It hurts very much to see non christians do their little "research" on the origins of OUR<(*cough coucgh*who said that?) beloved holiday christmas. the facts are: yes. the early church, on having converted many pagans, placed christmas, and valentines day and such on the dates of pagan holidays. that is the facts. however if you are not Catholic you will not know WHY the early Christians did this. The early christians understood what it means for very large cultures to suddenly convert their religion, and they wanted to replace their old traditions with new ones that they could cherish and understand in the same way. For example; if there was a tree they belived to be spiritual or significant in their pagan beliefs, the apostles would bless the tree and consencrate it to God, so that it did not take away the tradtions but instead replaced it with a christian one. for Christmas, instead of celebrating the sun god on dec. 25th, the new christians celebrated the birth of Jesus. opinions?
2006-11-02 15:48:45 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Especially since lambs are not born in the dead of winter. (as we alsways see baby lambs at the manger)
It is easier to convert than to kill. Less work and resentment as well
2006-11-02 15:50:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 11⤊ 1⤋
Christmas was originally Yule for countless centuries prior. So yes it is a Pagan holiday. Yule is even mentioned in the Old Testament that the Jews (and later Christians who were supposed to follow the same exact teachings otherwise the Bible is entirely pointless for them if they are only supposed to follow the 2nd half of it) were banned from having anything to do with.
During the early Middle Ages, the Catholic Church (prior to the 1600s, every Christian was Catholic) strictly forbade its followers from celebrating because they were Pagan. Then when they decided they couldn't stop anyone, they decided to steal the holidays and mold them to fit their needs in order to make converting seem more pleasant. This is why Catholic rituals are so similar in structure to Pagan rituals.
Biblical scholars agree that the Bible is very clear that Jesus was not born on Dec 25 or anywhere near winter. The main reason being the entire shepherd angle.
Nothing in Christianity is original. If you look at various mythologies and religions from that time period, there were other sun gods born on or near Dec 25. since it has been established that that particular aspect was blatantly stolen and Jesus could not have been born then if the Bible has any truth.
2006-11-03 02:19:13 · answer #2 · answered by Cinnamon 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, Christmas and Easter are placed on traditional Pagan holidays because they had to replace their celebrations with Christian ones. I think it's horrible, why did they have to convert all those people? When I learned of all the Pagan rituals that have been integrated into Christmas, I started enjoying the season more. The tree, the lights, they were all symbols of The Winter Solstice. They were meant to bring the daylight back. It's beautiful. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas as a whole, and I think the way most Christians celebrate the birth of Christ is beautiful. I don't simply because I don't believe in it. I used to go to church with my Grandmother on Christmas and it was lovely but as I've grown up, it's I like the seasonal celebrations better. Some celebrate the birth of Christ, some celebrate the new year, some just partake in the presents. It's become less and less religious. No matter who you are, you can't deny the magical feeling in the air, so as long as you aren't shoving your beliefs down someones throat, everyone can be happy. I personally just think that religious people should be made aware that their symbols of the high holy holidays were "borrowed" from a religion they condemn.
********THE SHORTEST DAY**********
And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!
2006-11-03 10:16:47 · answer #3 · answered by ~mj~ 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I think it was a sick way to convert people. Just like my beloved halloween (yeah I said it). it was not a pegan holiday (pegans did however celebrate something similar on november 1st), but the christians turned it pagan, then turned it christain so that they could convert more groups of people.
The thing you mention about the sacred place, like a tree, being blessed. Why would they need to do that, when its already been blessed by the pegans. Its like the equivalent to a tattoo artist drawing over or altering another artists' work. its just wrong (if you understand what I meant by that).
if they wanted to convert people, they should've made there own holidays instead of a desperate attemp to convert people.
that shows that they werent too concerned with the beliefs of christianity if they had to add new holidays and leave their old ones behind, just to get people to join them....
all these date for holidays aren't even the right dates, like I said before, the original (simular) pagan halloween was celebrated between november 1-2 not oct 31, but the christains changed it. Chrismas as well, they are taking two things that are completely irrelavant to each other and combining them, just to convert people. when the dates and traditions of the original holidays aren't even the same....
2006-11-02 23:57:26 · answer #4 · answered by Red Crayon Aristocrat 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well, you just stated yourself that Christmas was established to help convert Pagans who refused to give up their traditions. It was the Pagan's holiday first, so if the Christians decide to celebrate alongside them, why are you so bent out of shape?
It's funny, but not being Catholic I view the reason of the incorporating of the Pagan traditions was just another part of controling the people. If it's wrong to kill someone, does doing it in the name of Christ make it right?
PS. Yule is not on the 25th. Maybe you missed that in your research.
2006-11-03 10:23:05 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What is the question? LOL Yes the church of Rome stole everything the have/do from others. There was none for their new Christianity so why make it up when you can just steal it? They also said that marks on your body (like moles) were the sign of the devil. Outlawed forks for 100's of years cuz said it was the pitch fork of Satan. Killed millions of people in the name of God, said when you cant eat meat, that man (a father) can grant forgiveness, how to talk, dress, act..... God bless the USA for the separation of church & state (and not the church of romes made up pegan god) cuz never again will MAN rule MANKIND in the name of God, the power has been given back to God himself.
2006-11-03 00:05:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It may seem harmless to celebrate holidays with pagan origins if it's done for religious reasons, but doesn't the bible say at 2 Corinthians 6:14 "what fellowship do righteousness and lawlesness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? What agreement does God's temple have with idols?"
Illustration: Suppose a crowd come to a gentleman's home saying they are there to celebrate his birthday. He does not favor the celebrations of birthdays. He does not like to see people overeat or get drunk or engage in loose conduct. But some of them do all those things, and they bring gifts for everyone there except him. On top of all that, they pick the birthday of one of the man's enemies as the date for celebration. How would the man feel? Would you want to be a party to it? This is exactly what is being done by Christmas celebrations. There are so many ways to show we love God and Jesus. Studying the bible, telling others, staying neutral to world affairs as Jesus did, and truly being kind to everyone. That's what I believe.
2006-11-03 00:01:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Christmas really doesnt have anything to do with religion and especially not jesus. It is a holiday to celebrate consumerism. In the world in its present incarnation.
Your explanation of the origins of the holiday seem fairly valid though. Whatever I hate the holidays, especially christmas. Ultra depressing for me. I do like new years though. Means the start of a new year and ten months till holiday season. Great reason to get drunk too.
2006-11-02 23:57:23 · answer #8 · answered by solid132 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You are absolutely right. Christmas was brought with us the promise of spiritual salvation. Christmas should never be criticized because look at what a great job all the retail store do in focusing on the spiritual salvation promised. And do not forget to shop for rightousness sake.
2006-11-03 00:00:40 · answer #9 · answered by copestir 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Puritans who came to America did away with the Pagan rituals for the very reasons you are all bickering now. It, in their minds, did not honor God. Our country though, decided to re-introduce Christmas as a national holiday and the Churches adopted it as a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Some of the traditions may have come from some pagan rituals.....but, as a child of God, who is the God of all, I am not threatened by that. The Germans would bring in an evergreen tree as a sign of hope for lasting through the cruel winters. What is so bad about that!?! The evergreen to me is a sign of the everlasting life we recieve from Jesus. Queen Victoria's German husband brought his tradition into his home, and thus was the first Christmas tree in England.
You all rob yourselves, claiming you know so much, and that Christians are defiling Christ by practicing some Pagen ritual. What I do, I do to honor God and nothing else. I am not held by some past 'whatever'!!!! Christmas is a celebration, my country, America, has celebrated for a long time and so much good comes out of it that I refuse to let any of you put a damper on it.
I am not afraid of pagen rituals. Christ rules in my heart and I am free to serve Him and honor Him. I am free to love others and celebrate.
Jesus is the reason for The Christmas season and every season.........
2006-11-03 02:33:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
Wasnt Jesus' birth really like in August? o_O
Thats what somebody told me before.
Christianity has a lot of pagan origins and influences, like ancient Zorastrianism. Lots of people don't like to admit it tho.
2006-11-02 23:54:09 · answer #11 · answered by Mayonaise 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋