It is quite amusing to read Watchtower publications where they with badly hidden scorn criticizes the Catholics for willfully adopting pagan holidays and customs into Christianity.
Pagan Beliefs “Christianized”
*** w84 4/1 p. 9 Insight on the News *** “In A.D. 601, Pope Gregory the First, known as Gregory the Great, issued an edict to his missionaries concerning the native beliefs and customs of the peoples he hoped to convert,” states a recent issue of Natural History magazine. “Instead of trying to obliterate peoples’ customs and beliefs, the pope’s instructions were, use them. If a group of people worship a tree, rather than cut it down, consecrate it to Christ and allow them to continue their worship.” Calling this a “brilliant concept” and the “basic principle in Catholic missionary work,” the article continues: “Catholic holy days were purposely set at the time of native holy days. Christmas, for instance, was assigned the arbitrary date of December 25 because it corresponded to the midwinter celebration of many peoples. For the same reason, Saint John’s day was set at the summer solstice.”
However “brilliant” the idea was toward the spreading of so-called Christianity, it certainly is not God’s way of doing things. When the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, they were instructed by God to destroy thoroughly all pagan worship there. (Numbers 33:52; Deuteronomy 7:5, 6) And for true Christians, “clean and undefiled” worship requires that they keep themselves “without spot from the world.”—James 1:27.
Of course most people who confess to be Christian are either unaware or otherwise ignorant of the amount of “pagan” elements in their religion. Upon examination there are indeed very little that can be said to be “Christian” except perhaps for the name.
The “Ransom Sacrifice” which is one of the most cherished doctrines of Christendom and a very late addition to it was lifted out of two well known contemporary cults in the North Mediterranean world namely the Mithras and Dionysus cults which had a God/Man dying, resurrected, ascending to heaven and brought salvation. Virgin birth, miracles, healing etc is also well known elements in several “pagan religions”
All in all folks Christendom is in fact a 100% pagan religion, so all of you “true believers” out there might want to be careful when you libel something pagan as you belong to such a religion yourself.
Norm