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Pagan Christianity

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Brian:
Has anyone read Pagan Christianity by George Barna and Frank Viola?
This book contains thousands of traditions borrowed from various pagan cultures. The authors expertly trace the origins of traditions, rituals, ordinances to the pagan religions and cultures from which they came. Every Christian should read this book. It is a good start on this topic but I don't think they have gone far enough.
Have a happy and be sage
Brian

OBrenda:
Don't believe I've read that one, what I have learned from other sources is that they can trace most things back to Egypt?
Did this book do the same?

David:
With all love and respect Brian, I think we should refrain from reading such material.

Deu 12:30 take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’

1 Chr 10:13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;
14And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

Ex 23:13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

Deu 6:14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;

And there are dozens of other scriptures commanding us not to enquire, go after, serve or have anything to do with other gods which are pagan gods and traditions. The Church systems we have come out of have taught us more than enough pagan traditions, hocus pocus beliefs, blasphemies and heresies, without reading books about such things. I prefer to use my time to study Gods word, rather than to study pagan traditions.
You say that every Christian should read this book, my understanding of the scriptures I've posted here and the dozens more that are similar would suggest to me that NO Christian should read this or any other book relating to pagan religions and traditions.  

God be with you Brian.

KristaD:
It sounds to me that the book is informing christians of the pagan roots of some of their beloved traditions like holidays and rituals in the churches not promoting pagan traditions. I don't see how reading that would be considered going after other gods. How are we to make sure that we do not go after, serve, inquire of or have anything to do with other gods and traditions if we don't know what they are in the first place? I certainly agree that we should not seek those things out or study them and that we should use our time to study God's word but what about those that do not know where the things they observe come from? What about those that don't realize all of the hocus pocus that is taught in the churches? Some people do not associate all of the references in the scriptures to modern day things and it takes another person to break it all down for them just like Ray has done for us with the teachings he has. I guess it really depends on the authors and their motives and beliefs and I don't know anything about them so I can't say much more than I think every christian should question traditions and observances and try to learn where they came from, if someone uses this book to do it that's fine. I learned it all by typing in "pagan christian holidays" into my search engine and finding lots of pagan sites where they laughed at the ignorance of christians about those things. I was not seeking out other gods, but simply trying to figure out who the Real God is. What I learned was another way that the god of churchianity did not line up with the God of the scriptures and it brought me closer to understanding Him and know who He really is. If I had been more mature perhaps I could have put the things together myself from the scriptures but that was how God had me do it at the time.
I get what you are saying but christians already "inquired after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’" and now those things are incorporated into the church's christianity. To truly leave babylon we must know what babylon is IMO.

Brian:

Here are some links to some of the materials that have been put on the web.
I hope you will prayerfully consider at least looking at these links.

*links no allowed*

Have a happy and be sage
Brian

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