Why do Christians view Pentagrams and Pentacles as an evil symbol when they themselves used to use it?

Question

I mean its kind of ironic. Christian knights used to use it on their shields and on their armour to symbolize the 5 wounds of Jesus and also to symbolize the four elements used to create everything under God. What is the reason for this change? Why is it automatically assumed that anyone who wears one is a sinner eventhough they themselves are a devout christian? Why is it a symbol of evil now and wasn't before?

My friend goes through this everyday and she even was told to leave a party because of this.

I'm not a Christian myself I'm an Eclectic, but I honestly would like to understand this. I hate seeing her getting upset because she feels she is being hated because she views a pentacle in the old Christian belief as a symbol of her faith.

I mean do the research it was even the prefered symbol over the cross at one time to some Christians.

To the Hebrews the five points of the pentagram were tied to the Pentateuch (the first five books of the bible) and represented as a whole the concept of truth.

Perhaps most curious is the pentagram as it relates to early Christianity. Constantine the Roman Emperor who converted to Christianity chose to use the pentagram on his seal and amulet. Up until medieval times, the five points of the pentagram represented the five wounds of Christ on the Cross. During these times the pentagram carried no evil implications at all and in fact, in a lesser way than the cross, was symbolic of the Savior.

Answer 1

The old Christian belief to which you are referring talks about, basically, the Roman Empire and Catholic church.

Answer 2

The pentagram, or more accurately the pentacle (which is the pentagram shaped object that you often wear as a charm on a necklace or a ring) has always represented good, order and all of that stuff, but turned upside down, for common and purile reasons, those meanings are symbolically "inverted" which is where the "evil" connotation comes from, in precisely the same way that a cross inverted is viewed as a victim of "Satanic" mischief to put it mildly. Those who originally called the pentacle/pentagram evil were individuals who sought power and influence for themselves, and since Christianity is an "authority based" religion, the common followers of the faith took the "authority" of those calling pentacles evil seriously. That's where the problem comes from.

In regard to your friend wearing the pentacle as a symbol of her faith. Encourage her to do so, I'd rather be around Christians like her than the ones who go around bashing her...and well...if symbolic representations of old Christianity are important to her, then maybe you should buy her a charm in the shape of a pelican. THAT is also an early Christian symbol as pelicans were once believed to actually pierce their breasts with their beaks in order to feed their young with their own blood during times of starvation: the sacrifice symbolism is obvious here, and someone wearing a pelican could conceivably make the same existential point, while also having fun looking at the confused faces of people who call themselves Christian without even realizing what "Being Christian" means.

Answer 3

Alright, I just have to answer this one. First, here's the definition of pentagram according to the Encarta Dictionary:

pen*ta*gram (noun) / star shape / mathematics / a star-shaped geometric figure with five points, especially one used as a magical or occult symbol.
Also called pentacle
Also called pentangle

As I have seen a pentagram, namely tattooed on the bald head of an inmate of a detentention facility, it was a star with the top point inverted with a goat contained within as follows. The bottom point of the star was the goat's chin/snout area. The two points facing left and right were the goat's ears. The last two points facing upward and angled to the side were the goat's horns. I was told this represented the sacrificial goat used in occult ceremonies mainly those that entailed an evil deity.

This should not be confused with the Star of David. The origin of the Star of David is as follows.

Star of David

A Jewish Orthodox internet website tells us: “The Magen David (shield of David, or as it is more commonly known, the Star of David) is the symbol most commonly associated with Judaism today, but it is actually a relatively new Jewish symbol. It is supposed to represent the shape of King David’s shield (or perhaps the emblem on it), but there is really no support for that claim in any early rabbinic literature. In fact, the symbol is so rare in early Jewish literature and artwork that art dealers suspect forgery if they find the symbol in early works.

“Scholars such as Franz Rosenzweig have attributed deep theological significance to the symbol. For example, some note that the top triangle strives upward, toward G-d, while the lower triangle strives downward, toward the real world. Some note that the intertwining makes the triangles inseparable, like the Jewish people. Some say that the three sides represent the three types of Jews: Kohanin, Levites and Israel. Some note that there are actually 12 sides (3 exterior and 3 interior on each triangle), representing the 12 tribes. While these theories are theologically interesting, they have little basis in historical fact.”

The site continues: “The symbol of intertwined equilateral triangles is a common one in the Middle East and North Africa, and is thought to bring good luck. It appears occasionally in early Jewish artwork, but never as an exclusively Jewish symbol. The nearest thing to an ‘official’ Jewish symbol at the time was the seven-branched “menorah.”

In the 17th century, it became a popular practice to put Magen Davids on the outside of Jewish synagogues to identify them as Jewish houses of worship in much the same way that a cross identified a Christian house of worship.

The so-called “Star of David” gained popularity as a symbol of Judaism when it was adopted as the emblem of the Zionist movement in 1897, but the symbol continued to be very controversial for many years. When the modern state of Israel was founded in 1948, there was much debate over whether this symbol should be used on the flag.

Today, of course, the “Star of David” is a universally recognized symbol of Jewry. It appears on the flag of the state of Israel. Its real origins, however, are not so pure.

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Wicca%20&%20Witchcraft/star_of_david.htm

There is much more on this article on the weblink above. This also covers the Hexagram.

Answer 4

I think the problem has to do with the acquired meaning. The Swastika was originally a Religious symbol in one of the OLDEST religions in India. Nobody would dare try to walk around wearing a swastika and try to "convince" others that they are just proud of thier Ancient Indian heritage. A person who wears a symbol that is now considered by the world as pagan would have a hard time getting over that. The Christmas tree used to be considered pagan but now it is considered christian Times change. Maybe the symbol will mean what she wants it to mean eventually again. I prefer to not confuse people so much. If I want to let people Know I am a christian I give them a CLEAR signal (although I sometimes confuse people with my GNOMES :) )

Answer 5

The Pentacle (or Pentagram, whichever, it's pretty much the same thing) is an ancient Pagan religious symbol. It's not used by Christianity today, but it's used by Witches and Wiccans who worship the Earth and honor the divinity in nature. And many Christians hate that.

Answer 6

I believe they are mistaking it for a different pentagram used by satanists. If you look at my source, the pentagram with the point facing upwards it the penagram used to symbolize the five woundes of Jesus. But, if you turn the pentagram upside down, it is a symbol used by satanists. That in turn carries all the negative connotations that she is being harassed for. I would suggest she tells people this whenever they bring it up.

Answer 7

They don't know why, they haven't done the research. They only know what the church tells them.

Your friend is being persecuted? That's a shame. Where do you live? I didn't think there were such ignorant places left in the US. Oh....no, I take that back. Ignorance abounds!

The pentacle is a very ancient symbol that represents the planet Venus according to most books on the subject. It actually goes back further. It represents Inanna/Ishtar, Sumerian and Babylonian goddesses. Since the church comes from the middle east, it sees all ancient middle eastern symbols as evil because the symbol is pagan in origin. Modern Christians don't do their homework because they are told not to question. I think that makes for ignorant citizens. Isn't that why we learned to read and think for ourselves?

There are lots on online communities for your friend. If she gets onto one that is near your town, she may discover new brothers and sisters that will love and accept her. She can email me. I will accept a new sister anytime.

Answer 8

They never and still don't view the pentagram as evil it is the pentacle.... that is the big one....

There is a huge difference between the two and its uses. Its just that a lot of people confuse the two and don't realise their mistake and don't want to learn the diff.

They are stuck in this "i know better than you" rut of fear!!

Answer 9

Because they are sheep and have no understanding of the history of their own religion.

They have been taught for centuries to not question the Church or its beliefs. In an efffort to demonize other religions, the Church gave teh pentagram a bad name by associating it with devil worship. The flock of sheep that is their constituents cannot lift the veil off their eyes to see the lies perpetrated upon them.

Answer 10

Because they don't understand that, just like the cross, if it's upside down, it's meant as evil, right side up, it's not

I am now Christian but I spent the better of 40 yrs as (what y'all call these days) a witch. I do my best to explain these things to people but God gave them free will, they are free to run screaming from me or free to try and understand a people they chastise.

Answer 11

The Christians also took things like meditation (prayer) and candles from us! It is the same reason people think the peace sign is a broken cross. Because they are more than likely to narrow minded to research before rudely making someone leave a party. Tell those jerks that they are ignorant and rude and very un-Christian like, and tell your friend I am sorry what happened to her.