tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395024306618621004.post1984291296857819411..comments2023-10-21T09:16:11.834-07:00Comments on Bat-Zion Susskind-Sacks: The Anatomy of a Proselytizing FaithBatzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056074622237861953noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395024306618621004.post-56113102355014000942018-04-13T15:03:42.357-07:002018-04-13T15:03:42.357-07:00The Celtic Cross you describe as "a recognise...The Celtic Cross you describe as "a recognised ancient pagan solar symbol,"is a Christian symbol. The ring, or "nimbus" of this type of cross represents a halo. The intricate interlacing patterns found on these crosses is a form of "Insular Art." You can look these terms up for yourself. Saying the Celtic Cross is a pagan symbol is a bit like me saying an intricately decorated Magen David on say, a Seder plate is pagan. The history of Christianity probably began in the 5th C due to contact with Roman Britain. In my view, the Christianity the Romans brought with them was already pagan so whatever pagan accretions it gathered in Ireland is a bit academic. The Celtic crosses you saw did not exist in Ireland before Christianity and are not in themselves pagan. They are used as funerary monuments, amongst others things, just as an ordinary stone cross might be anywhere else in the world.<br />It is a common misconception that Easter is, "an ancient pagan celebration named after the pagan goddess Ishtar, the Sumerian goddess of fertility (hence the custom of Easter eggs and rabbits on this holy day) that was hung on a stake and ascended from the netherworld." Not so. The correct word for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus is "Pascha" from the Greek word for "Passover" or Hebrew "Pesach". You will know Jesus celebrated Pesach with his disciples. Eggs and rabbits are nothing to do with it. They are tradition, likely pagan. Early Christians celebrated "Pascha" and the word is used in Orthodox Churches everywhere. There is a good Wiki on this, Easter is Old English "Eostre" or German, "Ostern" which does refer to a pagan goddess of the dawn and pagan societies did have festivals in her name. "Eostre" has come down to modern English as Easter, but Christians do not worship or celebrate a goddess of the dawn. All Romance Languages and Celtic languages use a word derived from "Pesach" As an exercise for yourself and your students, type the word "Easter" into Google Translate and check out the various languages.<br />"Imagine the first missionaries roaming the pagan fields of strange lands. How would they be able to introduce the concept of a one invisible god when the ones they worship have human traits?" In English we spell "God" with a capital "G" because all proper nouns start with a capital letter. Assuming you mean by the "one invisible God" the God of the Hebrew Bible then it would be okay to call him, "Abba," "Father," Or does the Hebrew God have no attributes, human or otherwise??<br />You are correct in saying that the spread of Christianity has adopted pagan symbols wherever it has spread. As I said above, it was already pagan in Rome. The Christian church worldwide has lost its roots which lie in the Hebrew faith. I understand the thrust of your article which talks of the adoption of Jewish symbols into the Christian faith for deceptive reasons. From a scholarly point of view, this is not comparable to the spread of Christianity in Ireland Even though, as I noted, Christianity became pagan early on, the countries to which it was taken had their gods, Christianity did at least bring with it the concept of the One True God of the Hebrew Bible. The issue of the Trinity is a whole other argument. My point is, early missionaries to Ireland did not set out to deceive the local population as you imply, and is not the modus operandi of any Christian who takes their faith seriously. Jesus never deceived anyone.<br />It is a deception in itself, in my view, to read into Biblical Christianity pagan stories such as the example you give of "Ishtar." hung on a stake and ascended from the netherworld. This is very disrespectful to true Christians.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395024306618621004.post-63792273116261515322018-04-08T00:35:34.274-07:002018-04-08T00:35:34.274-07:00I shared it on Twitter. Worried that if I put it o...I shared it on Twitter. Worried that if I put it on fb I will join you in 'jail' Shavua tov. TeachESLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12720974412917020750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395024306618621004.post-7359686780504670932018-04-07T12:33:09.518-07:002018-04-07T12:33:09.518-07:00https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV_HndSVCTYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV_HndSVCTYyamit33https://www.blogger.com/profile/04463759375229777469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6395024306618621004.post-63855495048872284992018-04-07T11:15:18.698-07:002018-04-07T11:15:18.698-07:00Well, as many people have been confused about wher...Well, as many people have been confused about where and how they got their "religion." Most people are not aware and they should be. <br />Batzi, and Roger, you have written and shared important information. Thank you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13809878784424676261noreply@blogger.com