mainstream religion more influenced by pagan philosophers than the bible

8/3/2019 Mainstream Religion More Influenced by Pagan Philosophers Than the Bible

1/9

Mainstream Religion More Influenced By Pagan Philosophers Than The

Bible:

INTRODUCTION:

Many who claim to be Christian are more influenced by pagan

philosophers than the Bible and true teachings of Christ. Mainstream

so called Christian religion has adopted many false pagan teachings of

pagan philosophers such as Aristotle and given them importance over the

teachings of the Bible. For example, the so called mainstream

Christian religions readily accepted the pagan philosophers beliefs in

the Ptolemaic system of astronomy and the Trinity rejecting Bible

teachings. They went so far in believing these pagan beliefs that

they even had individuals who disagreed with this pagan concepts of the

pagan philosophers burned at the stake and/or killed in other ways and

also put under house arrest. Of course many will say this fact is not

believable, but let's look at the facts through one of many examples.

Let's consider the case of Giordano Bruno who was burnt-at-the-stake

because he taught earth traveled around the sun, the Copernican system,

in opposition to the system from pagan philosophers, the Ptolemaicsystem where the sun traveled around the earth, which the Catholic

church and most of the protestant churches maintained in the 15 century

was universal truth even though it came from paganism and NOT the

Bible. Here is what history says with regard to what happened to

Giordano Bruno,

"The Inquisition burnt him at the stake on 17 February 1600. Bruno

turned his head away from the cross shown at him in sign of disdain. He

was executed, guilty of his beliefs, in Campo dei Fiori (The Field of

Flowers). There is a statue in that place, reminding Italians and

tourists of his incredible story. The Catholic Church was intolerant

regarding his beliefs, but he on the other side was uncaring about the

situation.... The Vatican had to do something. Giordano Bruno was

tried, convicted of heresy, and then burnt at the stake. Killing

Giordano Bruno [for teaching the Copernican theory] was not difficult

then. While Martin Luther was well protected by the princes of the

German states, Bruno was not." [source - A Yet to Be Pardoned Heretic:

Giordano Bruno by Laert Dogjani].

ACCEPTANCE OF PAGANISM:

One may ask, how did pagan philosophy become accepted Christian

doctrine by so called mainstream Christian churches. Well in the case

of the Trinity for example it was by way of compromise with a pagan

Roman Emperor Constantine who needed to unite his empire religiously in

order to strengthen it. This pagan worshiper of the Unconquered Sun

called a conference or council in which all known so called Christianbishops were invited, but less than half of those invited actually

attended. This council, known as the Council of Nicea of 325 AD, went

on for a long time with the pagan Constantine who cared naught for

Bible truths presiding over it until he got most of the bishops in

attendance to compromise [three did not] and accept several pagan

teachings thereby bringing a fusion between the so called Christians

and the pagans which resulted in bringing religious unity to most of

his empire. Of course as far as being true footstep followers of


2/9

Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, this was nothing short of gross apostasy; but

only one of many apostasies to follow.

One pagan philosopher, Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.) had put forth a false

theory that the sun traveled around the earth and the earth was the

center of the universe, and this was known as the Ptolemaic system.

Let's learn more about this pagan philosopher.

"To the modern reader, Aristotle's views on astronomy, as presented in

Metaphysics, Physics, De Caelo (On the Heavens) and Simplicius'

Commentary, will most likely seem very bizarre, as they are based more

on a priori philosophical speculation than empirical observation.

Although Aristotle acknowledged the importance of "scientific"

astronomy - the study of the positions, distances and motions of the

stars - he nevertheless treated astronomy in the abstract, linking it

to his overall philosophical world picture. As a result, the modern

distinction between physics and metaphysics is not present in

Aristotle, and in order to fully appreciate him we must try to abandon

this pre-conception.

Aristotle argued that the universe is spherical and finite. Spherical,

because that is the most perfect shape; finite, because it has acenter, viz. the center of the earth, and a body with a center cannot

be infinite. He believed that the earth, too, is a sphere. It is

relatively small compared to the stars, and in contrast to the

celestial bodies, always at rest. For one of his proofs of this latter

point, he referred to an empirically testable fact: if the earth were

in motion, an observer on it would see the fixed stars as moving, just

as he now observes the planets as moving, that is from a stationary

earth. However, since this is not the case, the earth must be at rest.

To prove that the earth is a sphere, he produced the argument that all

earthly substances move towards the center, and thus would eventually

have to form a sphere. He also used evidence based on observation. If

the earth were not spherical, lunar eclipses would not show segments

with a curved outline. Furthermore, when one travels northward or

southward, one does not see the same stars at night, nor do they occupy

the same positions in the sky. (De Caelo, Book II, chapter 14) That the

celestial bodies must also be spherical in shape, can be determined by

observation. In the case of the stars, Aristotle argued that they would

have to be spherical, as this shape, which is the most perfect, allows

them to retain their positions. (De Caelo, Book II, chapter 11)

.....Aristotle's hierarchical model of the universe had a profound

influence on medieval scholars, who modified it to correspond with

Christian theology. Saint Thomas Aquinas, for example, re-interpreted

the prime movers as angels. Backed up by religious authority,

Aristotle's model lasted for centuries. Unfortunately, this had the

effect of restraining the progress of science, as few people dared to

challenge the authority of the church. Nevertheless, we can say ofAristotle that he made a contribution to astronomy simply by starting

to ask certain questions about the universe, thereby stimulating other

minds to do the same." [source - Aristotle's Astronomy by Thomas

Fowler]

Now how did the pagan concepts of this pagan philosopher Aristotle come

to be accepted as more pertinent that the Bible by the so called

mainstream Christian church? Well let's find out from history as

detailed in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy which shows which so


3/9

called church father, Thomas Aquinas, was responsible for the adoption

of this, the pagan philosopher's the Ptolemaic system theory. Let's

see what history says with regard this apostasy by the so called

mainstream Christian church's adoption of this pagan philosopher's

theory by the person of so called Saint Thomas Aquinas.

"Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) lived at a critical juncture of western

culture when the arrival of the Aristotelian corpus in Latin

translation reopened the question of the relation between faith and

reason, calling into question the modus vivendi that had obtained for

centuries. This crisis flared up just as universities were being

founded. Thomas, after early studies at Montecassino, moved on to the

University of Naples, where he met members of the new Dominican Order.

It was at Naples too that Thomas had his first extended contact with

the new learning. When he Johnined the Dominican Order he went north to

study with Albertus Magnus, author of a paraphrase of the Aristotelian

corpus. Thomas completed his studies at the University of Paris, which

had been formed out of the monastic schools on the Left Bank and the

cathedral school at Notre Dame. In two stints as a regent master Thomas

defended the mendicant orders and, of greater historical importance,

countered both the Averroistic interpretations of Aristotle and theFranciscan tendency to reject Greek philosophy. The result was a new

modus vivendi between faith

and philosophy which survived until the rise of the new physics.

Thomas's theological writings became regulative of the Catholic Church

and his close textual commentaries on Aristotle represent a cultural

resource which is now receiving increased recognition. The following

account concentrates on Thomas the philosopher and presents him as

fundamentally an Aristotelian.

Thomas and Aristotle

As a philosopher, Thomas is emphatically Aristotelian. His interest in

and perceptive understanding of the Stagyrite is present from his

earliest years and certainly did not await the period toward the end of

his life when he wrote his close textual commentaries on Aristotle.

When Thomas referred to Aristotle as the Philosopher, he was not merely

adopting a facon de parler of the time. He adopted Aristotle's analysis

of physical objects, his view of place, time and motion, his proof of

the prime mover, his cosmology. He made his own Aristotle's account of

sense perception and intellectual knowledge. His moral philosophy is

closely based on what he learned from Aristotle and in his commentary

on the Metaphysics he provides the most cogent and coherent account of

what is going on in those difficult pages. But to acknowledge the

primary role of Aristotle in Thomas's philosophy is not to deny other

influences. Augustine is a massively important presence. Boethius,

Pseudo-Dionysius and Proclus were conduits through which he learned

Neo-platonism. There is nothing more obviously Aristotelian aboutThomas than his assumption that there is something to be learned from

any author, if only mistakes to be avoided. But he adopted many

features from non-Aristotelian sources.

This has led some to suggest that what is called Thomistic philosophy

is an eclectic hodgepodge, not a set of coherent disciplines. Others,

struck by the prominence in Thomas of such Platonic notions as

participation, have argued that his thought is fundamentally Platonic,

not Aristotelian. Still others argue that that there is a radically


4/9

original Thomistic philosophy which cannot be characterized by anything

it shares with earlier thinkers, particularly Aristotle.

The recognition that Thomas is fundamentally an Aristotelian is not

equivalent to the claim that Aristotle is the only influence on him. It

is the claim that whatever Thomas takes on from other sources is held

to be compatible with what he already holds in common with Aristotle.

And, of course, to draw attention to the sources of Thomas's philosophy

is not to say that everything he holds philosophically can be parsed

back into historical antecedents." [source - Stanford Encyclopedia of

Philosophy].

Thus the adoption by the so called mainstream Christian church, at the

insistence of Thomas Aquinas, lead up to the burning-at-the-stake of

Giordano Bruno for teaching the earth traveled around the sun, the

Copernican theory. In addition, it lead to the eventual house arrest

of the great scientist Galileo. In fact, by the time of Galileo, says

Wade Rowland in this book, "Galileo's Mistake,"

"the hybridized Aristotle in the theology of Aquinas had become bedrock

dogma of the Church of Rome" [source - Galileo's Mistake by WadeRowland].

Now keep in mind that is those days there was no such thing as a

scientific community as education as such was largely in the hands of

the so called mainstream Christian church. Therefore, the authority

on religion and science was often one and the same.

CONFRONTATION WITH GALILEO LEADING TO HIS HOUSE ARREST:

Now circumstances were primed for a confrontation between the leading

scientist of the day, Galileo, and the so called Christian church. In

fact it was Galileo's steadfast promotion of the Heliocentric System

and his assertion that it harmonized with the scriptures that lead to

his arrest and trial by the Catholic Inquisition in 1633. Here is

what history says on this case, the case of GALILEO GALILEI.

"The case of Galileo Galilei not only had a different outcome from that

of Bruno, it was different. Galileo was summoned before the

Inquisition in 1616. He had earlier stated his opposition to the

Ptolemaic cosmology and the Inquisition had become suspicious of him in

1611. He continued his public defense of the Copernician system as

well as his own investigations of the heavens.

In 1613 he wrote an ecclesiastical friend Father Castelli, expressing

his view that the theologian should attempt to reconcile Biblical

phraseology with the results of science, instead of of attempting to

restrict scientific investigation on Biblical authority. A copy ofthat letter was given to the Inquisition in 1615. The following year,

the Pope warned Galileo to desist from his heretical teaching or face

imprisonment.

When Galileo, in 1632, published a defense of the Copernican system,

Dialogue on The Two Chief World Systems, the Inqusition again took

notice. Galileo was arrested and tried. It was a wearisome and long

trial. On June 22, 1633, Galileo was condemned. After threats of

torture he solemnly abjured his scientific beliefs on bended knees


5/9

before the tribunal. The Inquisition sentenced him to indeterminate

imprisonment. That sentence was commuted to a continual residence at

Sienna.... Unlike Bruno who defied the Inquisition Galileo acceded to

its wishes and lived." [source -

http://idcs0100.lib.iup.edu/scirev/newpage11.htm]

From the above we see several things which are:

First, the so called mainstream Christian church was more interested in

maintaining the beliefs of pagan philosophers than Biblical truths.

Second, the so called mainstream Christian church cared NOT for truth

and reality and the right to speak and write the truth, but for only

the maintenance of its perceived so called correct and infallible

beliefs which were anything but infallible.

Third, they cared not for the true Christian principle of love as

expressed in the Bible many, many times, some of which are as follows,

1John 4:8 - [Revised Standard Version; RSV]

He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.1John 4:10 - [RSV]

In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent

his Son to be the expiation for our sins.

1John 4:12 - [RSV]

No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and

his love is perfected in us.

1John 4:16 - [RSV]

So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who

abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1John 4:20 - [RSV]

If any one says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for

he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom

he has not seen.

1John 5:3 - [RSV]

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his

commandments are not burdensome.

For if they had cared for the true Christian principle of love as

exposed by Christ and his Apostles they would NEVER have burned

Giordano Bruno at-the-stake or treated Galileo as they did. Their

treatment of these two scientist clearly shows that the so called

mainstream Christian church is definitely NOT true footstep followers

of Christ as clearly they can not be if they do not show love to one

another, i.e., Giordany Bruno, Galileo, and many others.

WHAT LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED FROM ALL OF THIS?

First, we learn that many who claim to be Christ' footstep followers

are NOT what they claim to be.

Second, we learn that Galileo had no quarrel with the Bible, but

instead questioned the teachings of the church. He clearly showed he

knew the Bible was correct, but NOT the church.

Third, all of this un-Christian activity by those claiming to be his

footstep followers, but instead following the philosophy of pagan


6/9

philosophers brings to mind the warning at Colossians 2:4-8, " I say

this in order that no one may delude you with beguiling speech. 5 For

though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to

see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 6 As

therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, 7 rooted

and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were

taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one makes a prey

of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition,

according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according

to Christ." (RSV). Pay particular attention to verse 8 as it shows

clearly what the so called mainstream Christian church disregarded in

favor of their false perceptions.

Yet, even with the 'telling' of history, many in Christendom continue

to embrace pagan theories and philosophies that contradict the Bible.

Some such examples are Darwin's theory of the arrival of life which of

course does not 'jive' with the account of creation given in Genesis.

In the acceptance of this, many churches have in effect made Darwin a

modern-day Aristotle and evolution an article of faith; the Trinity God

(YHWH) dishonoring false doctrine that came by way of paganism from

ancient Greek philosophy; the false claim that Sunday is actually theSabbath day proclaimed by God; when in fact, it was actually Saturday

as anyone who knows the Spanish language would realize if he/she

thought about it as Saturday in Spanish is Sabbado; the false doctrine

of apostolic succession; that the Virgin Mary remained ever a virgin

which is in sharp conflict with Matthew 1:23-25, "Behold a virgin shall

be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name

Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 And Joseph rising

up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took

unto him his wife. 25 And he knew her not till she brought forth her

first born son: and he called his name Jesus." (Douay Rheims Catholic

Bible; DRCB). Here the word 'knew' refers to sexual intercourse; etc.

TRUE SCIENCE ALWAYS HARMONIZES WITH THE BIBLE:

Let's face it, true science always harmonizes with the Bible. One

great scientist, Sir Isaac Newton, believed very strongly that true

science always harmonizes with the Bible, but rejected false teachings

from Greek mythology taught by the Greek philosophers as shown in "Sir

Isaac Newton" Microsoft(r) Encarta(r). Copyright (c) 1998 Microsoft

Corporation. Let's look at what was said in this work on this fact,

" Newton also wrote on Judaeo-Christian prophecy, whose decipherment

was essential, he thought, to the understanding of God. His book on the

subject, which was reprinted well into the Victorian Age, represented

lifelong study. Its message was that Christianity went astray in the

4th century AD, when the first Council of Nicaea propounded erroneous

doctrines of the nature of Christ. The full extent of Newton'sunorthodoxy was recognized only in the present century: but although a

critic of accepted Trinitarian dogmas and the Council of Nicaea, he

possessed a deep religious sense, venerated the Bible and accepted its

account of creation. In late editions of his scientific works he

expressed a strong sense of God's providential role in nature."

[source, Microsoft Encarta on Sir Isac Newton by Copyright (c) 1998

Microsoft Corporation].


7/9

And in The Romance of Bible Chronology by the Rev. Martin Anstey, the

following was said of him,

"In his great work The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended, which

was published posthumously in 1728, the year after his death, he

endeavoured to construct a system on new bases, independent of the

Greek Chronologers, whose unsatisfactory method of reckoning by

generations, reigns and successions he exposed, laying bare the

foundation on which their Chronology rested, and thereby overthrowing

the elementary dates of Greek, Latin and Egyptian Chronology. He

reduced the date of the taking of Troy from B.C. 1183 to 965. He

followed Sir John Marshall in identifying Sesostris with Shishak, whose

date he thus reduced from B.C.1300 to 965. Newton cites Thucydides and

Socrates, the musician Terpander, and the Olympic disk of Lycurgus, he

uses his calculation of the procession of the equinoxes since the time

of Hipparcus, and he substituted a reckoning of 20 years each instead

of 33 for the succession of the Kings of Sparta. Newton . . . has

certainly destroyed the possibility of regarding the Chronology of the

Greeks as a stable foundation for any system of Chronology that can be

used as a standard by which to judge, and correct, the testimony of the

Old Testament. Yet this conjectural Chronology of the Greeks is thefoundation upon which the Canon of Ptolemy rests, and the Canon of

Ptolemy is the only obstacle in the way of the establishment of the

Chronology of the Old Testament." [source - The Romance of Bible

Chronology by the Rev. Martin Anstey, B.D. M.A. (London) Published by

Marshall Bros. Ltd., 1913, page 49].

Sir Isaac Newton, probably the greatest scientist of all of time was

also one of the greatest Bible scholars of all time as brought out by

Professor Arthur B. Anderson.

"Isaac Newton was the greatest scientist who has ever lived. It is, in

fact, generally accepted that he is the greatest scientist who ever

will live, since no one, no matter how brilliant, will ever again be in

such a unique historical position....

Isaac Newton believed that the Bible is literally true in every

respect. Throughout his life, he continually tested Biblical truth

against the physical truths of experimental and theoretical science. He

never observed a contradiction. In fact, he viewed his own scientific

work as a method by which to reinforce belief in Biblical truth.

He was a formidable Biblical scholar, was fluent in the ancient

languages, and had extensive knowledge of ancient history. He believed

that each person should read the Bible, and through that reading,

establish for himself an understanding of the universal truth it

contains.

Only one book of Newton's about the Bible was ever published. In 1733,

six years after his death, J. Darby and T. Browne, published

Observations Upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St.

John.

With his prodigious knowledge of ancient history and languages and his

unequaled mental powers, Isaac Newton is the best qualified individual

in this millennium to have written about the prophecies. His study of

the Book of Daniel began at the age of 12 and continued to be a special


8/9

interest throughout his life. Moreover, he writes of the prophecies

with a modesty that indicates that he, himself, is in awe of the words

he has been given an opportunity to read.

Isaac Newton concluded that it is intended that Revelation will be

understood by very few until near the end of history, the time of

judgment, and the beginning of the everlasting kingdom of the Saints of

the Most High. Here is an excerpt from that book:

This prophecy is called the Revelation, with respect to the Scripture

of Truth, which Daniel was commanded to shut up and seal, till the time

of the end. Daniel sealed it until the time of the end, and until that

time comes, the Lamb is opening the seals: and afterward the two

Witnesses prophesy out of it a long time in sackcloth, before they

ascend up to heaven in a cloud. All of which is as much as to say, that

the prophecies of Daniel and John should not be understood till the

time of the end: but that some should prophesy out of it in an

afflicted and mournful state for a long time, and that but darkly, so

as to convert but few. But in the very end, the Prophecy should be so

far interpreted so as to convince many. Then saith Daniel, many shall

run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

For the Gospel must first be preached in all nations before the great

tribulation, and end of the world. The palm-bearing multitude, which

came out of this great tribulation, cannot be innumerable out of all

nations unless they be made so by the preaching of the Gospel before it

comes. There must be a stone cut of the mountain without hands, before

it can fall on the toes of the Image, and become a great mountain and

fill the earth. An Angel must fly through the midst of heaven with the

everlasting Gospel to preach to all nations, before Babylon falls, and

the Son of man reaps his harvest. The two prophets must ascend up to

heaven in a cloud, before the kingdoms of this world become the

kingdoms of Christ.

'Tis therefore a part of this Prophecy, that it should not be

understood before the last age of the world; and therefore it makes for

the credit of the Prophecy, that it is not yet understood. But if the

last age, the age of opening these things, be now approaching, as by

the great success of late Interpreters it seems to be, we have more

encouragement that ever to look into these things.

If the general preaching of the Gospel be approaching, it is for us and

our posterity that these words mainly belong: In the time of the end

the wise shall understand, but none of the wicked shall understand.

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this

Prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein

(Daniel XII 4,10, Apoc. i 3).

Sir Isaac Newton and all reputable scientists believed that today's

scarred and marred earth was the result of the great Flood. This wasthe common opinion of the majority of educated people until around the

year 1870!!

In conclusion: Sir Isaac Newton was totally correct in his

Observations. If the greatest scientist who ever lived had no problem

believing the Bible, what excuse will evolutionists, atheists,

agnostics, or other so called men of science have on Judgment Day!! "

[source - Sir Isaac Newton and the Bible by Professor Arthur B.

Anderson.]


9/9

CONCLUSION:

The earliest Biblical reference to natural law is found at Job 38:33,

"Dost thou know the order of heaven, and canst thou set down the reason

thereof on the earth?" (DRCB), which was written about 1600 BCE.

Clearly showing that God (YHWH) was the author of the Bible and used

faithful men as scribes to put his thoughts into the words of men under

inspiration. Therefore, the Bible should be followed all the way, not

halfway, since when one truly comprehends it, the bible is entirely

consistent - both the New Testament and the Old testament - and

practical for our day.

Also, although not extensively covered in this writing, the Protestant

attitude was/and is much the same as the Catholic. Leaders of the

Protestant Reformation also backed the Ptolemaic system of pagan

philosophers in direct defiance of the Bible at previously quoted

Colossians 2:8, " Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy and vain

deceit: according to the tradition of men according to the elements of

the world and not according to Christ." (DRCB).

How so? Martin Luther said of Copernicus, the father of the conceptof the Copernican System that the earth revolved around the sun, the

following, "This fool wishes to reverse the entire science of

astronomy." [source - Galileo's Mistake by Wade Rowland and Servetus &

Calvin 1877]. Also, other Protestant Reformers such as Philipp

Melanchthon (1497-1560) and John Calvin (1509-1564) agreed with Martin

Luther (1483-1546) on this. Thus the Protestant Reformation may have

broke the papal 'yoke,' but it failed to 'shake the essential

authority' of the pagan philosopher, Aristotle, and that of so called

Saint Thomas Aquinas, since their views were accepted by Catholic and

Protestant alike.

Your Friend in Christ Iris89

mainstream religion more influenced by pagan philosophers than the bible

Documents