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Does Christmas have pagan origins?

For most people, the question of the origins of Christmas is probably far from their minds. Some may recognise and give a cursory glance towards the Biblical narrative on the birth of Jesus as something to do with it (although a 2017 study showed that almost 1 in 20 Brits thought Easter was the birth of Jesus!);—but in some Christian circles the question (accusation?) that “Christmas is pagan” is at the forefront of their minds. Table of Contents When was December 25th celebrated? The Christian Calendar Concluding Thoughts Bonus Information Further Reading & Sources: As time goes on and we move further and further into the future,...

Jesus, Mithras and Ancient Roman Cults: Separating Fact from Fiction

...uroctony (tertullian.org) 9 The Mithraic Mysteries as Symbol System: III. The Tauroctony | The Religion of the Mithras Cult in the Roman Empire: Mysteries of the Unconquered Sun | Oxford Academic (oup.com) Main Tauroctony relief from Dura Europos — The New Mithraeum Corpus Inscriptionum et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae (CIMRM) (tertullian.org) Is Jesus Simply a Retelling of the Mithras Mythology? | Cold Case Christianity Phrygian cap | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica Justin Martyr: First Apology | Patristics.info Mithraism — Mythology and theology | Britannica The Origins of the Mithraic Mysteries: Cosmology and Salvation i...

The Coming of Jesus: Revelation Fulfilled?

....com/text/tertullian08.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/augustus.shtml http://www.religionfacts.com/persecution-of-early-church http://historycycles.org/revelation1.html#ref_ednback57 http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/titus_domitian.html https://www.christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/persecution-in-early-church-gallery https://bible.org/question/rome-beast-antichrist-book-revelation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_emperors http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/tac/a15040.htm http://www.scripturerevealed.com/prophecy/the-book-of-revelation-an-introduction/ http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ancient-rome/the-f...

The Battle for the Trinity: Historical Heresies and Church Defences

...The Trinity is a cornerstone of Christian faith, defining God as one Being in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. However, throughout history, various misunderstandings and false teachings — known as heresies — have arisen, challenging this core doctrine. Understanding these heresies can strengthen our faith and deepen our appreciation for the truths held by the Church since its earliest days. What Is the Trinity? Before diving into the heresies, let’s briefly review what we mean by the Trinity. The Christian doctrine of the Trinity teaches that God is one essence in three distinct Persons: The Father: The Creator and sustainer of al...

The Real St. Nicholas: A Man of Virtue, Not Violence

...When we think of St. Nicholas, two contrasting images often emerge: the cheerful, gift-giving Santa Claus and the fiery bishop who supposedly punched Arius at the Council of Nicaea. The latter story, popularised through memes and tales of “righteous anger,” portrays Nicholas as a defender of truth through violence. But how much of this tale is rooted in fact? St Nicholas of Myra slapping Arius at the Council of Nicaea.Fresco from the Soumela Monastery (Turkey) The truth is both simpler and more profound: St. Nicholas embodied the teachings of Christ, not through impulsive acts of aggression, but through a life of love, generosity, and devotion. Sepa...

Did the Early Church invent the Trinity?

...The doctrine and concept of the Trinity is encapsulated in Matthew 28:19, where Jesus instructs the apostles: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. John, who was very close to Jesus and obviously knew him well, alludes to this teaching frequently in his Gospel, too. For example: John 1:1; John 8:58; John 10:30; and John 10:38. Yet, despite this, and numerous other examples throughout the New Testament which point towards the threefold nature of God, plenty of myths and legends abound online and in books which state that the divinity of Jesus (and therefore the Trinit...