Sean, as ever thoughtful and more than a bit informed.

Ms/Mr Weaver:

Paganism represents whole streams of, at times quite antithetical, traditions, and they freely "stole" from one another (or, at least, were moved by the same impulses to re-invent similar traditions).

Chritianity represents whole streams of, at times quite antithetical, traditions, and they freely "stole" from one another (or, at least, were moved by the same impulses to re-invent similar traditions).

Best wishes

L in C#