Explain the logic behind early Christianity’s syncretism—adoption of competing ideas and practices into the new religion—and offer an example of syncretism both from early Christianity and from an earlier or later historical period

Question

Please provide the best answer for the statement.

Answer 1

1. Christianity incorporated many Greek and Roman mythic traditions, not only in the design of Christian churches but also in the symbolism of its art and literature, to convert pagan peoples by presenting its religious program in their own terms. Just as Christians had found prefigurings of Christ in the Hebrew Bible, it was possible to argue that Dionysus was a pagan type of Christ. Other cults, known as mystery cults because their initiation rites were secret, were also popular among the Romans, and Christianity borrowed freely from these as well. The secret cult of Mithras, which originated in Persia perhaps as far back as Neolithic times, became very popular among the Roman troops stationed in Palestine at the time of Christ. Mithraism shares many ritual practices with Christianity—baptism, periods of fasting, a communal meal of bread and wine representing the flesh and blood of the bull, reminiscent of the Christian Eucharist (in which bread and wine are believed to be transformed into the flesh and blood of Christ)—as well as many themes, especially sacrifice for the good of humanity. It was also Christianity’s chief rival among the Roman people through the first four centuries CE. Although the borrowings from competing religions are complex and move in some instances in both directions, Christianity’s presentation of its own ideas in terms resembling its rivals assuredly did much to ensure its global rise.
2. Students’ examples of syncretism from other periods will vary.