Expert: Irulan Serena - 11/1/2006

Question
I am writing you to ask your opinion of a certain connection that has been postulated by various religious groups.  The standard argument is presented in essentially the same form (perhaps it is a quotation or a paraphrase from another book) and goes something like this:
"Holidays that bring honor to dead spirits are un-Christian because they have pagan roots and in fact began with the honoring of the wicked people who were destroyed by God in Noah's Flood.  Thus, Col. J. Garnier writes in his book, "The Worship of the Dead" (1904), "The mythologies of all the ancient nations are interwoven with the events of the Deluge . . . The force of this argument is illustrated by the fact of the observance of a great festival of the dead in commemoration of the event, not only by nations more or less in communication with each other, but by others widely separated, both by the ocean and by centuries of time. This festival is, moreover, held by all on or about the very day on which, according to the Mosaic account, the Deluge took place, viz., the seventeenth day of the second month—the month nearly corresponding with our November."
I have looked everywhere for a review or an on-line text of this book, but I haven't been able to find anything.  What I have learned is that basically the modern consensus among historians, archaelogists, etc., is that there the flood motif is common to many, though definitely not all cultures, but of course the scientific possibility of there having been a planet-wide flood is zilch.  From what I understand flood myths are scarce or else entirely lacking in the Bantu and Central Asian and Siberian traditions.  Many of the flood myths, especially the ones strikingly similar to the Bible story, cannot be authenticated as having originated before the people were proselytized by Christian missionaries.  What is your opinion?  Have you ever heard of this book by J. Garnier?  Could it be just another example of poor scholarship, as was the infamous "The Two Bablyons" by Alexander Hislop, and is inventing connections where the author sees fit?  I would very much appreciate you insight in this matter.  Thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
Russell Folsom

Answer
Dear Mr. Russell Folsom,


No, I have not heard or read of this book.  The research done has turned up some information although not too informative.  I found two references to this book, but found absolutely no biographical references on the author except for what I have mentioned already.

Reference #1:

The book which was published in 1909 is not found anywhere in any of the rare books or out of print books establishments.  The only  location where a copy of the book can be found is at  Matheson Library Rare Books at London, England.  The information is below:

Worship of the dead or : the origin and nature of pagan idolatry and its bearing upon the early history of Egypt and Babylonia / by Colonel J. Garnier.    

Garnier, John.    Matheson Library Rare Books    

CAll numger:    291.213   G236W 1909


Reference: #2

The author,  Col. John Garnier  was the son of a minister whose name was not given ….  I assume he followed in his father’s footsteps since he wrote two books with religious topics …  the one you mention and another one dealing with his studies in Egypt where Colonel J. Garnier studied the Great Pyramid and discovered “irrefutable”
proof that the world would end in so he predicted that the “Second Coming” would happen on the year 1920. The name of this second book was not available anywhere on the net.

My personal view is prefaced by a comment which is not only pertinent but necessary before I express my opinion.  

My religious training and education was traditionally Catholic [family traditional religious preference, but never mine]  until my college years where I decided to set aside the Catholic religion for personal reasons as well as scholastic freedom.  I have not joined any Christian denomination in the past 50 years again for personal reasons as well as question of choice due to many philosophical differences between my personal beliefs and those of established Christian denominations.  I consider myself Pagan in though and beliefs which will undoubtedly color my opinion on this topic, nevertheless, I shall comply with your request.

During my professional years as a professor I have continued to be drawn to the study of the history of religion and its development through time and have come to several conclusions.


All religious development are due syncretism.  Syncretism as defined as the reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief. This is most evident in the areas of philosophy and religion, and usually results in a new teaching or belief system. Obviously, this can be extremely dangerous to Biblical Christianity.   

Religious syncretism often takes place when foreign beliefs are introduced to an indigenous belief system and the teachings are blended. The new, heterogeneous religion then takes a shape of its own. This has been seen most clearly in Roman Catholic missionary history.

If one studies and compares the Pagan religion with the Christian religion one will find countless similarities which makes one study further the development of the Christian religion as it is known today and the conclusions are not favorable nor flattering to the Christian religion.

Another conclusions is the following:   Although I am a firm believer of the Divine, that there IS an infinite being whose presence and essences we cannot possibly understand, I firmly believe that established religions today ARE the root of all the evil in the world today …all one has to do is study the history of mankind to see how established religions impulse humanity to practice inhumane acts on each other … due to intolerance and intense xenophobia…. example the state of the world today.

Yet another conclusion is that as long as I live [my children have been given the freedom to make their own choices in this matter] I shall not adhere to any established religion which practices elitism to the extreme and to the point of exclusion of others from the tenets of the Golden Rule.

In conclusion,  let me finish by saying that there are several sites that may or may not interest you … sites which discuss the Pagan origins of the Christian religion which present a clearer picture of this issue.  Having said this let me further say that the topic of this book to me is utterly ridiculous since it is an incontrovertible proven fact that Christianity’s base IS Paganism…. and that  with that premise then none of the Christian rites  today would be observed by Bible believing Christians since these very rites originated from Paganism.  

If you are interested in sites I mentioned please let me know and I shall be happy to give them to you.

Hoping that my personal views have not offended you,

Regards,

Irulan