Interpretatio Christiana

Interpretatio Christiana is basically when Christians take stories or ideas from other religions or cultures and interpret them in a way that fits with Christian beliefs. So think about it like this:

Let's say your teacher reads you a story in class about a wise old man who teaches people important lessons. Later, you go to church and hear a story about Jesus, who is also considered a wise teacher. You might start to think that maybe the wise old man in the story is kind of like Jesus.

But if the wise old man story was from a different religion, like Buddhism, where the main focus is not Jesus but a different deity, Christians might interpret the story differently. Instead of saying that the wise old man is like Jesus, they might say that he was really a messenger sent by God to teach people important lessons.

This is what Interpretatio Christiana is all about - taking stories, ideas, or beliefs from other cultures and making them fit with Christian teachings. It's a way for Christians to try to understand and connect with other cultures while still staying true to their own beliefs.