Why did jesus reject his jewish traditions and adopt pagan practices and beliefs instead?
Every time a Roman governor or emperor took a strop against the Jews under his jurisdiction and imposed higher taxes, or prohibited Jewish practices like keeping Shabbat and circumcision, or tried to obliterate their identity and religion altogether via massacre, exile and every other means, the Christians made it clear that they weren’t Jewish. Political expediency had a far bigger part in the development of Christian theology than most believers are willing to accept. So too did the Roman approach to religion, where the gods frequently shared characteristics. Iesus became part of the sun god paradigm, alongside Dionysus and Mithras, and was eventually elevated to a primary position as part of Sol Invictus (unconquered sun). That’s where Sunday worship and the god’s (re)birth on December 25 come from.
