Pagan & Christian Creeds: Their Origin and Meaning
Edward Carpenter
Play
Length 10 h 42 min
Chapters 34
First published 1921
In this work from 1921, Carpenter analyzes the origin of Christian beliefs, arguing that they are derived from pre-Christian myths and religions, rather than being new revelations to the human race. He believes that “psychologically man has evolved from simple consciousness to self-consciousness, and is now in process of evolution towards another and more extended kind of consciousness,” anticipating a post-Christian era. In the penultimate chapter, “The Exodus of Christianity,” he sets out his belief that for Christianity “to hold the field of Religion in the Western World is neither probable nor desirable.” Chapters such as “Solar Myths and Christian Festivals,” “Rites of Expiation and Redemption,” and “The Saviour-God and the Virgin-Mother” analyze his tenet as seen in different contexts. - Summary by Verla Viera
Chapters
1
Chapter 1, Introductory Read by MFD32 18:23
2
Chapter 2, Part 1, Solar Myths and Christian Festivals Read by Verla Viera 14:32
3
Chapter 2, Part 2, Solar Myths and Christian Festivals Read by czandra 15:51
4
Chapter 3, Part 1, The Symbolism of the Zodiac Read by czandra 16:22
5
Chapter 3, Part 2, The Symbolism of the Zodiac Read by Richard Stibbard 17:03
6
Chapter 4, Part 1,Totem-Sacraments and Eucharists Read by MFD32 13:55
7
Chapter 4, Part 2,Totem-Sacraments and Eucharists Read by MFD32 14:37
8
Chapter 5, Part 1, Food and Vegetation Magic Read by czandra 17:14
9
Chapter 5, Part 2, Food and Vegetation Magic Read by czandra 15:30
10
Chapter 6, Magicians, Kings and Gods Read by MFD32 26:34
11
Chapter 7, Part 1, Rites of Expiation and Redemption Read by Richard Stibbard 18:15
12
Chapter 7, Part 2, Rites of Expiation and Redemption Read by Richard Stibbard 18:20
13
Chapter 8, Part 1, Pagan Initiations and the Second Birth Read by Michelle Angell 20:51
14
Chapter 8, Part 2, Pagan Initiations and the Second Birth Read by Michelle Angell 22:05
15
Chapter 9, Part 1, Myth of the Golden Age Read by Bill Mosley 22:49
16
Chapter 9, Part 2, Myth of the Golden Age Read by Bill Mosley 28:31
17
Chapter 10, The Saviour-God and the Virgin-Mother Read by Peter Yearsley 20:43
18
Chapter 11, Part 1, Ritual Dancing Read by Richard Stibbard 20:12
19
Chapter 11, Part 2, Ritual Dancing Read by Richard Stibbard 15:21
20
Chapter 12, Part 1, The Sex-Taboo Read by czandra 17:10
21
Chapter 12, Part 2, The Sex-Taboo Read by czandra 20:45
22
Chapter 13, Part 1, the Genesis of Christianity Read by czandra 17:16
23
Chapter 13, Part 2, the Genesis of Christianity Read by czandra 15:58
24
Chapter 13, Part 3, the Genesis of Christianity Read by czandra 17:04
25
Chapter 14, Part 1, The Meaning of It All Read by czandra 17:30
26
Chapter 14, Part 2, The Meaning of It All Read by czandra 17:50
27
Chapter 15, Part 1, The Ancient Mysteries Read by czandra 17:31
28
Chapter 15, Part 2, The Ancient Mysteries Read by czandra 19:58
29
Chapter 16, Part 1, The Exodus of Christianity Read by Bill Mosley 21:54
30
Chapter 16, Part 2, The Exodus of Christianity Read by Bill Mosley 16:55
31
Chapter 17, Conclusion Read by czandra 17:26
32
Appendix, Part 1, The Teaching of the Upanishads Read by czandra 17:17
33
Appendix, Part 2, The Teaching of the Upanishads Read by czandra 12:31
34
Appendix, Part 3, The Teaching of the Upanishads Read by czandra 38:01
From LibriVox, read by volunteers and in the public domain. LibriVox page (opens librivox.org) , the text (opens gutenberg.org) , all files on the Internet Archive (opens archive.org) .
