2006-10-19 06:12:39 · 40 answers · asked by desigaal 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
As a child, I always had a Christmas tree. We didn't worship it - nor did we celebrate the tree. Rather it was part of the decorations.... I am being told that it is paganistic and I am now bringing an idol in the house. How is this possible?
2006-10-19 06:15:34 · update #1
Yeah, it came from old pagan traditions.
But.
Whenever anyone accuses anything in Christianity of having pagan roots...they're usually right. But if Christianity is a religion about redemption, what wrong with redeeming a pagan symbol as well?
2006-10-19 06:16:10 · answer #1 · answered by angk 6 · 5⤊ 2⤋
It is true that the Christmas tree has it's roots in pre-Christian religious practices. It is not bad. The original meaning of the tree was to celebrate the enduring quality of life, even during times of cold and/or darkness. It stands as a reminder of the light and warmth to come. Being that the tree is an evergreen during a season when all the other trees are in dormancy, it represents these qualities well. It has been integrated into the Chrisitan holiday because it celebrates life, and at Christmas, Christians are also celebrating life through the birth of the baby Jesus.
By the way, it has been my understanding that the word pagan originally meant "country dweller" and was a term used to differentiate between the city dwelling folks that had converted to Christianity and the country dwelling folks who had not. During that time it was more difficult to access the far reaches of the country side, and the traditions the people held there were very strong. In an attempt to better integrate and convert the country people, early Christians adopted some of the symbols used by the country folk to help relate key concepts.
Just because someone uses the word "pagan" doesn't mean that something is evil or of the devil. Please don't let someone else's ignorance frighten you. :)
2006-10-19 06:34:58 · answer #2 · answered by miztenacioust 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Are you worshiping your Christmas tree? If not, I am sure you are fine.
Pagan folklore says that Baal the god of the Sun and Esther (Debra and many other names) the queen of the heavens were married and also Baal was the son of Esther (gross). Esther (queen of heavens to which the OT of the Bible refers to when talking about the "high places" to worship "the queen of the heavens" supposedly came to earth in a colored egg from the sky and then they sacraficed rabbits to her. Esther has been translated to Easter.
Also Baal (sun god and Esther's son/husband) died and was reincarnated the next day as an evergreen tree with gold and silver ornaments.
During the reign of Constantine of the Roman empire, Christianity was forced on the nation. These pagan symbols were thrown into Christian holidays to passify the pagan believers.
As far as a Christmas tree being bad, as long as you see it as representative of:
1: triangle shape = holy trinity
2: evergreen = everlasting life
3: ornaments = gifts of wise men
etc.
it is not an idol. I do think however that Easter should be called Reserection Day instead. As long as these things are not worshiped or used in your mind as a representative of these pagan gods, I don't believe it is wrong. I do understand however why some poeple choose to get rid of these symbols all together, but then we could say not to ever plant an evergreen tree because it is wrong and etc.
Answer: Don't worship your tree and keep the meaning of Christmas and Easter as the focus of your celebration and you don't have to worry about trying to avoid pagan symbols.
God Bless
2006-10-19 06:27:30 · answer #3 · answered by RedE1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its meaning (along with many other things) have changed over time, and is now a means of bringing a family together, and not a means of worship. I may no longer be a Christian, but when I was I found it fun to get together with my parents and my brother to decorate our Christmas tree, and I still find it fun to help my grandparents (who I now live with) put up and decorate our artificial Christmas tree because it brings back a lot of good and happy memories from my childhood.
Peace Out and Blessed Be (this means the same as God Bless) to all
)O(
24 y.o. Pagan College Student
2006-10-20 13:06:22 · answer #4 · answered by Phoenix Summersun 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The tree itself is harmless----IT IS A TREE, one of God's creations. It is the significance you place upon it that is wrong. If you are obsessed with it, then it becomes an idol, and all idols are evil because they take a person's focus off of Jesus and place it on the world. A Christmas tree is a symbol of the time of the year. If it is modestly decorated in good taste, then there is no harm in it. One must always remember the season and that Jesus is the reason for the season. Christmas is not a time give gifts that no one wants, or to gather a pile of booty that will inevitably end up in the garbage. It is a time to remember and celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
2006-10-19 06:20:06 · answer #5 · answered by Preacher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As many answerers have noted, the "Christ"mas tree (and all of Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, etc for that matter) is indeed pagan. Ask yourself, "Does God want me to have a share in a celebration that was used to honor false gods?" Does masking something over with a so-called Christian appeal make it ok? Rather than give you the answer, let me provide you with some scriptural principals you can ponder over. That way, you can have God's thoughts on the matter.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Ephesians 5:10,11
Exodus 32:1-10 (in this passage, what does it say that the Israelites were worshipping in verse4? However, how did they try to mask their false worship in verse 5? In verse 10 how did the true God feel about all this?
Desigaal, very few today who claim to be Christian are truly Christian. Jesus indicated that this would be the case (Matthew 7:13, 14, 21-23) Despite the fact that most "Christian"religions have adopted many pagan customs from ancient Rome, there is a true religion that lives by God's moral standards and by his guidlines for worship.
How did Roman teachings infiltrate true Christianity? The Roman people were forced to become "Christians" under Constantine's rule. In order to prevent revolt, the Romans were allowed to interweave their beleifs with the new Christian beliefs. That's why Valentine's Day is represented by Cupid, the Roman god of love. Easter, which was a Roman celebration of the god Eastre (god of fertility). That is why rabbits and eggs are used in Easeter, as they are signs of fertility. In Rome, the Roman Catholic Church sprang up which became a very powerful entity. Later during the middle ages, the religious reformation began and several reilgions seperated themselves from the Roman Catholic Church. However when they seperated themselves and formed their own religions, they took many of the false Roman pagan beliefs and traditions with them. That is why most "Christian" religions celebrate these false celebrations. They have completely abandoned the teahings of Jesus Christ, though they still maintain a somewhat "Christian" appearance. False religion will soon meet it's end at the hands of God. If you would like to be of those who are worshipping God according to his standareds and receive his blessings, search for the truth. Often, it comes knocking at your door.
2006-10-19 07:26:49 · answer #6 · answered by johnusmaximus1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whoever told you that having a Christmas tree is idolatry is an idiot. e.e
Yes, it is from the Pagan tradition of Yule, the celebration of the Winter Solstice. It was adopted by Christianity when the Catholic church placed Christmas at the same time as Yule in order to convert Pagans by letting them continue their holiday traditions.
That doesn't mean it's idolatry or evil. And certainly, it isn't bringing the "devil" into your home or anything like that. The Pagans who celebrate Yule don't even believe in the Devil.
Enjoy your Christmas celebrations however you choose, but make sure you know why. ^^
2006-10-19 06:21:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
CHRISTMAS TREE:
The first Christmas tree was conceived in Germany in the first half of the 700's. The story goes as this; "a British monk and missinary St. Boniface was preaching a sermon on the Nativity to a tribe of Germanic Druids outside the town of Gesimar. To convince the idolators that the oak tree was not scared and inviolable, the "Apostle of Germany felled one on the spot. Upon falling it crushed every shrub in its path except for a small fir sapling. Boniface, interpreted the fir's survival as a miracle, saying let this be called the tree of Christ Child." The claim of the Pennsylvania Germans to have initiated the Christmas tree custom in America is undisputed today.
XMAS
Many interpreted the X as a sign of disrespect. Believing the X replaced Christ in Christmas. However, the Greeks originated the abbreviation for Christmas. X is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, Xristos.
2006-10-19 06:19:44 · answer #8 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was used on a Pagan Holiday in the Roman Empire But we People came to America it became a Symbol of life and Hope for People who were sick. It does not mean that we shoulld not have a Tree But we should always Remember that Christmas was about the Birth of Christ, After all you can't spell Christmas without the word Christ.
2006-10-19 06:32:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If you are a so-called Christian, celebrating Christmas is wrong period. Jesus was probably born in April or May, not December. December marks the Winter Soltice, a "pagan" celebration of the seasons changing. The Christmas tree, the star on top of it, Santa Claus, elves, presents, pretty little pagan celebrations of snow and ice, etc...what does any of this have to do with your Jesus who wanted you to eat, sleep,and dream him all day long for all the days of your life and death?
2006-10-19 06:24:52 · answer #10 · answered by chicalinda 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't get wrapped around the axle, it's just a decoration. We put one up every year. We enjoy collecting ornaments and we get a few new ones every year. We have a Nativity scene also and we make sure my son understands the reason we celebrate Christmas. As another user pointed out, MANY Christian traditions arose from pagan rituals. I don't see it as a big deal, unless you are worshipping the tree itself.
2006-10-19 06:21:30 · answer #11 · answered by Char 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋