Pagan Sacrements of the Catholic Church

[reddogs]

Catholics have seven sacraments, and they are not from what scripture gives us, but some truth mixed with falsehood derived from pagan rites and ceremonies: They brought another baptism, confirmation, Eucharist (mass), penance/reconciliation (indulgences), extreme unction (last rights), marriage, and orders (ordination). Although not even formally decreed until the Council of Florence in 1439, the Council of Trent later declared all to be anathema whom do not hold Rome's position that it was Christ Himself who instituted these seven sacraments!(The idea behind the sacraments is that the shedding of Christ's Blood in His death upon the cross is of no value unless it is somehow dispensed and applied "sacramentally" by the Catholic priesthood.)

Although Catholics believe that the first five sacraments are indispensable for salvation (because without any one of them, a mortal sin has been committed), baptism is considered the most important. Catholics believe that a person enters into the spiritual life of the Church through baptism; i.e., baptismal regeneration -- that a person can be saved through baptism (actually,'on the road to salvation,' because Catholics never know exactly when they are saved). They practice infant baptism because they believe baptism erases original sin (cf. John 3:18). Titus 3:5 makes clear that we cannot be saved by works, "Not by works of righteousness..." There are NO sacraments taught in the Bible. Nothing is essential for our salvation other than simple child-like faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour to forgive our sins.

The Mass is not from the Bible, it has pagan origins. In the Roman Catholic mass, the Eucharist or “host” (the round wafer) is a symbol of the sun. The round disc in the crescent moon was a symbol of ancient Babylon, and is found in all the ancient religions. Unknown in the early church, the mass did not become an official doctrine until pronounced by the Lateran Council of 1215 under the direction of Pope Innocent III, and reaffirmed by the Council of Trent. The Church of Rome holds that the mass is a continuation of the sacrifice that Christ made on Calvary -- in effect a re-crucifixion of Christ over and over again in an unbloody manner (cf. Hebrews 9:22; 1 John 1:7). They believe that by this means Christ offers Himself again and again as a sacrifice for sin (cf. Hebrews 7:27; 9:12,25,26; 10:10,12,14,18), and that this sacrifice is just as efficacious to take away sin as was the true sacrifice on Calvary. Catholics thus teach the doctrine of transubstantiation (meaning a change of substance)-- that the bread and wine (at communion) actually become (by the power of the priest!) the body and blood of Christ, which is then worshiped as God Himself! Indeed, the sacrifice of the mass is the central point of Catholic worship, as evidenced by the fact that those abstaining from attending mass are considered to have committed a mortal sin. Of course, holy communion is not taught in the Bible. The Bible teaches the "Lord's supper" which was simply an ordinance that Christ initiated for believers to do in remembrance of Him, no more. There is nothing magical about the Lord's supper. Nothing changes into anything. It is simply a time to remember Christ in an official church manner, Jesus is NOT dying again. The book of Hebrews tells us repeatedly that Jesus died "once" for all.

There have been three major Roman Catholic Councils: Council of Trent (1545-1563), Vatican I (1869-1870), and Vatican II (1962-1965).
The Council of Trent was held in an attempt to destroy the progress of the Protestant Reformation; it approved many superstitious and unbiblical beliefs (all to be believed under the threat of "anathema"):

(a) Denied every doctrine of the Reformation, from Sola Scriptura to "salvation by grace through faith alone";

(b) Pronounced 125 anathemas (i.e., eternal damnation) upon anyone believing what evangelicals believe and preach today;

(c) Equal value and authority of tradition and Scripture (in actuality, tradition is held above Scripture);

(d) Scriptures for the priesthood only (prohibited to anyone in the laity without written permission from one's superior -- to violate this was [and still is in most "Catholic countries" today] considered a mortal sin);

(e) Seven sacraments;

(f) Communion by eating the bread only (not drinking the wine);

(g) Purgatory;

(h) Indulgences;

(i) The Mass as a propitiatory offering.The last Council, Vatican II, offered no new doctrines nor repudiated any essential teaching of the Roman Church; it referred to Trent dozens and dozens of times, quoted Trent's proclamations as authority, and reaffirmed Trent on every hand.

​

Some of the Anathemas of Trent:

If any one shall deny that the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore entire Christ, are truly, really, and substantially contained in the sacrament of the most holy Eucharist; and shall say that He is only in it as a sign, or in a figure, or virtually -- let him be accursed (Canon 1).

If any one shall say that the substance of the bread and wine remains in the sacrament of the most holy Eucharist, together with the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and shall deny that wonderful and singular conversion of the whole substance of the bread into the body, and of the whole substance of the wine into the blood, the outward forms of the bread and wine still remaining, which conversion the Catholic Church most aptly calls transubstantiation -- let him be accursed (Canon 2).

If any man shall say that Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is not to be adored in the holy sacrament of the Eucharist, even with the open worship of latria, and therefore not to be venerated with any peculiar festal celebrity, nor to be solemnly carried about in processions according to the praiseworthy, and universal rites and customs of the holy Church, and that he is not to be publicly set before the people to be adored, and that his adorers are idolaters -- let him be accursed (Canon 6).

If anyone shall say that the ungodly man is justified by faith only so as to understand that nothing else is required that may cooperate to obtain the grace of justification, and that it is in no wise necessary for him to be prepared and disposed by the motion of his own will ... let him be accursed (Canon 9).

If anyone shall say that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in the divine mercy pardoning sins for Christ's sake, or that it is that confidence alone by which we are justified ... let him be accursed (Canon 12).
​

The Catholic Church didn't get to the Council of Trent and its unbiblical and pagan declarations by chance, slowly the church was led into apostasy. Here are some of the steps it took:

AD 310-It brought in the pagan prayers for the dead about 300 years after Christ.
AD about 320-Wax Candles for the pagan ritual of prayers was introduced in church.
AD 321- Pope Constantine passes a law requiring believers to worship on Sunday, the day the pagans worshipped the sun-god.
AD 321 to 364-Sunday worship instituted by the Council of Laodicea.
AD 327-Relic Worship was introduced in church.
AD 375-Veneration of angels and dead saints was introduced in church.
AD 394 -The Mass, as a daily celebration, adopted.
AD 431=The worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the use of the term, "Mother of God", as applied to her, originated in the Council of Ephesus.
AD 500-Priests took on pagan appearance and dress differently from the laity
AD 590-The belief of Eternal Torment was introduced in church.
AD 593-The doctrine of Purgatory was first established by Pope Gregory I.
The Latin language, as the language of prayer and worship in churches, and a form of Western plainchant, was attributed to Pope Gregory I and so took the name of Gregorian chant.
AD 600-The introduction of prayers directed to Mary, or to dead saints. This practice began in the Roman Church during Pope Gregory I
AD 610-The title of pope or universal bishop, was declared given to the bishop of Rome by the emperor Phocas. Gregory 1, then bishop of Rome, refused the title, but his successor, Boniface III, first assumed title "pope."
AD 709-The kissing of the Pope's feet began. It had been a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors.
AD 788-Worship of the cross, images and relics was authorized
AD 850-Holy Water, mixed with a pinch of salt and blessed by the priest, was authorized
AD 965-The baptism of bells was instituted by Pope John XIV
AD 995-Canonization of dead saints, first by Pope John XV
AD 998-Fasting on Fridays and during Lent were imposed, some authorities say, began in the year 700.
AD around 1000-The Mass was developed gradually as a sacrifice; attendance made obligatory in the 11th century, some authorities say, began with the liturgy of Pope Gregory I and two versions from beyond the Alps, the Gelasian (originally from Rome) and the ancient Gallican.
AD 1079-The celibacy of the priesthood was decreed by Pope Hildebrand, Boniface VII
AD 1090-The Rosary, or prayer beads was introduced by Peter the Hermit, in the year 1090. Copied from Hindus and Mohammedans
AD 11184-The Inquisition of heretics was instituted by the Council of Verona.
AD 1190-The sale of Indulgences, commonly regarded as a purchase of forgiveness and a permit to indulge in sin and it was the protest against this traffic that brought on the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.
AD 1215-The dogma of Transubstantiation was decreed by Pope Innocent III. By this doctrine the priest pretends to perform a daily miracle by changing a wafer into the body of Christ, and then lays claim to eat Him in the presence of his people during Mass.
AD 1215-Confession of sin to the priest at least once a year was instituted by Pope Innocent III., in the Lateran Council
AD 1220-The adoration of the wafer (Host), was decreed by Pope Honorius
which is plain idolatry.
AD 1229-The Bible forbidden to laymen and placed in the Index of forbidden books by the Council of Valencia
AD 1287-The Scapular was invented by Simon Stock, and English monk
It is a piece of brown cloth, with the picture of the Virgin and supposed to contain supernatural virtue to protect from all dangers those who wear it on naked skin.
AD 1311-Infant Baptism was introduced in church.
AD 1414-The Roman Church forbade the cup to the laity, by instituting the communion of one kind in the Council of Constance
AD 1439-The doctrine of Purgatory was proclaimed as a dogma of faith by Council of Florence
AD 1439-The doctrine of 7 Sacraments affirmed
AD 1808-The Ave Maria, part of the last was completed 50 years afterward and finally approved by Pope Sixtus V, at the end of the 16th century.
AD 1445-The Council of Trent, held in the year 1545, declared that Tradition is of equal authority with the Bible and apocryphal books were added to the Bible also by the Council of Trent

The Pagan Origins of Mass | Catholic Church Teachings
The Roman Catholic Church is Pagan!

 

[reddogs]

The doctrine of transubstantiation does not date back to the Last Supper as is supposed. It was a controverted topic for many centuries before officially becoming an article of faith, which means that it is essential to salvation according to the Roman Catholic Church. The idea of a corporal presence was vaguely held by some, such as Ambrose, but it was not until 831 A.D. that Paschasius Radbertus, a Benedictine monk, published a treatise openly advocating the doctrine of transubstantiation. Even then, for almost another four hundred years, theological war was waged over this teaching by bishops and people alike until at the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 A.D., it was officially defined and canonized as a dogma.
Like many of the beliefs and rites of Romanism, transubstantiation was first practiced by pagan religions. The noted historian Durant said that belief in transubstantiation as practiced by the priests of the Roman Catholic system is "one of the oldest ceremonies of primitive religion." The Story Of Civilization, p. 741

In Egypt priests would consecrate mest cakes which were supposed to be come the flesh of Osiris. Encyclopedia Of Religions, Vol. 2, p. 76. The idea of transubstantiation was also characteristic of the religion of Mithra whose sacraments of cakes and Haoma drink closely parallel the Catholic Eucharistic rite. Ibid...The Christian Church for the first three hundred years remained somewhat pure and faithful to the Word of God, but after the pseudo-conversion of Constantine, who for political expedience declared Christianity the state religion, thousands of pagans were admitted to the church by baptism alone with out true conversion. They brought with them pagan rites which they boldly introduced into the church with Christian terminology, thus corrupting the primitive faith. Even the noted Catholic prelate and theologian, Cardinal Newman, tells us that Constantine introduced many things of pagan origin: "We are told in various ways by Eusebius, that Constantine, in order to recommend the new religion to the heathen, transferred into it the outward ornaments to which they had been accustomed in their own...The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints, and ornamented on occasions with branches of trees; incense, lamps, and candles; votive offerings on recovery from illness; holy water; asylums; holydays and seasons, use of calendars, processions, blessings on fields, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the East, images at a later date, perhaps the ecclesiastical chant, and the Kyrie Eleison, are all of pagan origin, and sanctified by their adoption into the Church." An Essay On The Development Of Christian Doctrine, pp. 359, 360. This unholy alliance also allowed the continuance of the pagan custom of eating and drinking the literal flesh and literal blood of their god. This is actually how transubstantiation entered the professing church.
The Mystery of the Eucharist

Here is a explanation quoting from Roman Catholic sources. The first source to be quoted is from St. Thomas, reprinted in the Catholic book, "Faith of Millions", John O'Brien, Ph.D., LL.D., 268-269, "nihil obstat" by Rev. T. E. Dillon-Censor Librorum and "imprimatur" by John Francis Noll, D.D. -Bishop of Fort Wayne.
" Power of Consecrating: The supreme power of the priestly office is the power of consecrating. 'No act is greater,' says St. Thomas, 'than the consecration of the body of Christ.' In this essential phase of the sacred ministry, the power of the priest is not surpassed by that of the bishop, the archbishop, the cardinal or the pope. Indeed it is equal to that of Jesus Christ. For in this role the priest speaks with the voice and the authority of God Himself. WHEN THE PRIEST PRONOUNCES THE TREMENDOUS WORDS OF CONSECRATION, HE REACHES UP INTO HEAVENS, BRINGS CHRIST DOWN FROM HIS THRONE, AND PLACES HIM UPON OUR ALTAR TO BE OFFERED UP AGAIN AS THE VICTIM FOR THE SINS OF MAN."
"It is a power greater than that of monarchs and emperors: it is greater than that of saints and angels, greater than that of Seraphim and Cherubim. Indeed it is greater even than the power of the Virgin Mary. For, while the Blessed Virgin was the human agency by which Christ became incarnate a single time, THE PRIEST BRINGS CHRIST DOWN FROM HEAVEN, AND RENDERS HIM PRESENT ON OUR ALTAR AS THE ETERNAL VICTIM FOR THE SINS OF MAN - NOT ONCE BUT A THOUSAND TIMES! THE PRIEST SPEAKS AND LO! CHRIST THE ETERNAL AND OMNIPOTENT GOD, BOWS HIS HEAD IN HUMBLE OBEDIENCE TO THE PRIEST'S COMMAND."
"Of what sublime dignity is the office of the Christian priest who is thus privileged to act as the ambassador and the vicegerent of Christ on earth! He continues the essential ministry of Christ; he teaches the faithful with the authority of Christ, he pardons the penitent sinner with the power of Christ, he offers up again the same sacrifice of adoration and atonement which Christ offered on Calvary. No wonder that the name which spiritual writers are especially found of applying to the priest is that of 'alter Christus.' FOR THE PRIEST IS AND SHOULD BE ANOTHER CHRIST" (Faith of Millions, John O'Brien, Ph.D., LL.D., 268-269)("nihil obstat" by Rev. T. E. Dillon-Censor Librorum and "imprimatur" by John Francis Noll, D.D. -Bishop of Fort Wayne). Emphasis added.http://www.cuttingedge.org/News/n2248.cfm

 

[reddogs]

Here is more on the 'Seven Sacraments':

The term sacrament derives from the Latin sacramentum, the meaning of which is a thing set apart as holy. The New Testament never isolates certain acts of obedience from others by designating them as sacraments. However, as the early church (late first century and onward) began to drift from the New Testament pattern (cf. 2 Thes. 2:1ff; 1 Tim. 4:1ff; 2 Tim. 4:1ff), certain acts began to be distinguished from others as conveying a special sort of grace. These practices originally had a biblically-based background, but such gradually became perverted by misguided and/or unscrupulous teachers.
By medieval times (from about A.D. 500 to 1500), the Roman Church (deeply steeped in considerable error by this time) had isolated what its clergy called the sacraments. It was not until the 16th century that they were cataloged as seven. These were: Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, the Eucharist, Sacred Orders, Holy Matrimony, and Extreme Unction.

Here is the seven as practiced and held by the Roman Catholic Church:

Baptism
Baptism is not a magical rite (administered by the sprinkling or pouring of water upon the candidate head) that bestows the grace of pardon (or the removal of original sin), as alleged in Roman theology.
Rather, baptism is exclusively the burial in water, and resurrection therefrom, of a penitent believer. It thus involves a person who has arrived at a responsible level of faith in God and his Son, Jesus Christ (Heb. 11:6; Jn. 8:24), and who is willing to openly confess the same in a public fashion (Rom. 10:9-10). That personal faith leads one to resolve to turn from sin in repentance, as much as is humanly possible (Lk. 13:3,5; Acts 17:31).
These preliminaries result in the sincere person seeking forgiveness from sin, on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus of Nazareth, in yielding to the sacred command to be baptized for the remission of one sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
Baptism is not an outward sign" of an inward grace received already. It is an outward act of obedience leading to pardon, and the obtaining of a clear conscience before God (1 Pet. 3:21).

Confirmation
Confirmation is a ritual that was bequeathed sacramental status in the twelfth century A.D. (by Peter Lombard). It is administered by a Bishop (or sometimes delegated to a priest.) In Roman circles it generally is bestowed at about the age of seven to twelve (somewhere in proximity to the childs first communion).
In Lutheran practice, though not characterized as a sacrament, a similar rite is given to youngsters (in their early teens) who choose to confirm in their hearts the baptism their parents had performed upon them as infants. These rituals are without New Testament authority.

Penance
Penance derives from the Latin poena (penalty). It refers to disciplinary procedures imposed by the apostate Church. Penance was codified as a sacrament by the Counil of Trent (A.D. 1545-63; Sess. xiv, 3). It involves the confession of ones sins to a priest, absolution, i.e., forgiveness extended by the cleric, and satisfaction submission to temporal penalty (e.g., a monetary fine or assigned works) exacted in order to effect reconciliation between the offender and the Church. The practice is of human origin and is an affront to the principles of the Christian faith in several particulars.

Holy Eucharist
Holy Eucharist is the expression used in the Roman Catholic environment for what is more commonly referred to as the Lords supper. Eucharist derives from a Greek term which signifies thankful, or to give thanks (cf. eucharisteo, gave thanks Mt. 26:27). The doctrine of the Eucharist involves the idea of transubstantiation, i.e., the notion that when the priest pronounces sacred words, this is my body/blood, the bread and the fruit of the vine are transformed into the literal body and blood of the Savior.
This concept became an article of faith at the Council of Trent in 1551. The member eats only the bread (wafer), but supposedly he receives both elements (flesh and blood) within the bread. This is called communion under one kind. During the Eucharist ceremony, Christ is sacrificed again for sin (hence, the sacrifice of the mass, and, according to the dictum handed down by the Council of Trent, this sacrifice is identical with type of sacrifice that Jesus suffered on the cross. These ideas are contradictory to the plain teaching of the New Testament.
Transubstantiation fails to appreciate the symbolic nature of the Lords supper (a memorial, not an actual physical presence). Communion under one kind specifically ignores the Saviors instruction that all are to drink (see Mt. 26:27 ESV), and the theory of multiple messianic sacrifices stands in opposition to the explicit testimony of Scripture that Christ was offered but once (see Heb. 9:28).

Holy Orders
Holy Orders has reference to the special appointment of certain officers in the Church. In Romanism it has to do with the ordination of offices, e.g., bishops/priests, deacons, and sub-deacons. By means of special ceremonies, those being ordained receive a sacred unction (anointing), which transfers to them an essence of such an exalted spiritual nature, that such can never be forfeited. No personal sin can ever make the ordained person unfit to function in this capacity. This mysticism has no parallel in the literature of the New Testament. The hierarchy system of the Roman church was patterned after the governmental structure of pagan Rome.

Holy Matrimony
Holy Matrimony of course, refers to the institution of marriage. The Roman Catholic Church contends that marriage is a church institution, and since they believe that the Catholic church is the true, universal church of Christ, the Roman Church claims marital jurisdiction over all who have been baptized in that communion.

Marriage between Catholics is considered a sacrament (Council of Trent, Sess. xxix, can. 2). Marriage between two non-Catholics is but a mere contract. Contrary to the teaching of Jesus Christ (Mt. 5:32; 19:9), the Catholic Church permits no valid cause for divorce.
However, with influence in the right places, and especially if one has sufficient financial resources, an annulment (i.e., a declaration that ones original marriage never was valid) can be effected on almost any basis, and Catholics may remarry following the annulment. Modern clergymen are as adept as were the ancient Pharisees at manipulating divine law for a desired result!

Extreme Unction
Extreme Unction in the Roman Catholic system is a part of the last rites administered to those who are dying. It involves the application of consecrated oil, by a properly ordained priest, to the eyes, ears, nostrils, lips, hands, and feet of the failing victim. It is alleged to be valid in granting pardon from sin. It is claimed to be grounded in Scripture (Mk. 6:13; Jas. 5:14-15), though these passages have nothing to do with preparation for death. The doctrine of was defined at the Council of Trent.

....over the many centuries ...the Roman Church has had a fluctuating recognition as to what constitutes a genuine sacrament. The number of sacraments has varied from five to twelve. It was not until the session of Trent in 1549 that the number seven became fixed as an article of faith.

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/824-what-about-the-sacraments

 

[reddogs]

Many see what the origin of the Roman Catholic Church is as we read from the following: 'The Roman Catholic Church contends that its origin is the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ in approximately AD 30. The Catholic Church proclaims itself to be the church that Jesus Christ died for, the church that was established and built by the apostles. Is that the true origin of the Catholic Church? On the contrary. Even a cursory reading of the New Testament will reveal that the Catholic Church does not have its origin in the teachings of Jesus or His apostles. In the New Testament, there is no mention of the papacy, worship/adoration of Mary (or the immaculate conception of Mary, the perpetual virginity of Mary, the assumption of Mary, or Mary as co-redemptrix and mediatrix), petitioning saints in heaven for their prayers, apostolic succession, the ordinances of the church functioning as sacraments, infant baptism, confession of sin to a priest, purgatory, indulgences, or the equal authority of church tradition and Scripture. So, if the origin of the Catholic Church is not in the teachings of Jesus and His apostles, as recorded in the New Testament, what is the true origin of the Catholic Church?

For the first 280 years of Christian history, Christianity was banned by the Roman Empire, and Christians were terribly persecuted. This changed after the “conversion” of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Constantine provided religious toleration with the Edict of Milan in AD 313, effectively lifting the ban on Christianity. Later, in AD 325, Constantine called the Council of Nicea in an attempt to unify Christianity. Constantine envisioned Christianity as a religion that could unite the Roman Empire, which at that time was beginning to fragment and divide. While this may have seemed to be a positive development for the Christian church, the results were anything but positive. Just as Constantine refused to fully embrace the Christian faith, but continued many of his pagan beliefs and practices, so the Christian church that Constantine promoted was a mixture of true Christianity and Roman paganism.

Constantine found that, with the Roman Empire being so vast, expansive, and diverse, not everyone would agree to forsake his or her religious beliefs to embrace Christianity. So, Constantine allowed, and even promoted, the “Christianization” of pagan beliefs. Completely pagan and utterly unbiblical beliefs were given new “Christian” identities. Some clear examples of this are as follows:

(1) The Cult of Isis, an Egyptian mother-goddess religion, was absorbed into Christianity by replacing Isis with Mary. Many of the titles that were used for Isis, such as “Queen of Heaven,” “Mother of God,” and theotokos (“God-bearer”) were attached to Mary. Mary was given an exalted role in the Christian faith, far beyond what the Bible ascribes to her, in order to attract Isis worshippers to a faith they would not otherwise embrace. Many temples to Isis were, in fact, converted into temples dedicated to Mary. The first clear hints of Catholic Mariology occur in the writings of Origen, who lived in Alexandria, Egypt, which happened to be the focal point of Isis worship.

(2) Mithraism was a religion in the Roman Empire in the 1st through 5th centuries AD. It was very popular among the Romans, especially among Roman soldiers, and was possibly the religion of several Roman emperors. While Mithraism was never given “official” status in the Roman Empire, it was the de facto official religion until Constantine and succeeding Roman emperors replaced Mithraism with Christianity. One of the key features of Mithraism was a sacrificial meal, which involved eating the flesh and drinking the blood of a bull. Mithras, the god of Mithraism, was “present” in the flesh and blood of the bull, and when consumed, granted salvation to those who partook of the sacrificial meal (this is known as theophagy, the eating of one’s god). Mithraism also had seven “sacraments,” making the similarities between Mithraism and Roman Catholicism too many to ignore. Church leaders after Constantine found an easy substitute for the sacrificial meal of Mithraism in the concept of the Lord’s Supper/Christian communion. Even before Constantine, some early Christians had begun to attach mysticism to the Lord’s Supper, rejecting the biblical concept of a simple and worshipful remembrance of Christ’s death and shed blood. The Romanization of the Lord’s Supper made the transition to a sacrificial consumption of Jesus Christ, now known as the Catholic Mass/Eucharist, complete.

(3) Most Roman emperors (and citizens) were henotheists. A henotheist is one who believes in the existence of many gods, but focuses primarily on one particular god or considers one particular god supreme over the other gods. For example, the Roman god Jupiter was supreme over the Roman pantheon of gods. Roman sailors were often worshippers of Neptune, the god of the oceans. When the Catholic Church absorbed Roman paganism, it simply replaced the pantheon of gods with the saints. Just as the Roman pantheon of gods had a god of love, a god of peace, a god of war, a god of strength, a god of wisdom, etc., so the Catholic Church has a saint who is “in charge” over each of these, and many other categories. Just as many Roman cities had a god specific to the city, so the Catholic Church provided “patron saints” for the cities.

(4) The supremacy of the Roman bishop (the papacy) was created with the support of the Roman emperors. With the city of Rome being the center of government for the Roman Empire, and with the Roman emperors living in Rome, the city of Rome rose to prominence in all facets of life. Constantine and his successors gave their support to the bishop of Rome as the supreme ruler of the church. Of course, it is best for the unity of the Roman Empire that the government and state religion be centralized. While most other bishops (and Christians) resisted the idea of the Roman bishop being supreme, the Roman bishop eventually rose to supremacy, due to the power and influence of the Roman emperors. When the Roman Empire collapsed, the popes took on the title that had previously belonged to the Roman emperors—Pontifex Maximus.

Many more examples could be given. These four should suffice in demonstrating the origin of the Catholic Church. Of course, the Roman Catholic Church denies the pagan origin of its beliefs and practices. The Catholic Church disguises its pagan beliefs under layers of complicated theology and “church tradition.” Recognizing that many of its beliefs and practices are utterly foreign to Scripture, the Catholic Church is forced to deny the authority and sufficiency of Scripture.

The origin of the Catholic Church is the tragic compromise of Christianity with the pagan religions that surrounded it. Instead of proclaiming the gospel and converting the pagans, the Catholic Church “Christianized” the pagan religions, and “paganized” Christianity. By blurring the differences and erasing the distinctions, yes, the Catholic Church made itself attractive to the people of the Roman Empire. One result was the Catholic Church becoming the supreme religion in the Roman world for centuries. However, another result was the most dominant form of Christianity apostatizing from the true gospel of Jesus Christ and the true proclamation of God’s Word.

Second Timothy 4:3–4 declares, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

 

[Dave-W]

Good list there RD.

I would like to make a comment on the Nicean conference of 325. The Jewish components of the Church; the Nazoreans and Ebionites, were specifically UNinvited to that table. While it is true the Ebionites held some heretical doctrines, the Nazoreans did not - a fact that acknowledged by Eusubius - but they got lumped together by Jewish practice and were kept out.

IMO is that had they been there, they would have taken a very hard stance against the elements of Greko/Roman paganism you list.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Great post Reddogs! Permission to C&P for a future use?

 

[Light of the East]

Although Catholics believe that the first five sacraments are indispensable for salvation (because without any one of them, a mortal sin has been committed), baptism is considered the most important. Catholics believe that a person enters into the spiritual life of the Church through baptism; i.e., baptismal regeneration -- that a person can be saved through baptism (actually,'on the road to salvation,' because Catholics never know exactly when they are saved). They practice infant baptism because they believe baptism erases original sin (cf. John 3:18). Titus 3:5 makes clear that we cannot be saved by works, "Not by works of righteousness..." There are NO sacraments taught in the Bible. Nothing is essential for our salvation other than simple child-like faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour to forgive our sins.

First of all, if I am not allowed to politely respond to what you have posted, would you kindly interact with me in an appropriate venue? I respect the fact that this is a SDA forum, but what you have posted is patently untrue in several areas. I recognize much of what you have posted, being that I was myself for 25 years very anti-Catholic and believed and said the same things.

Given that, it appears that you are not aware of the history of the New Covenant congregation of God, which was called "the eklessia" or "church" in the NT. Let us take the statement regarding the Sacraments to begin with. The basis of the sacramental understanding of baptism goes back to the Old Covenant. Abraham had faith in God, but "faith alone" was not sufficient for a proper relationship with God. God instructed him to do something which was a part of his faith - to be circumcised. Without circumcision, one was not in covenant with God (Gen. 17:14) As James says, one's faith is shown by one's works. In the case of the covenant, the work in the Old Covenant was to be circumcised. In the New Covenant, it is baptism, which has replaced circumcision (Col. 2: 11-12). We see, therefore, that baptism is that act of covenant making which unites one to Christ (Romans 6:3, Gal. 3: 27) and which makes one a member of the congregation of God, just as circumcision did in the Old Covenant.

In the history of the Church, we see that baptism was practiced on adults and children, just as it was in the Old Covenant. A male infant in the Old Covenant did not have to "accept Jehovah as personal Lord and Savior" in order to be baptized. In other words, it is not the intellect which is at the heart of entering covenant with God, but rather the mercy of God. God accepted as covenant members of His congregation, national Israel, all who were circumcised, and they remained in covenant with him until their Bar Mitzvah, which is the ceremony in which a Jewish male (Bat Mizvah for women) accepts the covenant with full assent of knowledge, for himself.

That baptism washes away sin is evident from two things in Scripture: Acts 2: 38, in which the verse says distinctly:

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Now this is quite clear and unambiguous. It is neither parable, metaphor, nor analogy. It is also what the congregation of God taught from the very beginning, which is evident from not only this and other verses in Scripture, but the sermons and epistles of the Early Fathers of the Church.

Finally, the word "Sacrament" comes from the Latin word "sacramentum" which means "oath." During a covenant making ritual, both sides recite oaths to each other with self-maledictory consequences if those oaths are broken. You can see an example of this in Gen. 15: 17 where God passes through the halves of the animals, thus declaring that if He breaks His promise to Abraham, He is to be torn apart as the beasts have been. Abraham's self-maledictory oath occurs in Genesis 17 when he is circumcised, which is a oath that says "if I am unfaithful to you, may I be cut off as this piece of skin is cut off."

These are basic rules of covenant theology.

 

[Light of the East]

The Mass is not from the Bible, it has pagan origins.

This is not true. The Lord's Supper, or Eucharist, began in the Upper Room with Christ Himself changing the Last Passover Supper into the first Eucharistic banquet. At this time, He distributes bread and wine, and over each He says "This is my Body" and "This is my Blood"

In the Roman Catholic mass, the Eucharist or “host” (the round wafer) is a symbol of the sun. The round disc in the crescent moon was a symbol of ancient Babylon, and is found in all the ancient religions. Unknown in the early church, the mass did not become an official doctrine until pronounced by the Lateran Council of 1215 under the direction of Pope Innocent III, and reaffirmed by the Council of Trent.

It appears that what you have done here is to cut-n-paste postings from one or more anti-Catholic websites. These sites all use a standard fare of anti-Catholic materials, such as Alexander Hislop's book, THE TWO BABYLONS, printed almost two centuries ago, and Lorraine Boettner's book, ROMAN CATHOLICISM, which was so full of error, false history, and distortions that the publisher, upon finding out just how bad it was, refused a second printing. The idea that the round host is a symbol of the sun comes from one of these books. Of course, this only takes place in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, so how would you explain that in the 23 other rites of the Church, we as Catholics do not use a "sun wafer?"

That the Lord's Supper with the Eucharist as the focal point of the Liturgy was known in the Early Church is easily verified by reading any of the numerous epistles and sermons of the Early Fathers. I myself, as a very anti-Catholic Protestant, was shocked to find out that in the very first century there are writings which speak of the Eucharist as the very Body and Blood of our Lord. Your sources and what you are posting are simply not true.

The Church of Rome holds that the mass is a continuation of the sacrifice that Christ made on Calvary -- in effect a re-crucifixion of Christ over and over again in an unbloody manner (cf. Hebrews 9:22; 1 John 1:7). They believe that by this means Christ offers Himself again and again as a sacrifice for sin (cf. Hebrews 7:27; 9:12,25,26; 10:10,12,14,18), and that this sacrifice is just as efficacious to take away sin as was the true sacrifice on Calvary. Catholics thus teach the doctrine of transubstantiation (meaning a change of substance)-- that the bread and wine (at communion) actually become (by the power of the priest!) the body and blood of Christ, which is then worshiped as God Himself! Indeed, the sacrifice of the mass is the central point of Catholic worship, as evidenced by the fact that those abstaining from attending mass are considered to have committed a mortal sin. Of course, holy communion is not taught in the Bible. The Bible teaches the "Lord's supper" which was simply an ordinance that Christ initiated for believers to do in remembrance of Him, no more. There is nothing magical about the Lord's supper. Nothing changes into anything. It is simply a time to remember Christ in an official church manner, Jesus is NOT dying again. The book of Hebrews tells us repeatedly that Jesus died "once" for all.

See? Once again these authors whom you are posting sneak in little untruths designed to poison your thinking against the Church. The fact is that there is no statement of Jesus dying again and again and again in the Catholic faith. We don't believe that. It is Jesus offering Himself to us to unite with us in love, to heal our wounded souls, and to bring us to everlasting life. Of course, you also have to deal with clear verses in John in which Jesus said that the Eucharist would be His Body and Blood and that if you did not "eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His Blood, ye have not life" So clear and unambiguous was this to those who were standing there that they turned away in disgust and abandoned following Him. And He did not run after them as if to correct their misunderstanding because there was nothing to correct. He meant what He said.

I find it odd (and a bit amusing) that those who insist upon "sola scriptura" and a literal hermeneutic of reading the Bible suddenly get all spiritual when reading those verses in John 6 where Jesus says you must eat His Flesh and drink His Blood.

 

[Light of the East]

AD 310-It brought in the pagan prayers for the dead about 300 years after Christ.
Not true. Prayers for the dead are recorded in the Book of Maccabees and also can be found etched in the walls of the catacombs in Rome where believers met and hid from Roman authorities. This long predates 320 AD.
AD about 320-Wax Candles for the pagan ritual of prayers was introduced in church.
Candles are a source of light, and God is described as "all light, in whom there is no darkness." Candles are a symbol of the light of God.
AD 321- Pope Constantine passes a law requiring believers to worship on Sunday, the day the pagans worshipped the sun-god.
Constantine was never a pope. Ever. This is what I mean by poor historical reference. And the Christian Church began to meet on the first day of the week to "break bread" (Eucharist) long before Constantine. (Acts 20:7, 1 Corin. 16:2)
AD 321 to 364-Sunday worship instituted by the Council of Laodicea.
AD 327-Relic Worship was introduced in church.
We do not worship relics. Worship is for God alone, and the Catholic Catechism teaches as much. What do you say to this verse? Act 19:12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
AD 375-Veneration of angels and dead saints was introduced in church.
Veneration is merely giving honor to another person. Is there something wrong with holding a holy person in honor?
AD 394 -The Mass, as a daily celebration, adopted.
Probably because it was deadly in the Roman empire to draw too much attention to yourself as a Christian.
AD 431=The worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the use of the term, "Mother of God", as applied to her, originated in the Council of Ephesus.
We don't worship Mary. I guess that it will be until the Lord returns that this falsehood will continue. She is the Ark of the New Covenant, the New Eve, the Mother of all believers, and therefore is most worthy of being honored. The better question is why, with all those titles to Her name and the distinctly honorable person She is, do not Protestants honor Her?
AD 500-Priests took on pagan appearance and dress differently from the laity
Apparently the author of this paper never read Exodus 28. Would he also claim that the priests of the Old Covenant were dressing like pagans when they followed God's instructions?
AD 590-The belief of Eternal Torment was introduced in church.
AD 593-The doctrine of Purgatory was first established by Pope Gregory I.
Well, you might find this interesting, but not every Catholic believes this. Some of us believe in purgation, this is, a final cleansing from sin and a change of our sinful natures into holiness, but we do not accept the idea of a place called Purgatory. Did you know that?
The Latin language, as the language of prayer and worship in churches, and a form of Western plainchant, was attributed to Pope Gregory I and so took the name of Gregorian chant.
And why is this a problem to the author? Of course, being written over 150 years ago, perhaps the author was insulated from the fact that many sui juris churches in the Catholic faith have the Liturgy in their own language. My parish, for instance, uses English and Ukrainian.
AD 600-The introduction of prayers directed to Mary, or to dead saints. This practice began in the Roman Church during Pope Gregory I
Uh.................no. As mentioned before, the writings in the catacombs show us differently.
AD 610-The title of pope or universal bishop, was declared given to the bishop of Rome by the emperor Phocas. Gregory 1, then bishop of Rome, refused the title, but his successor, Boniface III, first assumed title "pope."
AD 709-The kissing of the Pope's feet began. It had been a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors.
Well, not being of the Roman rite, I can't really comment on this one.
AD 788-Worship of the cross, images and relics was authorized
Wow! The Cross of Christ is the very place where our salvation is made a fact and this guy has a problem with veneration (not worship, not worship, not worship) of the wonderful Cross of Christ? Do you ever stop to consider the ramifications of what you are posting.
AD 850-Holy Water, mixed with a pinch of salt and blessed by the priest, was authorized
AD 965-The baptism of bells was instituted by Pope John XIV
AD 995-Canonization of dead saints, first by Pope John XV
AD 998-Fasting on Fridays and during Lent were imposed, some authorities say, began in the year 700.
Not true at all. There are writings as early as the first century which give instruction to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays and state that these days should be observed as to make a difference between Christians and Jews, who historically fasted on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
AD around 1000-The Mass was developed gradually as a sacrifice; attendance made obligatory in the 11th century, some authorities say, began with the liturgy of Pope Gregory I and two versions from beyond the Alps, the Gelasian (originally from Rome) and the ancient Gallican.
AD 1079-The celibacy of the priesthood was decreed by Pope Hildebrand, Boniface VII
Actually, I do believe it came later than this, around the 12th century if I remember correctly. And as stated before, there are 23 different rites in the Catholic Church and only the Roman Rite insists upon celibate priests. Our new priest, who is coming in next week to take over our parish, is married with two children.
AD 1090-The Rosary, or prayer beads was introduced by Peter the Hermit, in the year 1090. Copied from Hindus and Mohammedans
AD 11184-The Inquisition of heretics was instituted by the Council of Verona.
AD 1190-The sale of Indulgences, commonly regarded as a purchase of forgiveness and a permit to indulge in sin and it was the protest against this traffic that brought on the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.
AD 1215-The dogma of Transubstantiation was decreed by Pope Innocent III. By this doctrine the priest pretends to perform a daily miracle by changing a wafer into the body of Christ, and then lays claim to eat Him in the presence of his people during Mass.
AD 1215-Confession of sin to the priest at least once a year was instituted by Pope Innocent III., in the Lateran Council
AD 1220-The adoration of the wafer (Host), was decreed by Pope Honorius
which is plain idolatry.
AD 1229-The Bible forbidden to laymen and placed in the Index of forbidden books by the Council of Valencia
AD 1287-The Scapular was invented by Simon Stock, and English monk
It is a piece of brown cloth, with the picture of the Virgin and supposed to contain supernatural virtue to protect from all dangers those who wear it on naked skin.
AD 1311-Infant Baptism was introduced in church.
History states otherwise: Hippolytus "Baptize first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them" (The Apostolic Tradition 21:16 [A.D. 215]). I believe there is also information regarding infant baptism in the Didache of the Apostles.
AD 1414-The Roman Church forbade the cup to the laity, by instituting the communion of one kind in the Council of Constance
AD 1439-The doctrine of Purgatory was proclaimed as a dogma of faith by Council of Florence
AD 1439-The doctrine of 7 Sacraments affirmed
AD 1808-The Ave Maria, part of the last was completed 50 years afterward and finally approved by Pope Sixtus V, at the end of the 16th century.
AD 1445-The Council of Trent, held in the year 1545, declared that Tradition is of equal authority with the Bible and apocryphal books were added to the Bible also by the Council of Trent

Just a few responses for you. I haven't studied every issue, but knowing the anti-Catholic mindset (having been an anti-Catholic myself for 25 years) I'm pretty sure that there are falsifications in the accusations and answers to everything.

 

[reddogs]

Great post Reddogs! Permission to C&P for a future use?

No problem..

 

[Light of the East]

Still waiting to hear from anyone regarding the exposure of the lies that were told here....

So far.....crickets.

 

[reddogs]

Still waiting to hear from anyone regarding the exposure of the lies that were told here....

So far.....crickets.

If we gave you proof, would you believe it.....

 

[Armoured]

Why do you guys spend so much time obsessing about the Catholic Church? No one's forcing you to participate in Catholic ritual, are they? If you don't believe Catholicism is the correct denomination, you're free to think that. But why go on and on about it? We don't spend 1% of the time discussing you that you spend discussing us.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Why do you guys spend so much time obsessing about the Catholic Church? No one's forcing you to participate in Catholic ritual, are they? If you don't believe Catholicism is the correct denomination, you're free to think that. But why go on and on about it? We don't spend 1% of the time discussing you that you spend discussing us.

It's called the three angels message...

Have you not seen the direction the Pope is taking not only Christianity but Islam and every other faith?... it is to be an amalgamated quasi religion/belief system where every faith group is correct on their interpretation and every one is saved and where the creation is worshipped more than the Creator... it is nothing more than Luciferianism... if you aren't worshipping the God of Creation as He has instructed us, then it is apostasy and won't end well... Babylon is fallen, is fallen.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, there is a massive "symposium" in Jerusalem in Sept for, I believe, 11 days.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Christians-Muslims-and-Jews-to-build-joint-house-of-worship-in-Jerusalem-457837
The article states that this joint temple of worship will be fulfilling a prophesy in Isaiah, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.'” sorry, that was fulfilled with the gentile commission. This is the verse they should have referred to... " Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

After the overtures that Francis has been dispensing to all the heads of the world religions during his tenure, some of which have already come back under Romes sphere officially, are coming to fruition with this event for an outcome that will bring the end of days. This was spoken of by a grade three educated woman that God used to give a message to the world, over 150 years ago. Just as in Noah time, the message was given and scoffed at for 120 years and we are told the coming of the son of man will be as that time. Think and pray...

There will be nothing "Christian" about this new system. "Come out of her my people that you partake not of her plagues..."

 

[Armoured]

It's called the three angels message...

Have you not seen the direction the Pope is taking not only Christianity but Islam and every other faith?... it is to be an amalgamated quasi religion/belief system where every faith group is correct on their interpretation and every one is saved and where the creation is worshipped more than the Creator... it is nothing more than Luciferianism... if you aren't worshipping the God of Creation as He has instructed us, then it is apostasy and won't end well... Babylon is fallen, is fallen.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, there is a massive "symposium" in Jerusalem in Sept for, I believe, 11 days.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Christians-Muslims-and-Jews-to-build-joint-house-of-worship-in-Jerusalem-457837
The article states that this joint temple of worship will be fulfilling a prophesy in Isaiah, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.'” sorry, that was fulfilled with the gentile commission. This is the verse they should have referred to... " Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

After the overtures that Francis has been dispensing to all the heads of the world religions during his tenure, some of which have already come back under Romes sphere officially, are coming to fruition with this event for an outcome that will bring the end of days. This was spoken of by a grade three educated woman that God used to give a message to the world, over 150 years ago. Just as in Noah time, the message was given and scoffed at for 120 years and we are told the coming of the son of man will be as that time. Think and pray...

There will be nothing "Christian" about this new system. "Come out of her my people that you partake not of her plagues..."

No I don't see it.. The Pope doesn't control other religions, and Catholics worship the God of Creation, so frankly I don't see what you're talking about. None of this addresses my question. If you don't believe Catholicism is correct, why do you care so much about it? Is anyone forcing you to be a Catholic? That Obama/Pope Sunday worship plot didn't work out, did it?

So, when nothing untoward comes of this symposium, you'll admit to being mistaken? How many times will a prophecy you believe in need to fail before you start to question whether the next one might be wrong, too?

 

[pdudgeon]

nm

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

No I don't see it.. The Pope doesn't control other religions, and Catholics worship the God of Creation, so frankly I don't see what you're talking about. None of this addresses my question. If you don't believe Catholicism is correct, why do you care so much about it? Is anyone forcing you to be a Catholic? That Obama/Pope Sunday worship plot didn't work out, did it?

So, when nothing untoward comes of this symposium, you'll admit to being mistaken? How many times will a prophecy you believe in need to fail before you start to question whether the next one might be wrong, too?

So you don't think it odd that the Pope wants to ecumnenize all religions? Would you be ok with this?

 

[pdudgeon]

nm

 

[Armoured]

So you don't think it odd that the Pope wants to ecumnenize all religions? Would you be ok with this?

No. He doesn't.

So care to answer my questions?

 

[pdudgeon]

nm