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Originally posted by abovereproach
It does look like he came on here just to instruct and lecture us "unenlightened pagans"
Originally posted by abovereproach
I was interested in debating him about some of his assumptions, such as the one that anyone who disagrees with him either is not a Christian or at best one who is spiritually blind and deceived by the Powers of Darkness.
Originally posted by abovereproach
As a Christian I would have liked to take issue with him over that.
Originally posted by abovereproach
If he was looking to convert me to his brand of Christianity I'm afraid he failed.
Originally posted by abovereproach
I still like Halloween. And I still don't see how he can reconcile his thoughts about paganism with the fact that he still presumably celebrates Christmas and Easter--even without Santa or the Easter Bunny, both these holidays (or holy days if you prefer) have just as much a "pagan" background as Halloween does.
Originally posted by abovereproach
Too bad he left before I could ask him about this.
Originally posted by stalkingwolf
What do you believe Halloween honors?
Harvest, the bounty of Giah the Earth Mother, reflection and rememberence of those who have crossed over.
In my oppinion, if a holiday is slightly tainted with pagan origins then it should not be observed
Many, perhaps most, Pagan religions in the ancient Mediterranean region had a major seasonal day of religious celebration at, or following, the spring equinox. In one religion, Cybele, the Phrygian fertility goddess, had a consort who was believed to have been born via a virgin birth. He was Attis, who was said to have died and been resurrected each year during the period MAR-22 to MAR-25; i.e. at the time of the vernal equinox in the Julian calendar.
Wherever Christian worship of Jesus and Pagan worship of Attis were active in the same geographical area in ancient times, Christians "used to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus on the same date; and pagans and Christians used to quarrel bitterly about which of their gods was the true prototype and which the imitation." Since the worship of Cybele was brought to Rome in 204 BCE, about 250 years before Christianity, it is obvious that if any copying occurred, it was the Christians that copied the traditions of the Pagans.
The record of the Roman Army's execution date of Yeshua of Nazareth (later known as Jesus Christ) has been lost. Dates linked to the Jewish Passover celebration in the years 30 to 33 have been suggested. Easter commemorates Jesus' execution, visit to Hell, and resurrection. Easter Sunday is a moveable holy day, being celebrated from late MAR to late APR. It is named after the "Teutonic goddess Eostre, whose name is probably yet another variant of Ishtar, Astare and Aset..."
After the conversion of Europe to Christianity, the feast day of St. John the Baptist was set as JUN-24...His feast day is offset a few days after the summer solstice, just as Christmas is fixed a few days after the winter solstice.
The Christian Church replaced earlier Pagan solstices and equinox celebrations during Medieval times, with Christianized observances. Replacing the fall equinox is Michaelmas, the feast of the Archangel Michael, on SEP-29.
Q. On what date was Jesus born?
A. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Third Edition, 1998) in its article on "Christmas" details the history of the dating of Christmas. The article points out that the time of Christ's birth was a matter of speculation and even dispute in the early centuries of of the Christian church. The celebration of Christ's birth on a specific day did not become a general practice until the 4th century. The earliest mention of December 25 is in a calendar representing Roman practice of the year 336, the date probably chosen to oppose the pagan feast of the sun. Other traditions of the dating were present, including the Eastern tradition of connecting Christ's birth with Epiphany on January 6 (a practice still followed in the Eastern churches).
The Scriptures, of course, do not give us a precise date for Christ's birth and therefore it must always remain a man of conjecture. It is not a doctrinal matter.
Originally posted by stalkingwolf
Eskimo: "If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?"
Priest: "No, not if you did not know."
Eskimo: "Then why did you tell me?"
Annie Dillard
Originally posted by saint4God
Apparently our priestly friend didn't recall Revelation 20:11.
Originally posted by Masonic Light
Originally posted by saint4God
Apparently our priestly friend didn't recall Revelation 20:11.
But he did apparently remember verses 12 and 13.
Originally posted by saint4God
That's what I'm referring to. The dead were brought up and judged according to what they had done as opposed to the John 3:16'ers who have eternal life because they believe in Christ Jesus. Maybe you could explain your viewpoint a little?
Good to see you again Mason Light . I miss you guys.
Originally posted by Masonic Light
That's pretty much the way I interpret it, although the Calvinist and Lutheran sola fide types will no doubt condemn us both to eternal angst for saying such a thing.
Originally posted by Masonic Light
Good to see you again Mason Light . I miss you guys.
Why did you leave? It was just getting interesting.
Originally posted by saint4God
I don't understand. That's what's written. I guess I'm lacking study in Calvinism and Lutheranism. Funny thing is I'm currently attending a Calvanistic-style church. Any education would be appreciated.
Yeah, well, I try to make it a rule not go around personally offending people. Seems that's what happened and despite a heart-to-heart, we couldn't see eye-to-eye, so he hadn't accepted my request to be re-invited. I respect that and wish him well. Two things that will always stick with me. One was your common sense answer, "sometimes guys just want to do guy stuff and girls just want to do girl stuff". Though I personally don't agree, there's no way to argue that if that's how some people feel. Two is Tman's thinking that he wouldn't endanger his relationship with God if it were in anyway threatened by the organization. In that there's some reassurance. I still have my have my issues as stated but appreciate the patience coming from both of you.