The bible copying older religious themes.

[robyn hill]

Came across quite a discusssion earlier on overlapping of similar themes and persons in the old testament mimicing older recorded religions. I have researched it a bit, but always come back to this forum to borrow research based opinions from the readers here. How can the themes be so similar? I would love some good, research based answers if anyone has replies.

[bippy123]

Came across quite a discusssion earlier on overlapping of similar themes and persons in the old testament mimicing older recorded religions. I have researched it a bit, but always come back to this forum to borrow research based opinions from the readers here. How can the themes be so similar? I would love some good, research based answers if anyone has replies.

Hello Robyn, these links should help you out a bit.

http://www.alwaysbeready.com/index.php? ... &task=view

http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4217655/

http://confidentchristianity.com/articl ... heory.html

[robyn hill]

This was very helpful, thank-you so much!

[bippy123]

This was very helpful, thank-you so much!

Your very welcome my friend
God bless

[Canuckster1127]

Correlation is not necessarily causation.

When there are similar themes within different cultures while it is possible that one has fed the other, it is also possible that both are rooted in a common denominator that goes back beyond both of them. The presumption that one culture grew in a vacuum and could only have been fed by the other presumes some things that may or may not be true.

When it comes to truths with regard to the nature and purpose of God, if we assume that the narratives of Genesis are true (meaning that those elements of Gen 1-11 are historic rather than mythological) then it would follow that all cultures have a common origin with a concept of God as creator with a purpose for mankind and the creation, and also there is a promise of a savior or messiah who will come to redeem mankind.

God's plan focused upon on particular nation, Israel, that served as the means by which the message would be preserved and the messiah would come, but that doesn't preclude other cultures from having those themes in different forms and would be unreasonable to expect that all cultures would not replicate in forms of relative degree those same themes.

Much of the cultural histories and examinations that claim that Judaism or Christianity "borrowed" from other cultures have presumptions as well. They are presuming a materialistic path of development from nothing to something and therefore, if there is a similarity in what is presumed to be an older culture or civilization and similar themes are found in another culture or civilization believed to be more recent or then any similarities would be an indication that one fed from the other. That may or may not be true. First, is there are common themes to all cultures then the common denominator is a common source for both, not one leading to the others. Second, the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence and so it may be that the one culture presumes to be younger has roots that go further back than the presumed older civilization and that is the explanation as opposed to the one feeding the other.

Frankly, given the belief that there is a common nexus for all cultures and civilizations going back through Noah it wouldn't be surprising as all that there would be knowledge of the creation narrative that is preserved in Genesis as well as the seeds of what is solidified through the chosen nation into Christ and things like the Trinity, the incarnation, redemption through the sacrifice of Christ etc. albeit with unique themes through the other cultures outside of the chosen nation. Themes in addition would include polytheism, mythology and legend etc. In order to see things in the point of view of those who claim that these other cultures fed Judaism and Christianity, you have to assume no common denominator or a limited one from the past and then also assume that any form of correlation is in fact causation.

If it's true that there are possible assumptions and difficulties that have to be worked out in one scenario, it's also true that there are assumptions and difficulties in the materialistic, dialectic point of view that drives much of the analysis that is offered by those claiming that the messiah themes or Christological themes are being adopted from other religious traditions. The assumption of both can be argued to have circular themes that feed themselves and return to their underlying presuppositions.

[PaulSacramento]

What He said

[robyn hill]

Canstucker, thank-you for relplying...you have always been my favorite moderator, and your scientific and historical knowledge is always so helpful (not to mention, amazing. God bless you and thank-you sooooo much for being here still! I hope you never leave here!

[Canuckster1127]

Glad it helped Robyn and thank you for the kind words. I appreciate the encouragement