Have you ever wondered why we Christians do what we do for church every Sunday morning? Why do we "dress up" for church? Why does the pastor preach a sermon each week? Why do we have pews, steeples, choirs, and seminaries? This volume reveals the startling truth: most of what Christians do in present-day churches is not rooted in the New Testament, but in pagan culture and rituals developed long after the death of the apostles. Coauthors Frank Viola and George Barna support their thesis with compelling historical evidence in the first-ever book to document the full story of modern Christian church practices.Many Christians take for granted that their church's practices are rooted in Scripture. Yet those practices look very different from those of the first-century church. The New Testament is not silent on how the early church freely expressed the reality of Christ's indwelling in ways that rocked the first-century world.Times have changed. Pagan Christianity leads us on a fascinating tour through church history, revealing this startling and unsettling truth: Many cherished church traditions embraced today originated not out of the New Testament, but out of pagan practices. One of the most troubling outcomes has been the effect on average believers: turning them from living expressions of Christ's glory and power to passive observers. If you want to see that trend reversed, turn to Pagan Christianity . . . a book that examines and challenges every aspect of our contemporary church experience.
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Raises the Question Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices by Frank Viola is a book that claims what Christians do in their church is not embedded in the New Testament but is rooted in pagan culture. The book asks the question "Are we doing it by the book?"
I found a new book that helped me find hope in this world of such uncertainty, entitled "The Enlightenment, What God Told Me After One Million Prayers: A Message for Everyone," by John H. Eagan. I just finished it. It's really great and deals... more info
pagan Christianity, deconstruction of the church/kitchen Let me see the best way to describe 'pagan Christianity': It brings to mind the old story that we have all heard about the great granddaughter asking her mother why they cut the end off the ham. It isn't until they ask the great grandmother the question that they get the answer, `that was how big my pan was." We do things because we don't know any better. The journey that Frank Viola and George Barna take the reader through deconstructing the `institutional church' is to me like great chefs,... more info
Good work but flawed in certain areas I picked up this book because i am a christian and i want it to confirm what i already knew for several years:the incredible amount of paganism that exists in a lot of churches.I was not dissapointed.The authors expose with precision and research how many religions adopted pagan beliefs and systems.The chapters that talk about bishops clothing and about the set up of the altars were iluminating.However, as i kept reading i realized several things.Number one, some of the most important pagan festivities and... more info
A HOME RUN for Viola and Barna Viola and Barna stir the waters in this important, yet challenging reading. Pagan Christianity provides an in-depth look into the history of current church practices, analyzing whether these traditions are edifying to the body of Christ and necessary today. Go into it with an open mind, and prepare to be challenged. Be sure to follow this reading with REIMAGINING CHURCH, Viola's follow-up book that provides the second piece to the puzzle.
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