Christian mythology

Christian mythology is the collection of stories and ideas linked with Christianity. It includes many special tales that people think are very important and sacred.

These stories often have common themes, like heroes doing brave things, battles with strong forces, and trips to strange places. There are also stories about big floods, the founding of towns, and brave heroes or saints who did great things long ago.

People have used the term "Christian mythology" to talk about other stories and ideas found in the Bible. During the Middle Ages, many popular stories grew up around Christian ideas, such as the adventure of Saint George and the Dragon or the legends of King Arthur and his knights. Famous writers like John Milton, who wrote Paradise Lost, and modern authors like C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, also created stories with Christian meanings.

Christianity has many different groups, and not all of them share the same holy books or stories. For instance, the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox churches include books like the Book of Judith and the Book of Tobit, which many Protestant groups do not consider to be official parts of the Bible.

Attitudes

See also: Religion and mythology

Christian writers and teachers have talked about the stories in the Bible. One teacher, Rudolf Bultmann, said the Bible talks about the world having three levels: earth in the middle, heaven above, and a place below. In these stories, God and angels live in heaven, and a tricky figure named Satan lives below. The Bible tells of big events where these invisible forces work in people’s lives.

Many people think of “myths” as old stories that may not be true. Some Christian writers say that important Bible stories, like the tale of Jesus, are special and true. Others are careful about calling Bible stories “myths.” There are also many extra stories in Christian tradition, like tales of saints such as Saint George or Saint Valentine. These stories help explain Christian ideas in fun and memorable ways.

Christ

See also: Christ myth theory and Jesus in comparative mythology

The stories about Jesus Christ tell us about his life and big events that helped start Christian beliefs. Jesus is called the "Logos" and the Son of God who came to Earth. Important moments in the story include:

• Jesus's birth from the Virgin Mary
• The baptism of Jesus
• Jesus being tempted by an evil force
• The Transfiguration of Jesus
• Parables of Jesus, stories he told
• The Last Supper, a special meal with his friends
• The death and resurrection of Jesus
• The Ascension, when he went up to heaven

The Acts of the Apostles shares the story of the early Christian church and the work of the Twelve Apostles and Paul the Apostle. One big moment was the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus's disciples after he went to heaven.

Eschatology

Main article: Christian eschatology

Christian stories often talk about important future events. These include the coming of a figure called the Antichrist, the Second Coming of Jesus, when people will resurrection come back to life, a big Judgement Day, and the time when the Kingdom of God will fully appear on Earth. These ideas help explain what many Christians believe will happen in the future.

Other examples

Christian mythology has many stories and ideas that are not in the main Bible but are important to many people. These stories come from different groups and writers.

Some groups, like Gnostic Christianity, have their own myths. For example, the Valentinian myth talks about figures named Sophia and the demiurge. There are also myths from groups like the Manichaean, and some stories about Jesus from the Gnostic Gospels.

Famous writers have added to Christian stories. John Milton wrote Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. Dante Alighieri wrote Divine Comedy. John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress. C. S. Lewis wrote The Pilgrim's Regress and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In this book, the character Aslan is sometimes thought to represent Jesus.

There are many legends about Christian saints, like Abgarus of Edessa, John the Dwarf, and Saint George. These stories are often called hagiographies.

Other stories include tales about special items like the Holy Grail, the Holy Lance, and the Shroud of Turin. Some stories give names to people in the Bible who were not named, as seen in the List of names for the Biblical nameless.

There are also legends about famous Christian kings like King Arthur and Charlemagne, especially stories about the Quest for the Holy Grail. There are tales about the history of Christian churches, such as stories from the Crusades or the paladins in medieval romance.

Medieval stories also tell of groups like the Knights Templar and the Priory of Sion, and there are stories about angels and guardian angels.

Finally, there are many non-main Bible stories that add to the Bible's tales, such as the stories of Salomé, the Three Wise Men, or St. Dismas.

See also: Christian literature

Connections to other belief systems

Jewish mythology

Main article: Jewish mythology

Christian stories share many ideas with Jewish stories. These include tales about how the world began, like the 7-day creation week narrative and the Eden narrative. There are also stories about important events, such as the Fall of Man, Noah's Ark, and the Tower of Babel. Key figures like Abraham and events such as the Exodus and the Hebrews' journey to the Promised Land are also part of these shared stories.

Zoroastrianism

Some experts think that Christian ideas, especially about time moving in a straight line, may have come from an old Persian religion called Zoroastrianism. Important beliefs such as judgment after death, a future resurrection, and a final battle between good and evil might have been shaped by Zoroastrian thoughts.

Other connections

In Buddhist mythology, there is a story about a demon named Mara trying to stop the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, before he finds peace.

In the Book of Revelation, there is a vision of a woman in the sky being chased by a large red dragon. The dragon tries to harm her baby when she gives birth, but the baby is saved and taken to safety. This story is seen as a symbol of Christianity's victory.

Mythical themes and types

Academic studies of mythology often say that myths are important stories. They explain how a society began and how the world works. These stories tell about a society's creation, its gods, and its heroes. They also talk about what happens after life, known as eschatology.

Christian texts share many stories with Jewish tales, such as the creation of the world. The Book of Genesis says the world started from darkness and water. It was made in seven days. These stories include the first man and woman, the Garden of Eden, and what happened when a divine rule was broken.

Many myths have special journeys, like going to a sacred mountain or traveling to a special place. Others tell of battles between good and evil, heroes who visit hidden places, and gods who die but return to life. Stories of big floods that clean the world and tales of new beginnings are also common. Heroes, wise kings, and saints often appear in these myths. They show values and important lessons. Paradise stories describe perfect places that were lost or hidden.

Sacrifice is important in many myths. It shows deep devotion or important lessons. Special meals, like the Christian Eucharist, have deep meanings. Many myths talk about what happens after life, including ideas about heaven and hell. These stories help explain beliefs and give hope for the future.

Attitudes toward time

Many cultures believe that time repeats in cycles, celebrating events from long ago. This idea is called an "eternal return."

Christianity sees time as a journey, starting with the creation of the world, continuing with the life of Christ, and moving toward an end. This makes Christian views of time different from many other cultures. While some traditions look only to the past, Christianity mixes repeating rituals with a sense of moving forward in history.

Legacy

Christian mythology has shaped many modern ideas about progress and change. Some believe Christian hopes for a better world influenced today’s views on science and technology. Others see links between Christian ideas and modern political movements.

Stories from Christianity, especially those about hope and change, have inspired many writers and thinkers. Even some modern political ideas come from these ancient stories. For example, the way Christmas is told and celebrated in books, movies, and other media today shows how these stories still influence our culture.

Main articles: Christmas in fiction, Christmas in the media, and Christmas in literature

The Bible

Old Testament

The Old Testament has many stories that are similar to old myths. For example, the book of Daniel tells stories using pictures like scary monsters. Some parts, like the story of the Nephilim, come from older myths. These stories often use symbols, like fights between gods and monsters, that were common in ancient times.

New Testament and early Christianity

The New Testament also has stories like old myths. For example, the story of Jesus has ideas like a hero’s trip and coming back from far away. The Book of Revelation uses pictures from old myths, like a woman in the sky being threatened by a dragon. These stories helped early Christians show their beliefs in ways that were easy to understand.

Historical development

From Roman Empire to Europe

After Christian ideas were accepted by the Roman Empire, they became very important. Leaders such as St. Augustine helped spread these ideas. Later, Charlemagne and the Frankish people carried Christian stories north into Europe. Old stories from Germanic and Celtic mythology were changed to match Christian beliefs. New tales about saints, Mary, and Crusades grew, but old myths still mixed in. Stories such as Beowulf and the legend of King Arthur and the Holy Grail show this mixing.

Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, many groups told their own special stories. Knights tried to act like famous heroes such as Lancelot or Parsifal. Legends grew around Christian figures like Christ and the Virgin Mary, with stories of amazing events in their lives.

Renaissance and Reformation

In the Renaissance, writers used both Christian and older stories. John Milton wrote Paradise Lost, which tells the Christian story of creation in a grand way.

Enlightenment

Later thinkers began to question old stories, which changed how people saw Christian ideas.

Modern period

Today, many fantasy books and stories carry Christian ideas, like the works of C. S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, J.R.R. Tolkien, and George MacDonald.