Ethan Walker
Catholicism, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian denomination in the world, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptised members worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions and has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western civilization. The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one true church, founded by Jesus Christ. However, some scholars argue that the Church's beliefs and teachings about Jesus may have been influenced by, or borrowed from, ancient pagan myths and other religions.
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What You'll Learn
Virgin birth
The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is a central tenet of Catholic doctrine. The doctrine states that Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, was a virgin before, during, and after the conception and birth of her son. This belief was defined under anathema in the third canon of the Lateran Council during the time of Pope Martin I in AD 649. The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, as recited in the Mass, expresses belief in Christ "incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary".
Some critics and skeptics have argued that the concept of the virgin birth was borrowed from earlier pagan mythologies. For instance, the birth of the pagan god Mithras is often cited as a parallel. However, Mithras was not born of a woman at all, which disqualifies this as a true parallel to the birth of Jesus. Other pagan deities born miraculously of virgins include Horus, Osiris, Dionysus, and Krishna. However, the details of these stories differ significantly from the story of Jesus's birth. For example, in many cases, the birth of a pagan god is the result of a sexual encounter between a god and a mortal woman or between two gods.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that the virgin birth of Christ underscores his divine identity and that he has no earthly biological father. This belief in the virginity of Mary is considered essential to Catholic dogma. According to the Gospel accounts, Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but they had never been intimate, and Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit without intercourse.
While some critics argue that the idea of virgin birth in Christianity was influenced by earlier pagan mythologies, this claim is disputed. The pre-existing mythologies described by critics may not be as similar to the “virgin conception” of Jesus as they are often portrayed. Additionally, it is argued that the Jewish Christians who were the target audience of the narrative of Jesus's conception would not have embraced any part of paganism in a story that was continuous with the Jewish narrative from the Old Testament. Furthermore, some scholars argue that the idea of virgin birth is wholly foreign to the Jewish conception of God, making it unlikely that it was borrowed from pagan sources.
In conclusion, while there are some parallels between the virgin birth of Jesus in Christianity and the birth stories of deities in other religions, the Catholic Church maintains that the virgin birth of Christ is a unique and essential aspect of its doctrine. The belief in Mary's perpetual virginity is considered a central tenet of the faith, underscoring the divine identity of Jesus Christ.
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Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central tenet of Catholicism. It is referenced in the New Testament and is considered a "truth of the Catholic faith". According to Catholic doctrine, the soul and body will be reunited and life will begin again. This belief in the resurrection of the body is distinct from the belief in the immortality of the soul, which is held by many non-Christians. Catholics believe that the resurrection of Jesus Christ gives them hope for their own resurrection.
Some have argued that Christianity borrowed the idea of resurrection from older pagan religions. For example, Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy, in their book 'The Laughing Jesus', argue that "each mystery religion taught its own version of the myth of the dying and resurrecting Godman". In Egypt, for instance, the god Osiris is killed and then resurrects. Other examples include Dionysus in Greece, Attis in Asia Minor, Adonis in Syria, Mithras in Persia, and Serapis in Alexandria. These pagan myths also share other parallels with the story of Jesus Christ, including a virgin birth, a divine Son of God, and the god dying for mankind.
However, others refute the idea that Christianity borrowed the concept of resurrection from pagan religions. They argue that there are significant differences between the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection stories found in pagan myths. For example, in pagan myths, the gods often lust after women, take on human form, and produce offspring that are half-human and half-divine, whereas Christ is fully human and fully divine. Additionally, none of the resurrections in pagan myths involve the God of the universe dying a voluntary death for His creation—only Jesus died for the sins of mankind. Furthermore, it is argued that the New Testament openly cites the Old Testament as its source, and all the central themes of Christianity, including the resurrection, are found there. Thus, it is more likely that Christianity is derived from the Hebrew Scriptures of the Old Testament rather than from pagan religions.
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Influence of Platonism and Stoicism
Platonism and Stoicism have influenced Catholicism in different ways.
Influence of Platonism
Platonism, a philosophical system developed by Plato, has had a significant influence on Catholicism. The central concept of Platonism is the Theory of Forms, which distinguishes between two realities: a perceptible but unintelligible reality associated with the flux of Heraclitus, and an imperceptible but intelligible reality associated with the unchanging being of Parmenides. This theory proposes that the only true being is founded upon eternal, unchangeable, and perfect forms, of which particular objects in the physical world are imperfect copies. Many Platonic notions were adopted by the Catholic Church, which interpreted Plato's Forms as God's thoughts, an idea known as divine conceptualism.
Neoplatonism, established by Plotinus in the 3rd century AD, added mystical elements to Platonism. In Neoplatonism, the summit of existence is "the One" or "the Good," the source of all things. Through virtue and meditation, the soul can elevate itself to attain union with "the One." Neoplatonism became a significant influence on Christian mysticism in the West, particularly through Saint Augustine, who was heavily influenced by Plotinus' works. Platonism also influenced Eastern and Western mysticism and the gnostic or esoteric 'heterodox' traditions of various religions, including early forms of Christianity.
Christoplatonism, a term referring to the dualism proposed by Plato, holds that the spirit is good, while matter is evil. While this idea has influenced some Christian churches, it contradicts the Bible's teachings and has been criticized by many teachers in the Christian Church.
Influence of Stoicism
Stoicism, a philosophical tradition founded by Zeno of Cittium in 322 B.C., also influenced the development of Catholicism. During the first half of the first millennium CE, when Catholicism was emerging, Stoicism was a leading influence. Stoicism is a virtue-ethic moral system that emphasizes cosmic determinism rather than cosmic punishment. While there are surface-level similarities between Stoicism and Catholicism, their underlying theories of the universe differ, with Stoicism's view contradicting the Abrahamic God concept.
However, Stoicism's four virtues of courage, wisdom, temperance, and justice likely influenced the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit in Catholicism, which include wisdom, courage, knowledge, understanding, right judgement, reverence, and wonder and awe in God's presence. The epistles of St. Paul, written for a largely Hellenic audience, reflect Stoic influences in their renunciation of the ephemeral and physical in favor of the universal and spiritual. Additionally, Jesuits practice meditative exercises similar to those of Marcus Aurelius, focusing on mental introspection and analyzing one's daily conduct.
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Motherhood and child images
Motherhood is given an exalted status within the Catholic faith, with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, officially known as the Queen of Heaven. The special role and devotion accorded to Mary and Marian devotion have been a central theme of Catholic art. The image of the Virgin Mary as the "second Eve" influenced the status of women during the Middle Ages, doing away with the Western notion of women as "temptresses".
The depiction of mothers with children is a natural expression of mankind’s artistic impulse. Motherhood is a profound aspect of the human experience, and it is naturally reflected in a culture’s art. In cultures that believed in goddesses, it was natural to depict them with their children. Images of the Madonna and Child neither date from the origin of Christianity nor prove it has a pagan origin. Images of Mary and the baby Jesus did not become common in Christian art until the fifth century. There are a few possible examples of them from the second to the fourth centuries, but none from the first.
However, one can observe similarities between Madonna-and-Child images and pagan religions, which also depict a goddess and her child. For instance, in Egypt, the Babylonian Mother was known as Isis, and her child as Horus. A statue of Isis typically shows her headdress with the sun disk within the horns of an Apis bull, symbology which is virtually identical to that of the sunburst monstrance. The Apis bull is likely the pattern used for the golden calf made by the Israelites at Mount Sinai, as described in the Bible.
The Catholic faith has helped many mothers figure out the challenges of motherhood. The biological aspects of motherhood are one part of a vastly more intricate picture. The love mothers feel for their children points to an infinitely greater love. Mothers are called to give of themselves and grow in holiness. Their role is not contractual but a lifelong vocation that uniquely orients their existence towards God.
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Holy day
Catholicism has absorbed aspects of various religions throughout its history, with some of its traditions and holy days influenced by other faiths. One example is the celebration of Mary as the mother of Christ, which has roots in Jewish tradition. This tradition was adopted in 7th-century Rome, where it was celebrated on the first day of the year, eight days after Christ's birth, in accordance with Jewish customs.
Speaking of holy days, they play a significant role in the Catholic Church, with Mass attendance being a central part of these observances. There are nine holy days of obligation in the Catholic calendar, in addition to every Sunday, when Catholics are expected to attend Mass. These holy days include Easter, which is always celebrated on a Sunday, and other feasts such as the Ascension of Jesus and the Solemnity of All Saints.
The obligation to attend Mass on holy days can be dispensed for just causes, such as illness or the inability to physically attend Mass. The local conference of bishops also has some flexibility, as they can suppress certain holy days or transfer them to Sundays to accommodate the needs of their dioceses. For example, in the United States, the feast of Saint Joseph and the feast of Saints Peter and Paul are not observed as holy days of obligation.
Outside of the regularly occurring holy days, there are other significant days in the Catholic calendar. For instance, October 31 is All Hallow's Eve, which has roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain and is connected to the Catholic All Saints Day. Catholics also observe the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8, honouring Mary's conception without original sin.
In summary, the Catholic Church has a rich calendar of holy days, some of which have been influenced by other religions, that provide opportunities for worship, reflection, and celebration for Catholics worldwide. These holy days contribute to the diverse tapestry of Catholic traditions and practices.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholicism is the largest denomination of Christianity, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. All Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics.
Catholicism is said to have borrowed from Jewish and Pagan religions. Some scholars have also argued that the miracle stories of Jesus were borrowed from ancient pagan myths.
The core beliefs of Catholicism are found in the Nicene Creed. The Catholic Church teaches that it is the "one true church", "the universal sacrament of salvation for the human race", and "the one true religion".
Catholicism differs from other Christian churches in its beliefs about the sacraments, the roles of the Bible and tradition, the importance of the Virgin Mary and the saints, and the papacy.
