Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism / With an Essay on Baal Worship, on the Assyrian Sacred "Grove," and Other Allied Symbols

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

38485

Title

Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism / With an Essay on Baal Worship, on the Assyrian Sacred "Grove," and Other Allied Symbols

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This work explores the deep historical roots of religious imagery, arguing that many Christian symbols are derived from ancient pagan traditions. Thomas Inman examines emblems like the cross, the tree of life, and the trinity, tracing their origins to sun worship, fertility cults, and Eastern philosophies. With a scholarly yet provocative tone, the book challenges readers to recognize the continuity between ancient heathenism and modern faith, inviting a critical re-evaluation of sacred iconography.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism*, Thomas Inman presents a rigorous critique of the visual language of religion, arguing that contemporary Christian doctrine and art are deeply rooted in ancient pagan traditions. Through a systematic analysis of archaeological evidence, ancient coins, and religious texts, Inman contends that the Church often obscured the heathen origins of its symbols to make them palatable to the faithful, effectively baptizing idols. The treatise decodes a wide array of emblems, revealing their original associations with solar worship, fertility, and the union of male and female divine principles. Inman demonstrates that symbols such as the cross, the crescent moon, the palm tree, the triangle, and the circle predate Christianity. He details how the 'crux ansata' (handled cross) and the Maltese cross were adopted from Phoenician, Egyptian, and Assyrian cults rather than originating as Christian miracles. A central focus of the work is the 'Asherah,' a sacred palm tree representing the goddess, which Inman traces to its evolution into the Christian 'Tree of Life.' He further argues that the concept of the Trinity mirrors ancient triadic deities and that the visual language of religion remains remarkably consistent across time and geography. This consistency suggests a common human source for these aspirations rather than distinct divine revelations. The book serves as both an archaeological survey and a theological critique, urging readers to recognize the 'alphabet' of symbols that underpins human religious experience. By examining figures ranging from the Egyptian sistrum to the Hindu Sri Yantra, Inman illustrates how the Church incorporated these ancient motifs, often leaving their outlines incomplete to avoid offending the faithful. The text challenges the notion of Christianity as a purely new revelation, proposing instead that it is a continuation and adaptation of older, universal human attempts to express the nature of the divine through visible emblems.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Symbolism
• Christian Art