Why do Pagans choose to see it as us stealing their holidays when all we are doing is offering a Christian event to celebrate instead of a Pagan one?
Why does it matter that we don't the know actual birthday of Jesus Christ & choose to celebrate it on December 25th?
Why does it matter that we choose to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ at the beginning of Spring considering His death was to make all things new again to those of us who believe. It's a symbol of our ability to be reborn even as all things God created are reborn in the Spring.
Is it equally offensive that churches offer Fall Festivals on Halloween to counter-act the effects of evil & witchcraft on that most hallowed day for Satanists?
Your thoughts please....
2007-07-29 17:17:26 · 26 answers · asked by Pamela 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think its mainly because they just dont like christianity and try to find fault with every thing they can...just like they did with Jesus back in the Bible days. They didnt want proof that He was who He said He was..they just didnt like Him, period. I think we as Christians face the same thing today. I cant help but notice that while they dont want christians to "judge" anyone or anything by simply stating that the Bible says its wrong....they are constantly "judging" christians by telling us what we think, how we think, and why we think it. Just look at the answers posted here. Having read through them all, you can see that they dont even agree with each other. Some say Halloween is to worship the devil, others say its to scare away evil spirits. Some say satanists dont worship satan, others right here say they do...so which is it? Everybody cant be right. Looks like christians are not the only ones gulity of "judging". The only difference is that Christians base their judgements, or opinions, on The Bible - which is Gods Word, btw. Just because some do not believe, does their unbelief make the Word of God without affect or untrue? No! Let God be true and every man, that says anything against Him, a liar. Those judging christians base their judgements on their own opinions and dislike of them. If you are free to believe (or not believe) as you choose...then why is it that Christians seem to be the only ones without that same freedom??? The Christians I know are good ppl, they help others, and try to live a clean life....whats wrong with that? I say as long as your heart is right, celebrate the holidays anyway and anytime you want to. If "alternate lifestyles" are ok...why not alternate celebrations of pagam holidays? It seems to me that the unbelievers want all the "rights" but dont want to extend to us the same rights - which they say everyone should have. They have double standards. I wish everyone believed in Jesus....but its their choice. And with every choice we make in life, there are always consequences!
2007-07-30 12:15:19 · answer #1 · answered by hapygrl68 2 · 0⤊ 5⤋
It wouldn't matter to me as long as people didn't have sentiments like this guy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyesoUVfwu8
There are some people who think that Christians are the only ones who have holidays at this time, The other thing that I have anger about is that Christians celebrate our holidays with our traditions, but look down at us as inferiors.
As Pagans, we honor all those who are true to their own faith. And we believe that one can find enlightenment in many different philosophical paths, So when we encounter people who "borrow" our traditions and then laugh at our faith, it doesn't sit too well.
If Christians realized that we, too, deserve a place in the military instead of protesting it, then maybe we would be more willing to see eye to eye.
As for your remark about churches offering alternatives on Halloween, you should know that the type of Satanist you are scared of don't really exist. Real Satanists are harmless Humanists with over active sexual desires. But they don't hurt or kill children and they don't even worship Satan. That lie was perpetrated by the church to keep people scared and as part of the church. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V76m9PZYCpc
Halloween is a Witchcraft holiday. As are Easter (Ostara), Christmas (Yule), and many others. The Witchcraft traditions of Europe are Pagan traditions. They've got nothing to do with a made up evil figure. That's what pisses us off the most. When people assume that our holidays are evil. Halloween (Samhain) is the Witches New Year. Samhain means summer's end and it is the time when the veil between worlds is thinnest. This means that Witches honor the dead at this time of year. But it's not Satanic.
2007-07-30 07:39:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What annoys me is the saying "Jesus is the Reason for the Season", totally ignoring the fact that there are several different mid-winter celebrations out there - not just Christmas.
What also annoys me is the Christians who get all offended when I wish someone "Happy Holidays" because they are subscribers to the aforementioned "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" mentality.
And when you can explain to me exactly what a decorated evergreen tree has to do with the birth of Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem, then we can discuss why Christianity has taken Pagan symbols and incorporated them into their own celebrations... and then try to claim that no one else can have a "holiday tree" because "It's a CHRISTMAS Tree"...
And by the way, you may want to learn something about Halloween before you write it off as "evil". You may also want to consider that that's exactly the sort of condescending and misunderstanding that some Pagans find offensive.
2007-07-29 17:42:05 · answer #3 · answered by Nandina (Bunny Slipper Goddess) 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Actually, if you ask Satanists, most will tell you their most sacred holiday is their birthday. ::shrugs:: Though, your comment on counteracting "evil" on Samhain - one of *my* religion's most sacred holidays - is a little bit offensive. That's very much like saying that Memorial Day is evil.
While Easter's date is based off of Passover, Christmas is totally based off of non-Christian timing. The reason some people find it offensive is the thought process behind the choice. Christianity doesn't offer its holidays as supplementary, doesn't want to share the date. Instead, it's all about supplanting the other holidays - it wants to be the only (or, at least, primary) holiday. (Take a look at the whole "Jesus is the reason for the season" comments that come out in December - as if all the other winter holidays simply didn't exist.)
It's the religious equivalent to budging in line.
2007-07-30 02:01:59 · answer #4 · answered by ArcadianStormcrow 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, for the most part, it probably started out as pagan, turned Christian, and now turning pagan again. But the real question is, why do you celebrate it? If the reason is because of Jesus, and isn't it nice to have family over and enjoy the company? Then, our God does not disapprove. And what did the angels say that night our Lord was born? And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luk 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. God Bless
2016-05-17 09:04:56 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You seem very confused.
Christians didn't hijack the Pagan holidays so to "offer choices". They did it as an underhanded way of converting people, and then KILLED those who didn't comply. Do some research on the history of Christianity.
FYI, Halloween is NOT a Satanic holiday, but I am not really surprised that you don't know that. People dressed up in costumes and left food on their doorsteps on Halloween so to SCARE EVIL SPIRITS AWAY. It's very interesting that some Christians are OPPOSED to SCARING EVIL SPIRITS AWAY. Hmmmm.
Easter was a festival honoring Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility and dawn - using eggs, hares, and flowers to represent fertility, sex, and birth. Most Christians probably have no clue that their Wake for Jesus started out as a huge celebration of sex!
2007-07-29 17:54:49 · answer #6 · answered by gelfling 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I've always wondered why some Christians get so offended by the idea that some of their holidays have Pagan origins. It seems that calling them "evil" is what's truly offensive.
2007-07-31 16:06:55 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. Niceguy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you dont even know what you are celebrating
you should study up on the origins and true meanings of those festivals. just because the church slapped a christian name on them doesnt make them christian. im not offended. its pretty funny that you dont even know what you are doing. its about the cycles of the earth. something very natural. its not evil. its about the sun going down and the scarcity of winter. and the promise of springtime. its about reincarnation. nevermind you can read my words but wont get the right meaning. its too hard to explain. you have all this christian conditioning that prevents you from learning. the bible is a myth, an allegory, its not literal.
2007-07-29 17:51:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
"Is it equally offensive that churches offer Fall Festivals on Halloween to counter-act the effects of evil & witchcraft on that most hallowed day for Satanists?"
... I'm sorry that my uncontrollable laughter is preventing me from answering this question.
2007-07-29 18:24:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't mind sharing our holidays with Christians - after all, our holidays are FUN, and I can see why they would want to incorporate that.
BUT, I object to being told that these holidays belong exclusively to them (in oh so many ways, like the attempts to force "Merry Christmas" on people rather than being gracious about "Happy Holidays")
As for your utterly ignorant assumptions about Halloween, I just give up.
2007-07-31 04:57:52 · answer #10 · answered by Raven's Voice 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋