"Olin" <olin62@comcast.net> wrote in message
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"Dan" <danUNDERSCOREgoesHEREslaughter@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
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"Olin" <olin62@comcast.net> wrote in message
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"Nekojin" <ztradi@gmail.com> wrote in message
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boxedin wrote:

Boston Blackie wrote:

In article <1161442281.804076.133430@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
"boxedin" <gordo401@hotmail.com> wrote:

Nekojin wrote:

It is funny how the atheists and christians will send their
children
out together on a pagan holiday night. Mano en Mano

What's wrong with pagan holidays?

They're ALL pagan holidays with Christian window dressing.

So Christians can't make up their own holidays, is that it?

True Christians have only one Holiday.

which celebrates a birth that many believe actually took place long
about April. Even Christmas is a bone, thrown to the old pagans they
were trying to convert.

You forget that most of the people of the early church were illiterate.

Nope. Do not forget that at all. Also don't forget that high mass was
held in Latin long after literacy began to take some hold and many
critics believe that was done to keep the masses in the dark.

True or false? I don't know, but I do know some Catholics who don't speak
a word of Latin beyond "E Plurbis Unum," who STILL lament that the mass
is not said in Latin.

Even the passover was a means of carrying the Jewish religion forward.
The holidays, the seasons of the church, and indeed, the liturgy that is
still in place to this day in many churches, is simply another means of
preaching the Gospel and bringing people closer to God. Has anyone seen
any of the old cathedrals in Europe. There are some of the most
elaborate engravings. The cathedral of Notre Dame comes to mind.
Practially the entire Bible is engraved, in order, from Adam and Eve to
the second coming. around the sanctuary. Certainly, you can't fault the
any church for setting aside days to remember the significant events of
the life of Christ, our Lord and Savior?!?

Who's faulting the church? It's documented fact that while trying to
convert the pagans, the early church folded many of their observances
into Christianity to help with the conversion. Pretty good strategy, if
you ask me.

Why is it that "the church" is to be held above commentary and criticism?

The fact that "the church" reacts negatively to any and all commentary it
does not generate is pretty good evidence they have no business
formulating public policy.

"The church" as it is rightfully known to God is the Body of Christ.
Anyone who is in Christ and who has Christ in him is a member of the
Church.

That said, the church doesn't formulate public policy outside of its own
body. It isn't accountable to laws of man. They don't affect it in any
way. It is only when people vote in accordance with, and, indeed voice
their own beliefs and indeed run for public office that the world cringes.
Indeed, even Satan flees in the face of the God.

"Lieken" <darth.gantz@gmail.com> wrote in message
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Certainly, you can't fault the any church for setting aside days
to remember the significant events of the life of Christ, our Lord and
Savior?!?

They couldn't read them the Bible?

I'm sure they did that, too. Isn't it nice to have a color TV screen to go
along with the sound from the speaker. But, still, I think you're missing
the point. How often have your read a passage in the Bible and get a whole
different meaning from it than, perhaps, you did the last time your read it.

These are different, albeit elaboratelly so, means of helping the people get
to where they need to be with God.