Oh ya think? The list would be too long for this forum to list all the things the RCC has adapted from the pagans to entice them into their religion. That’s conforming to this world.
>>Now, CynicalBear, you show a text where God said NOT to transform a pagan thing and use it to serve him. Use specific book, chapter and verse please.<<
I have done so multiple times. Here it is again.
Deuteronomy 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God
The RCC specifically states that taking something from the pagans to worship God is exactly what they did.
“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).
>>(By the way, CynicalBear, do you really believe that God did not tell people to use "writing" to "write things" that were later included in the Bible, even though "writing" was first used by pagans?)<<
Prove that writing was first used by pagans. Catholics always try those tactics. Writing wasn’t specifically used in the worship of God. I breath air like the pagans do also. God said don’t look to see how they served their gods and we will do likewise. By their own words that is exactly what the RCC did. Claiming “they are beautiful customs” is simply saying “we will do likewise”. Catholics need to know that all the pagan customs that the RCC adapted are in direct disobedience to God.
Now, you rightly claim that you keep posting the following fragmented text, and claiming it means you should not use anything or methods that pagans have used in their worship.
Deuteronomy 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy GodOf course, the pagans also used altars, and also made sacrifices on those altars in their worship. Do you think God was telling the Childen of Israel that they should not use altars, or make sacrifices on those altars, because the pagans used altars and offered sacrifices on them?
If He did, God was contradicting himself, as He said this elsewhere in the Bible:
"An altar of earth you shall make for me, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you." Exodus 20:24So we know for sure that God was not telling them not to use altars like the pagans used, or not to make sacrifices on the altars, in the quote you provided. So what could possibly be meant by that quote you provided?
What you keep refusing to post, of course, are the full texts of that passage, which take those partial texts you keep misapplying, and put them in their true, honest context. Let's take a more honest look at that context right now.
"When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take heed that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do likewise.' You shall not do so to the Lord your God; for every abominable thing which the Lord hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. Deuteronomy 12:29-31(See how the true, full, honest context totally changes that passage, and shows you much more clearly what it really, truly means than the misleading fragment you keep posting?)
When you cut that part off, it is reminiscent of the atheist who claims that the Bible says there is no God by using this truncated quote: "There is no God." Psalm 14:1 Of course, the whole text actually says: "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none that does good. Psalm 14:1 (Thanks to Fr. Mitch Pacwa's homily for that quote.)
Then you keep quoting this passage from some guy's book which is most certainly NOT a book about the teachings/beliefs/doctrines of the Catholic Church:
"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).Then you say this about it:
"The RCC specifically states that taking something from the pagans to worship God is exactly what they did."No they most certainly do not say that anywhere in that passage, or anywhere else! Where the heck do you see that?!?!?
It is merely saying that you can use things like Christmas wreaths today to help inspire us (and our neighbors) with the spirit of 'good will to men', just like "the sublime service of our Church reminds us of the 'peace on earth' which the babe of Bethlehem came to bestow".
That is not at all talking about using any of those decorations for any kind of worship, and you should rapidly flee from any one who tries to tell you it is, because they are obviously not speaking truthfully.
The real, honest truth is that Catholics worship through the Mass and prayer and song, not through using Christmas decorations, or other wintry cheerful decorations (which may have been used for other purposes by others in the distant past).
Don't forget that -- it is the truth.
With that, I bid you good afternoon, as I have to do something else right now.