Christianity and Ancient Greek Mythology

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Adam Schilling August 7th, 2012 Classical Mythology Dr. Evers Imitation; The Finest Expression of Flattery The impact the Christian religion has had on world history is profound. Looking back through the ages, this certainly seems true; but what happens when you look farther back? Thousands of years before Christ, the Greeks held religion in a high regard. The Greeks wove countless cultural influences into a coherent, if slightly chaotic, pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. Along with the Gods came tales of their exploits, so the Greeks began constructing patterns and archetypes that were essentially original and organic to the time; stories of creation, conception, and the failings of man. Put together, these formed an extensive mythology that included countless symbols, dates, and accounts, all with significant importance. This ancient Greek religion and the modern Christian church share many important symbols and stories. These similarities are often overlooked, due in part to the fact that the Bible, the Holy text of Christianity, is accepted among many as historical fact. In contrast, numerous tales and characters of classical Greek and Roman mythology are now thought of as merely humorous or outlandish. This notion, however, is surprising when one examines the starling similarities between Greek and Christian religion. From Genesis to Revelations, many accounts in the Bible hold distinct similarity to those of ancient Greece. Although some may doubt the importance of arguing over ancient mythologies, it is vital to understand the impact the ancients had on the future. More than any other religion, Christianity has been a major and active player in world history, and without it the world would be quite different in a number of ways. According to Roman Catholic tradition (the most influential and ubiquitous Christian denomination), the Bible is

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