The thing with most Christian holidays is that they are simply efforts by the Catholic Church to assume control over existing celebrations.
The most glaring example is of course All Saints Day created specifically as an attempt to hijack Samhain (pronounced SOW-en)
Christmas of course being placed on December 25, which used to be the Winter Solstice
Easter is a rather fun one. The most Pagan “placed” of all Christian holidays since it occurs on “The first Sunday after the first full moon of Spring” What exactly does a full move have to do with the alleged date of the Crucifixion? Anyway, that one is of course in the Ostara time frame.
Then there are other minor attempts…
Groundhog Day, May Day…
Much of the dogma that most Fundamentalist hold near and dear to their heart is actually a sad testament to the early Catholic Church’s attempt to assume control over people’s lives. So much of early Christianity is simply cobbled together from previous myth cycles. And the most glaring example of that has to be the most fundamental aspect of Christianity… the resurrection of Christ, which is ripped almost word for word, act for act, from the earlier Zoroastrian myths (go ahead, read about the 3 days in a cave before being resurrected from a religion that existed in the area of modern Israel and Syria and dates from about 400 years before the birth of Yeshua of Nazareth).
Now THAT should piss off a number of folks… the more so as they do a little research and find it to be true…
Yeah, Merry Christmas to yall too.
I think Jesus was born on June 13th. Not for any particular reason, I would just like to get a day off work around that time. Besides, it’s as good as anyone elses guess…
it doesn’t seem like anybodys pissed off. switch thanks for the info, you can learn alot here. i’m not religious at all but i enjoy getting together with family. hey dezrtfish what did you have to do to be # 51 on jenns list. i’d like to see that list am i on it?
it doesn’t seem like anybodys pissed off. switch thanks for the info, you can learn alot here. i’m not religious at all but i enjoy getting together with family. hey dezrtfish what did you have to do to be # 51 on jenns list. i’d like to see that list am i on it?
What list?
And the Catholic Church did arrange for many feasts to land on pagan holidays and incorporate christianified pagan symbols. It was easier to convert the locals that way. Besides, it’s amazing, but most of the feasts in common usage world wide land in the same times frames…just after harvest, just before winter kicks into high gear. So from an anthropological stance it only makes sense to keep the same feast times (Harvest/Thanksgiving/Easter/Spring, etc) because they are placed there for both convenience and logical reasons.
BTW, AFAIK, if the conversion of heathenous holidays saved but one soul, it was worth it.
I should probably drop it, I seem to be the only one who thought it was funny. My real name is #51 on the list Jen made in this Post:
William Cook? Or did I miscount?
That would be me 8-)
so, of course educated catholics from a good catholic school know that stuff switch. that stuff only works trying to work over an urban liberal who doesnt know anything and you tell them that stuff trying to get them mad at christianity. but the educated ones already know all the pagan things in early christianity.
as jen said, if it saves one pagan soul it was worth it. some people are in the business of spreading the good news of christ and leading them to the path. (i dont neccessarily deem it neccessary for soul saving however).
Gee, when I said it it didn’t seem so hateful. I don’t hate pagans. Even if they are heathens I don’t hate them. But if we can bring the love of christ to the heart of just one more man by altering a current holiday and christianizing it, then where’s the harm? You still have your holiday and God has one more soul!
knock, knock, knock
[door opens and standing outside are young people, mostly female, in long flowing robes]
“Hi, we are from your neighborhood Coven. Has anyone brought you the Word of the Goddess today?”
Damn, I am so glad that that never happens :-)
As far as stealing Pagan symbols, the Yule Tree has to be one of the best. Martin Luther decided to ADOPT this very Pagan symbol that was very popular in Germany and attach it to his heresy in order to draw on German Nationalism to help his heresy grow and flourish. Yule Trees are about as Pagan as Pagan can get.
Im pretty sure Jesus was born on July 2nd.
good thing for it, i love christmas trees.
how does anyone know exactly when jesus was born. or are these best guesses.
I agree, Switch. Yule trees are very pagan/heathenous. But they’ve been adopted and given a Christian meaning (the point at the top represents the star that shown down on the baby Jesus.)
And yes, these are best guesses, no one knows the exact date Jesus was born anymore. It’s rather irrellevant.
All guesses.
From Luke we have arguments for both April and September.
From the Catholic Chruch and subsequent convention December.
Let’s just make it April 15 and be done with it :-P
Well Jully 2nd makes sense. The Shepards where out at night with their flocks, and they certainly wouldnt have been doing so in december, they would be more likely to pasture their flocks at night instead of the heat of the day.
Aside from that I was talking to Jesus the other day (we are pretty tight) And he told me its July 2nd.
I still say we make it April 15.
Taxes and Christmas. Hate and Love.
Of course, the Post Office would go INSANE! LOL
Well belive what you want, but I got it from the horses mouth.
Well, I just communed with the Goddess, and she SWEARS that she gave birth to the male divine entity on April 15 :-P
And I think that we can trust a MOTHER to tell us what day she gave birth!
:mrgreen:
