Anybody else feel this way about Christmas?

[Elgama]

Originally Posted by KristofferUmfrey

Not to be mean but Easter is a pagan festival dressed up in Christianity also.

yeah but on this one the Roman Catholics were more inventive and a lot of the symbolism actually works like rolling hard boiled eggs to symbolise the rolling away of the stone from the tomb, the Simmnel cake has the 12 apostles and Christ on it etc even the marzipan has a symbol forgotten what it is though. Lambs and Chicks are a symbol of rebirth and new life

-Charley

[KristofferUmfrey]

Originally Posted by mightynancy

Okay, how about we call it "That Special Sabbath When We Especially Remember The Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Atonement that Makes Our Salvation Possible"?

And quick, somebody better get the MoTabs on the phone. Those pagans!

How about we celebrate Passover like Yah tells us to?

[KristofferUmfrey]

Originally Posted by Elgama

yeah but on this one the Roman Catholics were more inventive and a lot of the symbolism actually works like rolling hard boiled eggs to symbolise the rolling away of the stone from the tomb, the Simmnel cake has the 12 apostles and Christ on it etc even the marzipan has a symbol forgotten what it is though. Lambs and Chicks are a symbol of rebirth and new life

-Charley

The Plain Truth About EASTER


"Dyed Eggs

But did you know that dyed Easter eggs also figured in the ancient Babylonian mystery rites, just as they do in Easter observance today? Yes, these are pagan, too. It is recorded in Edward Davies' "The Mythology and Rites of the British Druids," page 210, that the ancient Druids bore an egg as the sacred emblem of their idolatrous order. Eggs were sacred to many ancient civilizations and formed an integral part of the religious ceremonies in Egypt and in the Orient. According to James Bonwick: "Eggs were hung up in the Egyptian temples. Bunsen calls attention to the mundane egg, the emblem of generative life, proceeding from the mouth of the great god of Egypt. The mystic egg of Babylon, hatching the Venus Ishtar, fell from heaven to the Euphrates. Dyed eggs were sacred Easter offerings in Egypt, as they are still in China and Europe. Easter, or spring, was the season of birth, terrestrial and celestial" (Egyptian Belief and Modern Thought, pp. 211-212). Why do people who believe themselves to be Christians dye eggs at Easter? Do they suppose the Bible ordained, or commands, this heathen custom? There is not a word of it in the New Testament. Certainly Christ did not start it, and the apostles and early Christians did none of it! Then why should you do it today? Why follow heathenism and try to convince yourself you are a Christian? God calls such things abomination!"

[Elgama]

Originally Posted by KristofferUmfrey

The Plain Truth About EASTER


Do they suppose the Bible ordained, or commands, this heathen custom? There is not a word of it in the New Testament. Certainly Christ did not start it, and the apostles and early Christians did none of it! Then why should you do it today? Why follow heathenism and try to convince yourself you are a Christian? God calls such things abomination!"

I don't think Christ objected to paganism and its teachings half as much as later Christians did - in fact the woman in Samaria would have been classed as Pagan in Biblical Times and the woman who he called a dog was also pagan. The latter showed that no matter of pagan trappings stops you from recognising Christ and all the teachings the Jews received did not help all of them recognise him (please excuse spelling am very tired)

I am very aware of the origins of the eggs, it was a Roman custom before Christianity to usurp and tweak local religions to make them more acceptable they just continued doing it when they took over Christianity. Its a Roman cultural thing more than a Pagan thing that usurped the festivals. But the symbolism used at Easter is more creative and can be taught in a more spiritual and relevant manner. I am not anti Pagan teaching in anyway shape or form an ex druid boyfriend taught me a lot that enriches me as a Latter Day Saint.

Having said that tonight we read my daughter the story of Baboushka and tommorrow will be the legend behind the Christmas Tree Fairy. They are fun for her to know

-Charley

[KristofferUmfrey]

Originally Posted by Elgama

I don't think Christ objected to paganism and its teachings half as much as later Christians did - in fact the woman in Samaria would have been classed as Pagan in Biblical Times and the woman who he called a dog was also pagan. The latter showed that no matter of pagan trappings stops you from recognising Christ and all the teachings the Jews received did not help all of them recognise him (please excuse spelling am very tired)

I am very aware of the origins of the eggs, it was a Roman custom before Christianity to usurp and tweak local religions to make them more acceptable they just continued doing it when they took over Christianity. Its a Roman cultural thing more than a Pagan thing that usurped the festivals. But the symbolism used at Easter is more creative and can be taught in a more spiritual and relevant manner. I am not anti Pagan teaching in anyway shape or form an ex druid boyfriend taught me a lot that enriches me as a Latter Day Saint.

Having said that tonight we read my daughter the story of Baboushka and tommorrow will be the legend behind the Christmas Tree Fairy. They are fun for her to know

-Charley

Just because Jesus may have been friendly with pagans doesn't mean he approved of their lifestyle or festivals. He was nice to whores and thieves... does that mean a woman can justify prostitution because Jesus didn't cast out the prostitutes or thieves can continue to steal because He had meals with them??

[Elgama]

Originally Posted by KristofferUmfrey

Just because Jesus may have been friendly with pagans doesn't mean he approved of their lifestyle or festivals. He was nice to whores and thieves... does that mean a woman can justify prostitution because Jesus didn't cast out the prostitutes or thieves can continue to steal because He had meals with them??

it doesn't mean he disapproved either - if something is good it is good whether it is pagan or other religion in origin. I do not shut my door to other faiths as they can enrich and teach my own. In the case of Easter and Christmas if you learn about symbolism and how it is used in Christianity. or was meant to be it can be used as much as a teaching tool, as anything else we have about us.

I am not about to start mummifying cats or beheading people but I can use the good - plus in the case of both the Samarian Woman and The Pagan Lady their stories show great faith they recognised something in Christ. something many Jews did not, indicates to me their teachings did not close them to the spirit.

-Charley

[mightynancy]

Maybe it's my sunny, laid-back California upbringing, but I'm all about the spirit of the law and not so much the letter of the law. Seriously, is it a sin to enjoy some pagan party favors?

We Christians have attached our own meaning to the symbols of these holidays. Are the symbols inherently bad because the pagans used them first?

Jesus Christ himself taught with symbols, so that the simple as well as the profound may understand. He taught with symbolism familiar to those of his day...I don't see what's wrong with using local customs to illustrate an eternal point.

And yeah, my daughter explained Passover to her Primary teacher. We're good.

[KristofferUmfrey]

Originally Posted by Elgama

it doesn't mean he disapproved either - if something is good it is good whether it is pagan or other religion in origin. I do not shut my door to other faiths as they can enrich and teach my own. In the case of Easter and Christmas if you learn about symbolism and how it is used in Christianity. or was meant to be it can be used as much as a teaching tool, as anything else we have about us.

I am not about to start mummifying cats or beheading people but I can use the good - plus in the case of both the Samarian Woman and The Pagan Lady their stories show great faith they recognised something in Christ. something many Jews did not, indicates to me their teachings did not close them to the spirit.

-Charley

The Lord commands us not to mix the heathen forms of worship from the cultures around us, with our worship of Him.

[KristofferUmfrey]

Originally Posted by mightynancy

Maybe it's my sunny, laid-back California upbringing, but I'm all about the spirit of the law and not so much the letter of the law. Seriously, is it a sin to enjoy some pagan party favors?

We Christians have attached our own meaning to the symbols of these holidays. Are the symbols inherently bad because the pagans used them first?

Jesus Christ himself taught with symbols, so that the simple as well as the profound may understand. He taught with symbolism familiar to those of his day...I don't see what's wrong with using local customs to illustrate an eternal point.

And yeah, my daughter explained Passover to her Primary teacher. We're good.

Israel tried to do that and they were vomited out of land of Israel. The Lord is serious about His injunction against paganism. Even the early Church brought their pagan books together and burned them.

[KristofferUmfrey]

I'm baffled at how people are so casual about God's commands.