2007-11-22 02:26:34 · 13 answers · asked by Cederiver 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No pagan worship inspired the day of thanksgiving, any more than they inspired eating. Having a communal celebratory meal is an ancient and Biblical custom (Gn. 21:8; 24:48-58; Acts 2:26, 47), and in America that custom principally began with the Pilgrims and Indians 3 day feast (after the later crossed the Atlantic during hurricane season and half survived the 1st winter with help from the Indians), and which Lincoln later made a national day. http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g007.html
As for getting history right, anyone who thinks one can "make people Christians" is ignorant of how one becomes one, and defends or promotes the faith, as well as the complex history* of the English colonization, and the fact that being English did not mean one was a Christian.
All told, both the English and Indians were warlike before they even met, yet no blood was ever shed in history by any Christian seeking to defend or expand the faith - when acting in accordance with the New Testament. And only Biblical Christianity can bring true peace with God, and with those who love the light.
(Acts 10:38-43) "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. {39} And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: {40} Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; {41} Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. {42} And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. {43} To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."
(Acts 3:19) "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"
2007-11-22 10:48:15 · answer #1 · answered by www.peacebyjesus 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Both the Pilgrims and the Native peoples held several harvest festivals. Pagan peoples all over Europe had harvest festivals also. The Pilgrims had no scheduled day of thanks giving. The elders decreed when it would be and people started cooking and thanking. The harvest festival the native people shared with their new neighbors was only unique in that they shared the day as friends. Thanksgiving would later become a secular holiday decreed by the government.
EDIT: Oregon Flower, learn your American history please. If you really think the native peoples gave up their culture willingly without blood shed and good old fashioned white Christian oppression, there is a bridge I'd like to sell you.
2007-11-22 14:57:05 · answer #2 · answered by Glee 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it's not pagan...Abe Lincoln proclaimed it to be an official national holiday in 18_ _. (I forget the year) to commemorate the Pilgrims struggle when they arrived in the new world. The first Thanksgiving was actually "celebrated" by a day of fasting. They did not eat anything. Imagine trying to celebrate that way now! Maybe after eating so much on Thanksgiving, we should try that the next day. The first Pilgrims were thankful that they were simply alive. Half of the people who came over on the Mayflower died the first year. They arrived too late to plant crops. The Indians helped them or they would have starved to death, but it was not a celebration of the harvest or abundance, it was thankfulness in the hard times. It was simply thankfulness for being alive!
2007-11-22 10:44:27 · answer #3 · answered by Suen 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The First Nation Peoples harvest celebrations. Thanksgiving was celebrated in the New World long before Christopher Columbus.
2007-11-22 10:45:17 · answer #4 · answered by PROBLEM 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Mabon is the Wicca/Pagan form of thanksgiving, but if you speak of how it got started here in the USA, it is a tradition from the Pilgrims who were thankful for surviving the journey to the new world and the winter!
2007-11-22 10:32:16 · answer #5 · answered by Rev. Kaldea 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Thanksgiving was inspired by the bounty of the harvest for the pilgrims, dear one. The only pagans were the native Americans and they soon became believers.
God bless and a blessed Happy Thanksgiving!
2007-11-22 10:42:48 · answer #6 · answered by Devoted1 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Mabon is my favorite holiday because of this element. However, I have done many rituals of thanks at all times of the year. Sometimes I just feel like I am so fortunate in my life, and want to connect with spirit and celebrate. Being thankful is not just a once-a-year thing.
2007-11-22 10:34:59 · answer #7 · answered by Cheryl E 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Mabon
2007-11-22 10:29:54 · answer #8 · answered by bete noire Carpe Noctum 5 · 4⤊ 3⤋
The turkey goddess
2007-11-22 10:32:15 · answer #9 · answered by freekin 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋
The harvest festival.
For those unfamiliar with it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_festival
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornucopia
2007-11-22 10:31:09 · answer #10 · answered by hayaa_bi_taqwa 6 · 5⤊ 2⤋