Paganism Surviving in Christianity

by Abram Herbert Lewis

• S
• Sabbath, the, observed by Christ, [168];
• observance of, [174];
• never associated with Christ’s resurrection, [172] f;
• “change of,” never spoken of in the Bible, [173];
• its recognition in the New Testament, [174];
• observed by the Apostles, [174];
• abolition of, taught by Tertullian, [186], [187];
• divine authority necessary to create, [295].
• Sabbathism, [291];
• sacred time, the essence of, [292];
• spiritual life the end of, [292];
• Jews did not understand, [293];
• Christ exalted it, [293];
• destroyed by Sunday legislation, [297].
• Sahagun de Bernardino, describes pagan baptism in Mexico, [110] f.
• Saints, worship of, a revival of pagan mythology, [27].
• Sandars on “civil” character of Roman paganism, [191], [192].
• “Saturnalia,” disorder of, at Burmah’s “water-festival,” [95].
• Scandinavia, ancient baptism in, [99], [100].
• Schaff, Dr. Philip, description of gnosticism, [36], [37];
• on Roman idea of state religion, [190] f;
• describes Heliogabalus and Severus, [197];
• on Constantine’s attitude towards Christianity, [213] f;
• on the origin of “penance,” [272], [273].
• Scotland, “Baal fires” continue there, [271].
• Serpent-worship, a branch of gnosticism closely associated with water-worship, [85].
• Severus, Alex., emperor, character of, [197].
• Seymore, Rev. Hobart, on heathen origin of saint-worship, [16];
• on pagan origin of “holy water,” [140], [141];
• on virtues of “holy water,” [144];
• sprinkling of animals, [146].
• Simeon, a type of the Demiurge, [44].
• Simon Magus, on gnostic baptism, [81].
• Socrates, historian, superstition of, concerning baptism, [253] f.
• Sozomen, had great faith in “relics,” [236];
• relates foolish myths as facts, [236], [237].
• Spelman, Sir Henry, finds origin of English “court terms” in paganism, [225] f.
• Spittle, use of, in baptism borrowed from pagans, [124];
• more efficacious if “fasting,” [125];
• various superstitions related by Pliny, [125-7].
• Springs, water of, specially sacred, [98].
• Sprites, water-, superstitious fear of, [108].
• State-religion, pagan origin of, [188].
• Sunday law, text of Constantine’s first, [220];
• permitted manumission of slaves, [220];
• associated with one for consulting soothsayers, [220] f;
• not unlike laws concerning other pagan days, [222] f;
• designates only the “Venerable Day of the Sun,” [222];
• purely pagan in form and spirit, [227].
• Sunday, observance of, weakens Decalogue, [158];
• first observance coupled with anti-Sabbathism, [159];
• observance based on tradition, [171];
• popular errors concerning, [171] f;
• observance unknown before middle of second century, [171] f;
• never called Sabbath in the Bible, [172] f;
• definitely referred to in N. T. but three times, [172];
• only six passages from N. T. quoted in favor of, [173];
• observance originated outside of the Bible, [177];
• first mentioned by Justin Martyr, 150 A.D., [178] f;
• pagan reasons for its observance, [181] f;
• the “puritan,” a compromise between the Sabbath and the Sunday, [294];
• legislation concerning a prominent feature in the puritan movement, [294];
• earliest laws concerning, pagan in form and concept, [294];
• no scriptural or Protestant ground for its observance, [295].
• Sun-worship, a myth of, used as a type of man’s resurrection, [59], [60];
• excessive and costly under Heliogabalus, [197] f;
• a popular cult at Rome, [201].
• Superstitions, excessive pagan, associated with baptism, [258].
• Syncretism, tendency to in early centuries, [12];
• a large factor in corrupting Christianity, [194].
• Synesius, Bishop, uncertain whether a pagan or a Christian, [24].
• T
• Tammuz, worship of, condemned by Jeremiah, [238].
• Taylor, Isaac, on pagan element in Christianity, [6].
• Tertullian, sometimes opposed allegorical interpretation of the N. T., [46];
• unmeaning interpretation of “types,” [62];
• teaches pagano-Christian theory of baptism, [129] f;
• denies the power of pagan gods to sanctify water, [132];
• taught abrogation of the Decalogue, [163] f;
• ideas concerning the Sabbath, [163] f;
• superstitious faith in the sign of the cross, [248];
• explains “orientation,” [267].
• Testament, the Old, rejected by many Christians on gnostic grounds, [48].
• Teutons, pagan baptism among, [101] f.
• Thebaud, Rev. Aug., on paganism at Rome in fifth century, [13].
• Thibet, baptismal customs in, [93];
• autumn water-worship festival in, [96].
• Tiele, C. P., on Oriental paganism in Christianity, [6];
• on political character of Roman religion, [193], [194].
• Traditionalism largely pagan in origin, [289].
• U
• Uhlhorn, Dr. Gerhard, on corruption of Christianity by gnosticism, [68], [70].
• Usages, pagan, adopted almost without stint by Christians, [26].
• V
• Virgil, Polydore, claims that Christianity “meliorated” pagan customs by accepting them, [8].
• Virgil shows union of water-worship and sun-worship, [74], [75].
• W
• Water, pagans believed it contained divine power to cleanse the soul, [72], [73];
• power to inspire, [74];
• river, especially sacred, [91];
• changes to wine on Easter and Christmas at midnight, [99];
• “holy,” if drawn at sacred seasons, [99];
• “holy,” cures evils and averts danger, [104];
• “sacred,” prevents physical disease, [105];
• superstitious value of, from mill-wheel, [106];
• endued with divine power at creation, [129];
• produces life by divine power, [131];
• “holy,” borrowed directly from paganism, [140];
• used at doors of heathen temples, [140], [142];
• use of, by Christians condemned, [143];
• use of, defended by Cardinal Wiseman, [146], [147];
• “baptismal,” prepared according to pagan formula, [152];
• sanctified by the sign of the cross, [251];
• at first used as a “charm,” [252].
• Water-worship, the pagan, corrupted Christianity fundamentally, [71];
• of Oriental origin, [72];
• prominent among serpent worshippers, [85];
• a special feature in Egyptian religion, [86];
• associated with Osiris worship, [87];
• superstitions connected with, in time of drouth, [106] f;
• universal in Northern Europe, [109];
• coupled with sun-worship among the Greeks, [112];
• summary of its influence on Christian baptism, [153-155].
• Wells, “sacred,” described by Sir Monier-Williams, [89].
• Westropp and Wake on gnosticism in Christianity, [27].
• Wilkins, W. J., describes water-worship festival of “Dasahara,” [94].
• Williams, Sir Monier-, on water-worship in India, [88];
• on baptism in Thibet and Mongolia, [93];
• on Buddhistic baptism, [94].
• Wiseman, Cardinal, value of his testimony, [10];
• defends the introduction of paganism in early Christianity, [10];
• on retention of paganism in English Church, [10];
• defends the use of “holy water,” [146], [147].
• X
• Xerxes describes water- and sun-worship at the “Hellespont,” [76].

IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS WORKS.

Gospel-Criticism and Historical Christianity. A study of the Gospels and of the History of the Gospel Canon during the Second Century; together with a consideration of the results of Modern Criticism. By Orello Cone, D. D. 8vo, cloth, gilt top$1 75

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The Religion of Humanity. By O. B. Frothingham. 4th edition, 12mo, pp. 338 $1 50

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Stories from the Lips of the Teacher. By O. B. Frothingham. Retold by a Disciple. Sixth edition, 16mo, pp. 193 $1 00

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Stories of the Patriarchs. By O. B. Frothingham. Third edition, 16mo, pp. 232 $1 00

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