Shadow of the Third Century

A Revaluation of Christianity

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity, Education, Christian Life
Cover of the book Shadow of the Third Century by Alvin Boyd Kuhn, Papamoa Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Alvin Boyd Kuhn ISBN: 9781789123449
Publisher: Papamoa Press Publication: January 13, 2019
Imprint: Papamoa Press Language: English
Author: Alvin Boyd Kuhn
ISBN: 9781789123449
Publisher: Papamoa Press
Publication: January 13, 2019
Imprint: Papamoa Press
Language: English

Shadow of the Third Century: A Revaluation of Christianity, first published in 1949, begins with the assertions that a true history of Christianity has never before been written and that the roots of the Christian religion lie in earlier religions and philosophies of the ancient world.

The author, Alvin Boyd Kuhn, asserts that Christianity as we know it took the form it did due to a degeneration of knowledge rather than to an energization produced by a new release of light and truth into the world. In the ancient world, knowledge was commonly passed down by esoteric traditions, its inner meaning known only to the initiated. The Gospels, according to Kuhn, should therefore be understood as symbolic narratives rather than as history. Sacred scriptures are always written in a language of myth and symbol, and the Christian religion threw away and lost their true meaning when it mistranslated this language into alleged history instead of reading it as spiritual allegory. This literalism necessarily led to a religion antagonistic toward philosophy. Moreover, it produced a religion that failed to recognize its continuity with, and debt to, earlier esoteric schools. As evidence of this, Kuhn finds that many of the gospel stories and sayings have parallels in earlier works, in particular those of Egypt and Greece. The transformation of Jesus’ followers into Pauline Christians drew on these sources. Moreover, the misunderstanding of true Christianity led to the excesses of misguided asceticism. Overall, the book seeks to serve as a “clarion call to the modern world to return to the primitive Christianity which the founder of Christian theology, Augustine, proclaimed had been the true religion of all humanity.”

With its many citations from earlier works, Shadow of the Third Century also serves as a bibliographic introduction to alternative histories of Christianity.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Shadow of the Third Century: A Revaluation of Christianity, first published in 1949, begins with the assertions that a true history of Christianity has never before been written and that the roots of the Christian religion lie in earlier religions and philosophies of the ancient world.

The author, Alvin Boyd Kuhn, asserts that Christianity as we know it took the form it did due to a degeneration of knowledge rather than to an energization produced by a new release of light and truth into the world. In the ancient world, knowledge was commonly passed down by esoteric traditions, its inner meaning known only to the initiated. The Gospels, according to Kuhn, should therefore be understood as symbolic narratives rather than as history. Sacred scriptures are always written in a language of myth and symbol, and the Christian religion threw away and lost their true meaning when it mistranslated this language into alleged history instead of reading it as spiritual allegory. This literalism necessarily led to a religion antagonistic toward philosophy. Moreover, it produced a religion that failed to recognize its continuity with, and debt to, earlier esoteric schools. As evidence of this, Kuhn finds that many of the gospel stories and sayings have parallels in earlier works, in particular those of Egypt and Greece. The transformation of Jesus’ followers into Pauline Christians drew on these sources. Moreover, the misunderstanding of true Christianity led to the excesses of misguided asceticism. Overall, the book seeks to serve as a “clarion call to the modern world to return to the primitive Christianity which the founder of Christian theology, Augustine, proclaimed had been the true religion of all humanity.”

With its many citations from earlier works, Shadow of the Third Century also serves as a bibliographic introduction to alternative histories of Christianity.

More books from Papamoa Press

Cover of the book The Philippine Story by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book South After Gettysburg by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book Between the Iron and the Pine by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book Death of the Kingfish! by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book A History of the Art of War in the Sixteenth Century by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book Letters to a Roman Catholic Priest by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book Poltroons and Patriots by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book The Strange Death of President Harding by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book The Hatterasman by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book Cable Car Carnival by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book The Drug Story by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book Major Religions of the World by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book The Tumult and the Shouting by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book Tales of Quails ‘n Such by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
Cover of the book A Dangerous Journey, California 1849 by Alvin Boyd Kuhn
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy