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Posted by Moderator You wrote: This is a tough question because there are so many different types of paganism, including a new type called "neopaganism", and they all have different beliefs. But I'll do my best to give some general differences between Catholicism and paganism. Catholicism is monotheistic (we believe in only one God), while paganism tends to be polytheistic (belief in many gods). Modern "neopaganism" also teaches pantheism (that the universe is divine, so all is "god" and "god" is all). Catholicism rejects pantheism; in fact the First Vatican Council strongly condemned pantheism. Pagans worship nature, the earth, sun, moon, starts, etc. Catholics worship God the Creator, never His creation. (We pay honor to His servants, the angels and saints, but we don't worship them as we do God.) We never, ever worship nature or the celestial bodies. Modern neopaganism emphasizes belief in a "great goddess", who is considered superior to their male "horned god". Catholics don't believe in any goddesses (no, the Virgin Mary is *not* a goddess, she is a mere human being, the humble servant of the Lord). Catholic Christian belief in the Trinity (that there are Three Persons in the One God) has no true parallels in paganism. See the article "Is the Trinity Pagan?" on my website at this url: http://home.nyc.rr.com/mysticalrose/pagan1.html Catholics believe that the One True God truly assumed a human nature like our own, becoming like us in all things except sin. This is called the Incarnation, and it is also a teaching unique to Christianity. See this article: Is the Incarnation Pagan? Christianity teaches that Jesus died to save us from our sins. Though some pagan religions told mythical stories about murdered gods, none of those gods died to save people from sin as Jesus did, and they never rose from the dead as He did. See this article: "Dying Gods?" Pagan myths about their gods never actually happened, while Jesus is a true historical person. So Catholicism's beliefs are rooted in historical fact, and paganism's beliefs are in the realm of fantasy. Modern neopaganism teaches that all spiritual paths are true in some sense, Catholicism teaches that it is the true Faith and that paganism is not true. Catholic martyrs have given their lives rather than worship pagan gods Paganism tends toward magic and superstition (attributing powers to inanimate objects) and engaging in occult activities (fortunetelling, astrology, etc.) Catholicism condemns magic, superstition and the occult. Christianity teaches the existence of the devil. Neopaganism rejects this belief. Many forms of paganism and neopaganism teach some sort of reincarnation. Catholicism rejects reincarnation. Some pagan religions perform animal sacrifices (Santeria, etc.) or even human sacrifice (Aztecs, etc.). Christians abhor human sacrifice and consider animal sacrifices unnecessary because of Christ's one Sacrifice on Calvary. Soem neopagan rituals are performed in the nude ("skyclad"); Catholics always keep their clothes on during worship services. Some pagan and neopagan rituals involve sexual activity and/or temple prostitution; nothing even close to that exists in Catholicism! Some forms of paganism have priestesses; Catholicism has only male priests. Neopaganism has no "papacy" or centralized clerical heirarchy like Catholicism. Neopaganism has no concept of infallible truth which everyone must accept, as Catholicism does. To neopagans, anyone's belief is as valid as anyone else's. Neopaganism's moral code is "As long as you harm no one, do as you will". Christianity's moral precepts are more precise and entailed. Paganism is a human attempt to understand reality, while Christianity is a religion revealed by God. I suppose you also want a list of similarities. Well, all religions tend to believe in a reality beyond our mundane world. Catholicism teaches the existence of a Deity (as do other Christians, Jews, Moselms and others) and Paganism believes in many deities. So there is both a similarity and a difference there. Both Catholicism and paganism have sacred texts and stories, though Catholic ones are mostly historical while pagan ones are largely mythical. Both Catholicism and paganism have religious rituals, though the differences between them are great. Both have feast days, though Catholic feasts have a Christian emphasis while pagan ones are more nature-oriented (ie. solstices and equinoxes). Both Catholics and pagans wear certain clothes, jewelery or symbols to express their religious beliefs. The difference is they're not the same; Catholics wear scapulars, medals, etc., while pagans wear crystals, pentacles, etc. (also, many other religions have distinctive clothing and such). In short, Catholicism has some general things in common with paganism, as well as with any other religious system. But when you look at the details, the differences are evident. In Jesu et Maria Link: Mystical Rose Catholic Page
on 4/1/2001, 6:33 pm
+JMJ
: In my english class i've been assigned to compare and contrast Pagan
: religions to Catholasism.... So far i haven't found much.. Im not
: trying to say that Cathlics are Pagans by any means so please dont
: take it the wrong way. Please just try to keep an open mind and help
: me out. Thank You~
: *God Bless*
http://home.nyc.rr.com/mysticalrose/pagan2.html
http://home.nyc.rr.com/mysticalrose/pagan4.html
Mystic Rose
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