that the main "christian" holidays all deririve from pagan whatever- back up your arguments. I'm interested to hear where you get your information and how and why you believe this. So here you go--- start explaining please.
2007-11-20 07:52:28 · 11 answers · asked by Amy Clark 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I figured since everyone is so quick to jump in with their two cents about it on any other topic posted- than you'd all want to jump in and share your opinion here- but instead you just post links and say "google it" or "do your own research" I'm guessing none of you really know why or can back it up- thanks to those you actually gave an answer.
2007-11-20 08:40:32 · update #1
I am a Christian and there is no denying the facts.
Most major Christian holidays were joined with pagan dates to make it easier for the Roman empire to assimilate pagan Europe. Contrary to popular opinion, this is by and large a state issue, not a faith issue. Rome was nothing if not pragmatic about keeping the peace.
So, Christmas was joined with Saturnalia and other Mithraic traditions, Easter with harvest and spring festivals, All Saint's Day with Samhain, etc., etc.
Does this mean that we are somehow worshiping pagan gods if we keep these historical dates, no of course not. if I had a knife in hand and a candle in a pentagram ... that would be bad, but opening presents under a pagan bush doesn't make me a pagan.
Ath
2007-11-20 07:58:28 · answer #1 · answered by athanasius was right 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I won't do your research for you, sorry. For your own benefit, try checking out some books from the library about the Winter Solstice. You'll quickly see the similarities between Pagan celebrations and Christmas. It's a start. You can find your way from there. Libraries are full of this kind of information.
Happy learning!
2007-11-20 16:00:10 · answer #2 · answered by I, Sapient 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
well the pagan celebrated Christmas which was called yule it was the day the goddess is reborn and the sun god dies or her consort pan. then Halloween or all hallows or all saints day was the pagan new year. easter so known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos was the day of fertility that's why the rabbit and the eggs.
i do my research from various sources
2007-11-20 16:02:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is a ton of info on the internet. Posted some links for you about pagan origin and solstice
http://www.candlegrove.com/solstice.html
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/WinterSolstice.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/
http://www.erowid.org/spirit/traditions/paganism/paganism.shtml
2007-11-20 16:06:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about some actual research as opposed to just swallowing whatever misinformation your priest tells you.
Or is going out there and finding out the truth about the universe just too scary for you?
2007-11-20 16:02:13 · answer #5 · answered by Simon T 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Paganism is way cooler than Christianity.
2007-11-20 16:04:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
http://de.essortment.com/christmaspagan_rece.htm
That's the first hit on Google. I could post a lot more stuff, but how about you look all this stuff up for yourself?
2007-11-20 15:57:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
are you saying you need proof to believe something?
2007-11-20 16:23:41 · answer #8 · answered by slopoke6968 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/calendar/saturnalia.html
http://www.ccg.org/english/s/p235.html
http://www.sabbatarian.com/Paganism/XmasHistory.html
2007-11-20 15:58:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
the other mable is hotter than you...
2007-11-20 15:56:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋