What do Pagans Really Think About Jesus?
71Roman gods
The Romans had many different gods. It is said they had a pantheon of gods.
pantheon (plural pantheons)
- a temple dedicated to all the gods
- all the gods of a particular people or religion, considered as a group
- a category or classification denoting the most honored persons of a group
We can see by the definition of pantheon that it means they had many gods. This makes them pagan in their beliefs.
The Beginning of Hate
Thomas, called Didymus an one of the original twelve disciples, was thrust through with a spear by enraged pagan priests, for preaching the Gospel of Christ in Parthis and India.
Luke is said to have been hanged from an olive tree in Greece by idolatrous priests. He had traveled through many countries with Paul.
Simon surnamed Zelotes, was crucified in great Britain in the year 74 AD. He was also one of the original twelve disciples.
John, the beloved disciple, was boiled in oil but escaped without harm. Afterwards he was sent to Patmos in exile by Domitian. The Isle of Patmos is where John received the vision of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Earlier he had founded the churches in Asia (with the exception of the Church of Ephesus), which are mentioned in Revelation.
What do pagans really think of Jesus? We can certainly see what they thought of what He preached and what His disciples preached.
Pagans hated Christians with a Passion?
In the year 81 AD, pagans were so infatuated with Christians that they fabricated lies in order to cause harm to Christians. They told that if pestilence, famine and/or earthquakes afflicted any part of the Roman Empire that it was the fault of Christians. The persecutions caused many more to tell the tales for gain. so tell me now, what do pagans really think of Jesus?
In the year 97 AD, Timothy, the beloved young man whom the Apostle Paul discipled, was beaten with clubs and died from the injuries two days later. Those who beat him to death were pagans. They beat him because he reproved them for their idolatry.
Beginning in the Year 108 AD
Pliny the second was appalled and lamented over the slaughter of Christians who were put to death by the thousands on a daily basis. Their crime was; meeting on a certain day before daylight to pray together a prayer to Christ as God, but never to do wickedness, stealing, lying, committing adultery, or fraudulent behavior. After this they would separate then reassemble to partake of a common meal together.
Ignatius was the appointed Bishop of Antioch, following in Peter's footsteps. It was said that s he went through cities going to Rome, that he exhorted the churches along the way and preached the Word of God. He also wrote a letter to the Church in Rome exhorting them not to use means for his deliverance. He is quoted as saying, "Now I begin to be a disciple. I care for nothing, of visible or invisible things, so that I may but win Christ. Let fire and the cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking of bones and tearing of limbs, let the grinding of the whole body, and all the malice of the devil, come upon me; be it so, only may I win Christ Jesus!" After being sentenced he also said, "I am the wheat of Christ: I am going to be ground with the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be found pure bread."
Eustachius was ordered by the Roman Emperor to join in an idolatrous celebration and refused. He was slaughtered along with his family because of the rage of the Emperor.
Faustines and Jovita, brothers and citizens of Brescia, suffered so much torment that Calocerius a pagan admires their patience. He exclaimed. "Great is the God of the Christians!" He was then apprehended and suffered the same fate.
Methods Used
The above are just a few examples of how the Christians were persecuted. There are literally hundreds of thousand of others who are not named. Their crime is simply telling the truth to pagans and anyone else who would come their way. The methods used to kill Christians are not for the faint of heart but the story must be told by all means.
Many were tied to stakes and burned. A fire would be built around them and the pagans would watch them literally burn laughing and mocking them. Others were simply beaten to death with clubs and/or sticks. All the time mocking and laughing were those who hated the Christians.
Some had animal skins put upon them and wild animal turned loose to tear them to pieces. A most horrible way to die. Still others were crucified on a cross, just as Jesus was.
Through all the persecutions, murders, slaughters, Christians grew in number. Nothing can stop the Word of God from spreading out to the corners of the earth.
Pagans Today
Pagans today seem to say they love Jesus but have problems with His followers. If they truly love Jesus, as they say, they would also love His followers. What I see is that they don't like being told the truth. They would rather live in their idolatry and sins than be saved by the only One who can save them. The very reason I wrote this is because of another hub. The hub was written very well, but the comments urged me to write.
The hub is Why do Christians get such a bad wrap?? (no longer published). Many of the comments on that hub started talking about the crusades. They they go to more modern times. Not one said anything about before the crusades, except the first one I made.To this date and time not a single person addressed the beginning of persecutions as I have here in this hub.
People don't want to know that hell is a very real place. They would rather be ignorant willfully, than to be shown there is a better way. They want to fulfill the lusts of their flesh.
He Waits for You
The Way
Jesus made a statement before he was crucified. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." No man at all can come to the Father but by Jesus Christ. Abraham came to the Father by the Way of Jesus Christ. There is not a single person alive or whoever lived that Jesus did not die for. The sins of the whole world was on His back. This is the message we preach. Repent of your sins and be saved by ther bkood of Jesus Christ.
There is no other way to be saved from the pits of hell. Why not accept His sacrifice today. Those who refuse the sacrifice of Jesus are actually saying that they have a better way. They are saying that God's way is not good enough for them.
I know many will be angry over this article. Some will probably feel sorry for me thinking I am delusional. I assure you all, I am not delusional.
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Comments
Thank you Carrie for the comment. I appreciate it very much. I am a fan of Hell No's not becuae I like what he writes, but just to keep track of what he is doing.
SirDent ~ I appreciate your hub very much. Historical facts are shown and unless someone does not believe the historical facts in the Bible, they won't understand. There are many religious wars over doctrines, and it's really something how many don't believe Jesus is our only way to the Father (God) and that Hell really does exist and that God, loving God, will indeed cast them away from Him. I've been having doctrinal theological discussions with these people on not only my hubs, but Hell No's (noticed you're a fan).
Jesus_saves_us_, this was written at a time when many were discussing persecutions in forus and other hubs. Nearly all who discussed pointed to the crusades. They forgot abotu what happened 1000 years before the crusades.
This was not wirtten in anger. It was written to show the truth. I also wrote a hub about the crusades before I wrote this one.
One cannot show a light, if they don't know they are in darkness.
I appreciate your comment very much. Thanks for visiting my hub.
I have enjoyed reading many of your hubs and comments from you on other hubs. You seem very insiteful and have a lot of biblical and historical knowledge. So please do not take any offence, but I just don't get the purpose of this hub? It seems like your intent is to stir anger and pick a fight. I don't see how this is going to win any soles. Please forgive me if I miss your point. P.S. still a fan.
ABC, why didn't you give a few facts if you know them of have them?
i wanted to throw up after reading this blog. get your facts straight. get your beliefs directed towards a more positive goal. pagans are beautiful. jesus is and all others who sacrifice for you are beautiful. keep your narrow minded misguided information to yourself for the sake of those trying to do what's right without such negative judgement.
SirDent said "Many talk about the crusades and the inquisition, but you hear very little about the persecution of Christians by pagans in the first century AD."
No, I agree and completely understand your desire to have Christianity included in the great club of the oppressed, but your repeated referring of the subject implies you might be seeing that as justification for 1900 years of various oppressions in the name of the Christian Church. But of course, you are far too intelligent to believe that.
Also you said "Pagans today hate Christians just as much as they did during the first centruy AD. I read their forums and such. They accept everything except Christians who preach the Word of God". I can assure you that this is not the case, at least in my experience. People are people are people, good, bad, indifferent.
As a pagan, I respect each individual on their merits. I don't have some kind of built-in hatred/pity/dislike for those of a different path, nor an overwhelming desire to repeatedly inform those people that their way is wrong and my way is right. I'm not so arrogant as to think I hold all the answers for everybody.
Jesus died for the sins of all mankind, according to scripture. He gave us all a clean slate to work from, and we went and dirtied it all again, the commandments became guidelines, malleable and corrupted. "Love others as you would be loved", Jesus' greatest lesson, became conditional. "Love other Christians as you would be loved - as long as their sins don't offend your aesthetic tastes" could be the Churches lesson today.
But no, I don't hate Christians. I accept them into my life as willingly as I would any person.
The faith isn't important. The deeds make the person.
[perhaps, just a thought - maybe if the title was "what DID pagans think of Jesus?" woulda been less off-tilt
Thanks for the comment Compu-smart. This is written mostly from an historical perspective. Many talk about the crusades and the inquisition, but you hear very little about the persecution of Christians by pagans in the first century AD.
I also wrote about the first Crusade, and just like on this hub I held nothing back. http://hubpages.com/hub/TheCrusades
If you are interested in reading it, you can check it out.
Im another agnostic and i saw a documentary about the pagans just recently and it seems like a very different way of life! Not a life i would be happy being part of although they seem to be very nice, kind and caring people!! that's what i gathered from it but i may have missed the boat some where along the line!
redpony says:3 hours ago
So, you decided to become a crusador in Hubpages? :) You really don't know much about history and it's a shame that you pretend like you do.
SirDent: Have you checked history records to see if what I wrote is true?
dafla says:10 hours ago
It is statements like this that make all other religions dislike Christians:
"Pagans today seem to say they love Jesus but have problems with His followers. If they truly love Jesus, as they say, they would also love His followers. What I see is that they don't like being told the truth. They would rather live in their idolatry and sins than be saved by the only One who can save them."
Did you live in Jesus time? Did you see any miracles? Did you see the angel come to Mary? Can you prove any of this? NO! But you continue to persecute all pagans and atheists as idol worshipping sinners. I will not be reading any more of your hubs, simply because you are the most bigoted, judgmental, and close minded person I've found here on Hubpages or anywhere else for that matter.
You, as a Christian, should love EVERYONE, and if you know the Bible, you would know that you have NO RIGHT TO JUDGE. God reserves that right for himself.
Christians were persecuted before just as pagans are persecuted now, and YOU are one of the persecutors. How does being a Christian make you any better than those who persecuted Christians?
I'd be willing to bet that you are a recovering addict who has replaced his addiction to a substance with an addiction to Jesus. I've seen this too many times in my life. A weak person who has nothing else to make him important, so he bullies people who don't believe as he does.
Yes, I said BULLIES. You are a far right, Christian BULLY! I have to stop now, because it's not good to be this angry this early in the morning.
Karma will take care of the likes of you.
SirDent: So you're saying telling the truth upsets pagans? Would you rather I lie to you and let you believe the lie?
What does love really do? Does it allow people to be lost and blind? Love tells the truth always.
Gal 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
You call me your enemy, when I simply tell the truth. You call me judgmental, because I tell you the truth. It is your choice to believe or not believe. I have always stated that and will always state it. Never have I denied anyone the freedom to choose.
Not all people from other religions dislike Christians. Actually only on the Internet do I ever read people say things like they do in the comments section here. People would not dream of saying some of the things they say here at work or around friends, but when people come online they feel they can say things they would not usually say. However, if some people actually say these kind of things to peoples faces, I am sure people think you are not very nice for it. Yes, being nice still counts for something because people do not want to talk to people who say whatever they think. Gee, even kindergartens know better than to put someone down.
So, you decided to become a crusador in Hubpages? :) You really don't know much about history and it's a shame that you pretend like you do.
It is statements like this that make all other religions dislike Christians:
"Pagans today seem to say they love Jesus but have problems with His followers. If they truly love Jesus, as they say, they would also love His followers. What I see is that they don't like being told the truth. They would rather live in their idolatry and sins than be saved by the only One who can save them."
Did you live in Jesus time? Did you see any miracles? Did you see the angel come to Mary? Can you prove any of this? NO! But you continue to persecute all pagans and atheists as idol worshipping sinners. I will not be reading any more of your hubs, simply because you are the most bigoted, judgmental, and close minded person I've found here on Hubpages or anywhere else for that matter.
You, as a Christian, should love EVERYONE, and if you know the Bible, you would know that you have NO RIGHT TO JUDGE. God reserves that right for himself.
Christians were persecuted before just as pagans are persecuted now, and YOU are one of the persecutors. How does being a Christian make you any better than those who persecuted Christians?
I'd be willing to bet that you are a recovering addict who has replaced his addiction to a substance with an addiction to Jesus. I've seen this too many times in my life. A weak person who has nothing else to make him important, so he bullies people who don't believe as he does.
Yes, I said BULLIES. You are a far right, Christian BULLY! I have to stop now, because it's not good to be this angry this early in the morning.
Karma will take care of the likes of you.No I was just joking, do not think I am better than anyone :). I just think some of the people that like to give you a hard time do so because you write about Christianity. If you were writing about Islam, Buddhism, or any other religion and said that was the best, none of these people would give you a hard time perhaps. Some people are polite on here, but others like to push your buttons I see. Today I saw a newbie was given a hard time on the forum just because he said he was a Christian. Really it is so silly. Dramarama forum time :).
Sweetie, are you saying you are the best of three worlds? :P Thanks once again for the support.
Technically I am Arab-American and a Christian. Wow, I wonder if some Europeans and others who have generalized ever knew this was possible :). Not to generalize, but some of those comments people left were not polite. Not all Christians vote for Bush or assume others have not be persecuted. Anyway, this was all I wanted to say. It is really hard to put any one group of people in a box.
I am very glad you're not real angry, Sweetie. Just kidding. Thanks for the comment and support. :)
I think people just like to question Christians is the impression I get. If they are so happy with their religion, why do they care. I have seen some gross generalizations made in the comments here, but I was trying not to get involved. One gross generalization was that many Christian in America have a fundamentalist bent and vote for presidents such as Bush. I never voted for Bush and I am not a Christian fundamentalist. I cannot speak for all Christians, but you would be surprised with how many people assume all Christians vote Republican, which is not always the case. Another thing, many people in the US do not vote and if you are worried about voting patterns, I suggest you get out there and inform people about voting. Another person commenting that American Christians do not know about persecutions of others such as witches in Cromwelian England, but guess what, I am a history major and knew all about this. Another thing that I find disconcerting was non-Christians trying to downplay the persecution of Christians through out history, but if someone came to your hub about the persecution of a group and downplayed it it would not be appreciated. Many American Christians come from a diverse group of people who are knowledagle about history and do not appreciate generalizations. Just some things I have gleaned from reading this hub. It seems popular to bash so called "American Christian fundamentalists," but a few here were really incensed when sirdent wrote his hub and Muhammad vs. Christ and pointed out there are fundamentalist Muslims also. The bottom line is I do not think fundamentalist Muslims or fundamentalist Christians are true to their religion if they abuse it to do unrightous things. Way too much labeling and finger pointing going on in the comments section of this hub.
Carrie Bradshaw says:
6 months ago
Yes, I know you're not a fan of Hell No (nor am I). That doctrine is straight out of the pit of the father of LIES. To tell people they're not to be saved today, and that sometime after they die they will be put through a spiritual fire and be forced to admit Jesus is Lord then be made immortal to enjoy the inheritance of God is ridiculous. They even believe Satan will be purified and "saved". AMAZING. ALL are saved; there is no Hell; there is no accountability and absolutely nothing to worry about. Staight out of the mouth of Satan. Incredible.
If you care to waste your time reading my comments on Hell No's hubs, I could sure use some backup. Support is like FRESH WATER washing over our wounds! Warfare is not fun, but is necessary because we LOVE.