How Abrahamic religions borrowed from older myths

Stolen Myths: How Abrahamic Religions Borrowed from Older Religions to Rewrite History

Throughout history, dominant religions have reshaped, rebranded, and outright stolen myths from the cultures that came before them. How Abrahamic religions borrowed from older myths is a pattern seen across Norse, Celtic, and Mesopotamian traditions.

One of the most striking examples is the parallel between Thor’s descent to Ragnarok and Jesus Christ’s second coming—both warrior-like figures returning in the final days, riding in divine chariots to bring judgment and transformation to the world. But this isn’t the only case. The Old and New Testaments, along with later Abrahamic texts, echo countless earlier myths, reshaping them into monotheistic doctrine.

Let’s examine how key elements of Norse, Celtic, and other ancient mythologies were repurposed into Abrahamic tradition—often to erase the very belief systems they were taken from.

Thor’s Chariot at Ragnarok vs. Christ’s Fiery Return

In Norse mythology, Thor rides his chariot, pulled by two divine goats, across the heavens, descending in battle against the forces of chaos during Ragnarok, the prophesied end of the world. He fights the Midgard Serpent, Jörmungandr, striking it down with his hammer, only to succumb to its venomous bite. His death marks the destruction of the old world and the rise of a new age.

Now, compare this to the Christian depiction of Christ’s Second Coming in Revelation. Jesus is foretold to return on the clouds of heaven, descending as a warrior-king to wage war against the wicked, bringing fire and brimstone to cleanse the Earth. The imagery of a divine figure riding through the sky to battle evil and usher in a new world is unmistakably similar.

What’s fascinating is that early Christian converts in Scandinavia and Northern Europe didn’t see Christ as the peaceful shepherd he’s often depicted as today. Instead, he was portrayed as a warrior-god, a hammer-wielding conqueror akin to Thor, defeating the forces of darkness in the ultimate battle. This deliberate shift made Christianity more palatable to pagan warriors, allowing it to overwrite their existing myths with a "new and improved" version.

Celtic Prophecy of the Morrígan vs. Biblical Apocalypse

In Celtic mythology, the Morrígan, the battle goddess of fate, foretells the great destruction of the world. She prophesies doom, renewal, and the end of an age following an immense war. After the last great battle, the land is said to be drenched in blood, and the old world crumbles before a new one arises.

This bears a striking resemblance to Christian eschatology, where Christ returns to defeat the forces of Satan, marking the destruction of the wicked and the dawn of a new heavenly kingdom. Like the Morrígan, biblical prophecy speaks of a final battle, a reckoning of souls, and the emergence of a new, purified world.

Notably, early Irish Christian texts demonized the Morrígan, turning her into a chaotic force rather than a divine prophetess. The themes of destruction, judgment, and rebirth were carried over into Christian teachings, but instead of being linked to the cycles of nature and fate—as they were in Celtic tradition—they were transformed into a linear, moralistic battle of good vs. evil.

The Great Flood: Sumerian, Norse, and Celtic Versions of the Biblical Deluge

One of the most infamous "borrowed myths" is the Great Flood. Most people know the story of Noah, but far fewer know that nearly identical flood myths existed long before the Old Testament:

·    The Epic of Gilgamesh, a Sumerian text dating back at least 1,000 years before the Hebrew Bible, tells of Utnapishtim, who is warned by the gods to build a boat and save his family and animals from a divine flood.

·    In Norse mythology, the giant Bergelmir and his wife survive a great flood, escaping in a hollowed-out tree while the world is washed away.

·    In Celtic myth, the story of Ceasair, the granddaughter of Noah, tells of a woman who arrives in Ireland before the biblical flood, attempting to establish a new civilization before the waters destroy everything.

·    Even Hindu, Mayan, and Native American traditions have ancient flood myths, all predating the biblical version.

The Christian flood story, instead of being unique, appears to be a sanitized, monotheistic reworking of far older legends, erasing the gods and spirits in favor of a singular deity.

Cernunnos vs. The Christian Devil

The Celtic horned god Cernunnos, a deity of nature, fertility, and the underworld, was demonized into the image of the Christian Devil.

·    Cernunnos was originally a god of balance, representing the wild, untamed forces of nature as well as prosperity and life cycles.

·    Christianity took his horns and wild imagery and turned him into Satan, a being of evil and temptation.

·    The concept of the Devil as a goat-horned figure is directly stolen from earlier Celtic and pagan deities, including Pan from Greek tradition.

This transformation was intentional—by demonizing pre-Christian gods, the Church ensured that people feared returning to their old ways.

The Virgin Birth: Pagan Roots of the Divine Child

Christianity’s claim that Jesus was born of a virgin may seem original to believers, but this concept was widespread in ancient mythology.

·    Horus (Egyptian Mythology): Born of the goddess Isis, impregnated by divine means after the death of Osiris.

·    Mithras (Persian Mystery Religion): A solar deity, miraculously born from a rock, with striking parallels to Jesus.

·    Dionysus (Greek Mythology): Born of Zeus and a mortal woman, later torn apart and resurrected—foreshadowing the death and resurrection of Christ.

·    Celtic tales of divine births include the birth of Cú Chulainn, whose conception involved mystical intervention.

Early Christianity heavily borrowed from these pre-existing savior myths, repackaging them to make Christ’s story appear unique while dismantling the pagan traditions that came before.

Why Did Abrahamic Faiths Steal These Stories?

The answer is simple: Erasure and dominance. Monotheistic faiths didn’t spread by peaceful conversion alone. They absorbed and rewrote older traditions to make the transition easier for converts, while simultaneously demonizing the original beliefs.

1.   Polytheistic gods became demons. The Norse, Celtic, and Mesopotamian deities were often recast as evil spirits or forces of darkness.

2.   Ancient myths were Christianized. Holidays like Yule (which became Christmas) and Samhain (which became All Saints' Day) were stripped of their pagan meaning.

3.   Sacred sites were repurposed. Many churches in Europe were built over pre-Christian temples and holy places to claim their power.

By borrowing from older myths, Abrahamic religions ensured continuity, making the new faith feel familiar while systematically replacing the old ways.

Reclaiming the Old Myths

Recognizing these stolen stories isn’t just an academic exercise—it’s about reclaiming the truth and honoring the traditions that were nearly erased.

If you’re drawn to the old gods, the ancient ways, or even just the truth behind history, understanding this pattern is the first step. Whether through studying the original myths, reviving ancient rituals, or simply acknowledging the pre-Abrahamic roots of many so-called "Christian" traditions.

We keep the memory of these stolen stories alive.

Because, in the end, the old gods never truly died. They were simply renamed, repackaged, and hidden beneath a monotheistic mask. Bran Alder

References & Further Reading

Thor’s Chariot at Ragnarok vs. Christ’s Fiery Return

• Davidson, H.R. Ellis. Gods and Myths of Northern Europe (1964) – Discusses Thor’s role in Ragnarok and parallels with Christian eschatology.

• McCoy, Daniel. The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion (2016) – Covers Ragnarok’s mythology in detail.

Celtic Prophecy of the Morrígan vs. Biblical Apocalypse

• Markale, Jean. The Celtic World (1993) – Explores the Morrígan’s prophecy and its connections to fate and destruction.

• MacKillop, James. Myths and Legends of the Celts (2005) – Provides a strong academic discussion of Celtic eschatology.

The Great Flood: Sumerian, Norse, and Celtic Versions of the Biblical Deluge

• Dalley, Stephanie. Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others (2000) – Covers the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Sumerian flood story.

• Gantz, Jeffrey. Early Irish Myths and Sagas (1981) – Discusses the tale of Ceasair and the Irish flood myth.

Cernunnos vs. The Christian Devil

• Green, Miranda. Symbol and Image in Celtic Religious Art (1989) – Explains how Cernunnos was depicted and later demonized.

• Leeming, David. The Oxford Companion to World Mythology (2005) – Discusses syncretism between pagan gods and Christian devils.

The Virgin Birth: Pagan Roots of the Divine Child

• Robertson, John M. Pagan Christs: Studies in Comparative Hierology (1903) – One of the first works tracing divine birth myths across cultures.

• Cumont, Franz. The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism (1911) – Covers Mithraic and other mystery religion influences on early Christianity.

Why Did Abrahamic Faiths Steal These Stories?

• Frazer, James. The Golden Bough (1890) – A classic study on mythological borrowing and religious evolution.

• Holland, Tom. Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World (2019) – Discusses Christianity’s assimilation of older traditions.