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Introduction of Christianity in Poland, by Jan Matejko, 1888–89, National Museum, Warsaw.

Faith or Economy? Why Pagan Religions Lost Their Position in Europe

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Even though there are hundreds of thousands of followers of pagan religions, the old beliefs haven't survived enough to be included in the group of the five major religions of the world. Officially, these religions are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Most of the globe is dominated by Christianity and Islam, but European cultural roots are called ''the Christian ones''. It is impossible to describe all the cases in one article, so the author has decided to focus on the European example. How did Christianity dominate the continent and reduce the importance of pre-Christian beliefs?

The Economy Is the Base of Everything

Civilizations were collapsing due to one of a few reasons. Sometimes it was connected with changes in the climate and environment, but usually it happened for political and economic reasons. Most of the great and impressive civilizations transformed into new ones due to the failure of major rulers which dictated the vision of society. In the case of the European civilization of the Roman Empire, the end began from the overwhelming needs of Roman Emperors, their vanity, and not caring about the needs of their people.

The disaster started in Rome. The Roman Emperors cost the society of the empire more than people could stand. The differences between the elite and the lower classes of society became too much. The taxes put on people to fill the budget of the Emperor became too high, so many rich Romans started to leave the city. They migrated to the provinces, where the Emperor couldn't control them so much, and the taxes were lower.

Only the poorest citizens of the capital of the Empire had to stay, and they suffered due to the unsatisfying level of life. During those times, the students of the rising religious sect were teaching in the catacombs about their Lord Jesus and God, who was said to help all the poor and mistreated people.

landestine and secret Christian communities existed in the Pagan Rus' long before its final Christianization. First Christians in Kiev by Vasily Perov.

Clandestine and secret Christian communities existed in the Pagan Rus' long before its final Christianization. First Christians in Kiev by Vasily Perov. (Public Domain)

The Christian structure was well organized and could be given to people in a simple way. However, the new religion had to adapt lots of symbols of the ancient gods to become more familiar to the potential followers. The change of the domination of religion didn't start just like that, it was a long process, connected with many unpleasant events. But it also involved a change of organization of the territories influenced by the new religion. Moreover, Christianity adopted many buildings and symbols related to the power of the Roman Empire. According to Carlos Machado:

''The Roman senate was, by the late fifth century, a Christian institution. Roman aristocrats were not only devout followers of the teachings of the Church, but also actively engaged in its political and dailylife. It is interesting, in this sense, that the rebuilding of such an important space of the Curia was celebrated through the restoration of the statue of the pagan goddess Minerva.''

Mosaic of the Minerva of Peace in the Library of Congress.

Mosaic of the Minerva of Peace in the Library of Congress. (Public Domain)

During the first centuries of Christianity there were five “popes.” At that time “pope” meant “the bishop,” who was located in an important center of the cult. The most important ones were located in Alexandria, Rome, Aachen, Avignon, and Constantinople. With time, two of them stayed the most influential – the Roman and Alexandrian.

How to Get New Followers?

Humanity always follows what seems to give more stability. The new religion was full of promises about the equal rights of the people and of a good God who would protect them. Moreover, humans were not created to live separately, so as more people followed Christianity, others wanted to join too. Of course, many people were forced by fire and torture as well, but the truth is that several decided to secretly follow the old beliefs, but officially joined the new religion because it seemed to be a very beneficial decision.

According to many researchers, the Christianizing of Europe took longer than it's officially described. For example, the baptism of Poland took place in 966, but almost three centuries later, when the Teutonic Order arrived to these lands, they still had lots of people to convert.

Contemporary mural in Gniezno commemorating the baptism of Poland.

Contemporary mural in Gniezno commemorating the baptism of Poland. (Public Domain)

It is impossible to find out when people left their old religions. The question actually is - did they really do it? European symbolism is still full of ancient aspects; many stories are related to the so-called pagan beliefs. Until at least the 8th century AD, young women near the Mediterranean Sea liked to have a coin with Alexander the Great during their wedding day. Although they were Christians, they still believed that the ancient king would bring happiness to their marriages.

Two Sides of the Same Story

History is usually not black and white. Topics like converting to a new religion are always very sensitive themes which are difficult to describe. However, it seems that pagan followers began supporting the new religion not only because of cruel acts, but also because they wanted to find stability. With the growing power of the Christian priests, many priests of pagan beliefs joined the new church. Others were usually killed, like for example Druid or Egyptian priests from the Philae temple.

 Panoramic view at the Philae Temple, at its current location on Agilkia Island.

Panoramic view at the Philae Temple, at its current location on Agilkia Island. (Public Domain)

The less people could speak and teach about the old religions, the more people started to follow the new faith. Along with destruction, Christianity conversely brought to Europeans a hope for stability, a new quality of rulers, and faith in forgotten values.

Jesus depicted as the Good Shepherd.

Jesus depicted as the Good Shepherd. (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Christianity also gave people faith that the new God would protect them from the vanity of kings, emperors, and all that seemed to be unfair for the lowest classes of society. However, this was only the beginning of what has become 2,000 years of history of the “new” religion.

Top image: Introduction of Christianity in Poland, by Jan Matejko, 1888–89, National Museum, Warsaw. (Public Domain)

By Natalia Klimczak

References:

Religion as Antiquarianism: Pagan dedications in late antique Rome (2009) by Carlos Machado, available at:
https://www.academia.edu/1026335/Religion_as_Antiquarianism_Pagan_dedications_in_late_antique_Rome_2009_

Presentation on Gaia Hypothesis: Science or a Neo-Pagan Religion?  By M. Rubaiat Islam, available at:
https://www.academia.edu/4489047/Presentation_on_Gaia_Hypothesis_Science_or_a_Neo-Pagan_Religion

Beyond Categorisation. "Pagan monotheism" and the study of ancient religion, Common Knowledge by Peter Van Nuffelen, available at:
https://www.academia.edu/3691850/2012._Beyond_Categorisation._Pagan_monotheism_and_the_study_of_ancient_religion_Common_Knowledge_18_2012_451-463

Could paganism make a comeback? It's not as crazy as it sounds by Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry, available at:
http://theweek.com/articles/584634/could-paganism-make-comeback-not-crazy-sounds

 

Comments

I shouldn't have read this... it's so misleading it begs for comments in almost any direction. Let's just review this statement:

"The new religion was full of promises about the equal rights of the people and of a good God who would protect them. "

I think you will find, as you start to study history, that this version of christianity, "the nice one" is (a) not the only version, and (b) a relatively modern version.

In Northern Europe/Scandinavia, for example, by all available evidence Vita Krist was marketed as a warrior god far more mighty than Thor and Odin combined. He was an elite god for the Kings, nobles, and Chieftains, and it was the upper echelons of society that adopted this religion, because it was crafted in such a way that it helped them control the ordinary citizens. Church bureaucracy and hierarchy helped in that respect. THe way people werehristened was by decree, the upper echelons got "an offer they couldn't refuse", from even higher echelons, aspiring to become kings of enlarged areas. Wars among nobles accompanied this "peaceful christening", and as always when nobles fight less-than-nobles are the ones who die in largest number.

Enough, I've had it with this article.

Re: " With the growing power of the Christian priests, many priests of pagan beliefs joined the new church."

Ehrm.... *cough* ...where do you find these horrible suggestions? This is very close to being a serious insult.

In modern terms: Evidence, or it does not exist!

Re: "European cultural roots are called ''the Christian ones''."

By whom? Are there others than the article author using that definition? It is so blatantly wrong that even the term "misnomer" is being far too nice. This is the first time I hear that, and I've been studying history for some time.

I'm sorry, this is nonsense. It must be a weird form of typo:

From image caption above: "... and secret Christian communities existed in the Pagan Rus' "

Either you are pagan or you are Christian, or neither. There is no "both" and there is no middle way. Christian religion is a dogma featuring only one god, and that religion does not have room for other gods, hence it is exclusive. Also, the very Christian idea about what "a god" is may be very far from pagan ideas - these two broad groups may not even agree on what constitutes a god and what does not..

Constantine and his successors passed a series of decrees and laws from 300-500 ultimately banning paganism under penalty of death.

A book on economics, “The Rise of Christianity and the Proscription of Paganism” by Maude Huttman, documents the laws which effectively outlawed all other beliefs and gave christianity its power.  It had nothing to do with the ‘beautiful message’ of the ‘gentle prince of peace’.

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Natalia

Natalia Klimczak is an historian, journalist and writer and is currently a Ph.D. Candidate at the Faculty of Languages, University of Gdansk. Natalia does research in Narratology, Historiography, History of Galicia (Spain) and Ancient History of Egypt, Rome and Celts. She... Read More

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