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Pagan and Christian Creeds
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Socialist mysticism and cosmic consciousness

Pagan and Christian Creeds: Their Origin and Meaning

Edward Carpenter1920
Intermediatecomplete

Comparative study examining the pagan origins of Christian beliefs and rituals. Carpenter traces Christian doctrines back to earlier nature religions, sun worship, and mystery cults, arguing that Christianity preserved and transformed ancient pagan symbolism. Explores themes of death and resurrection, virgin birth, and sacramental meals across cultures.

Also known asCarpenter's Creeds
This edition1920
EditionFirst edition
Comparative ReligionComparative MythologyCross-CulturalMystery religionsritual documentationAnthropological approach to religionTotemismsolar mythology

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Comparative Religion

Comparative religion texts on ritual, myth, sacrifice, belief, ancient religion, and cross-cultural theories of sacred practice.

Comparative Mythology

Comparative mythology texts on gods, hero cycles, symbolic patterns, classical myth, Indo-European myth, and cross-cultural mythic structures.

Anthropology of Religion

Anthropological texts on ritual, animism, totemism, taboo, early religion, culture, and theories of belief formation.

Contents27 chapters

  1. 01Pagan & Christian Creeds: Their Origin and Meaning
  2. 02CONTENTS
  3. 03PAGAN AND CHRISTIAN CREEDS: THEIR ORIGIN AND MEANING
  4. 04I. INTRODUCTORY
  5. 05II. SOLAR MYTHS AND CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS
  6. 06III. THE SYMBOLISM OF THE ZODIAC
  7. 07IV. TOTEM-SACRAMENTS AND EUCHARISTS
  8. 08V. FOOD AND VEGETATION MAGIC
  9. 09VI. MAGICIANS, KINGS AND GODS
  10. 10VII. RITES OF EXPIATION AND REDEMPTION
  11. 11VIII. PAGAN INITIATIONS AND THE SECOND BIRTH
  12. 12IX. MYTH OF THE GOLDEN AGE
  13. 13X. THE SAVIOUR-GOD AND THE VIRGIN-MOTHER
  14. 14XI. RITUAL DANCING
  15. 15XII. THE SEX-TABOO
  16. 16XIII. THE GENESIS OF CHRISTIANITY
  17. 17XIV. THE MEANING OF IT ALL
  18. 18XV. THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES
  19. 19XVI. THE EXODUS OF CHRISTIANITY
  20. 20XVII. CONCLUSION
  21. 21APPENDIX
  22. 22THE TEACHING OF THE UPANISHADS
  23. 23I. REST
  24. 24II. THE NATURE OF THE SELF
  25. 25THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
  26. 26"Cover"
  27. 27The Project Gutenberg eBook of Pagan and Christian Creeds: Their Origin and Meaning, by Edward Carpenter

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