A good author on the foundations of Western civilization is Gilbert Murray. His most famous book is, The Five Stages of Greek Religion;

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/30250/30250-h/30250-h.htm

This is where he digs into the foundations of Christianity. That ancient fertility rites were based on the young god born in the spring, to the old sky god and the earth mother.

Then tradition waylaid renewal and by the age of the Olympians, Zeus didn't give way to Dionysus.

Which pretty much describes how all older generations feel about moving aside for the next.

So the story of Jesus, crucified for questioning the establishment and risen in the spring, became simply a further expression of this dynamic and tension.

Which then goes to the historical fact that Rome adopted Christianity around the time the Empire was starting to coalesce.

One of the points Murray makes in his writing, this and other books, is that politically, the monotheists were always viewed as monarchists, while the pantheists were the democrats.

Obviously this point has been shuffled off stage, along with the basis of the Trinity being about renewal as a constant in life, given the Catholic Church is the Eternal Institution.

Tie this in with Michael Hudson's work on the Ancient World;

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2019/04/the-delphic-oracle-was-their-davos-a-four-part-interview-with-michael-hudson-about-his-forthcoming-book-the-collapse-of-antiquity-part-1.html

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/04/michael-hudson-debt-and-the-collapse-of-antiquity-part-2.html

That essentially Jesus was arguing for a return of debt jubilees. So it was originally, "Forgive them their debts." Which the Chatholics changed to, "Forgive them their sins." Totally taking the point and switching it back to the fault of the people for their condition. Co-opting the revolution.

Remember Jesus was all peace, love and turn the other cheek, except when it came to the moneychangers and that's when they crucified him.

Given the state of the world today, there is a way the narrative can be switched back, against the powers that be, using the religious artifacts.

Though one that should be lightly tread. I seem to have been shadow banned on SubStack two days after posting this;

https://johnmerryman.substack.com/p/gods-problems

Here is the Medium version, which I got around to editing a bit more;

https://johnbrodixmerrymanjr.medium.com/gods-problems-cdab66ed5f04

I can't post any stories, comment on any other writers, or reply to comments. Most of the buttons on the website won't work and the address code that comes up when I touch the Share button is; run script"void(0)"

Fortunately I'm not trying to make a living as a writer, but safe to say, someone doesn't like The Narrative being questioned.

Going to be a long winter. Hopefully new life will start to bud, in the spring.