From Pagan Myths to Christian Truth: Ancient Mythology and the Church Fathers

This book explores the intricate and evolving relationship between paganism and Christianity, focusing on the intellectual, cultural, and theological shifts that occurred as Christianity emerged and ultimately supplanted pagan religious and philosophical traditions in the Roman Empire. Spanning the period from the first century to the present, the text examines how early Christian thinkers, particularly the Church Fathers, engaged with and adapted pagan ideas, mythology, and philosophy to articulate a distinct Christian worldview. The early chapters detail the transformation of pagan thought, tracing its influence on key Christian figures such as Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, and Augustine. Through their writings, these thinkers integrated Greek philosophy—particularly Platonism, Stoicism, and Neoplatonism—with Christian theology, presenting Christianity not as a rejection of the intellectual achievements of the Greco-Roman world, but as their fulfillment. As the Roman Empire transitioned from a pagan to a Christian world, the book examines how Christianity reinterpreted pagan symbols, myths, and rituals to foster a new, unified religious and intellectual framework. The conversion of Constantine and the later establishment of Christianity as the official religion of the empire signified a dramatic shift in both religious and cultural life. Over time, pagan ideas and practices were absorbed into Christian theology, art, and culture, influencing medieval Christian thought, especially during the Renaissance and Enlightenment. The book also explores how secularism and philosophical rationalism in the modern era have engaged with and revived elements of pagan philosophy, especially within the context of humanism and the Enlightenment, positioning paganism and Christianity as interwoven threads in the history of Western intellectual development.