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The author claims that the [[Catholic Church]], with its [[Pope]]s and [[Sacrament]]s was founded by the Roman Emperor [[Constantine]] in A.D. 325 as a blend of [[paganism]] and [[Christianity]]. He says the cross is a [[Paganism|Pagan]] symbol, that it "was the unequivocal symbol of Bacchus", and "This Pagan symbol seems first to have crept into the Christian Church in Egypt, and generally into Africa."<ref>[https://www.cbcg.org/twobaby/sect56.html The Two Babylons Alexander Hislop - Chapter V, Section VI The Sign of the Cross], third and fifth paragraphs.</ref> The book became widely circulated as being a reliable refutation of the Catholic religion. Hislop presented Catholicism as the [[Whore of Babylon]], and this argument has been taken up by mostly conservative [[Evangelical Christians|Evangelical Protestants]] such as the [[Reformed Churches]], [[Baptist]]s, the [[Church of Christ]], [[Herbert W. Armstrong]] and his [[Worldwide Church of God]], and the [[King James Only|King James Only movement]]. In the 20th century it has been promoted mainly by [[Fundamentalism|Christian Fundamentalists]], and has been a standard source for children's and adult [[Sunday School]] education, and its arguments have been widely promulgated in publications, religious dictionaries and encyclopedias, and [[comic book]]s, and most recently on a multitude of popular [[internet]] sites. It has influenced countless multitudes of Christians and non-Christians, and has been a source (but not the only source) of [[polemic]]al invective against Catholics, particularly against those involved in [[government]] and [[politics]]. For more than a century (1853-1955) it was among the top best-sellers in England and America, and is still being published.

The author claims that the [[Catholic Church]], with its [[Pope]]s and [[Sacrament]]s was founded by the Roman Emperor [[Constantine]] in A.D. 325 as a blend of [[paganism]] and [[Christianity]]. He says the cross is a [[Paganism|Pagan]] symbol, that it "was the unequivocal symbol of Bacchus", and "This Pagan symbol seems first to have crept into the Christian Church in Egypt, and generally into Africa."<ref>[https://www.cbcg.org/twobaby/sect56.html The Two Babylons Alexander Hislop - Chapter V, Section VI The Sign of the Cross], third and fifth paragraphs.</ref> The book became widely circulated as being a reliable refutation of the Catholic religion. Hislop presented Catholicism as the [[Whore of Babylon]], and this argument has been taken up by mostly conservative [[Evangelical Christians|Evangelical Protestants]] such as the [[Reformed Churches]], [[Baptist]]s, the [[Church of Christ]], [[Herbert W. Armstrong]] and his [[Worldwide Church of God]], and the [[King James Only|King James Only movement]]. In the 20th century it has been promoted mainly by [[Fundamentalism|Christian Fundamentalists]], and has been a standard source for children's and adult [[Sunday School]] education, and its arguments have been widely promulgated in publications, religious dictionaries and encyclopedias, and [[comic book]]s, and most recently on a multitude of popular [[internet]] sites. It has influenced countless multitudes of Christians and non-Christians, and has been a source (but not the only source) of [[polemic]]al invective against Catholics, particularly against those involved in [[government]] and [[politics]]. For more than a century (1853-1955) it was among the top best-sellers in England and America, and is still being published.

A sharp critique of common Roman Catholic practices and traditions, the book looks at the historical elements having similar appearance to those elements involved in various rites and positions held by the Church.  The result claims to be a revealing of how non-scriptural practices were fused with the teachings of Christ.  The work is complete with over 61 wood illustrations and liberal use of scholarly works dating from 1506 AD to 1858 including ''Milner's Church History'' (1712), ''Pontificale Romanum'' (1543, 1572), ''Justinus Martyr'' (1777), and ''Missale Romanum'' (1506, 1677).

A sharp critique of common Roman Catholic practices and traditions, the book looks at the historical elements having similar appearance to those elements involved in various rites and positions held by the Church.  The result claims to be a revealing of how non-scriptural practices were fused with the teachings of Christ.  The work is complete with over 61 woodcut illustrations and liberal use of scholarly works dating from 1506 AD to 1858 including ''Milner's Church History'' (1712), ''Pontificale Romanum'' (1543, 1572), ''Justinus Martyr'' (1777), and ''Missale Romanum'' (1506, 1677).

The topics include:

The topics include:

:*Priests, Monks, and Nuns

:*Priests, Monks, and Nuns

In the United States it was published by the Loizeaux Brothers, Inc., a non-profit organization in 1949 and 1959.  It was published again in 2007 by Standard Publications, Incorporated (ISBN 9781604244861).

In the United States it was published by the Loizeaux Brothers, Inc., a non-profit organization, in 1949 and 1959.  It was published again in 2007 by Standard Publications, Incorporated (ISBN 9781604244861).

The work has been completely discredited by painstaking professional historical research, and thoroughly rebutted and refuted by strongly [[Evangelical Christians|evangelical]] former supporters who did follow-up research of their own.

The work has been completely discredited by painstaking professional historical research, and thoroughly rebutted and refuted by strongly [[Evangelical Christians|evangelical]] former supporters who did follow-up research of their own.

Impartial and objective evaluations by non-Catholic reviewers of this book have also determined that it is simply a [[Slander|calumny]] against the Catholic religion. This has refuted his Christian integrity as a writer. This does not prove that Alexander Hislop was a [[Lie|liar]], but only that his book is full of [[falsehood]]s. There is a difference. He may indeed have been sincere in his belief. His [[Research|methology]] was entirely wrong. His conclusions are [[error]]s.

Impartial and objective evaluations by non-Catholic reviewers of this book have also determined that it is simply a [[Slander|calumny]] against the Catholic religion. This has refuted his Christian integrity as a writer. This does not prove that Alexander Hislop was a [[Lie|liar]], but only that his book is full of [[falsehood]]s. There is a difference. He may indeed have been sincere in his belief. His [[Research|methology]] was entirely wrong. His conclusions are [[error]]s.

Individual Christians who have enthusiastically read ''The Two Babylons'', and have dismissed all criticism against it as negative [[propaganda]], and have made the effort to diligently research its claims in order to defend it, have been profoundly disappointed in the book and its author, whom they assumed was telling the truth. Many of them have been astonished that a book so fully discredited should still be sold in Christian bookstores and recommended by online internet Christian sites. It is still being promoted as factual truth.

Individual Christians who have enthusiastically read ''The Two Babylons'', and dismissed all criticism against it as negative [[propaganda]], and made the effort to diligently research its claims in order to defend it, have been profoundly disappointed in the book and its author, whom they assumed was telling the truth. Many of them have been astonished that a book so fully discredited should still be sold in Christian bookstores and recommended by online internet Christian sites. It is still being promoted as factual truth.

== See also ==

== See also ==