There is no inherent paganism in the ‘worship methodology’. The paganism is in the object of worship. Pagans prayed to their gods also, but praying to the true God is not pagan just because it was a method used by the pagans.
When Jesus taught his ‘hard’ teachings, this was exactly his point. Things that were forbidden to do for false Gods were required to do for Him. By eating His flesh and drinking his blood we become part of Him, we receive some of His Graces. His is the only flesh and blood that is not forbidden, because He is the true God.
I understand that you do not believe in the real presence, but to say it is impossible because it is a mirror of pagan practices is false logic. Jesus himself went to temple, prayed, participated in holy days, processions...all things that were previously and currently used by pagans.
The real presence argument comes down to whether one believes that Jesus spoke literally or figuratively when he referred to eating his flesh and blood. We know that at least some of the people took Him literally, because some said this was ‘too hard’ and left Him. That Jesus would let people who believed in Him leave over a misunderstanding seems unlikely to me, but if you believe that is true, then at least that is an argument that is logical.
We also know that some people took Him literally and stayed, since this tradition was carried down and believed widely in the original Church long before and even after the schism. It also seems unlikely to me that Jesus would let people stay with Him who misunderstood Him on such a profound subject, but again, you might disagree.
My interpretation is that Jesus was speaking literally. The paganism argument is not a logical way of disputing this.
Love,
O2
Another who is completely clueless regarding the blood upon the Mercy Seat. Stumble along, Parsing to support pagan rites is you treasure to horde.
But be warned, pagan worshippers, He is coming back soon IN THE FLESH, to call out His Real Church in the Air. THEN, seven years later, He is coming back to set foot on the wrath cleansed planet. Stick around, if you can live through the wrath, and see the Son of Man Coming in His Glory. He is bringing His True Church back with Him then, so you can compare and contrast, if you survived what will kil 3/4 of the humans left after the Rapture of His Church.
And with this it is apparent that someone either missed the entire point of the essay or is purposely ignoring the purpose of the essay. Acts 15, we see the first Church council --NOT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH COUNCIL, BY THE WAY, THE REAL church COUNCIL. This gathering of the elders of the new Christian covenant wrote a letter to the new Christians. The advice given in the letter was focused upon how to conduct themselves as born from above members in God's Family by the Holy Spirit of their adoption. The letter specifically focused upon previous practices probably most of these previously gentiles were involved with. When your education is matured, you will see why your opening assertion is foolishness.