Blending of Christian traditions with Pagan traditions (Latter Day Saints, beliefs, Jehovah)

[FFH]

Is this a fair thing to do? Is this not confusing to the minds of young adults and young children, not to mention adults? I was very confused as a child. I did not even know what I was celebrating at times. So many misconceptions and conflicting stories of the origins of holidays in America. It is confusing to say the least. What are we celebrating during Christmas? The blending of two religions? Paganism and Christianity? I know the obvious answers. I would like to dive deaper into this.

[Jaymes]

I think it's impossible to avoid blending faiths. Cultures are becoming easier and easier to learn about, and it's make cultural exchange all the easier. Does it mean something isn't Christian or Pagan or Taoist or what have you just because it's changed and taken ideas from other cultures? In my opinion, no, it doesn't. It just means it's moving with the times, which is good. You can't keep a 30-something AD mindset for thousands of years.

[michel]

Originally Posted by Faith_is_an_assurance

Is this a fair thing to do ? Is this not confusing to the minds of young adults and young children, not to mention adults. I was very confused as a child. I did not even know what I was celebrating at times. So many misconceptions and conflicting stories of the origins of holidays in America. It is confusing to say the least. What are we celebrating juring Christmas ? The blending of two religions ? Paganism and Christianity ? I know the obvious answers. I would like to dive deaper into this. It is late and I don't expect too much response at this hour. This is my first post ever and will repost this again if necessary.

Good point, and that is something I think about a lot of the time. many branches of Christianity are structured with what I would call 'great disciplines'; examples are (from the Christian forum alone:
Catholicism
Eastern Orthodox
Episcopal/Anglican
Gnosticism
Non-Denominational
Christadelphians
Christian Scientist
Jehovah's Witnesses
Unitarian Christians
Oriental Orthodox
Anabaptists
Baptist
Calvinists
Lutheran
Methodist
Pentacostal
Presbyterian
Reformed Churches
Religious society of friends
United Church of Christ
Churches of Christ
Disciples of Christ
Latter Day Saints
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Liberal Christianity

Out of which there are ay least 5 that I know of that are 'Set in Concrete' (bad way of describing them, because it sounds pejorative-and it is not meant to be). I guess what I am trying to say is that five of the above (plus probably some of which I don't know enough to include them) are religions with strict disciplines.

The others ? - well, the feeling I get is that there are enough people who want something 'different' and have formed a separate denomination (and that means they have enough members who feel the same).

I myself have a problem in rellating Fully to Christianity (although I believe in the major tenets - as I see them of Christianity). I would include aspects of other faiths and phylosophies.

Is this not confusing to the minds of young adults and young children, not to mention adults

I'd say 'Yes', and probably is the reason I came to this forum. Though I am not sure that I feel 'more comfortable' Now than when I joined, because I am now aware of so much more diversity than when I first came here.

[jeffrey]

Jensa, michel, I agree. If we remember the story of the Good Samaritan, it teaches to look past typical stereotypes and look at the person. Be compassionate towards other and their beliefs.

[Solon]

Whether or not Christians like it, most of their festivals are borrowed from the Pagan World. That is an acknowledgement that peoples inherent beliefs were not so easily overturned by that intolerant instrument of the Nazerine, The Roman Church. You should enjoy the festivals, and enjoy the continuem with your ancient roots and the Old Gods. No matter what faith you follow today.

Solon

[michel]

Originally Posted by Solon

Whether or not Christians like it, most of their festivals are borrowed from the Pagan World. That is an acknowledgement that peoples inherent beliefs were not so easily overturned by that intolerant instrument of the Nazerine, The Roman Church. You should enjoy the festivals, and enjoy the continuem with your ancient roots and the Old Gods. No matter what faith you follow today.

Solon

I don't see why Christians 'wouldn't like it'; much the same as most English Churches are built on Pagan sites..........

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by Faith_is_an_assurance

... and will repost this again if necessary.

Please don't do that.

[Evenstar]

Originally Posted by Jensa

I think it's impossible to avoid blending faiths. Cultures are becoming easier and easier to learn about, and it's make cultural exchange all the easier. Does it mean something isn't Christian or Pagan or Taoist or what have you just because it's changed and taken ideas from other cultures? In my opinion, no, it doesn't. It just means it's moving with the times, which is good. You can't keep a 30-something AD mindset for thousands of years.

Good point!

[Feathers in Hair]

If you blend beauty with beauty, one oftentimes comes up with something even more beautiful. Consider, for example, when one is using an inkstone and paints something in gray and then adds a touch of yellow. Two beautiful colors, and they combine to look like the sun dancing off of clouds. (There's also the opposite of this, when a wretched color makes an otherwise beautiful color look dreadful. For example, when the Nazi party 'kidnapped' bits of the Astaru religion to further its own purposes.) I suppose that a worry that people might have, in this analogy, would be that, once the two 'colors' are combined, it's difficult to seperate them. If your intent is to keep them seperate, please, by all means do so. I feel that it's important to acknowledge those things to celebrate in other faiths- almost as important as in one's own faith. However, if one believes that theirs is the only path to Diety, I suppose it would be detrimental to their perceptions of their own faith to do that.