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On below - which of the ancients are you referring? The Sadducees, who believed only the first five books of the Bible were inspired? Or the Jewish authorities who translated the Bible into Greek - which as you know Our Lord often quoted from? The one with Macabees? The version you are referring to is from after Our Lord, and frankly, many scholars think they found some of the books left out problematic in part because of the power of Christians. Also, remember Mark 7:6-8 - Our Lord there is quoting text not found in the scripture as codified by certain Jews in 90-120 A.D. Thus, clear that basing “scriptural” on a compilation of 90A.D. that had in part issues of dealing with growing Christianity is not a sound practice.

Also, issue was praying for the dead being pagan. As I say, the case is clear re scripture of Macabees, but even if not, as a religious text its existence is irrefutable and as such, shows praying for the dead was indeed a non-pagan practice.

Your study is sorely lacking and certainly slanted. The council at Jamnia had nothing to do with "codifying" canon. There was a dispute about a couple of books by one side but the books of the Jewish Old Testament had been set at least 200 years prior to Christ. Even the list by Josephus confirms this. The Council of Jamnia was not called to decide the contents of the Old Testament, but they did confirm what was already in place. None of the books of the apocrypha were included.

Speaking of those books, do you burn fish hearts to ward of demons as they state should be done?

>>Also, issue was praying for the dead being pagan.<<

Clearly pagan and never once taught by Christ or the apostles.