Pagan/Animists (hell, America, churches, spirits)

[Lisa_from_Debary]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

Such as...?

Easter for instance, even the name is from a Pagan celebration...the eggs, chicks and rabbits are all fertility symbols

The christmas tree are traced back to Druids...

The mistletoe and the hollyberry are both fertility symbols from Paganism.

There was a point where one of the Popes in the hopes of attracting Pagans to the Catholic church, immalgamated Pagan holidays with christian ones...

[Predos]

The concept of the trinity traces back to at least Keltic worship. The "Golden Rule" is nothing more than a restatement of the Wiccan creed to do no harm.

I just find it saddening how the modern organized religions refuse to admit their roots and claim direct divine inspiration.

[maniac]

Originally Posted by Predos

The concept of the trinity traces back to at least Keltic worship. The "Golden Rule" is nothing more than a restatement of the Wiccan creed to do no harm.

I just find it saddening how the modern organized religions refuse to admit their roots and claim direct divine inspiration.

Actually the trinity has nothing to do with the Celts, they had a hard time understanding the concept, that's where St. Patrick's famous shamrock comes in; he showed how there were three seperate leaves but they were all connected to the same stem. But there are plenty of things that entered Christianity through the celts (although mainly in Irish Catholocism).

[TravisW]

Variations of the Golden Rule definitely predate Christianity (it existed in Confucianism and Hinduism 500 years before Christ), but I wouldn't consider that fact alone to be something that discounts Christianity.

Further, I don't think Christmas trees originating with Druids and mistletoe originating with the Druids necessarily rock the boat for most of Christendom.

[jeffncandace]

Originally Posted by TravisW

Variations of the Golden Rule definitely predate Christianity (it existed in Confucianism and Hinduism 500 years before Christ), but I wouldn't consider that fact alone to be something that discounts Christianity.

Further, I don't think Christmas trees originating with Druids and mistletoe originating with the Druids necessarily rock the boat for most of Christendom.

It totally agree with this. Just because God saw fit to give wisdom to Confucious or others in the east angers western Christians. Don't they care about the eternal souls of those whom they can't reach with the gospel?

[Trebek]

Originally Posted by jeffncandace

It totally agree with this. Just because God saw fit to give wisdom to Confucious or others in the east angers western Christians. Don't they care about the eternal souls of those whom they can't reach with the gospel?

Excellent point Jeff! (wow thats all I have to say)

[Predos]

Originally Posted by maniac

Actually the trinity has nothing to do with the Celts, they had a hard time understanding the concept, that's where St. Patrick's famous shamrock comes in; he showed how there were three seperate leaves but they were all connected to the same stem. But there are plenty of things that entered Christianity through the celts (although mainly in Irish Catholocism).

First, I mentioned Kelts, not Celts...there is a difference.
Second, the trinity if a mere alteration of the triple divinity presented by several of the pagan teachings.

If you go through the entire list of approved christian teachings, trace them to their roots, you will find many of them based in paganism. Of course many more will be found to have been created by power hungry men long after the time of christ.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by Predos

First, I mentioned Kelts, not Celts...there is a difference.

What's the difference?

Originally Posted by Predos

Second, the trinity if a mere alteration of the triple divinity presented by several of the pagan teachings.

Triple divinity and trinity are not the same thing. There is a world of difference between a group of three and a triune unit.

Originally Posted by Predos

If you go through the entire list of approved christian teachings, trace them to their roots, you will find many of them based in paganism.

Many cultural traditions, perhaps. Christmas trees, yule logs, etc., etc. But Christian teachings? Nah. Christianity's roots are in Judaism, not paganism.

[Predos]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

What's the difference?
Cultural. Irish beliefs vs. Welsh beliefs.



Triple divinity and trinity are not the same thing. There is a world of difference between a group of three and a triune unit.

As may be, but the root is the same and pre-dates christianity by millenia.




Many cultural traditions, perhaps. Christmas trees, yule logs, etc., etc. But Christian teachings? Nah. Christianity's roots are in Judaism, not paganism.

By christian definition, Judaism is pagan as it does not worship christ. As for teachings, how about the golden rule, honoring parents etc? They predate christianity, thus they must be pagan, but have been conscripted and claimed as original to christianity.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by Predos

By christian definition, Judaism is pagan as it does not worship christ.

No. Where'd you hear that???

Originally Posted by Predos

As for teachings, how about the golden rule, honoring parents etc? They predate christianity, thus they must be pagan, but have been conscripted and claimed as original to christianity.

Christianity hardly claims to be the sole originator of truth. Read Catholic teachings on Natural Law, for instance. Something isn't true because Christ said so. Christ said it because it is true. If members of some other religion happen to have believed that same truth hundreds or even thousands of years before Christ, it's hardly proof that Christianity "conscripted" them.

Folks in Asia have known for millennia that the sky is blue. If someone in Africa happened to have written it down first, it hardly means the Asians stole it from the Africans.