How Did the Pagan Gods Gain Popularity?
If you’re wondering how the pagan gods gained popularity, it’s because the ancient civilizations were more tolerant of different beliefs. These ancient cultures tended to follow a lot of religious rituals and the cities and states that they lived in would continue to flourish. Because of this, they became great.
When you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases..
Ancient religions were tolerant of one another
When it comes to religion, ancient civilizations were not as abrasive as their contemporary counterparts. Even when the Romans were conquering foreign lands, they were not averse to incorporating the beliefs of the conquered peoples. In fact, some Christian communities were tolerated for long periods of time. Moreover, while pagans may have felt threatened by the arrival of Christianity, they were also impressed by its many perks.
Some of the more well-known pagan deities include Cronos and the gods of the underworld. The Romans did not, however, let the pagan gods rule the roost. They also did not mind displaying their imperial pomp at forts and temples. As a result, the ancients were able to build a gods-and-moon scenario wherein they worshiped the divine majesty of their emperor.
Pagans and Christians of the early Middle Ages engaged in a healthy debate over the most important religious artifacts. For example, the Cathars believed that the world was created by a demiurge of Satanic origin. On the other hand, the earliest Christian records, such as the apotheosis of Saint Boniface, document a missioner utilizing lumber and lumberjack skills to construct a church dedicated to St. Peter.
The early Middle Ages saw the rapid disappearance of a number of ancient Pagan religions. But despite the edicts of the Church and Roman emperors, some surviving cultures remained, including the Druids and the Celts. Moreover, a number of pagan holy places were converted to the betters of their Christian counterparts.
However, the most significant cultural shift that took place in the early Middle Ages was the military conquest of the Pagans. This ushered in an age of tolerance, not unlike the one that we are experiencing today.
Cities and states survived and became great because of the gods
One of the coolest things about the ancient world was the variety of gods and goddesses. It was not uncommon to find a different god in every corner of the earth. These gods were more powerful than the average human, and were akin to super soldiers in other eras. They were also the envy of their peers. Their temples were well defended and their offerings highly sought after. The best part was that their power was unmatched.
Fortunately, we can learn a thing or two from their ilk. In fact, if you are willing to take the time to read up on their history, you may be rewarded with a glimpse into the great beyond. We will never know if the gods were really on our side, or if the pixies were a wee bit underdressed, but there is no doubt that the aforementioned pagan acolytes wowed the competition with their high brow. Despite their vaunt, they were a bloody lot, but that was a story for another time.
The most important thing to learn from this is that the gods of the gods were not oblivious to the gods of the gods, so you can’t expect to see Godzilla in the flesh anytime soon. However, the most arduous task is to ensure that your deities of the gods are a bit more civilized than their ancestors. This is best achieved by educating yourself on their religions and the mystifying etiquette. You’ll be much happier with your offspring for it.
Christians reject the literary traditions of the Classical world
In ancient Roman times, there were many religious traditions. These included Judaism, paganism, and various forms of Christianity. However, there was no shared sacred ritual or book.
The emergence of Christianity as the dominant religion in the Roman Empire began as a small sect within Hellenistic Judaism in the first century. It then spread to other areas of the empire and beyond.
Although Christians and pagans worshiped the same God, they disagreed on a wide variety of issues, such as the proper use of public funds and religious requirements for public servants. Some even mocked one another.
Eventually, the two religions settled their differences. During the early Middle Ages, peaceful conversions and the conversion of pagan holy places occurred. As a result, a number of pagans and Christians came into contact with each other.
A common characteristic of both religions is the search for a higher spiritual life. While Christianity was often rigid in its morals, paganism was flexible and communal. Both religious traditions practiced sacraments such as baptism and the eucharist.
Early Christians and pagans engaged in heated debates over social status and symbols. They fought over whether pagans should be permitted to take part in the civic life of their cities, or whether Christians should be required to submit to non-Christian rulers.
Some pagans believed that the world was a demiurge that originated from Satan. Others believed that it was a work of nature. Many pagans conceived their gods in human or animal form.
After the death of the final pagan generation, the majority of Roman pagans accepted the Christian emperors’ policies and eliminated their own traditions. In return, they received government salaries and fancy titles.
Christians shared this literary tradition with educated pagans
If you think of Christian and pagan religion as a mutually beneficial relationship, you may be mistaken. In fact, paganism was the most dominant form of religion in the Roman Empire. When Christianity became widespread, pagans were not prepared to deal with the new religion. They simply did not have a meaningful sense of community.
The religious marketplace in Rome was diverse. As such, tolerance made sense. After the fifth century, the pace of temple closures slowed. Nonetheless, pagan beliefs were still pervasive in the urban centers.
During the early Middle Ages, Christian emperors and pagan rulers sparred. They discussed legal and social issues. While many pagans praised the emperors, some criticized them privately.
In the end, the last pagan generation acquiesced to the Christian emperors. Some even accepted government salaries. Others remained observant of folk practices.
Many rituals involving charms and incantations were still common. Several pagan holy places were converted to Christian use. Christians and pagans still practiced the sacraments of baptism and eucharist.
In addition, some pagans continued to observe the folk practices of their ancestors. This included the belief in ghosts, fairies, and sprites. Throughout the Middle Ages, people prayed to the gods in private homes.
Despite their efforts, the Church could not eradicate paganism completely. Those who continued to observe the old religion were called “pagans.”
In the early Middle Ages, Christianity became a dominant force in the Roman Empire. It was not a political revolution, but rather a peaceful transition to a new belief structure.
During the Late Middle Ages, the Church continued to eradicate heretical sects. Many of these schismatic religions were influenced by non-Orthodox theologies. However, some Christian communities were tolerated for a long period of time.
Conflicts between Christianity and the pagan gods
Early Christianity emerged as a new religion within the Hellenistic Jewish culture of the second temple period. It spread out to the wider Roman Empire, and even beyond. As a result, conflicts between Christianity and the pagan gods became a part of history.
For the early Christians, paganism was a threat to their spiritual worldview. They viewed all forms of paganism as the worship of evil spirits. Moreover, they denied the legitimacy of any form of syncretism. Rather, they held that there was only one God, and that the rewards and punishments that would be experienced in this life would be the same in the next.
Pagans and Christians fought over symbols, laws, and social status. Some pagans even became saints. When Christian uprisings occurred, pagans retaliated. Among these were Cathars, who believed that the world was the work of a demiurge of Satanic origin.
In the first century B.C., Jews and pagan elites in Rome were alarmed by the influence of the new faith. At the same time, they agreed with the Christian antagonists that pagans were essentially elemental forces within the universe. However, pagans did not completely give up worshiping Zeus and Apollo.
The Bible tells us that Jesus refused to associate with the devil. Similarly, early Christians believed that pagans did not have the right to worship any god other than the one that had been revealed to them through Jesus. Nevertheless, this is not to say that paganism was a prequel to Christianity.
Nonetheless, Christianity changed the social structure of the Roman empire and led to the greatest transformation of Western culture. This is especially evident in the literature, art, and politics of the early Middle Ages.
