I hear what you’re saying. The difficulty I have in drawing a line of what to call anything is that it’s so often blurred.

Christianity originated as a syncretic religion.

There’s a lot of confusion about when Christmas originated but Augustine gave a sermon about it somewhere in the 5th century and pretty much outlined what I said in the article, linking it to the winter solstice, lacking, of course, some of the references to the old gods.

All over the world, Christianity has laid its message over the bones of the older traditions and religions. Christmas day is the same day as the Birth of Sol Invictus and oh so very close to the rest of the winter solstice.

The more I look into the world’s spiritual traditions the less I see “Christianity,” “Judaism,” “Greek paganism,” Zoroastrianism,” or “Egyptian paganism,” and the more I see different evolving thoughts, rituals, and experiences that consistently intermesh and create alternative experiences.

Christianity itself is rooted in the mixing of the Jewish tradition with the messianic complexes of Zorastranism, and arguably the demigod identities of the pagan traditions, not to mention the Church’s use of “mysteries” a thoroughly pagan concept much more personalized than the covenant tribalism of traditional Judaism.

As you pointed out modern Christianity is sorely lacking vitality so perhaps exploring these ancient roots can help gather back some of its life and meaning. At least that’s my hope.