The Origins of Christianity

[ColdHeart]

I heard religion meant history too, though it does make sense, people studing their religion, are studying what happened in the past and believing it

[Gandalf]

It doesnt mean history.

the word 'Religion' comes from the Roman (Latin) word 'Religio' which translates as 'something which binds'.

It came to mean the State Religion. the Religio was viewed in contrast to 'Superstitio' which refered to strange, exotic eastern cults, such as Isis, Mithras and Christ.

Classical Roman religion was closely related to the state and was a further way of binding the people of Rome together in the ideology of the S.P.Q.R.

When the Roman empire adopted Christianity as the state religion in the 4th century (although it only really started to dominate over paganism in the 5th), this became even more the case, and the Roman empire became in effect a Christian theocracy. Everyone was bound up with it.

Interestingly, the Christian church has continued the Classical Roman tradition of distinguishing between 'Religion' on the one hand, and 'superstition' on the other... except now it is Christianity that is the 'religio'.

Douglas

[lifebreath]

quote:the word 'Religion' comes from the Roman (Latin) word 'Religio' which translates as 'something which binds'.

Not exactly. Religion comes from re-ligio from re-ligare. You seem to indicate it involves "bondage" in a negative sense.

The word means to "bind back"; contectually, to reestablish a "bond" between God and man, and between humans. It also derives from re-ligere, "to study carefully" or "pay close attention to", in the sense of moral and social issues, as opposed to "disregard."

So, in contrast to your view, religion attempts to re-establish a bond between God and man in a fellowship of union and communion. It is the responsibility of each individual to actually foster and cultivate this bond.

[Beth]

If anyone wants to know how this is found in the Bible, the word "religion" only appears 4 times in the entire New Testament, and then in two different forms.

Acts 26:5
James 1:26
James 1:27

In these passages the Greek word "threskei" (thrace-ki-ah) stems from the word "threskos" (thrace-kos) which means "ceremonious" or "ceremonial observance."  

The word "religious" appears once in Acts 13:43.  This Greek word, "sebomai" (seb-om-ahee) means "to revere, to adore." And in this context it has also been translated as "devout converts."  

The words "religion" or "religious" do not appear in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) at all.

Beth  

[Gandalf]

Religion comes from re-ligio from re-ligare. You seem to indicate it involves "bondage" in a negative sense_

Lifebreath_

Actually no, I was not refering to 'binding' in the negative sense, I dont know how you interpeted my words that way. I was meaning it in the positive, in that it binds the Roman people and the state together, in a positive way.

You say it instead refers to a binding between god and man.
Actually, 'the gods' and man to be more exact. However, you must remember that in Classical culture these two ideas are very closely related.

The the gods and the state are closely integrated and by fostering loyalty to the state they are also relating to the gods. The state also has a responsibility to honour the gods as the state is acting on behalf of the Roman people.

This idea was continued into the Christian period, however once we get into the christian theocracy of the Later Roman empire the whole religion and state idea becomes much more oppresive.

Douglas

[Beth]

Hey all,

I did a further biblical search and found that in the NT the Greek word for "bind" is "deo" (deh-o) which means "to bind in various applications, literally or figuratively, as to bind, to tie, be in bonds, knit, wind."  This is found nine times.  For example: Matthew 16:19, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

There are two other Greek words that have also been translated in this sense and they are used in the common sense of "tying" or "binding" as in the "tying on of sandals."

In the Hebrew Bible (OT) it appears that there are 8 different Hebrew words that have been translated as "bind."  These words also appear to be used in both positive and negative ways, and in the many different ways that one can "bind."  On first look, none of these are related to "religion" per se, unless we view the entirety of Hebrew scripture as referring to "religion" and unless these occurances are read in figurative senses--which is most likely the case.  I can search this further but this would be quite detailed.  I will if I can find the time.

Beth

[bomohwkl]

I also recommend
http://www.thiaoouba.com

about the origin of Jesus who performed miracles.

[Arcane]

I was doing some online research on the link between Akhenaten and moses when i found this site:

http://www20.brinkster.com/theword/origins/home.html

I found it very interesting, but I would like to hear other peoples views on the content. To me a lot of it seemed fairly convincing.
My view on the bible is that it has evolved through time like a game of chinese whispers, and i am interested in finding its origins.

To add a vaguely related point, i read somewhere that the word 'religion' originally meant 'history'.