Pagan Christianity? Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices

Most contemporary Christians are massively ignorant as to how the church got to where it is today and of how much current church practice is due simply to accumulated tradition, with little or no roots in Scripture. This book provides a useful service in peeling back the layers of tradition, showing the origins of much that we today call “church.” Christians who want to be biblically faithful, regardless of their particular tradition or church form, can learn and benefit from the book.

—Dr. Howard Snyder, Professor of history and theology of mission, Asbury Theological Seminary; author of fourteen books including The Community of the King

Pagan Christianity? contains a wide variety of interesting and helpful historical information of which most Christians—or non-Christians— will be completely unaware. The book identifies—in part or in whole—the pagan roots of many of our current church practices, as well as indicates some borrowed from earlier Jewish or, occasionally, more recent customs.

—Dr. Robert Banks, New Testament scholar and theologian; author of Paul’s Idea of Community and Reenvisioning Theological Education

Why do we “do church” the way we do? Most folks seem to assume that our Christian religious trappings can be traced all the way back to the first century. But they can’t. The things we hold dear—sacred buildings to meet in, pulpits, sacramental tables, clergy, liturgies, etc.—were unknown among Paul’s assemblies. Pagan Christianity? looks at our major church traditions and documents when and how they appeared in the ages long after the apostles. Haven’t you ever wondered why people dress up in their best clothes for the Sunday morning service? Pagan Christianity? unfolds the answer to this and numerous other questions looming in the back of many folks’ minds. Reading Pagan Christianity? will open your eyes to the fact that the ecclesiastical emperor really has no clothes on.

—Dr. Jon Zens, Editor of Searching Together