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Are many practices and traditions in Christianity actually pagan in origin?



    
    

Clarify Share Report Asked July 01 2013 Mini Anonymous (via GotQuestions)

Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.

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Shea S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries
In their 2008 book Pagan Christianity, authors Frank Viola and George Barna present the surprising origins of many of the practices commonly found in churches today. The authors of Pagan Christiani...

July 01 2013 5 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Eced7a1f c81d 42f4 95ea 9d5719dce241 Singapore Moses Messenger of God, CEO in IT industry, Astronaut, Scientist
Idolatry is spiritual fornication or a violation of the spiritual and covenant marriage between God and Israel (Judg. 2:17; Isa. 1:21; Hos. 1:2; 4:12; 2Chr. 21:11; Ezek. 16). Idolatry and adultery were common in pagan worship. Roman Catholicism identifies her to be a religious system fostering and tolerating all the abominations that go with idolatry and spiritual fornication. The word abominations is used many times of idolatry and whoredoms associated with pagan worship (Dt. 18:9- 12 29:17- 18 32:16- 17 1Ki. 14:24; 2Ki. 16:3- 4 21:2- 11 Ezek. 16:22- 58 etc.).

According to Hislop's "The Two Babylons" (which quotes 260 sources), the ancient Babylonian cult, started by Nimrod and his queen, Semiramis, spread among all nations. The objects of worship were the Supreme Father, the Incarnate Female, or Queen of Heaven, and her Son. The cult claimed the highest wisdom and the most divine secrets. Besides confession to priests there were many mysterious rites. Julius Caesar became head of the Roman branch of the Babylonian Cult in 63 B. C. Other emperors held the office until 376 A. D. when the emperor Gratian, for Christian reasons, refused it because he saw that Babylonianism was idolatrous.

Demasus, bishop of the Christian church at Rome, was elected to the headship in 378 A. D. and from here on Babylonianism and organized Christianity became one. The rites of Babylon were soon introduced into the Christian church. Heathen temples were restored, beautified, and their rituals encouraged. Worship and veneration of images, saints, relics, private confessions, penances, scourgings, pilgrimages, sign of the cross, Christmas, Lady Day, Easter, Lent, and other pagan rites and festivals, little by little, became a part of Christian worship.

Satan, who suggested to Jesus to fall down and worship him, desires people also to do the same (Mt 4:9,10). We hear there are now Churches of Satan! God hates devil worship (Rev 9:20). We should avoid even worshipping angels as they are only created beings (Col 2:19; Rev 22:8,9). Saints, however great they may be, should not be worshipped (Acts 10:25; 14:12-18).

Christians should beware of the subtle forms of idolatry. Covetous- ness is one of them. One who makes gold his hope or is secretly enticed by the greatness of his wealth calls for God's judgment (Col 3:5; Job 31:24-28). Observance of time is also another form of idolatry
(Gal 4:8-10).

Many of God's children have boldly challenged idolatry. The prophets of Baal, who miserably failed to meet the daring challenge of Elijah, finally confessed, "The Lord, He is God!" (1 Ki 18:21,26,27,39). Daniel and his friends courageously refused to bow to idols (Dan 3:16-18; 6:7,10). Paul's spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city of Athens was given over to idols (Acts 17:16). Oh! that we all had the same spirit! The majority of Indians is idol-worshippers. It's our responsibility to teach them that "the times of ignorance God winked at; but now He commands all men everywhere to repent"—from the worship of the created to that of the Creator!

Roman Catholics pray to or through Mary keeping her as the mediator. Protestants and Catholics also use their preachers or priests as mediators. Both are abominable before God. Prayers are sold by several healing evangelists as the Pope in the Middle Ages sold forgiveness tickets to raise funds for Churches or monasteries. Roman Catholics burn candles for statues, and we garland pictures. One is three-dimensional idolatry and the other two-dimensional! And someone said, "The Roman Catholics have only one Pope, but the Protestants have many!" The list is endless. This is not to approve of Roman Catholic practices but to alert Protestants to set their house in order. 

The message to both Roman Catholics and Protestants is this: "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men (both the groups) everywhere to repent (change)" (Acts 17:30).

July 05 2014 1 response Vote Up Share Report


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Stringio Vincent Mercado Supporter Skeptic turned believer, Catholic, father of 3
As a Catholic, I have to be honest and admit that many of the beautiful traditions of the Church have pagan origins, e.g. Christmas, Easter, etc. And because of the beauty of these traditions, many Non-Catholic Christian groups have joined to celebrate it with us. (My wife attends an Evangelical Church, and they celebrate Christmas and Easter too.)

Though pagan in origin, these traditions have been "Christianized", that is, the purpose of the feast has been changed. At Christmas, we celebrate Christ' birth, replacing Saturnalia. At Easter, we celebrate Christ' rising from the dead, replacing Ishtar.

Some groups, however, still insist we don't keep these traditions that have pagan origins. Ask them: At their weddings, does the bride wear a white gown? Did the couple exchange vow? Did the couple exchange rings? Will they still keep these traditions if they realize that these are from pagan origins?

July 07 2014 5 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Image Jayne Jayne
Behind the lies of pagan Holiday known as Christmas- there are a lot of celebrations taking place all over the world on this day known as December 25th, but none of them are celebrating the birth of The Most High! 

Unbeknownst to the multitudes of Christians and other religions, those celebrations are made by witches, warlocks, and mainly by Luciferians.

The reason Luciferians celebrate is because they know their god Satan has tricked most of the people that call themselves Christians into believing a lie, and that makes those people seen for who they are. "Weak in study and able to be told anything." Today's modern day believer is unequipped to do battle with Satan and that gives him an advantage over them.

December 10 2015 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Mini Lawrence wong Disciple of iEsou ("Yeh-sou") christou
Are many practices and traditions in Christianity actually pagan in origin?

What are the facts? 
Others have identified the facts of pagan traditions which have infiltrated the Church system all over the world. The pagan traditions are: Worship of the Sun demon “Ra” hence changing the day of worship from the Sabbath to SUNday, changing the days of the week and month of the year to the names of demons and so-called church holidays from the festival days ordained by the Almighty ALHYM (Lev 23) to pagan festivals worshipping demons to name but a few. 

These represent changes which are heretical and abominable according to The Word. How many churches observe Christmas and Easter, New Year celebrations? 
The words “ Come out from among them and be separate” “Do not touch what is unclean” “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of ALHYM” (2 Cor 6:17, 7:1) are repeated throughout the Holy Bible (e.g. Exodus - from Egypt; Rev 18:4) and with different words – all with the same intention and meaning – Yshral (Israel) and disciples of Christ are to be separated from the world (1 Jo 2:15-17) and to go into Christ’s glorified Body (Ac 2:47), to know what is holy and unholy (Lev 10:10; Eze 44:23; Hag 2:9-14; Rev 18:4). 
Only repentant hearts will obey Christ (Mt 3:2; 4:4:17; Ac 2:38-39). 

How did this happen? 
It happened because the Roman Catholic Church made all these changes. The revolt against the pagan practices by many of its own priests. Martin Luther was the priest who is the public face of the revolt, which led to the exodus. The Catholics labelled it “The Reformation” which is clever deception – it made very few reforms and those it did make reinforced the status quo. The Council of Trent’s two most notable changes in the mid 1500’s established a university system of training for its priesthood (adopted by the “Protestant Churches”), and gave the Jesuits, experts of the Inquisition, full power to launch the “Counter Reformation” by propaganda and the sword. The blood of upholders of the truth flooded freely. Indulgences are still practiced, but under the radar. 

Why do churches accept it? 
Unfortunately, many priests who left the Catholic Church kept the church system alive and became “Protestant popes”. They did not know any better, as the Church culture was so pervasive! 
The Catholics have controlled the Western nations as ruthless dictators for well over 1,000 years. Catholic dogma is what we know is “Christianity.” It is in fact Romanism -a synthesis of pagan and Biblical teachings with emphasis on the pagan. 
The propaganda has included changing the names and patterns of thinking such as: ALHYM for God (Ge 1:1), YHVH for The Lord (Ge 2:4), iEsou for Jesus (Mt 1:1 Greek), Petros for Peter (Mt 16:18) Disciple for Christian (Ac 11:26); Ekklesia for Church (Mt 16:18, 18:17; Ac 2:47 etc.). GOD and THE LORD are aliases of Satan and alternate names of Marduk, chief of the Babylonian pantheon. JESUS means in Latin “That is Zeus” and That is [a] Pig”. The picture of Zeus was adopted as the image of Christ soon after 475 AD by the Western Catholic church and Byzantine Eastern Churches. Images are banned (Ex 20: 4-6). PETER is the name for “Father” from the ancient proto European name for Satan Dyeus-Peter “Sky Shining- Father” who they claim “Jesus” gave authority to “Peter” to establish the Church (Mt 16:18 the accepted translation is patently false when compared to the original Greek). This is why Catholics call the Pope “Holy Father or Holy Papa” and priests “Father….” (Mt 23:9). No CHURCH resembles the Ekklesia of Acts 2. 

ALHYM’s patterns of thinking (2 Tim 1:13; Phi 3:17-19).
“IF MY PEOPLE who are called by My name wil humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways THEN I WILL hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" 2 Chr 6:14

Lawrence NZ.

July 05 2017 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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