Pagan Symbolism in Religion

Pagan Symbolism in ALL major Religions

I'm not really interested in the Freemason connection, but it is interesting to see the sun alignment in the Vatican.

REVEALED: The Secret of Christianity

Legend of the Serpent: The Biggest Religious Cover Up in History

The Cosmic Serpent

Ayahuasca Snakes by Mauro Reategui Perez - Ayahuasca Painter

What I Believed Side Tracked Christianity

Just from what I have read over the years and my own intuitive sense I feel that Constantine's need to unify his empire and power was the pivital point where we "lost" the sense of Christian Spirituality and the "church" became the political power broker. Constantine directed the Council of Nicea to come up with one Religion. The Church felt that God could only come through their Bishops and Priests while the Gnostics believe God was felt within.
Empress Helena, the Emperor's mother "found" many of the Christian artifacts on her tourist trip to Jerusalem conveniently backing up her son's authority.

Gnostic Christians
The Gnostic scriptures are so important because they reveal that many early Christians believed Christ's intent was different from what became "Christianity." Christ did not preach a set of beliefs. Gnostics did not believe his intent was to establish a Church, led only by males, that could dictate rules for faith and morality. His intent was not to establish Christianity as a political power to condemn others or to become a state religion. But that is exactly what happened. The early Orthodox Church, which was blessed by Constantine, literally set forth and defined Christianity as believing doctrines that their Church said were the only true teachings of Jesus and his Apostles.
Gnostic Christianity emphasized one's experience and personal connection to Christ through what they called "gnosis."
http://gnosticschristians.com/page2.html

Early Christianity, Arius at the Council of Nicea
http://www.earlychristianhistory.net/nicaea.html
Empress Helena - Constantine's Mother
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_(Empress)

A large number of other claimed relics of Jesus continue to be displayed throughout the world. A good number of these relics involve the journey of Saint Helena of Constantinople, the mother of Constantine the Great to Palestine in the fourth century to gather relics.
...regarding the Holy Nails brought back by Saint Helena...
...stairs from Pontius Pilate's praetorium, ascended by Jesus during his trial were also reportedly brought to Rome by Saint Helena...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relics_associated_with_Jesus

Helena played a significant role in re-establishing Christianity in the Holy Land after a period of decline. She allegedly rediscovered several Christian sites in the Holy Land, which had been converted to pagan temples, and she had these sites rededicated to Christianity.
According to the western Christian tradition, Helena acquired the Holy Tunic on her trip to Jerusalem...
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Helena_of_Constantinople

Invention of the Holy Cross - Feast of the Holy Cross-found by Helena

Constantine and Christianity

"Who Wrote the Bible?" History channel pt 1of12

The link to the other chapters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK5zvn0z5h4

Who was Constantine?

What was the Council of Nicaea all about?

10 Christ-Like Figures that Pre-Date Jesus

"I recently watched the documentary Zeitgeist (Part 1) as well as Bill Maher’s movie Religulous. Both made mention of claims often made that there are many stories that predate Jesus but have striking parallels. I decided to follow up on these claims and see what kind of information was out there to substantiate these assertions.

I found several websites run by Christians who obviously disputed all claims of any parallels to the life of Jesus. I also found several interesting books on the subject, such as The World’s Sixteen Crucified Saviors: Christianity Before Christ by Kersey Graves, and The Christ Conspiracy, and Suns of God: Krishna, Buddha and Christ Unveiled by Acharya S."

Here is the author's list:
http://listverse.com/2009/04/13/10-christ-like-figures-who-pre-date-jesus/

Contradictions in the Bible
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.html