If Christianity is the one true religion, why did they adopt pagan astrology signs as their religious symbols?

Question

The "fish" is nothing more than the zodiac sign for Pisces, which is the current astrological age that we are in. The astrological "month" of Pisces began roughly around the time that Jesus was alleged to have been born...what an interesting coincidence.

The cross and crown that you see at the top of this religion page? Also a pagan symbol for the zodiac. The "crown", or "corona" or "crown of thorns", represents the sun and its rays. The cross represents the 4 divisions of the year-the summer and winter solstices, and the spring and autumnal equinoxes that divide up the 12 astrological signs (representing the constellations they name).

These pagan symbols for the worship of the sun god (sun god, God's Son, wow, what another coincidence) existed long before Jesus was born.

So if Christianity is the one true religion, why did they adopt pagan signs as their religious symbols?

The cross symbol is located beside the "religion and spirituality" heading on the main R&S page.

I never claimed that these were my original thoughts. But at least I don't blindly and unquestioningly accept thoughts from those who clearly plagiarized and lifted from other beliefs either.

Answer 1

Why not? Everything else they use/have is pagan, namely their holidays. What they didn't steal they demonized.

They did it this in an attempt to convert the Pagan/non-Christian people--it was an "integration" of sorts, I guess. Unfortunately, it worked for the most part.

Answer 2

Good Question. Are they pagan? Why?

It is assumed because you can find a symbol in a pagan reference that the consequent use MUST BE pagan, but is it? This is associative reasoning. We reason that a definition must be true because we ASSOCIATE a meaning with it.

What if there is a deeper meaning? What if there is a Pre-dated meaning? Do we temporalize the learning process by saying (hands lifted to sides of head) OH NO!! It's pagan so we cannot examine it for truth.

Lets take the premise of Zodiac. IS IT the First listed reference of a study of the Stars and Constellations? Or is it a hybrid from a Earlier source? A Biblical Source?

What I ask you is, Why don't you list the Mazzaroth as a Predecessor of the Zodiac and as such taked precedent over the point being made of a extra-biblical source, the Zodiac, to explain a Biblical Source, the Mazzaroth, for your treatise against something rather than for?

The answer to your question is more than ONE answer but on this ONE subject Mazzaroth vs Zodiac , a extra biblical source assumption versus a Biblical Source, I will say this:

If Christianity is the one true religion, why did they adopt pagan astrology signs as their religious symbols?

It didn't.

Next point?

Since the the question is rendered irrelevant by the Mazzaroth predating the Zodiac the easy answer for me on the premise of sundividing the seasons of 4 into a associative reasoning of Zodiacal proportions, theres that pesky bad habit ASSOCIATE.

You see if Truth is Truth and doesn't need a interpreter. The even a little child could understand it.

Christianity can and does this in Jesus.

No one else has or can. But when Adults seek to associate confusion and cloud reason with ADDING to the Scriptures that can be read and understood on thier own, then it takes a interpreter to figure out How they can take something simple, and make it complicated.

Benjamin Franklin Christian

Answer 3

I'll buy the coincidence of the fish (Pisces) - since it is the beginning of the age of peace.

The Cross does not represent the zodiac or the 4 divisions of the year. It represents a method of execution at the time Jesus was alive. Don't read more into it than that. You're trying to find more meaning than exists.

The other words you are trying to use to link Christianity and pagan beliefs are English words. English did not exist at the time of Jesus or the early Church. (Especially the SUN/SON reference. That doesn't exist in any other language than English.)

I am by no means a hard core Christian, but the parallels you are trying to draw do not exist.

Let it go.

Answer 4

OOOooo, I just love it!!! Pagans, as you refer to them, don't have any "ownership" of anything. Like the so-called modern and new use of the rainbow. It came from God and it means what HE says it means.
The signs and symbols you are referring to came from the astrological signs, absolutely.., but here is the mistake you have made: the so-called Zodiac is the circle of God's signs and symbols in the heavenlies above the earth to tell the story of our Lord Jesus Christ (Virgo=virgin who carried the Christ) so no nation is without excuse to SEE the truth of God's amazing gift to the world.., His Son, and that history. (Books by Marilyn Hickey and Dr. D. James Kennedy regarding the Zodiac)
It says this in Psalm 19: "The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows forth His handiwork.., etc." Also, Colossians 1: 16-17.
There are books that tell of the TRUE and original meanings of each "sign".. Every people group sees the same thing over their heads and it is comfort to know that the story cannot be taken away. It is mistakenly interpreted by those whose hearts are turned away from God, but that isn't His fault. Pagans' misrepresentation doesn't change the intent of the Creator.
The "signs" truly are and have always been the symbols God put up there and yes, they ARE religious symbols.., just because pagans see them and use them also, doesn't change the true story behind them. Those constelations were here long before men. You are welcome to call a rainbow a gay sign, but it originally was a sign from God to mankind to say "no more floods to destroy the Earth".
Adopt away, but now you know the truth of it. No coincidences here. God put the heavens together and named each star; billions of them, before He sent 'the Word" to be born into flesh to dwell among men. Yep, you are right; the sun and signs were long before Jesus was born.., but who adopted what is not in question.

Answer 5

Why did gays take the rainbow, (the symbol of God's covenant with Noah, and all the creation that He would not flood the earth again) and use it to represent sexual immorality?
Why do people who are not Christians wear crosses?
The cross is a Christian symbol for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because it is an empty cross, signifies He lives. The crown of thorn in Christianity represents His death, and a golden crown represents His coming back to rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The fish symbol represents the early Christians. It was a sign they drew in the sand. One would draw half, the other would draw the other half. It was because they had to hide who they were, and this is how they recognized each other. That's why you see them on cars. We know who each other are.

You are just ranting, and trying to get people to believe your hogwash. I don't believe a word of what you are saying. I believe the Bible.

Answer 6

There is a difference between adopting and coincidence. Early Christians who were persecuted use to draw the fish in the sand to let others know who they were and what they identified with, "fisher of men". It had nothing whatsoever to do with astrology and they, when deciding to use the fish, was based upon the words of Christ--Ye shall be fishers of men.

Now, you would be more correct if you pointed out the pagan trappings of Christmas and how it really began and Easter. There I would have no argument. But what you presented here is just what I previously said it was nothing more.

Answer 7

The fish represents the fish in the feeding of the 5,000. It is estimated that Jesus "might" have been born in the month of July on our calendar, but nobody knows that answer for sure. The cross represents the cross Jesus died on. The crown represents the crown of thorns they put on the head of Jesus. Sun and "SON" are 2 totally different words. You seem quite ignorant when it comes to Christianity. As Mark Twain once wrote "it is better to appear foolish than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

Answer 8

True christians put no trust in these symbols, some however use them in passing. I use the fish at the end of my post just to keep some of the gobbledy goop from yahoo to be separated from what I wrote. Put the ancient christians used the fish as a secret code to communicate because they were outlawed and they used it because the letters on Jesus sign when He was crucified:

Greek word for fish (ichthus, spelled: Iota Chi Theta Upsilon Sigma). That is an acrostic which has many translations in English. The most popular appears to be "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior" 16 [Iesous (Jesus) CHristos (Christ) THeou (God) Uiou (Son) Soter (Savior)].

Answer 9

It is true that modern Christianity is chock full of pagan symbols and practices. All of these were introduced by the Church of Rome. Each religion that has come out of her has retained some of those pagan symbols and practices. It is not our place to criticize the church for this. After all, the church is made up of men and women whom are all sinners -- just like you. What *is* our place is to come to the Bible and allow the Holy Spirit to convice and convict us where these symbols and practices are truly pagan. Thus, even if they defile the Church, they do not have to defile those whom truly follow the Holy Spirit all the way to Jesus.

I make that point, though, because the Zodiac was not original with the pagans. They copied and renamed it (and changed its usages for their own devices) from God's people from before the Great Flood. God, Himself, created the Constelations in order to tell the Great Plan of Salvation to His people. Remember Genesis 1:14?

"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:" Genesis 1:14

The sun, the moon, and the earth, mark the years, months, and days. There were no seasons before the Great Flood. In the original Hebrew, the word translated "seasons" actually means "set" or "appointed times" -- and is used most other places in the Old Testement to refer to God's annual feast days and holy days. Thus, what are the stars for?

All of the heavenly bodies were created to fullfil either a sign, or an appointed time, or to mark physical time. The sun and the moon were also created for lights -- but no direct mention as to what the stars were for. The only thing left is for signs. Granted, the greater and lesser lights are also signs in that they are to be observed to know when particular time spans have passed. But the stars still have to have one of these functions.

Since God, Himself, refers to the Constelations, by name, I believe He made them that way (i.e., to form pictures) on purpose.

"Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?" Job 38:31,32 (KJV)

"Can you bind the chains of [the cluster of stars called] Pleiades, or loose the cords of [the constellation] Orion? Can you lead forth the signs of the zodiac in their season? Or can you guide [the stars of] the Bear with her young?" Job 38:31,32 (AMP)

Answer 10

You forgot to mention that Christmas is based upon a pagan holiday. Or that the days of the week that Christians use are named after pagan gods. And the list goes on and on..

However, truth is Christians are not threatened by symbols and customs of their society and culture. As long as these practices do not violate their doctrines. In early Christianity, the leaders got together and determined what was necessary to call yourself a Christian. They prepared a creed that included their basic beliefs and called it the Apostles Creed.

So go ahead and celebrate festivals and use symbols familiar to your culture. Christianity is strong enough not be be threatened by such action.