Dark,
The concept of hell was embraced by almost every culture and tribe before Christianity. Not that I assume those that we consider pagan any less than other religions, it's certainly a cultural issue often difficult to find exact beginnings for the earliest people. It is strange many cultures have almost this exact belief in man's beginnings, such as the Mayans, Hmong, ect., maybe that points to some earlier connection of man. Most pagan religions
believed in torture, stages of punishment, ect. There are so called several
entry points even now where different tribes entered the hell of their beliefs.
Any study of early Christianity until Roman control can slowly find the past concepts of hell being embraced by sects of Christianity, but it didn't become a doctrine until about 500AD. Anyone that has studied the issue can see Christianity embraced concepts from pagan religions and used them as tools of fear to controll the masses and a place of eternal torture was one. Most of the themes of Christianity existed long before in other religions.
They're atleast 4 men previous to Christ where the theme was the same.
They were born of virgins, wise men followed stars, they died on tree's/crosses to redeem man, were called son of God. Just search Horus or Dionysys, almost the exact story as Christ.
Simply, it's clear to me that much of previous religions were used to create
Christian doctrine.
From wika as an example.
--Dionysus was born of a virgin on December 25 and, as the Holy Child, was placed in a manger.
--He was a traveling teacher who performed miracles.
--He “rode in a triumphal procession on an donkey.”
--He was a sacred king killed and eaten in an eucharistic ritual for fecundity and purification.
--Dionysus rose from the dead on March 25.
--He was the God of the Vine, and turned water into wine.
--He was called “King of Kings” and “God of Gods.”
--He was considered the “Only Begotten Son,” Savior,” “Redeemer,” “Sin Bearer,” Anointed One,” and the “Alpha and Omega.”
--He was identified with the Ram or Lamb.
--His sacrificial title of “Dendrites” or “Young Man of the Tree” intimates he was hung on a tree or crucified.
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