DrewDad wrote:Foofie wrote:ebrown_p wrote:I sometimes wonder if Zippo and Foofie aren't really the same person.
Not in this century, but eventually most of the "Zippos" of the world will think like me. So will most of the "ebrown_ps" of the world. Much of the world has a slow learning curve; note how long paganism existed.
Explain to me how Christianity, with celebrations like Christmas and Easter, along with its triple Godhead and pantheon of saints, is not a pagan religion.
Simple Your Lordship. Christianity was "marketed" to a pagan world with uh, GENIUS! Pagan celebrations continued, but overlayed with a Christian meaning. No harm, unless one is a purist. (Would you be a National League baseball fan, where there is no designated hitter?) The masses tend not to be purists, so much of the world slowly left the pagan mentality, and learned to believe in one God. The fact that he can be a Trinity may perplex some, but let's be honest, Jesus coming to the Earth and then the world doesn't end (as Jews believe would happen when a Messiah arrives) perplexes Jews; however, Jews that I've known
do think of Christianity as monotheistic.
And, let's be honest, Christmas and Easter are fun holidays (the marketing genius again). If you're not aware, the sight of a well decorated Christmas tree brings a smile to many who aren't Christian. So does the image of an Easter Bunny.
Regarding the pantheon of Saints (in Catholicism), what's wrong with the paradigm of asking a Saint or the Virgin Mary for Intercession in a prayer. And, as the old saying goes, what nice Jewish son (Jesus) wouldn't listen to a request from his loving mother?
The fact that Protestants pray directly to Jesus is their shtick, just like Jews praying (directly) to God the Father is their shtick.
Should we also discuss the merits of a designated hitter in baseball?
