Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices

Frank Viola · George Barna

Sep 2010 · Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

About this ebook

Have you ever wondered why we Christians do what we do for church every Sunday morning? Why do we “dress up” for church? Why does the pastor preach a sermon each week? Why do we have pews, steeples, and choirs? This ground-breaking book, now in affordable softcover, makes an unsettling proposal: most of what Christians do in present-day churches is rooted, not in the New Testament, but in pagan culture and rituals developed long after the death of the apostles. Coauthors Frank Viola and George Barna support their thesis with compelling historical evidence and extensive footnotes that document the origins of modern Christian church practices. In the process, the authors uncover the problems that emerge when the church functions more like a business organization than the living organism it was created to be. As you reconsider Christ's revolutionary plan for his church—to be the head of a fully functioning body in which all believers play an active role—you'll be challenged to decide whether you can ever do church the same way again.

Ratings and reviews

Just a little note to the dude under me. Us pagans are not devil worshipers we belive in a goddess just like you belive in a god its just that most other religious groups dont do your reserch on other religious groups before critisizing them simply because you have had it drilled into your heads that the only religion that is true is yours but if you ask a pagan about other religions most of them will know what you know about your own religion..... But it was a good book )o(

Know where your traditions come from. This is the actual history of where Christendom gets its most common 'articles of faith' (practically speaking) like the podium and the silent, passive flock. If we think we know church, Barna and Viola blow the roof and shatter all the stained glass. Very well-researched book, but not for liberal application the authors do fair warn. If there is milk, and there is meat? This is the meat, so to speak. This is a must read. No doubt about it.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into just looking at the title. My brother suggested the book. It had really opened my eyes to things that I already knew weren't right. I have followed up by reading several other books from these authors. No disappointment here.

About the author

George Barna is the president and founder of Barna Research Group. Barna has developed seminars for clients such as The Billy Graham Association, Campus Crusade for Christ, and The Prison Fellowship. His other clients include Prudential, Sothwestern Bell, The Walt Disney Company, and Visa USA. He has also served as a pastor of a southern California church. Barna has written many books on the church and culture including The Habits of Highly Effective Churches, User Friendly Churches, and Marketing the Church. His work has been quoted in Newsweek, Time, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal.