Need book about pagan customs in the church

[thecone137]

Can anyone recommend a good book that explains all or most of the so-called pagan customs and traditions in the Church?

 

[guanophore]

Can anyone recommend a good book that explains all or most of the so-called pagan customs and traditions in the Church?

As far as I know, there are none. All the pagan customs, buildings, clothing, etc. were all baptized by the Church, sanctified, dedicated to Christ, and consecrated to His service in all holiness.

Just as there were people who were once Pagan, and became Christian, these customs/holidays were also transformed by His grace.

 

[William_Pitts]

Can anyone recommend a good book that explains all or most of the so-called pagan customs and traditions in the Church?

If you do find such a book it will be by a non-Catholic writer who is trying to sling mud at the Church.

 

[steveb1]

If you do find such a book it will be by a non-Catholic writer who is trying to sling mud at the Church.

That’s just pessimism.

To the OP, I recommend:

Signs & Symbols in Christian Art

… by George Ferguson
… Oxford University Press, NY 1954/1963

and

Early Christian Painting

… by Pierre du Bourguet, S.J.

… The Viking Press/Compass History of Art

… NY, 1965

 

[Joannm]

As far as I know, there are none. All the pagan customs, buildings, clothing, etc. were all baptized by the Church, sanctified, dedicated to Christ, and consecrated to His service in all holiness.

Just as there were people who were once Pagan, and became Christian, these customs/holidays were also transformed by His grace.

I think that is the point the OP was looking for, which of these pagan customs have become Christianized. There are quite a number of them, but I don’t know of any particular book that has to deal with them. You might find a book on Catholic traditions that trace the origin of them. Even our vestments have their origin in the garments of the Roman senate. Then ancient custom of giving milk to neophytes came from a Roman welcoming custom. Many Christmas traditions came from Northern European pagan customs. So the question is a valid one simply because of them being Christianized.

 

[drw72]

I saw this book at Barnes & Noble at the end of the Christian section. I did not read any of it or even take it off the shelf so I can not say anything about it. Here is the info if you are interested…but don’t blame me :tsktsk:

Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices (Frank Viola & George Barna).

 

[laszlo]

I saw this book at Barnes & Noble at the end of the Christian section. I did not read any of it or even take it off the shelf so I can not say anything about it. Here is the info if you are interested…but don’t blame me :tsktsk:

Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices (Frank Viola & George Barna).

By any means they do not discuss the topic from Catholic point of view. Mr George Barna is a researcher supporting one so called revolutionary group, who wants to bring back the early years in nontraditional way, and here is az analysis about Frank Viola:

bible.ca/ef/topical-pagan-christianity-reviewed.htm

Frank Viola is “a high school Psychology and Philosophy teacher,” who in “his spare time…plants house churches, speaks at church-life conferences, and authors books on Christ and His church.” On one of the opening pages he says that he “left the religious system.”

he Christianity was established by our Lord to baptize the world, and form it to the image of God. We shall see God and our Lord Jesus Christ in the Christianity, regardless of the origin.

 

[thecone137]

As far as I know, there are none. All the pagan customs, buildings, clothing, etc. were all baptized by the Church, sanctified, dedicated to Christ, and consecrated to His service in all holiness.

Just as there were people who were once Pagan, and became Christian, these customs/holidays were also transformed by His grace.

Are we able to back this up with some Scripture?

 

[puzzleannie]

Can anyone recommend a good book that explains all or most of the so-called pagan customs and traditions in the Church?

since there are not any such things, that is going to be a very slim volume indeed

I think that is the point the OP was looking for, which of these pagan customs have become Christianized.d.

really is that what you think? I think it is just the usual attack type pseudo-apologetics question of the “why do you beat your wife” variety.

 

[thecone137]

is that what you think? I think it is just the usual attack type pseudo-apologetics question of the “why do you beat your wife” variety.

I was genuinely asking if there was such research I could show to my friends who struggle with that kind of stuff. It wasn’t the kind of question to which you are referring.

 

[Digitonomy]

There are of course any number of customs and traditions with pagan or at least non-Catholic origins, like wedding rings and advent wreaths. Much of our mass is adapted from Jewish ceremonies, but there are probably several aspects that were borrowed from elsewhere. I would be fascinated to read such a book, if it exists.

 

[John_oxios]

As far as I know, there are none. All the pagan customs, buildings, clothing, etc. were all baptized by the Church, sanctified, dedicated to Christ, and consecrated to His service in all holiness.

Just as there were people who were once Pagan, and became Christian, these customs/holidays were also transformed by His grace.

Hi,
there are no pagan customs in the Catholic Church, similarities yes, but no pagan customs. ** similarity is not sameness.** Those who attribute what we do as pagan are no friends of the Church. Pagans worship various gods, nature, and the elements.

God bless,
John

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

If you are referring to neo-pagan or New Age customs that have crept into Catholic worship in recent times, like the enneagram and certain types of centering prayer, you might read Randy England’s Unicorn in the Sanctuary.

 

[John_oxios]

As far as I know, there are none. All the pagan customs, buildings, clothing, etc. were all baptized by the Church, sanctified, dedicated to Christ, and consecrated to His service in all holiness.

Just as there were people who were once Pagan, and became Christian, these customs/holidays were also transformed by His grace.

What you don’t hear are the 'pagan customs in the Protetant faiths i.e. ‘wedding bands’ they all downplay them!
God bless,
John