| Jul 19, 2008 @ 11:13 AM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity
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LaughTillYaPuke
Posts: 1,821
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Easter: Celebrated around the spring Equinox. Thousands of people every year (heck probably more) gather each year in churches to celebrate Easter as the rising of their lord. when in fact this tradition was based in Babylon over 4,000 years ago and practice in Asia and Rome as well. This is a holiday to celebrate FERTILITY.
As it starts at the spring equinox it is for the celebration of the new plantings. For fertility of the crops and the people who people.
Easter eggs: From what I can recall, this a a Druid symbol. Your eater bunny is merely the symbol of Saxon Goddess Eastre. Interesting yes?
"What means the term Easter itself? It is not a Christian name. It bears its Chaldean [Babylonian] origin on its very forehead. Easter is nothing else than Astarte [Isthar], one of the titles of Beltis, the queen of heaven . . ." (The Two Babylons, p. 103). GOOGLE
There is also the ritual of Attis. Who was conceived of the Goddess of fertility (whooo...interesting correlation wouldn't you say?) And yes...he was born of a virgin. He was a sheppard who died and rose from the dead (annually).
Christmas: This is the celebration of the winter solstice. Light your bayberry candle to encourage the sun God Mithras to show himself again in Spring. Yule logs are the pagan symbol for the sun. How many christians have THAT on their mantle piece? The christmas tree was noting more than a symbol that spring would come again and boughs were placed in the home or carried in recognition of fertility and carried and used for decorations of weddings. Come on...we all knew they were going to have sex that night!
"although the Christmas story centers in the Christ child of Bethlehem, it begins so long before his coming that we find its hero arriving on the scene after more than half of the time of the story has gone by. Christmas began over 4000 years ago, as the festival which renewed the world for another year. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires and probably the yule log; the giving of presents; the carnivals with their floats; their merry makings and clowning; the mummers who sing and play from house to house, the feasting; the church processions with their lights and song —all these and more began three centuries before Christ was born. And they celebrated the arrival of a new year" GOOGLE
This does not touch on all of the many traditions that "christians" have adopted from Halloween. But I did think this was a viable topic for discussion.
Please note: At no time have I told you how to believe. I have merely stated interesting facts on how many of these traditions were started and where and why they originated.
For we are nothing but liars unless we allow to truth to free reign. Puke 
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 11:20 AM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity |
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EternalFlame
Posts: 4,136
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Mimi, I love you. Seriously.
I'm going shopping, but I'm putting this on my watch list. It's going to be interesting to see what comes from this.
I will say, before I go, that researchers believe that Christians adopted our Pagan holidays as their own to make conversion to Christianity easier for the Pagans that didn't want to give up all their feasts and celebrations.
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 11:22 AM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity
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LaughTillYaPuke
Posts: 1,821
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Very True EF. The Romans did this to make christianity more paletable. Those Romans weren't going to be interesting in anything that took their feasts away.  It was a brilliant move actually. 
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 11:34 AM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity |
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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I love paganism especially those fertility rites. Really good post Puke..
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 11:42 AM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity
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LaughTillYaPuke
Posts: 1,821
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Thank you. I tried to leave enough out that it wouldn't be "preaching' and allow others to participate with their thoughts.
But yeah...ya gotta love those fertility rites. Whoooo. 
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 11:43 AM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity |
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sail_dancer
Posts: 9,866
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Hi Puke. Good thread!
Yes! The christian religion adopted many pagan practices under the influence of Rome. Especially pagan astrological practices. The bible is a myth based on the zodiac.
Peace
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 1:12 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity
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Gallows_Humor
Posts: 13,662
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..... 
http://www.goodnewsaboutgod.comThe Mission of this web site is to tell TRUTH and to expose LIES. I believe in the following: God created All persons equal. No person is better than any other person. God loves everyone the same. I do NOT believe in “Supremacy” of ANY person, ethnicity, group, organization or nation above another. There are Truth-tellers (on specific topics) found in all groups: Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, New Agers, and in many other groups. There are also, in every one of these groups, those who tell Lies. This web site exposes the Lies, irrespective of the person who tells them. This web site attacks the Lies, and NOT the person. Eventually, God will save everyone He has created, not IN their sins, but FROM their sins. AFTER they have reaped what they have sown! No one will get away with anything! But God does not throw away anything that He has created. Instead, eventually He will make "ALL new!? When TRUTH is told here, it is told without compromise. You will notice that this web site has no advertisers and does not solicit donations, two situations that tend to compromise any Truth-teller. Every person has been given by God, the right and obligation to tell Truth and expose Lies. In addition, the Constitution of the United States, if indeed it is still in effect at all, gives U.S. citizens this right. I am not an activist, I am a Truth-teller. I do not picket or march in support of political, religious or social agendas nor do I encourage others to do so. I have no organization. I just write and speak Truth. I am a pacifist. I do not believe in violence, I don't believe in war of any kind and I don't believe in guns for self-defense even though I uphold every U.S. citizen's right to bear arms according to the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. I am not a member of any Patriotic organization although I consider myself to be a Patriot. I love America the way it should have been, not the way it is now. I am a Bible-believing Christian but I do not believe in Organized Religion. I believe that Christianity is NOT a religion, it is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I believe the "Organized Churches" have usurped the place of Jesus Christ. A true Christian will exhibit the character of Christ, and therefore will always be a pacifist, will not support war of any kind, will love his or her enemies, and will do good to those who hate him or her. A true Christian will want to know Truth (Jesus said, " I AM the Truth") and will not be afraid to share Truth with others. The present-day Jews are NOT God's "Chosen People." God does NOT play favorites. He doesn't love some more than others. God's "Chosen People" are the true followers of Christ who are "Chosen" for one thing only: to exhibit to the world the character and disposition of Jesus Christ, no matter what happens to them. Everyone, eventually, will be in this category. I believe that being a Truth-teller is more important than preserving one's own life.
this thread reminds me of this ..vvv....
" Jessep: You want answers?
Kaffee (Tom Cruise): I think I'm entitled to them.
Jessep: You want answers?
Kaffee: I want the truth!
Jessep: You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men ...."
doesn't anyone here really understand that it ( life) is always better when you dance??
Snoopy got it right...
http://www.goodnewsaboutgod.com/studies/holidays2.htm"According to a Roman almanac, The Christian festival of Christmas was celebrated in Rome by A.D. 336. During the 4th century the celebration of Christ's birth on December 25 was gradually adopted by most Eastern churches. In Jerusalem, opposition to Christmas lasted longer, but it was subsequently accepted. "The traditional customs connected with Christmas have developed from several sources as a result of the coincidence of the celebration of the birth of Christ with the pagan agricultural and solar observances at mid-winter. December 25 was regarded as the birthdate of the Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness. . . The ecclesiastical calendar retains numerous remnants of pre-Christian festivals—notably Christmas, which blends elements including both the feast of the Saturnalia and the birthday of the god Mithra." Encyclopedia Britannica, 1976 edition; Micropedia II, pg 903, Macropedia 15, pg 1063. The much-loved hero of Christmas, Santa Claus, who "knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows when you've been bad or good" and who can circumnavigate the globe in one night, is nothing more than the Winter stag god, the god of the hunt, a "take-off" on the true God of heaven, who is omnipresent (everywhere at once), omniscient (knows all), and omnipotent (all powerful). Santa has Eight Reindeer. Reindeer are symbolic of the Pagan Stag god...
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 1:25 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity |
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LaughTillYaPuke
Posts: 1,821
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"According to a Roman almanac, The Christian festival of Christmas was celebrated in Rome by A.D. 336. During the 4th century the celebration of Christ's birth on December 25 was gradually adopted by most Eastern churches. In Jerusalem, opposition to Christmas lasted longer, but it was subsequently accepted
To my understanding...this may be correct. Except for the date is a bit off. As i know ou have a love of wikipedia Gallows...this is for you...
The earliest reference to the celebration of the nativity on December 25 is found in the Chronography of 354, an illuminated manuscript compiled in Rome in 354.[1][21] In the East, early Christians celebrated the birth of Christ as part of Epiphany (January 6), although this festival focused on the baptism of Jesus.[22] wikipedia
When Rome combined the message of christianity with the pagan beliefs of it's peoples.
Pre-Christian origins
Main article: List of winter festivals
A winter festival was traditionally the most popular festival of the year in many cultures. Reasons included less agricultural work needing to be done during the winter, as well as people expecting longer days and shorter nights after the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.[9] In part, the Christmas celebration was created by the early Church in order to entice pagan Romans to convert to Christianity without losing their own winter celebrations.[10][9] Certain prominent gods and goddesses of other religions in the region had their birthdays celebrated on December 25, including Ishtar, Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, and war, Sol Invictus and Mithras. Various traditions are considered to have been syncretised from winter festivals including the following: again...Wikipedia
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 1:32 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity
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Loreli
Posts: 25,408
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beat me to some info, Tilly!
Anyway, Christ was born in the fall, not on Dec. 25.
Maybe they should moe the holiday to it's appropriate day, and people shouldn't go crazy spending money.
That isn't what the "holiday" is intended for.
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 1:36 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity |
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uab_5
Posts: 4,759
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How true, Meem.
The necessity to amalgamate traditions from the cultures it came in contact with is a strength of both Christianity and Islam. 
Otherwise, both would've died off as some other religions have. 
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 1:38 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity
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Gallows_Humor
Posts: 13,662
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if you notice..I agree with you in principle... 
... but my point is that everyone has the right to party... but when the parties are to be held ..must coincide with....reality... as there are only 365 days in a year..and for most people .. for many of theses days, a thing called work, happens to to get in the way... 
so.. when I celebrate Christmas ... I am not celebrating a pagan god's day... 
[Edited on 7/19/2008 1:40 PM]
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 1:38 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity |
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BandTMom
Posts: 38,059
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From a Christian site, but some good info on pagan origins of the cross.
>>Here<<
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 2:03 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity
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LaughTillYaPuke
Posts: 1,821
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Excellent link and info Mom! Thank you!
Gallows...I'm not saying in any way that someone is worshiping another "God" during specific times of the years. I am just trying to show that many christian traditions are derived or wholly taken from Pagan beliefs and practices.
The necessity to amalgamate traditions from the cultures it came in contact with is a strength of both Christianity and Islam.
Otherwise, both would've died off as some other religions have.
Beautifully put!
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 2:06 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity |
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Gallows_Humor
Posts: 13,662
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Gallows...I'm not saying in any way that someone is worshiping another "God" during specific times of the years. I am just trying to show that many christian traditions are derived or wholly taken from Pagan beliefs and practices.
then why didn't you just come out and say it this way.. (simple direct and to the point...) in your 1st post?
edited for... ok.. now then... where did the pagans get their traditions from?
[Edited on 7/19/2008 2:08 PM]
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 2:06 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity
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jamminjerry
Posts: 4,085
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sweetheart, do you feel that your voice crying from the wilderness will be heard? my Teacher put it somewhat simply. "give not that which is holy unto the dogs, cast not thy pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and rend you". the pseudochristians will fling pig poo at you. they say "i beleive in Jesus and God, thats good enuff for me". the hardest commandment Jesus gave me was " leave them alone, they have their reward". perhaps if you wish to discuss semantics, i would enjoy the intercourse. 
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 2:11 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity |
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bevrice
Posts: 11,141
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Okay, let's talk about this one. The Roman Catholic Church was responsible for the changes of the dates, like you all know.
Okay, now take out Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, neither of which I like.
Okay, now say you wanted to celebrate your birthday on July instead of January. Would the celebration be any less a celebration of your birth?
The same goes for Easter. If you leave out the silly stuff, it is simply a celebration of what Jesus did for us and his arising from the dead. Does the day it is celebrated have anything to do with it or lessen what He did or the celebration?
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 2:55 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity
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LaughTillYaPuke
Posts: 1,821
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The point of this thread Bev is to discuss how "modern day christianity" has many practicies that derived from Pagan belief systems. And that many (much more than is listed here) of those practicies are used daily with a blind following as to the why an how it all came about.
It is education as to the facts. Whether you LIKE or dislike some of the symbols of these holidays is a moot point.
The fact is, is that they exist. These practices are steeped in history, and in some cases mystery. I find it facinating that so many of us choose to blindly follow what we have been taught, but for some reason seem to be afraid to peak outside that box and look at the information surrounding us with awe.
I find it to be interesting and a great way for people to understand their beliefs. Take an active roll and enjoy how the diveristy of the world surrounds us, permiates our everyday life, and has enriched it!
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 2:57 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity |
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uab_5
Posts: 4,759
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Does the day it is celebrated have anything to do with it or lessen what He did or the celebration?
No.
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 3:23 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity
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yashaenka
Posts: 8,267
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The Date of Jesus' Birth
The issues and uncertainties surrounding Jesus' supposed birth date(s) of Jesus are interesting:
* At least four separate year of births can be culled from reading the gospels.
* The current method of determining the year (BC/AD or BCE/CE) is based on a mistaken calculation of a sixth century Scythian monk.
* Christmas Day was originally a pagan celebration.
Four Separate Year-of-Births
The discussions about Herod and Quirinius should show why the date of Jesus' birth cannot be establish with any certainty. If Jesus was born during the reign of Herod the Great then it must before or around 4 BCE. If he was born during the Roman census, then it must have been in 6 CE.
These two dates are not the only discrepancies in determining the birthdate of Jesus. Luke stated that Jesus was about thirty years old when he began to preach (Luke 3:23) and that was during the "fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberias Caesar" (Luke 3:1). Now we know that Augustus Caesar died in 14 CE and that Tiberias was his successor. Thus the fifteenth year of his reign would be around 29 or 30 CE. This sets his birthdate around 1 BCE or 1 CE.
In John we have a passage that implies that Jesus was close to fifty years old during the time of his ministry:
John 8:57 RSV
The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"
There is nothing symbolic about the number (or age) fifty. Thus it is likely that John meant the passage to show that Jesus was in his (probably late) forties. This will bring the birthdate of Jesus to slightly after 20 BCE.
In the references above we have four different birthdates of Jesus:
* c20 BCE (John)
* c4 BCE (Matthew and Luke)
* c1 BCE or c1 CE (Luke)
* 6 CE (Luke).
These dates gives a discrepancy of more than a quarter of a century! So much for Biblical inerrancy http://www.geocities.com/paulntobin/birthdate.html
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| Jul 19, 2008 @ 4:10 PM |
Pagan Practices in Modern Day Christianity |
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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My favorite scene from the Wicker Man (1973),
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIac4nKaAy4
Too bad Britt Ekland body is censored in this video as she tries to seduce Edward Woodward through the wall......
Notice the innuendos and double entendres in this pagan folk song.
Heigh ho! Who is there?
No one but me, my dear.
Please come say, How do?
The things I'll give to you.
A stroke as gentle as a feather
I'll catch a rainbow from the sky
And tie the ends together.
Heigh ho! I am here
Am I not young and fair?
Please come say, How do?
The things I'll show to you.
Would you have a wond'rous sight
The midday sun at midnight?
Fair maid, white and red,
Comb you smooth and stroke your head
How a maid can milk a bull!
And every stroke a bucketful.
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