Pagan and Christian Creeds: Their Origin and Meaning

audiobook

Pagan and Christian Creeds: Their Origin and Meaning

by Edward Carpenter

EN·~9 hours·19 chapters

Chapters

19 total
1

Pagan & Christian Creeds: Their Origin and Meaning - By Edward Carpenter

0:35
2

I. INTRODUCTORY

18:34
3

II. SOLAR MYTHS AND CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS

31:44
4

III. THE SYMBOLISM OF THE ZODIAC

34:06
5

IV. TOTEM-SACRAMENTS AND EUCHARISTS

29:25
6

V. FOOD AND VEGETATION MAGIC

32:21
7

VI. MAGICIANS, KINGS AND GODS

26:54
8

VII. RITES OF EXPIATION AND REDEMPTION

32:54
9

VIII. PAGAN INITIATIONS AND THE SECOND BIRTH

39:18
10

IX. MYTH OF THE GOLDEN AGE

34:01

Description

Delving into the tangled roots of humanity’s spiritual life, this work invites listeners to trace how countless cultures have tried to capture a single, universal truth through myth, ritual, and creed. The author sketches the scholarly landscape, showing how each generation— from solar‑worshippers to phallic theorists, Euhemerists, and nature‑spirit enthusiasts—has reshaped the narrative to fit its own intellectual fashions. Along the way, the text highlights the perils of cherry‑picking evidence, reminding us that the very abundance of data can both illuminate and mislead.

Through clear, engaging prose, the book surveys the major hypotheses that have defined the study of religious origins, referencing pioneers such as Dupuis, Frazer, and Robertson while critiquing their partial views. It also reveals how a controversial clergyman’s bold synthesis sparked fierce debate, even leading to his expulsion and imprisonment. Listeners will come away with a richer appreciation for the complex tapestry of ideas that have sought to explain why we create gods and what those creations say about our deepest nature.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~9 hours (569K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Charles Keller and David Widger Updated: 2022-11-26.

Release date

1998-12-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Edward Carpenter

Edward Carpenter

1844–1929

A radical English writer and social thinker, he challenged Victorian ideas about class, sexuality, work, and the good life. His books and poems helped shape early conversations about socialism, personal freedom, and same-sex love.

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