Europe Returning to Pagan Roots

NewsMax ^ | May 30, 2003 | Fr. Mike Reilly

[Hugenot]

NewsMax.com's religion editor, Fr. Mike Reilly, sees a disturbing trend in the latest news from the European Union.

Zenit News is reporting on the new Constitution for the European Union and the news is not good.

"Drawing inspiration from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe, which, nourished first by the civilizations of Greece and Rome, characterized by spiritual impulse always present in its heritage and later by the philosophical currents of the Enlightenment, has embedded within the life of society its perception of the central role of the human person and his inviolable and inalienable rights, and of respect for law. ..."

Do you get the sense that there's something missing from the preamble? What "spiritual impulse" are they referring to? Could it be the Irish druids, who worshipped trees? Or perhaps the Norse gods like Thor and Loki? Maybe they mean ancient German legends about Siegfried coming from Valhalla.

Are these the "spiritual impulses" that united Europe, or rather was it something called Christendom?

"It borders on the ridiculous that the Preamble should make nominal reference to the Hellenistic and Roman component and jump directly to the 'philosophers of the Enlightenment,' omitting the Christian reference without which the Enlightenment is incomprehensible," Josep Miro i Ardevol, president of the Convention of Christians for Europe, said in a statement.

In an interview on Vatican Radio, Cardinal Roberto Tucci, a member of the executive council of the radio, said that "It was not a question of adherence [to Christianity], but of recognizing the historical fact of the enormous influence that Christian culture has had on European culture."

"The most unifying factor of Europe, which has been Christian culture, is missing" in the Preamble, he said.

The draft continues, "Conscious that Europe is a continent that has brought forth civilization; that its inhabitants, arriving in successive waves since the first ages of mankind, have gradually developed the values underlying humanism: equality of persons, freedom, respect for reason. ..."

Where do they think these values come from? What other civilizations espouse these values? The fact is that it was Christian culture which civilized and united tribal barbarians into what was left of the declining Roman Empire, which would eventually become modern Europe. That is why every modern tyrant has seen the need to attack and suppress Christianity.

This does not bode well for Europeans who treasure freedom. If our rights come from men, then men can take them away. Our founding fathers were wise enough to acknowledge that "man was endowed by his Creator with certain inalienable rights. ..."

Sadly, the leaders of Europe lack that insight.

[Green Knight]

Ducking what? :P All I did was point out that there WERE patriotic Christians in the Roman Empire. And in that instance, they got the shaft big-time. Otherwise, I got nothing to say about the rest of the thread as I'm not a history major or anything of the sort. Just pointing out a specific story which I heard a while back (Oughta pop the tape I made into the vcr and refresh my memory).

[ffusco]

Unpatriotic in the sense that they didn't participate in the myriad state rituals and devotion to the Emperor.


How do you feel about people who refuse to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance? I suspect the Romans felt the same way.

[Green Knight]

Well, I guess that's where you and I part ways, then, because I don't view the two as comparable. Big difference between uttering the phrase "One nation under God" and forcing people to worship the Emperor as if he were a god. And whatever I may think of people who don't say the Pledge of Allegiance, I don't think they should be forced to do so. They certainly don't deserve to die for not doing so, the way Morris and his men died even though in every other way they were completely loyal to the empire.

[ffusco]

I don't agree with their hard line either, but tried to put it in perspective. And as for persecuting people who don't stand for the Pof A- it wouldn't be Christian!

[Green Knight]

The Pof A-? Wuzzat? Oops, Pledge of Allegiance. Nevermind.

[TheAngryClam]

Wait for the various protestant freepers to descend upon you for that one.

[ffusco]

Freeper Schism?

[TheAngryClam]

Which one?

The Great Scism is probably the Libertarian/Republican divide, with the protestant reformation being the Go Pat Go people and the general other people who hate the GOP for being too, well, willing to be successful.

[Antoninus]

Christainity was one new reilgeon among dozens practiced throughout the Empire and for the most part thet were all tolerated.

As mentioned above, Christianity was "tolerated" for about 120 out of 250 years. And this toleration was a kind of soft persecution like that under Trajan where Roman agents were enjoined not to seek out Christians, but any who were presented to them and admitted that they were Christians, could be subject to the death penalty. That's not exactly "tolerance" in any modern sence of the word.

Mithraism from Persia, the olympian gods, Isis from Egypt, Sol Invicta (early monotheism) Sibylline oracles. Rome was a cosmopolitan place like America is today, with many different peoples and beliefs.

All the cults you mention above did not possess the exclusive character of Christianity. The Romans used their polytheistic religion as a tool of cultural assimilation when they annexed neighboring kingdoms. To keep everybody happy, they simply annexed that nation's pantheon into their own. As is well known, they were not successful in doing this in Judea and this led to a string of horrible civil wars in that region.

As Christianity is sprung from Judaism, it's not surprising that they'd share this exclusivity that prevented them from worshiping false gods. That 1st Commandment is a real bear.

Augustus Ceasar decreed that Synogogues were invioble and Jews were exempt from appearing in court on the Sabbeth.

Augustus was incredibly savvy and knew when to press the issue and when to keep his powder dry. This was a trait that was shared by depressingly few of his successors.

Romans persecuted Christains because they felt that they alone possessed the truth ( which at that time was hardly self-evident) and that All other religeons, even state ones were false.

You mean like the cult of the Emperor, for instance? That was the big no-no for most Christians and where many got in trouble.

They refused to observe ritual acts (think Pledge of Allegiance) .

Sorry, but it's impossible to compare the mandatory worship of a god-on-earth to the voluntary reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance in this country.

You are welcome to think what you want about me and question my faith but its rather un-Christain of you.

One simple answer will clear any questions up. You have been transported in time to the court of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius--one of the five good emperors by most accounts. You, as the Catholic you are, have been accused of being a Christian and are asked to sacrifice to the Roman gods and renounce your faith. If you do not do so, the result is scorging and beheading. What would you do?

[Antoninus]

That's a loaded question.

Sure it is. However, I have no trouble answering it for myself. God coming to earth in human form, revealing the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven to simple men, allowing himself to be killed and rising from the dead after three days--these things had a much greater impact on Western civilization than Plato's writings.

This is not to take anything away from Plato, mind you. He was a genius with many brilliant, radical, and revolutionary ideas, no doubt about that. And it is commonly recognized that Plato's ideas helped lay the groundwork for Christianity. Indeed, I think some medieval Christian scholars considered Plato sort of a gentile prophet.

[ffusco]

Excellent reply to my evasive answer, BTW. I would have to say that Christ has been the biggest spiritual inspirational figure in history, and Plato perhaps the biggest intellectual inspiration in History. Plato WAS to the mind what Christ IS to the soul.

[Gal.5:1]

hi f m,
just read your response to my post. Maybe post- Christian would be more accurate. I have not been to Europe, only have read much on how pagan practices are gaining in popularity around Europe. Of course I do not mean the church, that is, the body of believers in Christ, are not there, of course not. There are true Christians everywhere, but I just mean in the secular world of popular "religion".

Here in America, there are lots of true Christians everywhere. But in the secular culture, it is very very post Christian and is definately becoming pagan in belief (worldview) in many areas, especially here in CA. I live in the most secular part of America. Eastern new age "spirituality" is really gaining ground here.

[freedom moose]

especially here in CA. I live in the most secular part of America. Eastern new age "spirituality" is really gaining ground here.
yeah, i hear that alot about CA from friends. I guess it's been that way for a while. :(
are they still playing with crystals? or was that just a bad stereotype of CA new-agers?

[TheWillardHotel]

"Aetas parentum peior avis tulit
nos nequiores, mox daturos
progeniem vitiosiorem."

--Ovid

Our fathers, viler than our grandfathers
begat us who are even viler
and we shall bring for a progeny more degenerate still.

[Gal.5:1]

crystals are so 80's, lol. Right now yoga is huge. It is everywhere. In ads, in beauty supply shops, in stores, at the "YMCA", at the recreation center, in the hospitals, in the public schools. It is being marketed to everyone, young and old as either exercise or a health therapy. Also being taught in schools and seen around the community are traditional American Indian religion (spirits, totem poles, dreamcatchers, medicine wheel), honoring 'Mother Earth', saving the Earth, Mexican pre-Christian (pagan) ceremonies involving spirits and the dead etc, Astrology. I know it is everywhere and just the tip of the iceberg , but it's all so popular here. Eastern spirituality disguised as new innovative ways of achieving health and awareness are the main thing I've noticed lately around here (SF bay area). Here's a letter I wrote to the editor; of course it did not get published. It was way too long, anyway.

May 21, 2003

Editor, San Mateo Times,

I am a former resident of Burlingame, and a former student of Lincoln school; I graduated in 1979. I went on to B.I.S., Mills , CSM and CA State. I am now raising my three children at home full time in San Mateo.

I have many memories of Lincoln school, but the best is the memory of our beloved P.E. teacher Rudy Benton, or “Mr. B.” He was so much fun. Where else would I have learned sports, square dancing, obstacle courses and “The Hustle”? (Remember disco?) I will always remember Mr. B. In the 70’s, P.E. was not about finding inner peace and ‘going into yourself’.

Except for some ‘values clarification’ lessons, which attempted to get me to challenge the values I was learning at home and in private institutions, my public education at Lincoln was neutral in the areas of philosophy, worldview and religion. As a student of government sponsored, tax funded schooling, I received my religious education at home, and also in church. But that was 1979.

Today I noticed the front page story “P.E. Goes Hip” in the Times newspaper. I am outraged (but not surprised) that Lincoln school is teaching Yoga to the students. The fact is, Yoga is basically an application of the Hindu theistic philosophy, or belief system. Therefore Lincoln school is in effect teaching eastern religion to the children of Burlingame with the help of two private organizations, Sinnyo-En Temple and Mills-Peninsula Health Services, “in partnership”.

This public-private partnership method of attempting to bypass the Constitution and teach children to believe in the world’s various religions or the neo-pagan, ecumenical “new faith” of global universalism or “spirituality”, purposely continues the deconstruction of our nation’s Judeo-Christian founding, heritage and worldview.

San Mateo, CA

[petuniasevan]

Oh, you're lame. Try again, flame boy.

You're just a troll, and one of Satan's patsies. How frustrating it must be not to have his playbook.


Pathetic.

Admin, watch for this clown which (not who) signed up 8-2-03.