Most antiquities scholars think that the New Testament gospels are "mythologized history." In other words, based on the evidence available they think that around the start of the first century a controversial Jewish rabbi named Yeshua ben Yosef gathered a following and his life and teachings provide...
That makes sense. So much of the spread of religions is the changing of the religion to fit the converted.
Yes, I think I’ve heard that, say, Coptic church has some traits of ancient Egyptian religion, Syriac churches have more of Judaism in then than in other kinds of Christianity.
I definitely can see that Armenian church has some local pagan and Zoroastrian remnants (more of the latter, I think that’s because during conversion cults of local deities associated with Greek gods or treated similarly to them would be considered the main enemy).
And when I sometimes hear which things Catholics in Latin America often believe, feels wild too.
Yeah the example that comes to mind for me is that in Pakistan and Bangladesh there are Muslim Hijra. Also the number of catholic saints who are eerily similar to gods in areas they’re revered must be acknowledged. St Nicholas in Turkey is very different from the odinesque version of him in the Germanic and Nordic traditions. St Bridget is extremely similar to Brigid. Hell, Christmas is on the feast of Sol Invictus.
I particularly love Santa Muerta. The idea that death is the patron Saint to pray to for protection when you’re being persecuted regardless of how just it is is a powerful thing.
These changes can be small to large and they’re one of the most beautiful aspects of religion speaking as a pagan.