“...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.