Are angels really the old gods and goddesses? (Jesus, Earth)

[mostly harmless]

I was reading a book and it listed the names of pagan gods and goddesses from various cultures/traditions.

And a question popped into my mind...is it possible that the early Christian church adopted the old gods/goddesses as angels in the same way that they adopted Pan as the devil?

I thought the thought that popped into my head might make an interesting discussion..

[Terrywoodenpic]

I suspect some Angels were inherited from the mists of time...
first by the Jews and then by Christians.
I think they were more likely to have been spirits rather than Gods...
Gods are not so easy to cast in the role of servants...

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by mostly harmless

I was reading a book and it listed the names of pagan gods and goddesses from various cultures/traditions.

And a question popped into my mind...is it possible that the early Christian church adopted the old gods/goddesses as angels in the same way that they adopted Pan as the devil?

I thought the thought that popped into my head might make an interesting discussion..

Not angels, but saints.

Where the heck do you get the idea that Pan is Satan?

[Terrywoodenpic]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

Not angels, but saints.

Where the heck do you get the idea that Pan is Satan?

I did not think there were any Jewish saints .... except in the north African tradition.
So their biblical Angels could hardly have been saints.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Terrywoodenpic

I did not think there were any Jewish saints .... except in the north African tradition.
So their biblical Angels could hardly have been saints.

Maybe they just didn't call them "saints." Maybe they had another word for them ....like, "angels."


I rather like that idea, though this is the first I've heard of it.

[doppelgänger]

While I think it depends on the "angel" at issue, it's a really cool story. Very Lovecraft, if you know what I mean. Many mythologies represent the conquering of existing cultures metaphorically through the old gods becoming the vanquished by the victors' god. Baal in the Hebrew scriptures is an example.

Baha'i does this, too - turning Jesus ("God" to Christians) into an angel (messenger) of their "God."

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

Where the heck do you get the idea that Pan is Satan?

I'm guessing she means the whole horns, cloven hooves, general goaty appearence.

As to the OP. I've read that in early Hebrew religious history there was only one angel, the Malach Elohim, who was essentially God manifesting on Earth to give people messages.
Later, after the exile and contact with Zoroastrianism in its Zurvanite form, i imagine the idea of multiple angels became incorporated into Judaism and was passed down into Christianity.

Although i'd like to add, this is all just my speculation on the matter.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Terrywoodenpic

I did not think there were any Jewish saints .... except in the north African tradition.
So their biblical Angels could hardly have been saints.

hahaha

That's not what I said... many gods have simply become Christian saints... not angels.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

I'm guessing she means the whole horns, cloven hooves, general goaty appearence.

As to the OP. I've read that in early Hebrew religious history there was only one angel, the Malach Elohim, who was essentially God manifesting on Earth to give people messages.
Later, after the exile and contact with Zoroastrianism in its Zurvanite form, i imagine the idea of multiple angels became incorporated into Judaism and was passed down into Christianity.

Although i'd like to add, this is all just my speculation on the matter.

OK...

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

hahaha

That's not what I said... many gods have simply become Christian saints... not angels.

I'd love to read about some examples . . .