A Christian friend of mine told me his parents refuse to celebrate Christian Holidays for *religious reasons* - because they are "true Christians" and the holidays are taken from old pagan celebrations. Are there any other Christians out there that are so *anti-pagan* that they don't honor their own religion's holy days on the basis that the dates chosen to celebrate them correspond to the holidays of some traditions of paganism?
I had never heard of anyone that does this, so am curious if there are others like this and why.
2006-08-16 12:14:08 · 6 answers · asked by Gabrielle 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I personally celebrate the pagan versions - but I guess I don't understand why a Christian wouldn't celebrate the Christian versions of the holidays. There was no Christmas for this man when he was a kid - can you really be that *anti-pagan*?
2006-08-16 12:31:52 · update #1
yes, sadly there are others like this
who cares about pagan connotations to holidays? can't let pagans rule your life! everyday should be a celebration btw
2006-08-16 12:20:43 · answer #1 · answered by Echo 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't do it, but I know many who do. It is true that the 'Holy Days' were picked at the Council of Nicea (323 AD) to coincide with Pagan Holidays. They thought it would be easier to convert pagans that way. Christmas is actually the celebration of Attis (a god born of a virgin and martyred only to rise again---- hmmmm). A star marking Jesus' birth was visible to the shepherds tending their flock. Usually, the flock was not closely watched. The shepherds would've been with the flock in April or May, making Jesus a spring baby.
2006-08-16 19:22:56 · answer #2 · answered by Ananke402 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the parents did some real research, they'd discover that the early Christian church intentionally mixed Jesus' teachings into local practices and holidays in order to leverage the context that people were familiar with. It was an act of love and integration with existing, familiar elements. To not do so would have been counterproductive and would have resulted in so many people missing the teachings because of being forced to adopt new and completely foreign practices. Whenever a religion spreads and wants to get its message across, it makes sure to respect and integrate itself into the specific culture's set of symbols and world view and practices (it may redefine them but it sees the importance of leveraging the familiar).
2006-08-16 19:23:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Puritains were that way, and the Jehova's Witnesses are to this day. It's true, our most famous and celebrated holidays are steeped in paganism. Valentine's day, Christmas, Easter, Haloween . . .
2006-08-16 19:23:30 · answer #4 · answered by Songbird 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i don't understand christians anyways, they don't wanna celebrate independance day?! fine, MORE fireworks for me!
2006-08-16 19:20:40 · answer #5 · answered by Eryc 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sounds cuckoo to me.
2006-08-16 19:19:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋