Posted on 01/08/2015 7:13:22 AM PST by Salvation
I would hope that you were kind enough to also address thisto the person that complained: “If you wish to avoid seeing posters of a different belief system’s opinions perhaps it would be better to stay on the caucus, devotion, ecumenical and prayer threads or avoid the Religion Forum altogether.” It appears that they are not interested in the opinion of others and are here just to take shots at the Catholic Church.
And you thought I would find the fact that paganism is entrenched in mainstream thought odd or unexpected is because of what? The fact that it’s a major component of a religion that so many have fallen for but still claim it’s the only real church is much more bizarre.
The Religion Forum is monitored often to look for posts that break the rules here.
If a comment is posted by the Religion Moderator it applies not only to the poster in the "to" box but also to all the other posters.
“It appears that they are not interested in the opinion of others and are here just to take shots at the Catholic Church.”
That quite often works both ways.
All posters should be aware of this, which is part of what was just posted to you:
Antagonism though not encouraged, should be expectedPosters may argue for or against beliefs, deities, religious authorities, etc. They may tear down other’s beliefs. They may ridicule. “Open” RF debate is often contentious.
It requires thick skin. A poster must be able to make his points while standing his ground, suffering adverse remarks about his beliefs - or letting them roll off his back.
Meanwhile Catholicism sees the early chapters of Genesis as "symbolic," no longer acknowledging that G-d actually "touched" His creation.
A "theistic evolutionist" is the last person who has the right to lecture anyone on anything.
Documentation that the Catholic Church sees Genesis as PURELY symbolic.
Yes I intentionally added the word "PURELY" (in bold underlined Italic). Because it is entirely possible for something to be both symbolic and literal.
“...paganism... a major component of a religion that so many have fallen for...”
Paganism is defined by Webster as a religion that has many gods or goddesses, considers the earth holy, and does not have a central authority.
If you are referring to Catholicism as paganism then you are dead wrong. Catholics believe in one God (the Trinity), consider the earth as merely a created “creature” of God and certainly not holy, and Catholics absolutely have a central authority.
Do not make false statements about our religion. Also do not bring up the untrue canard that the Blessed Mother is somehow a “goddess” for Catholics and that we “worship” her. She is Blessed, not a goddess. Do you not understand the difference?
Patently false declarations casually thrown out as truths about the Catholic religion ought to cease.
But rest assured they won't because the ignorant bigoted haters gotta hate. (Not that I am singling out any particular person as an ignorant bigoted hater)
The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints, and ornamented on occasions with branches of trees; incense, lamps, and candles; votive offerings on recovery from illness; holy water; asylums; holydays and seasons, use of calendars, processions, blessings on the fields; sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the East, images at a later date, perhaps the ecclesiastical chant, and the Kyrie Eleison, are all of pagan origin, and sanctified by their adoption into the Church.[Cardinal Newman - Development of Christian Doctrine, pg 373]
>>Do not make false statements about our religion.<<
“We need not shrink from admitting that candles, like incense and lustral water, were commonly employed in pagan worship and the rites paid to the dead. But the Church from a very early period took them into her service, just as she adopted many other things indifferent in themselves, which seemed proper to enhance the splendor of religious ceremonial. We must not forget that most of these adjuncts to worship, like music, lights, perfumes, ablutions, floral decorations, canopies, fans, screens, bells, vestments etc. were not identified with any idolatrous cult in particular; but they were common to almost all cults” (Catholic Encyclopedia, III, 246.)
>>Patently false declarations casually thrown out as truths about the Catholic religion ought to cease.<<
“When we give or receive Christmas gifts; or hang green wreaths in our homes and churches, how many of us know that we are probably observing pagan customs...the god, Woden, in Norse Mythology, descends upon the earth yearly between December 25th and January 6th to bless mankind...But pagan though they be, they are beautiful customs. They help inspire us with the spirit of 'good will to men', even as the sublime service of our Church reminds us of the ‘peace on earth’ which the babe of Bethlehem came to bestow” (Externals of the Catholic Church, 140).
Your own church says they DO incorporate paganism. Don't come to me accusing me of being "dead wrong".
Good point. Anybody can make a mistake, but when the same lie is repeated over and over, that's when you call it that. It's just lies, slander, false witness.
candles, like incense and lustral water, were commonly employed in pagan worship
All of those things are mentioned in connection with the Temple in the OT, so they were in Jewish worship as well. By God's express command.
Funny thing, prots and protestants incorporate about 90% of those things in their life and religious ceremonies.
The prots forget that circumcision was a pagan practice before it was a Jewish ordinance. And Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day. By prot reasoning that makes all Jews, Jesus, and everyone that was ever circumcised a pagan
Interesting that the common refrain is “freedom from the law” especially from the “ceremonial” law. Which always applies except when it doesn’t!
When doesn't it?
Not all Catholics believe as you say. Can you really put all Catholics into one bucket? Or are you trying to mindread?
Comparing Sacraments to Genesis is really mixing apples and oranges.
Yes I intentionally added the word "PURELY" (in bold underlined Italic). Because it is entirely possible for something to be both symbolic and literal.
Still waiting on an answer, but I am not holding my breath.
Just so we are cl;ear: Is this your admission that protestant ism is pagan since they do so many of those things you listed as pagan? Or is this one of those hit and run comments that prots love so much?
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