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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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].
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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
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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.]
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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