Don't try to explain or excuse it away to me. Argue with God if you wish.
>>The Catholci Church has NEVER, EVER said it incorporated paganism.<<
“We need not shrink from admitting that candles, like incense and lustral water, were commonly employed in pagan worship and the rites paid to the dead. But the Church from a very early period took them into her service, just as she adopted many other things indifferent in themselves, which seemed proper to enhance the splendor of religious ceremonial. We must not forget that most of these adjuncts to worship, like music, lights, perfumes, ablutions, floral decorations, canopies, fans, screens, bells, vestments etc. were not identified with any idolatrous cult in particular; but they were common to almost all cults” (Catholic Encyclopedia, III, 246.)
“When we give or receive Christmas gifts; or hang green wreaths in our homes and churches, how many of us know that we are probably observing pagan customs...the god, Woden, in Norse Mythology, descends upon the earth yearly between December 25th and January 6th to bless mankind...But pagan though they be, they are beautiful customs. They help inspire us with the spirit of 'good will to men', even as the sublime service of our Church reminds us of the ‘peace on earth’ which the babe of Bethlehem came to bestow” (Externals of the Catholic Church, 140).
“Don’t try to explain or excuse it away to me. Argue with God if you wish.”
There is no argument. There is no binding command on Christians to destroy buildings once used by pagans. We’re to restore all things in Christ, not destroy all things.
Nothing else you posted proves any point other than you’re still wrong.
“We need not shrink from admitting that candles, like incense and lustral water, were commonly employed in pagan worship and the rites paid to the dead. But the Church from a very early period took them into her service, just as she adopted many other things indifferent in themselves, which seemed proper to enhance the splendor of religious ceremonial. We must not forget that most of these adjuncts to worship, like music, lights, perfumes, ablutions, floral decorations, canopies, fans, screens, bells, vestments etc. were not identified with any idolatrous cult in particular; but they were common to almost all cults” (Catholic Encyclopedia, III, 246.)”
Things like candles are not paganism. Paganism is paganism. Candles are just candles. I always point out that pants were only worn by pagans in the ancient world. If you wear pants now are you a pagan? No, of course not.
“When we give or receive Christmas gifts; or hang green wreaths in our homes and churches, how many of us know that we are probably observing pagan customs...the god, Woden, in Norse Mythology, descends upon the earth yearly between December 25th and January 6th to bless mankind...But pagan though they be, they are beautiful customs. They help inspire us with the spirit of ‘good will to men’, even as the sublime service of our Church reminds us of the ‘peace on earth’ which the babe of Bethlehem came to bestow” (Externals of the Catholic Church, 140).”
I have no problem whatsoever with Christmas wreathes or trees. They are not paganism. They are things, not a religion. Trees are just trees. Once again you have failed.
Why? because these are all natural, good things which Christians took back from paganism to return to their highest and most legitimate use: to adorn the worship and show forth the truths of the Christian faith.,
Seriously,do you think we are all forbidden to use (quoting from these quotes):
just because pagans once used them, too?
CB, then go ahead and do a thorough research of every kind of pre-Christian religion, and make a comprehensive catalog of all the things they used, so that we will know ALL the things that are forbidden us.
You will find yourself not allowed to plant a garden, weave a tapestry, educate a daughter, name the days of the week or the months of the year with non-Biblical names, use a non-Hebrew calendar, compete in an athletic contest, write a love letter, put a statue in a cemetery or flowers on a grave.
We'll have to sandblast all the Scriptural references off of the public buildings in DC too, since nothing in the Bible justifies mixing Scripture quotes with graven images of people like Washington and Lincoln.
You'll have a lot of new friends, though, over at the ACLU and the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.
But no, really. I don't think you'd want that. Not at all.