Do any of you mix Christianity with other beliefs?

[Chris_]

I was inspired to ask this question when I read a previous post (although sarcastic, and quite entertaining, I might add!) about Christianity and the holidays.

So, my question is: How many of you out there mix Christian practices with other practices, such as Pagan practices, Gnosticism, Kaballah, etc.?

I believe this is something that is growing throughout Christianity, as more and more people are searching for "something more" and are not finding it within their mainstream Christian belief system as it exists today.

Thanks for indulging me!

Chris

 

[sleuth]

I was inspired to ask this question when I read a previous post (although sarcastic, and quite entertaining, I might add!) about Christianity and the holidays.

So, my question is: How many of you out there mix Christian practices with other practices, such as Pagan practices, Gnosticism, Kaballah, etc.?

I believe this is something that is growing throughout Christianity, as more and more people are searching for "something more" and are not finding it within their mainstream Christian belief system as it exists today.

Thanks for indulging me!

Chris

I have a friend who is in a denomination of Christianity where they don't celebrate Christmas Day. I can't remember the name of it. I believe they have some sort of Christmas thing in April or whenever the "actual" birth of Christ is believed to be.

His denomination believes the Christmas Tree and other Christmas symbols are pagan symbols originating from Roman pagan celebrations. I haven't talked to him in a long time, but if I remember right, he said the Christmas tree is basically a phallic symbol originating from some Roman fertility celebration, and I believe he has some Biblical passages memorized that he claims state that Christmas Day is not to be celebrated more than any other day.

Weird beliefs, and he's also into conspiracy theories, etc. but he's a good guy with a heart of gold. I don't send him a Christmas card because I don't want to offend him.

 

[Chris_]

The Christmas tree actually did originate from a Pagan belief system of some sort; I'm not sure exactly which one. It wasn't originally a "Christian" symbol, but has been adopted by Christians, and non-Christians as part of Christmas tradition.

I have read that theologians from various backgrounds (including Christianity) agree that the actual "birthday" of Jesus Christ isn't actually in December, but closer to the April timeframe.

 

[mAlice]

The Christmas tree actually did originate from a Pagan belief system of some sort; I'm not sure exactly which one. It wasn't originally a "Christian" symbol, but has been adopted by Christians, and non-Christians as part of Christmas tradition.

I have read that theologians from various backgrounds (including Christianity) agree that the actual "birthday" of Jesus Christ isn't actually in December, but closer to the April timeframe.

My understanding has been that he was actually born in September. I even read yesterday that September 11 is the date he was born. Interesting, isn't it?

 

[SamSpade]

The Christmas tree actually did originate from a Pagan belief system of some sort; I'm not sure exactly which one. It wasn't originally a "Christian" symbol, but has been adopted by Christians, and non-Christians as part of Christmas tradition.

I have read that theologians from various backgrounds (including Christianity) agree that the actual "birthday" of Jesus Christ isn't actually in December, but closer to the April timeframe.

I've actually read it might have been closer to the fall (Sept-Oct), because that is typically when censuses were taken - after harvest. Another article I've read comes to the same conclusion, basing it on the timing of John's birth, and the cycle of priestly service that his father served.

 

[Chris_]

I saw another post that led me to post here. Thanks, to the sockgirl for clueing me in!

I have seen a growing trend among Christians who feel they are "missing something" and have noticed a growing group who meld things like Pagan practices, Buddhism, and Kabbalah with their Christian practices and beliefs as a way to fulfill this need.

I was wondering if any of you out there meld/practice Christianity with other beliefs?

 

[Toxick]

I have a friend who is in a denomination of Christianity where they don't celebrate Christmas Day. I can't remember the name of it. I believe they have some sort of Christmas thing in April or whenever the "actual" birth of Christ is believed to be.

I believe Jehovah's Witnesses do this, regarding Christmas as a "Pagan Holiday", and ingore it.

I believe they also do not celebrate birthdays, and things like that.



As for the original poster, Christianity is often mixed with other religions. Voodoo for instance is not an exclusive religion, and Haitian practicitioners are oftentimes Catholics. Buddhism, and other eastern religions and philosophies are the same.


I dont' personally know anyone who is Christian/[insert religion here], but I know that you're right - it's a growing trend.

 

[SamSpade]

Well, many "Christian" holidays are dissolving into secular culture. Consider Halloween, which was created - as was Christmas - to coincide with an actual pagan holiday. The holiday is actually Nov. 1 - All Soul's Day - and Halloween is just All Hallows (Souls) "E'en" or Eve. Nowadays, it's just a silly time for candy and costumes. It's not at all 'religious'. That goes also for St. Patrick's Day, which in some parts of the world *IS* a religious holiday - but in the U.S., it's just a time for shamrocks and green beer. Valentine's Day has taken this route a long time; originally a day to honor a saint (on a day normally made to honor a Roman god), it's now a secular holiday about romance.

Even our own "holiday" - holy day - of Thanksgiving has become less about thanking God, and more about turkey and football. That's just the way it works.

 

[Chris_]

Even our own "holiday" - holy day - of Thanksgiving has become less about thanking God, and more about turkey and football. That's just the way it works.[/QUOTE]

You know, I've never looked at Thanksgiving as a " holy day"...I have always looked at it more as a day of the celebration of freedom...when the New World opened up and we were free from the reign of England.

 

[alex]

Speaking for myself I would say yes I do. Basically because most (not all) christian "holidays" are pagan in origin. They church co-oped these ceremonies/feast days into their religions to help bring people into the church using something they were already familiar with.

 

[SamSpade]

Even our own "holiday" - holy day - of Thanksgiving has become less about thanking God, and more about turkey and football. That's just the way it works.

You know, I've never looked at Thanksgiving as a " holy day"...I have always looked at it more as a day of the celebration of freedom...when the New World opened up and we were free from the reign of England.[/QUOTE]
There's little question that that's what it was intended for in 1863, the beginning of the 'modern' Thanksgiving. Lincoln declared in his proclamation:

" ......I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.....".

The 'first' one wasn't really intended to be set aside as a holiday, and in fact, wasn't commemorated at all for more than a hundred years' time. It was just religious tradition to have a celebration after a good harvest, a thanksgiving. It didn't have to be after a good harvest, either - just a time to give thanks. They also observed times for fasting, as well. It's probably fair to say that the Pilgrim model just suited the intentions of people who later wanted the holiday to commemorate an event. But originally, it was just a three-day way of saying "grace".

 

[Chris_]

There's little question that that's what it was intended for in 1863, the beginning of the 'modern' Thanksgiving. Lincoln declared in his proclamation:

" ......I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.....".

You know, I never knew that! Why aren't we taught that?! I mean, we spend time in elementary school making the "pilgrim hats" and turkey cut-outs, but they never mention this. Thanks for sharing that.

 

[2ndAmendment]

I saw another post that led me to post here. Thanks, to the sockgirl for clueing me in!

I have seen a growing trend among Christians who feel they are "missing something" and have noticed a growing group who meld things like Pagan practices, Buddhism, and Kabbalah with their Christian practices and beliefs as a way to fulfill this need.

I was wondering if any of you out there meld/practice Christianity with other beliefs?

If you are a Christian, you won't do any of this. This practice is fulfilling the prophesies of people abandoning their faith and trying to find people to preach to them what they want to hear.

2 Timothy 4:2-4
2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

There are lots of others too. Here is another one.

2 Peter 3:3-13
3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

and another.

2 Timothy 3:1-9
Godlessness in the Last Days
1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without selfcontrol, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God– 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weakwilled women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth–men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

 

[dustin]

It depends on what your definition of practicing Christianity is as to what answers you seek.

 

[2ndAmendment]

It depends on what your definition of practicing Christianity is as to what answers you seek.

Only if you fit

2 Timothy 4:3-4
3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

 

[Chris_]

Only if you fit

So what about people who don't "fit"?

 

[2ndAmendment]

So what about people who don't "fit"?

Did you understand what I posted?

If you are looking to have your ears tickled, i.e., have someone tell you what you want to hear and not the Truth, then you fit the scripture 2 Timothy 4:3-4. If you are a Christian and want to follow what Jesus taught, then you will not seek after or try to mix other beliefs. That is what the Bible says; that is what I believe.

Contrary to what dustin posted, the definition of Christianity does not come from an individual but from God's word, the Bible.

If you are seeking other beliefs or you want to mix them, then you are not following Christ. Christianity is following Christ; no more; no less. Call yourself what you will, but your faith and practices will have to stand before the Father at judgment.

 

[AMP]

Did you understand what I posted?

If you are looking to have your ears tickled, i.e., have someone tell you what you want to hear and not the Truth, then you fit the scripture 2 Timothy 4:3-4. If you are a Christian and want to follow what Jesus taught, then you will not seek after or try to mix other beliefs. That is what the Bible says; that is what I believe.

Contrary to what dustin posted, the definition of Christianity does not come from an individual but from God's word, the Bible.

If you are seeking other beliefs or you want to mix them, then you are not following Christ. Christianity is following Christ; no more; no less. Call yourself what you will, but your faith and practices will have to stand before the Father at judgment.

But, but, but.... the Romans steamrolled other beleifs to fit into their version of Christianity. I don't take issue with the Bible, but with the history of the words in the Bible. Didn't they rewrite it to make it the King James Version? By COMMITTEE in 1611? How do you get a committee to rewrite the word of God? I am sure the Catholics with itchy ears in Luther's time did not realize they were giving rise to some very sound denominations.

I wonder if Christ's journal was one of the gnostic gospels the Church freaked out over and subverted into nothingness. (yikes, apologizing for herecy before someone hits me with bad karma... )

2ndA, glad to see you back!!

 

[Chris_]

Did you understand what I posted?

If you are looking to have your ears tickled, i.e., have someone tell you what you want to hear and not the Truth, then you fit the scripture 2 Timothy 4:3-4. If you are a Christian and want to follow what Jesus taught, then you will not seek after or try to mix other beliefs. That is what the Bible says; that is what I believe.

Contrary to what dustin posted, the definition of Christianity does not come from an individual but from God's word, the Bible.

If you are seeking other beliefs or you want to mix them, then you are not following Christ. Christianity is following Christ; no more; no less. Call yourself what you will, but your faith and practices will have to stand before the Father at judgment.

So how do you feel about the Bible with regard to the fact that it was written by "humans" (who, regardless of how "lead by God" they are) who are very fallible? And, don't get me wrong...I grew up in the Catholic church, and still attend, and believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins...but I also believe that there are other possibilities, and not ALL of what is written in the Bible is "all there is". I do know that when the books of the Bible were being selected, no women's writings were selected...why? Because of the patriarchal society that existed at that time. And, no, I'm not a feminist...I'm just saying that isn't it possible that with regard to other writings that were left out of the selected books, couldn't there have some texts that could quite possibly have created an entirely different "Christianity" than the one we know today?

I'm just not willing to accept "this book was created and it's perfect" as an answer.

I believe that God gave us the raw materials to work with, but, that, ultimately, our salvation is up to us, not Him or "the Book", and that NOTHING is perfect, including the Bible, especially considering the changes it has gone through in translations over the centuries. Remember, it was re-written during the reformation, to suit the Protestant belief systems...something that was led by a "human"...not by God.

 

[Chris_]

But, but, but.... the Romans steamrolled other beleifs to fit into their version of Christianity. I don't take issue with the Bible, but with the history of the words in the Bible. Didn't they rewrite it to make it the King James Version? By COMMITTEE in 1611? How do you get a committee to rewrite the word of God? I am sure the Catholics with itchy ears in Luther's time did not realize they were giving rise to some very sound denominations.

I wonder if Christ's journal was one of the gnostic gospels the Church freaked out over and subverted into nothingness. (yikes, apologizing for herecy before someone hits me with bad karma... )

2ndA, glad to see you back!!

I believe that tha gnostic gospels and the Dead Sea Scrolls could very possibly hold some credence. And, you shouldn't have to apologize...we should all accept the fact that others have views that don't always fit our own. Who are we to judge another? Also, don't apologize, because you were given the gift of "reason" and the ability to think...you're just using those gifts!