Do you believe that when the Roman Empire took on Catholicism.....?

Question

That Catholicism also brought with it pagan influences from the Empire with it?

Sorry for my bad grammar. I am slow tonight.

Isn't this where christmas and easter came from?

Answer 1

Read the first ten books of Augustine's "City of God" for an answer to your question.

Answer 2

Well, kinda sorta. That was a real complex part of history-there was a lot of stuff going on. The church had been through more than a couple hundred years of severe persecution. These guys were just beginning to hold their heads up with losing them. Emperor Constantine comes along and makes it illegal to persecute Christians around 312 (?). Now they can finally breath. Then 2 emperors later around 360 or so Christianity became the state religion. Thats when paganism began to creep in. It did not become officially Roman Catholic until around 600 (about). By this time corruption was already in place.

Answer 3

I attended catholic mass yesterday and they prayed to the Virgin Mary, a Saint from Mexico, Jesus, and God.

When I lost concentration momentarily I really didn't know who we were praying to. I had to listen so carefully before I realised "ok now it's Jesus", "so this one's to Mary", "so I think the last one was straight to God but this one will go to someone else who will pray to God for me"- something I've never experienced before since I pray directly to God. I haven't found anywhere in the bible that permits dead people to speak to God on my behalf.

Sorry if I come across as arrogant and ignorant, I don't want to be. I'd love to be enlightened on this practice. The impression many protestants like me feel is that it's a type of paganism. I know Mary and the Saints are simply being revered/honoured and not worshiped, but praying to a human being feels like paganism and elevating mortals to a level with God that only God should have.

Answer 4

No. concepts like Icons saints and such predate Constantine
you might want to learn about the early church please read
http://www.ccel.org/fathers.html
The Syriac orthodox liturgy of saint James predades Constantine and the Malankra Armenian and Ethopian Churches were out side of the Empire.

Answer 5

i don't have to "believe" it -- it's a demonstrable fact

[edit] but it wasn't called "Catholicism" when the Empire embraced it

Answer 6

True worship, and following YHVH's rules, was largely destroyed by the antinomian (against law) teachings of the "Christian" church. That Church is called Babylon in revelation, and we are told to come out of it. (yes)

Answer 7

yes