Well its fairly common knowledge that Christianity ripped off and just Rewrote Pegan Holidays its kinda like the Flavor of back in the day lol... for EXAMPLE: EASTER Chocolate Bunnies and Colored Eggs

The Easter Bunny:
The Easter Bunny is not a modern invention. The symbol originated with the pagan festival of Eastre. The goddess, Eastre, was worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons through her earthly symbol, the rabbit.

The Germans brought the symbol of the Easter rabbit to America. It was widely ignored by other Christians until shortly after the Civil War. In fact, Easter itself was not widely celebrated in America until after that time.

The Easter Egg:
As with the Easter Bunny and the holiday itself, the Easter Egg predates the Christian holiday of Easter. The exchange of eggs in the springtime is a custom that was centuries old when Easter was first celebrated by Christians.

From the earliest times, the egg was a symbol of rebirth in most cultures. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf or, if you were a peasant, colored brightly by boiling them with the leaves or petals of certain flowers.

__________________


There are Old Truckers and there are Bold Truckers, But there are no Old Bold Truckers.

...ppl have been adding 'stuff' to their religious beliefs in all cultures! The Christian Native-Americans out here still have their 'hogans,' in S. America, many of the Aztec traditions have modified their practice of Catholicism, etc. The worst thing that happened to Christianity was the adoption as the state religion of the Roman Empire. Watered it down and added the pagan stuff---was not intended to be spread world-wide "that way!" But God uses those type of obstacles to 'weed out' the sheep from the goats....the 'sincere' from those who are merely 'dead religious', going thru the rituals but not having any knowledge of the Truth......

But then people were living their own customs far before Adam and Eve of around 4,000 BC and of course, it was not a God that wrote the words in the religious texts, but human beings of those times as they were the records of the churches. What you believe is directly related to your upbringing and your own conscious mind. What is truth?

Christianity is known as the hope of the hopeless and I have to ask why hopeless in a world of beauty and opportunity. I also wonder why the primary gift of early Christianity was "hell and damnation," and not love, peace and hope? I could never accept that kind of belief as it does not promote Humanism or accepting self as something special rather than something unclean and unwholesome.

No, I believe in a spirituality, but definitely NOT what has been taught down through the ages. In fact the cruelty and totalitarianism of church against those they persecuted in history still exists in the hearts and minds of many who still preach "hell and damnation."

Church is a good thing for many because it gives people who need it something to cling to, but I will always take a pine tree in the solitude, beauty and magic of nature to a building anytime.

Yes, I say let people have their churches but leave me to my freedom and appreciation of who I am and what I have been blest with in life, to include the solitude of my quiet times of meditation. To each his own!

And the facts are: most Christians have no idea where these things come from they celebrate. Pagans were lower than animals according to Christian philosophy, yet so many beautiful things came from their times.

I was not brought up or raised in church. So there goes that theory.


What is truth? Good question. Glad you asked.

[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.
that is [John 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 4:6; 5:7] the Spirit of truth, [1 Cor 2:14] whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

__________________
My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

Lucky142,

I would recommend that you actually read the Bible. You'll find that there aren't any chocolate bunnies, no brightly painted eggs, no evergreen trees, no dancing skeletons, etc. Those are all elements used by different cultures in their celebrations. Do many of them have roots in paganism? Sure. And around the world millions of non-Christians celebrate Christmas. Cultures and subcultures borrow from one another endlessly. If you're going to fault Christianity for doing so, have the consistency to fault everybody else as well.

Really, care to back that up? Perhaps by citing Scripture, or perhaps one of the early Church Fathers, or perhaps one of the great Christian thinkers (Aquinas, More, St. Augustine, etc...).

No doubt about that. So? We are made in imago dei, and creativity is one of our gifts, gifts that are spread throughout humanity, pagan and otherwise. Of course, some folks are more gifted than others.

Can be said about many tribes of ancient history.

Goodness abides within a lot of people and what one believes, no mater their upbringing, is part of the reason for believing as they do. It does not matter if you are raised in a church or not. Your mind dictates to you through your life experiences, what and how you believe.

The Bible is a great reference book for social relationships and keeping society from falling apart and it is a great history source for those people the Bible relates, but it is by far, not a history of the people of this planet.

Then again, it is history of religious war and murder of tribes because they did not follow someone else's truth.

Many people leave church as they grow for many reasons. Some are drawn to churches for many reasons. But, what one believes is directly related to ones upbringing and/or experiences in life, as long as that person can think for him/her self. Many can't and this has been the reason for people like Jim Jones, Wacko's from Waco, as well as those on the other side of sicko world; the KKK, Black Panthers, Al Queda, etc. Brainwashed

Not correct. Madame Ohara (sp) if you are familar with her. Was into devil worship. She had all kinds of live in men with her. It is believed that one of them killed her as her body has never been found. She is the one that was against prayer in public schools. She had a son. I don't recall his name. He is now a preacher. I heard him preach years ago. He told the story of how he grew up. His mom had statues of goats mating all over the house. The woman hated any thing Godly. Her son turned out to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Do you think his mom taught him that when he was growing up?

A persons upbringing has nothing to do with God's will. Look at Paul in the bible. He used to search out believers to have them arrested. He wittnessed steven being stoned to death for preaching God's Word. God ended up using paul in a mighty way. Paul wasn't brought up that way. God is the One that came on the scene and used it for His purpose. People always want to blame others for their mistakes. Well I was raised that way. I can't help it.

__________________
My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

Granted! Many are much wiser than I! However, most just don't try to think to hard about life and just take it as it is. I think about it all the time. This is a must for people who want a better life and is why I do things most will not do so I can have what most will never have! Freedom'; and yet I only get a taste of it because the world is so corrupt; to include Churches and Religions based on those who have caused much harm down through the ages; Not denied by history and often portrayed in books and movies, to include historical studies.

So, by all means, talk history, but don't preach because too many people do not want to hear it. Want to talk religion, I will do that in private with you, but not here. I do think the religious books of the many followers are great philosophy and history texts and give a lot of knowledge. Nothing wrong with learning and nothing wrong with teaching. Just let those who wish to follow - follow and leave the rest to their beliefs. This gives everyone a chance to breath and enjoy the life as they chose; as long as it harms no other.

Now, I am not a follower of Wiccan Rede, but I believe in its truths, just as I believe in the Ten Commandments. This is Common Sense.

Well My Home town Church supports a Trucking Missionary, travels to Truck Stop to Truckstop.

It is good to have these. Some may not believe such as Driver pro proves, but it is his own lost soul.

But to DriverPro in all Due respect it is God not god, Respectfully.

__________________