I'm thinking we are on the same page?
Great piece, it gives you a new View rather than the old "pagan-jewish" accusations
This is a great piece, it’s something I’ve felt for a while but never fully had the gumption to write, I was working my way towards it but didn’t have the time. This makes me feel like others are seeing the same point, really encouraging. Thank you for this.
When I was reading “Albion’s Seed” I noticed that before the Puritans many Europeans stuck to their naming customs and Hebrew OT names only really started showing up after. I was named after a Hebrew OT name and I like it, but my wife and give our kids traditional European “Pagan” names because as Catholics especially, we feel we are able to honor our pre-Christ ancestors without any qualms because of the exact points you’ve made, and will raise them understanding their heritage on the pre-and-post sides of Our Lord’s redemptive work. In fact, our catholic faith has given us a whole new window into a lot of our pre-Christian heritage as it’s survived in our Christian traditions in a really positive light... but I digress. Thanks again.
Saying that Jesus was Jewish is like saying that George Washington was British.
No, it’s like saying George Washington was Mexican.
Jesus was an Israelite. Modern Jews are Canaanites. Totally different people, who nevertheless lived near each other and constantly fought each other.
Jesus was Jewish and George Washington was English.
Was George Washington Chinese then?
There are several good reasons why the Jewish "mythology" is elevated within Christianity - and rightfully so - whereas other ethno-cultural mythologies are not:
1) From the earliest days of Christianity this "mythology" was canonised by the Apostles and the successors of the Apostles. Such a status is not attributed to the any other world mythology.
2) The Jewish "mythology" is the only one quoted by Christ Himself. Not just quoted by Christ, but revered by Him.
3) Christ entrusted Jews to be His first evangelists; the Apostles and Paul taught to Asians, Europeans and Africans in a distinctly Jewish way, referencing the Old Testament - i.e., the Jewish "mythology" in their teachings.
4) The New Testament - the Christian Text - is utterly dependent on the Old Testament - the Jewish "mythology".
5) The Jewish "mythology" is narratively inseparable from Christ, His lineage and His mission.
Yes, there is value to be found in the native folklore of our people and yes, it has sadly been resigned to the peripheries of our society. But this post is as much of a reach as it is a cope. Yes, we can have cultural influences in the practice of our religion, such as music styles, aesthetics, even forms of prayer. But actual metaphysical beliefs like Yggdrasil? Give me a break. Just accept Christ fully, be totally reborn in Him and stop trying to find a way to justify Odin LARPing online on the back of seeing a few survivethejive videos on youtube.
this was a very unintelligent reply that betrays a serious misunderstanding of the actual ideas presented here.
Why not address his points?
The Church, as in the Church with a capital "C" established by Christ and led by His Vicar on Earth, always, in its missionary activities, allowed maintenance and incorporation of local cultural elements into their adoption of the Faith, provided that those elements were not idolatrous, pagan, or contrary to the Faith. This was done throughout the world, from Africa to Asia. We don't have to look further than Southern Italy where Greeks were allowed to retain the Rite of Constantinople and enthusiastically encouraged to do so.
But what about the slaughter of Saxons and the destruction of the Irminsul by Charlemagne?
You cannot syncretize paganism with Christianity in such a gratuitous way. Christianity is reformed Judaism, and therefore everything revolves around a messianic prophecy where the arrival of a Messiah is expected, and to fulfill it the Gentiles must abandon their gods and worship the god of Israel. The new pact between Jesus and Yahweh does not include any small print where Christianity and paganism can be syncretized. Gentiles must be Christians according to the standards of the New Testament.
If you try to paganize Christianity, by doing so you are hindering the arrival of the Messiah Jesus, again distancing the Gentiles from the god of Israel, not to mention that Jesus and Saul would never have approved things like medieval Catholicism, which is nothing more than European paganism with Christian aesthetics and a pinch of Christian theology.
The problem is that 97% of nationalist Christians know nothing about their religion, much less read and analyze the Bible, for them Christianity is the British, French, Spanish, Portuguese Empire... the Crusades, the orders of chivalry, King Arthur, Charles Martel, the Reconquista, medieval epic poems and all the heroic deeds performed in the name of a God who in that new covenant never asked for such a thing because the New Testament said that Gentiles should be Christianized voluntarily and without coercion, in addition to of course doing so when they are already adults, the problem as I say, is that they know nothing and do not want to accept that they have been deceived by the Jews when Saul created a false Messiah so that the Gentiles would worship the god of Israel as an indispensable requirement for the arrival of the Jewish Messiah as told in the Torah.
In order to make this logic work, you're making it out like the monotheistic Muslims and modern day Jews worship the same God as Christians who believe in the Trinity. They don't. Generic monotheism has never been a religion.
I'm highly sympathetic to what you're trying to do here and I like a lot of your conclusions. But I'm beginning to think we're wasting our time trying to reach the small groups of neo-pagans online. They'll keep making the same critiques they have for years. They don't answer our questions and they don't acknowledge our answers to their questions. The debate never moves forward.
I'm a bit late to the party on this one but I take a more pagan point of view. The problem Christians have is that they are completely wedded to universalism. You can see Saxon Cross trying to get round this, which ultimately ended up as a proposition of generic monotheism as you put it.
From what I've seen, I think a lot of spiritually-inclined Europeans-who feel no affinity with Christianity are delving into the ancestral religions of the past to find fulfillment. To my mind this can only be a good thing.
Christianity is wedded both to universalism and particularism, rejecting the conflict between the two. This reflects the nature of the Incarnation itself, where the divine and human are united, without division nor confusion. In the same way, we Christians are united under one religion through our own culture and people, not in spite of.