Alexander Hislop

Alexander Hislop (1807–1865) was a Free Church of Scotland minister and author, best known for his critical theological work, The Two Babylons: Papal Worship Proved to be the Worship of Nimrod and His Wife. Born and raised in Duns, Berwickshire, he also served as a parish schoolmaster and editor of the Scottish Guardian newspaper. In The Two Babylons, which was significantly expanded from an earlier pamphlet, Hislop argues that many practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church have pagan origins tracing back to ancient Babylonian mystery cults. This work, initially published in 1853, has been influential among certain Protestant evangelical groups, though its arguments have been questioned by modern scholars for historical accuracy.