WHY AND WHEN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH SELECTED DEC-25 FOR JESUS BIRTHDAY? Using the crude instruments available, ancient astronomers were able to detect by DEC-25 of each year that the daytime had become noticeably longer and the noonday Sun was once more higher in the sky. This date was chosen, and remains, the traditional date for followers of many different Pagan an Neopagan religions to celebrate the rebirth of the Sun. Following the solstice, each succeeding day has slightly more sunlight than the previous day. It was interpreted as a promise that warmth would return once more to the Earth. Numerous pre-Christian Pagan religions honored a birth or rebirth of one of their gods or goddesses on or about that day. Their deities were typically called: Son of Man, Light of the World, Sun of Righteousness, Bridegroom, and Savior. Some examples are: A pagan religion consisting mainly of the cult of the ancient Indo-Iranian Sun-god Mithra. It entered Europe from Asia Minor after Alexanders conquest, spread rapidly over the whole Roman Empire at the beginning of our era, reached its zenith during the third century, and vanished under the repressive regulations of Theodosius at the end of the fourth century. Of late the researches of Cumont have brought it into prominence mainly because of its supposed similarity to Christianity. Saturnalia was a Roman seven-day celebration starting each DEC-17. It was ... marked by unrestrained revelry and often licentiousness; an orgy. AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON....YOU TELL ME!!!!!!
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 07:14:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015