Did the Roman Catholic Church combine Christianity with Paganism?

[Crocus]

Perhaps Roman beliefs, this is true. But there are ancient Persian beliefs that seem to overlap somewhat with Christian beliefs.

Pure and simple, Christmas is about Christ, a celebration by and for Christians who believe Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity became man at a point in human history. That never happened before, and is worth celebrating, in our opinion.

 

[Calliope]

I guess I would look at it like this, are the practices human practices or is there something specifically pagan (meaning attached specifically to the worship of a deity other than Yaweh) about them?

Offering sacrifice to deities is pretty standard to many human cultures, not limited to a specific deity in a specific time. Likewise the use of incense, priests wearing special garb, etc.

There are pretty clearly a lot of practices from various cultures that the Catholic church has adapted for its use, and there isn’t anything inherently dogey about that unless your God has specifically warned you against such.

As an outsider, it certainly looks as if there is quite a bit of overlap in various practices and accoutrements in Catholicism and various forms of paganism, but I assume that each has ordered their practice towards their own intended ends.

I trust the deities are able to sort out their own.

In the Catholic Mass incantations are said over food, a sacrifice is offered, and people consume the body of their God. There are pagan faiths that do similar things but they are ordered towards different deities, use different words, etc.

You can write erotic fiction or poetic prayers using the same words from the same language, but the manner in which they are ordered determines the meaning, they aren’t the same just because the same words were used.

 

[twf]

Generally speaking, I think it’s fair to say that the Church has, at various points, deliberately adopted certain pagan customs and “baptized” them (gave them Christian meaning). Nothing wrong with that. The Church is incarnational, like it’s divine spouse… the created things of this world are united with God in Christ and sanctified.
The dogmas of the faith? The core beliefs? No. Things like the Eucharist, infant baptism, the saints, apostolic succession, etc are clearly articulated by the Fathers long before Rome legalized Christianity.

 

[rinnie]

What does putting up a Christmas tree and putting lights and bulbs on it have to do with worshipping a false God. Are you trying to say we Catholics think this tree is God. If not what’s your point

 

[goout]

Crocus:

Is this foreign and pagan to you?

Yes. I think that the decorating of Christmas trees is a pagan celebration. At least that is what I have read about its history. The placing of a tree in the house at wintertime and decorating the house with evergreens, is not mentioned in the Bible AFAIK, but it is mentioned in some pagan histories.

And here we have the root of this charge. “not mentioned in the bible”.
Catholicism appreciates the whole of creation, and sees nature as part of God’s revelation of himself. Nature is to be appreciated. We can appreciate and enjoy science, food, drink, sex. And the Mass incorporates created realities obviously. In fact listen closely to the words of the Eucharistic Prayer as it speaks about creation and the gifts that God has given us.

So yea, Easter is tied to the first full moon of spring for it’s celebration. Well, the last time I looked, human beings live in the world, not floating above it, and so we should incorporate our whole existence into worship, to the extent it’s possible.

This makes fundamentalists nervous, as they only accept the book in a dry and limited context.

 

[Bon_Croix]

The Christmas tree is an American thing. Not necessarily a Catholic thing.

 

[steve-b]

I am trying to find sources for my research questioned titled: Did the Roman Catholic Church combine Christianity with Paganism? I am looking for fairly recent authors who make or insinuate this claim as well as other denominations who do the same.

Simple answer,

You don’t need “recent authors”. to make a point

Point being

If your research question is true, then Jesus can’t be trusted for any promises He made in scripture
If your research question is true, Hell prevailed against His only Church that only He established

 

[Fauken]

The kissing of the pope’s feet

It was a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors

I’m guessing you missed the part where Mary (pretty sure it was Mary Magdalene) kissed the feet of Christ?

Worship of the Cross,images,and relics authorized

This is idolatry which is condemned.

This is not idolatry. Catholics do not worship these things in an idolatrous manner.

The Rosary was introduced by Peter the Hermit

Copied from Hindus and Mohammedans

Peter the Hermit made the Rosary? The Hail Mary, Our Father, Glory Be, and Apostles Creed are Hindu and Mohammedean? Where do you even get this info from?

The counting of prayers is a pagan practice and is expressly condemned by Christ (Matthew 6:5-13)

I guess when Christ said we ought to forgive someone more than seventy times seven times that was idolatrous too. He numbered forgiveness.

You realize that the reason why there were initially 15 decades in the Rosary was so it would mirror the 150 Psalms in the Bible? That’s unbiblical and Mohammadean?

 

[Sbee0]

Boettner’s book is filled with errors and assumptions about our Church that simply aren’t true. I would look elsewhere.

 

[0331]

The Rosary was introduced by Peter the Hermit

Copied from Hindus and Mohammedans

No, the Rosary was introduced by the Blessed Virgin Mary and given to St. Dominic—‘Preach my psalter’—especially as a spiritual weapon and teaching tool to defeat heretics.

You mentioned Islam—the Rosary was instrumental in the defeat of the Holy League over the Turks in the naval battle of Lepanto, 1571.

 

[Sbee0]

To give a correct answer in a way yes some Catholic traditions have pagan origins-

The kissing of the pope’s feet

It was a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors

(The Word of God condemns such practices read Acts 10:25-26,Revelation 10:19;22:9)

I doubt that happens today very often if at all. The papal ring is kissed today to show respect for the pope’s office as Vicar of Christ. Not the man holding it. I would think that kissing the feet if it occurred was for exactly the same reason.

Worship of the Cross,images,and relics authorized

This is idolatry which is condemned.

It is not idolatry in any way shape or form. Just like the picture of a loved one that someone has in their wallet isn’t idolatry.

The Rosary was introduced by Peter the Hermit

Copied from Hindus and Mohammedans

The counting of prayers is a pagan practice and is expressly condemned by Christ (Matthew 6:5-13)

This is verbatim from Swaggart’s anti Catholic book. And completely wrong, as such fundie books on this topic generally are.

 

[VeryBlessed]

Was the apostle Paul guilty of combining paganism and Christianity in Acts chapter 17 when he referred to the altar to the unknown god in Athens? He pointed to the existence of a pagan altar to show them that they had something in their native culture that did point (quite incompletely) to the one true knowable God. There is a difference between using a pagan symbol or practice to point to Christian truth, versus actually incorporating pagan worship & belief into your religion. The Catholic Church (and protestant missionary outreach) will sometimes use pagan symbols or practices to point to Christian truth. But apparently, doing this does leave you open to accusations of incorporating pagan beliefs into your church, which is a completely different thing.

Regarding the timing of Christmas, I had heard that it was set in December because that is nine months after the time of year when Jesus went to the cross. I had heard that since it was not clear at what time of the year Jesus was born, they thought that perhaps the Angel’s announcement to Mary may have happened at the holiest time of the Jewish calendar, around the Passover, which would of course be the exact time when Jesus went to the cross and then rose from the dead. I don’t know about all the saturnalia stuff, but I like this exclamation better.

 

[Francis]

To give a correct answer in a way yes some Catholic traditions have pagan origins-

The kissing of the pope’s feet

It was a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors

No,It is an act of humility and reverence , but Jesus gave this example in John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Psalm 2:12 kiss his feet(which means humble one self),or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;for his wrath is quickly kindled.Happy are all who take refuge in him.

Luke 7:38 She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment.Luke 7:45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet.

It is an act of humility and reverence Matthew 25:40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,[[g] you did it to me.’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

 

[Francis]

@thebible

Worship of the Cross,images,and relics authorized

This is idolatry which is condemned.
[/quote]

Your wrong, Catholic do not worship them, we know what it is ,we giver reverence .

Acts 19:11,12 … Paul’s handkerchiefs and aprons.

2 Kg 13:20-21 … Elisha’s bones.

Acts 5:15-16 … Peter’s shadow.

Mt 9:20-22 … Jesus’ garment cures woman.

thebible
The Rosary was introduced by Peter the Hermit

Copied from Hindus and Mohammedans
[/quote]
correction ,Rosary are scriptural .

[quote="the bible

The counting of prayers is a pagan practice and is expressly condemned by Christ (Matthew 6:5-13)
[/quote]

Repeating Prayer are not an issue but praying with doubt is condemned,other wise the whole Bible would be repetitive prayers which is unlikely.

 

[Edwyn]

Any Christian asking why Catholicism seems to combine Christianity with paganism should be asked back why are they using the worst method of public execution known to ancient paganism as the symbol of their faith.

They should then be reminded of the beatitude: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” The Beatitudes are not only prescriptions for happy living, they are prophecies: because of Jesus’ meekness onto death, He inherited all of the world, and since the Church is Christ’s body, we have inherited it too. The best of all of history, all of philosophies, all of the myths of the world, indeed all of the universe (catholicus), they can now be used by the Church for the glory of God because of Christ’s washing of the cross, the worst paganism has to offer, with His blood.