Cathy Gardner

Regarding the origins of Christianity, in truth Christianity was started in Israel by a Jew named Jesus. And Catholicism is not actually the original. The first Christians believed they were reformed Jews and called themselves The Way. And there were offshoots of The Way dating back to the time of the Apostles (Gnostics are a good example, mentioned in the Bible.) Catholicism began to formalize itself as a structured "religion" in the early years of Europe's recovery after the fall of Rome in the 400's and was established as a major player when Charlemagne was crowned the Holy Roman Emperor in the 800's. Within a couple hundred years, the Catholic church experience its' first split when the Eastern Orthodox church split from Rome. BTW, catholic is simply a word meaning "universal" and the creed in my church says "I believe in the catholic church..." (Methodist). And I believe Sandra is correct about denominations - There are Catholics and then there are Protestants, who are divided into denominations and most definately split from the Catholics during the Reformation (apologies to the Baptists who believe their denomination dates back to Christ, but history just doesn't bear this out...)

My goodness doesn't a history degree combined with a lifelong passion for history come in handy?!? If you ever want to know the really smart PR way that the medieval Catholics "borrowed" a bunch of pagan holidays and incorporated them into the church in order to win converts, just let me know....<grin> My four year old daughter already knows the basics of Halloween, Christmas and Easter. I'm sure her Sunday School teacher despairs!

Cathy



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>My goodness doesn't a history degree combined with a lifelong passion for
history come in >handy?!? If you ever want to know the really smart PR
way that the medieval Catholics >"borrowed" a bunch of pagan holidays and
incorporated them into the church in order to win > converts, just let me
know....<grin> My four year old daughter already knows the basics of >
Halloween, Christmas and Easter. I'm sure her Sunday School teacher
despairs!

I'd love to know!

Kevin

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In a message dated 8/6/2002 3:12:27 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
kevin.tucker@... writes:


> >"borrowed" a bunch of pagan holidays and
> incorporated them into the church in order to win > converts, just let me
> know....<grin> My four year old daughter already knows the basics of >
> Halloween, Christmas and Easter. I'm sure her Sunday School teacher
> despairs!
>

Yes, please do. I can't wait for this.

Bob Sale


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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In a message dated 8/6/02 4:13:38 PM, kevin.tucker@... writes:

<< If you ever want to know the really smart PR
way that the medieval Catholics >"borrowed" a bunch of pagan holidays and
incorporated them into the church in order to win > converts, just let me
know....<grin> >>

They do it still. It wasn't just a medieval practice. It starts with the
Romans and goes through modern Christian missionaries.

It's not to win converts so much as it is to incorporate their cultural
traditions, but give them a Christian meaning and justification.

Sandra

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In a message dated 8/7/2002 8:10:18 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:
> It's not to win converts so much as it is to incorporate their cultural
> traditions, but give them a Christian meaning and justification.

Sandra,

Oops, I just sent off a reply to Cathy (before I read this) which says almost
the same thing as yours!

No matter, the strategy is brilliant, whether you're intending to make
converts of a religion, or unschooling: you don't bother bogging down and
arguing over the nonessentials, as long as the essentials are understood.

Bob Sale



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and you're right.. heck if wanted to start a religion NOW.. i dont' think it would get many converts without a winter celebration and a spring celebration .. at the very LEAST....

LLL
----- Original Message -----
From: SandraDodd@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 10:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Quick history lesson



In a message dated 8/6/02 4:13:38 PM, kevin.tucker@... writes:

<< If you ever want to know the really smart PR
way that the medieval Catholics >"borrowed" a bunch of pagan holidays and
incorporated them into the church in order to win > converts, just let me
know....<grin> >>

They do it still. It wasn't just a medieval practice. It starts with the
Romans and goes through modern Christian missionaries.

It's not to win converts so much as it is to incorporate their cultural
traditions, but give them a Christian meaning and justification.

Sandra


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