You obviously didn't read my previous post about what a researcher found investigating the issue of the weather in and near near Bethlehem during the winter. 47 to 60 average temperature with rains giving lush grass. The shepherds kept the sheep where they could eat the grass instead of providing them food while penned up. That period extended during December thru April at the latest. Usually ending earlier. End of December highly probable. Try getting the actual facts before posting your biased view.
Does anyone know who started the winter celebration of Christmas?
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Study what the wreath is... It represents a womb... All these religious practices have esoteric meaning. I don't know everthing about Christmans/Solstice/Saturnalia etc however I have studied this meatter throughly, I have a few books just on the origins of Christmas, and many books on Roman, Persian and Babylonian history and religion. You are free to see things how you want I know the symbolisim is no good.
This is true, does not make it acceptable. So by using this as as justifier if someone grew up in a country that was into voodoo, then it would be ok to mix voodoo with Christianity? No it would not, and if we consult the Scriptures the Most High says not to mix, He says not to do as they do and don't worship Him in their ways.
Constantine was one of many perverters of religion, however he was a big one... His conversion is laughable, as "commited to SOl Invictus Mithra" was minte on his coins until the year he died. Also his "conversion of the empire in a day" or legalization of Christinanity was a huge factor in true Scriptual religion getting mixed with Mithraisim, exactly the pagan ritual at hind in this thread. So to act like Constantine is not a big part of that or it's attacking as easy target is to ignore the impact he had mixing paganisim with true religion.
This is true, does not make it acceptable. So by using this as as justifier if someone grew up in a country that was into voodoo, then it would be ok to mix voodoo with Christianity? No it would not, and if we consult the Scriptures the Most High says not to mix, He says not to do as they do and don't worship Him in their ways.
Constantine was one of many perverters of religion, however he was a big one... His conversion is laughable, as "commited to SOl Invictus Mithra" was minte on his coins until the year he died. Also his "conversion of the empire in a day" or legalization of Christinanity was a huge factor in true Scriptual religion getting mixed with Mithraisim, exactly the pagan ritual at hind in this thread. So to act like Constantine is not a big part of that or it's attacking as easy target is to ignore the impact he had mixing paganisim with true religion.
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We're good brother.
My point is that I do not judge anyone for how they celebrate Christmas, nor do I want to offend anyone when I state "I will not compromise".
It is for each of us to do what we believe is acceptable to God and not judge others who believe differently when it comes to Christmas.
Paul addressed this in 1 Cor. 8
My point is that I do not judge anyone for how they celebrate Christmas, nor do I want to offend anyone when I state "I will not compromise".
It is for each of us to do what we believe is acceptable to God and not judge others who believe differently when it comes to Christmas.
Paul addressed this in 1 Cor. 8
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).I will disagree,
the 'world', as we Christians have come to know it and its history, it seems that no matter
what 'religion' or what particular idol worshippers in what ever countries do to 'honor' their
particular idols, many seem to make a particular exception to 'celebrate' what they would
classify as an American celebration, "christmas' and seemingly just play along as a game to 'fit-in',
even though they worship pagan idols and do what ever they have been taught to do
to bow-down and pay homage to their gods - talk about 'babylonic-pagan-bondage'?!?!?
this is way beyond bizarre and demonic bondage,...
the 'world', as we Christians have come to know it and its history, it seems that no matter
what 'religion' or what particular idol worshippers in what ever countries do to 'honor' their
particular idols, many seem to make a particular exception to 'celebrate' what they would
classify as an American celebration, "christmas' and seemingly just play along as a game to 'fit-in',
even though they worship pagan idols and do what ever they have been taught to do
to bow-down and pay homage to their gods - talk about 'babylonic-pagan-bondage'?!?!?
this is way beyond bizarre and demonic bondage,...
The problem is there is the pagan use of things and a Christian use of things. God sees into our heart about our usage. Most people don't know about the pagan usage. For them they just understand the Christian view. Easter and Christmas have the most pagan symbols used. Eggs and bunnies on Easter are sex related. Christmas tree and yule log symbolize a pagan God being reborn every year with the image of the tree growing out of the log. Shall I go on?
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When I grew up we celebrated Christmas bday..made a bday cake..sang Happy bday etc and read the Biblical Christmas story on Christmas EVE..but also on Christmas DAY opened up gifts for each other..we saw the importance of BOTH celebrations..my family was poor so to say that Christmas to us was commercialized as some get..was NIT the case.
Lol..I had to laugh at your reply..eggs and bunnies on Easter are SEX related..only bunny I know is sex related is PLAYBOY bunnies..lol. Next you'll say jelly beans are eaten by Satan himself..lol
Christmas got commercialized but it Does have interesting religious history (see below)
Story of St Nicholas (Santa Clause(
Born in Patara, a land that is part of present-day Turkey, circa 280, St. Nicholas was a Christian bishop who helped the needy. After his death, the legend of his gift-giving grew. St. Nicholas transformed into the legendary character called Santa Claus, who brings Christmas presents to children around the world.Apr 1, 2014
Yule log (don't trust everything you see onYouTube)
Yule log history:
was originally a Nordic tradition. Yule is the name of the old Winter Solstice festivals in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe, such as Germany. ... In some eastern European countries, the log was cut down on Christmas Eve morning and lit that evening. In Cornwall (in the UK), the log is called 'The Mock'.
History of Christmas trees
"The History of Christmas Trees. The evergreen fir tree has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals (pagan and Christian) for thousands of years. Pagans used branches of it to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as it made them think of the spring to come."
(Btw .."pagens" means people who don't celebrate the Christian faith..non believers) so SHOOT those Christian's/pagens for decorating thier houses..lol
Christmas got commercialized but it Does have interesting religious history (see below)
Story of St Nicholas (Santa Clause(
Born in Patara, a land that is part of present-day Turkey, circa 280, St. Nicholas was a Christian bishop who helped the needy. After his death, the legend of his gift-giving grew. St. Nicholas transformed into the legendary character called Santa Claus, who brings Christmas presents to children around the world.Apr 1, 2014
Yule log (don't trust everything you see onYouTube)
Yule log history:
was originally a Nordic tradition. Yule is the name of the old Winter Solstice festivals in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe, such as Germany. ... In some eastern European countries, the log was cut down on Christmas Eve morning and lit that evening. In Cornwall (in the UK), the log is called 'The Mock'.
History of Christmas trees
"The History of Christmas Trees. The evergreen fir tree has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals (pagan and Christian) for thousands of years. Pagans used branches of it to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as it made them think of the spring to come."
(Btw .."pagens" means people who don't celebrate the Christian faith..non believers) so SHOOT those Christian's/pagens for decorating thier houses..lol
You are demonstrating your ignorance of pagan issues. Rabbits were looked at about sex because they breed often and have litters. Australia had a few get loose and it created a huge problem because it didn't have a natural enemy there. Also there is a difference between pagan and atheism. Pagan usually have multiple gods in nature or old gods like the Greek or Roman gods. You keep demonstrating your ignorance.
The symbolism of eggs and bunnies goes back to the goddess Ishtar the goddess of sex. Notice the similarity to Easter. Eggs represent new life and rabbits are notorious for rapid reproducing. Pagans are not atheists but those who believed in many gods in nature somewhat like the ancient gods of the Romans and Greeks. They were viewed as nature related gods. Many Celtic in origin.
The Christmas tree was a renewal of a pagan god who was reborn every year growing out of the old dying log of the previous tree. Thus the yule log and Christmas tree were used. Many trappings of paganism were deliberately transformed into Christian symbols in order to help get rid of the pagan concepts they were originally from. This was done deliberately by the church. Catholics claim credit for doing it. It has worked. People no longer know where these symbols and dates came from. It requires a lot of digging to find out.
Lol..it's not MY ideas I've previously quoted but history .it's YOURA DEAL if you dreadge into the dark side of fantasy..again Endo..WHO needs to open thier eyes? I put it right in front of you..you don't see but all I get bout rabbit nonsense is your opinion? Please post text and references to back up your enlightened info..thanks
@Endoscopy ...
"Both during and after the Middle Ages, pagan was a pejorative term that was applied to any non-Abrahamic or unfamiliar religion, and the term presumed a belief in false god. ... While most pagan religions express a world view that is pantheistic, polytheistic or animistic, there are some monotheistic pagans. Wikipedia
(Notice time period of above)..and the word PRESUMED is important ..since man doesn't typically like anything they themselves don't understand..(hence calling innocent women witches because of thier knowledge of herbs which has been in the Chinese and American Indian culture for years..study Salem witch trials) etc
pa·gan
ˈpāɡən/
noun
"Both during and after the Middle Ages, pagan was a pejorative term that was applied to any non-Abrahamic or unfamiliar religion, and the term presumed a belief in false god. ... While most pagan religions express a world view that is pantheistic, polytheistic or animistic, there are some monotheistic pagans. Wikipedia
(Notice time period of above)..and the word PRESUMED is important ..since man doesn't typically like anything they themselves don't understand..(hence calling innocent women witches because of thier knowledge of herbs which has been in the Chinese and American Indian culture for years..study Salem witch trials) etc
pa·gan
ˈpāɡən/
noun
- 1.
a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions.
synonyms:heathen, infidel, idolater, idolatress;
archaicpaynim
"pagans worshiped the sun"
- 1.
relating to pagans.
"a pagan god"
synonyms:heathen, ungodly, irreligious, infidel, idolatrous
"the pagan festival"
Lol..eggs and YOUR definition of the Godess doesn't relate to the OP..because the HISTORY both Biblical AND secular has nothing to do with Ishtar...and please refer to my dictionary meanings of PAGENISM and being a pagen..be ENLIGHTENED..I have FACT to back up what I say..I've copied and pasted it for you..am waiting for yours in return and have Ishtar coorilates specifically to Easter and sex..etc..
PROVEN RESEARCH:
Eggs occupy a special status during Easter observances. They're symbols of rebirth and renewal—life bursts forth from this otherwise plain, inanimate object that gives no hint as to what it contains. In this regard it is a handy symbol for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but it is is a symbol that has held this meaning long before Christianity adopted it.
There is a meme floating around Facebook that some people have rallied around and are sharing as a "truth" of Easter. It proclaims:
Clearly, we all know that Facebook memes are the ultimate source of information—particularly when they makes a biting point about something or some group that is not particularly favorably viewed. But it is well known that under the Roman Empire, Christianity did indeed adopt the pagan rituals of conquered peoples in an effort to help convert them. It worked pretty well as a strategy as it allowed the conquered peoples to continue a semblance of their observances as they remembered, and with time the population would be replaced with those who only knew the new traditions. This is not a secret. However, there are a few things wrong with the Ishtar meme that a simple Google search will turn up:
Eggs occupy a special status during Easter observances. They're symbols of rebirth and renewal—life bursts forth from this otherwise plain, inanimate object that gives no hint as to what it contains. In this regard it is a handy symbol for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but it is is a symbol that has held this meaning long before Christianity adopted it.
There is a meme floating around Facebook that some people have rallied around and are sharing as a "truth" of Easter. It proclaims:
Easter was originally the celebration of Ishtar, the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility and sex. Her symbols (like the egg and bunny) were and still are fertility and sex symbols (or did you actually think eggs and bunnies had anything to do with the resurrection?) After Constantine decided to Christianize the Empire, Easter was changed to represent Jesus. But at its roots, Easter (which is how you pronounce Ishtar) is all about celebrating fertility and sex.
Clearly, we all know that Facebook memes are the ultimate source of information—particularly when they makes a biting point about something or some group that is not particularly favorably viewed. But it is well known that under the Roman Empire, Christianity did indeed adopt the pagan rituals of conquered peoples in an effort to help convert them. It worked pretty well as a strategy as it allowed the conquered peoples to continue a semblance of their observances as they remembered, and with time the population would be replaced with those who only knew the new traditions. This is not a secret. However, there are a few things wrong with the Ishtar meme that a simple Google search will turn up:
- Ishtar was the goddess of love and war and sex, as well as protection, fate, childbirth, marriage, and storms—there's some fertility in there, but as with Aphrodite, there is also an element of power. Her cult practiced sacred prostitution, where women waited at a temple and had sex with a stranger in exchange for a divine blessing (and money to feed hungry children or pay a debt).
- Ishtar's symbols were the the lion, the morning star, and eight or sixteen pointed stars—again, symbols of power.
- The word Easter does not appear to be derived from Ishtar, but from the German Eostre, the goddess of the dawn—a bringer of light. English and German are in the minority of languages that use a form of the word Easter to mark the holiday. Elsewhere, the observance is framed in Latin pascha, which in turn is derived from the Hebrew pesach, meaning of or associated with Passover. Ishtar and Easter appear to be homophones: they may be pronounced similarly, but have different meanings."