Today's Paganism

I am insterested in the thoughts of this board as to what you may consider pagan and why.
edit: I am specifically looking for responses to symbolism that is not considered pagan today by the church.
NI

[Rico]

Christmas. You will have to wait until the yearly Christmas debate though. LOL

Originally Posted by Rico

Christmas. You will have to wait until the yearly Christmas debate though. LOL

While I agree that many holidays have their roots in paganism, I see no problem with celebrating them. Their meaning is no longer the same as what once was, at least to me.
Pagan symbols however still retain their meaning. Maybe that should have been clarified in my original post.
NI

[Rico]

Originally Posted by NobodyImportant

While I agree that many holidays have their roots in paganism, I see no problem with celebrating them. Their meaning is no longer the same as what once was, at least to me.
Pagan symbols however still retain their meaning. Maybe that should have been clarified in my original post.
NI

I see. So the fish is evil but the tree isn't. Ooooooooooooook. LOL

[Trouvere]

This post made me think of the symbol for witchcraft.I have seen it all over
the place.There was a tatoo parlor in La that had it on the front glass of the building.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by NobodyImportant

I am insterested in the thoughts of this board as to what you may consider pagan and why.
edit: I am specifically looking for responses to symbolism that is not considered pagan today by the church.
NI

According to the dictionary.............


Pagan

Noun
1. one of a people or community observing a polytheistic religion, as the ancient Romans and Greeks.
2. a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim.
3. an irreligious or hedonistic person.

Adjective
4. pertaining to the worship or worshipers of any religion that is neither Christian, Jewish, nor Muslim.
5. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of pagans.
6. irreligious or hedonistic.


Pagan:
c.1375, from L.L. paganus "pagan," in classical L. "villager, rustic, civilian," from pagus "rural district," originally "district limited by markers," thus related to pangere "to fix, fasten," from PIE base *pag- "to fix" (see pact).

Religious sense is often said to derive from conservative rural adherence to the old gods after the Christianization of Roman towns and cities; but the word in this sense predates that period in Church history, and it is more likely derived from the use of paganus in Roman military jargon for "civilian, incompetent soldier," which Christians (Tertullian, c.202; Augustine) picked up with the military imagery of the early Church (e.g. milites "soldier of Christ," etc.).

Applied to modern pantheists and nature-worshippers from 1908. Paganism is attested from 1433.


So there ya go NI. That's my offering for the time being.

[Scott Hutchinson]

I have heard that the cross symbol that most churches use is a pagan symbol.Perhaps someone has reserached it out.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by NobodyImportant

While I agree that many holidays have their roots in paganism, I see no problem with celebrating them. Their meaning is no longer the same as what once was, at least to me.
Pagan symbols however still retain their meaning. Maybe that should have been clarified in my original post.
NI

That seems very selective. Christians adopted pagan holidays, they no longer retain the original meaning and so it is ok.

Christians adopted pagan symbols and yet you claim they STILL retain the original meaning and therefore not ok.

Is a cross pagan? Does it retain the original meaning or do Christians see it another way? Same with the fish....do Christians use the fish symbol according to it's pagan meaning or did they change that?

[Scott Hutchinson]

Taking Pagan things and making them Christianized or taking pagan rituals and doctrines and giving them Christian names isn't that what The RCC did ?

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

That seems very selective. Christians adopted pagan holidays, they no longer retain the original meaning and so it is ok.

Christians adopted pagan symbols and yet you claim they STILL retain the original meaning and therefore not ok.

Is a cross pagan? Does it retain the original meaning or do Christians see it another way? Same with the fish....do Christians use the fish symbol according to it's pagan meaning or did they change that?

So, if Christians decide something is ok it's ok?