Peter Balbirnie
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
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Dear Catholic Exchange:
I heard that some of the Catholic beliefs and practices were influenced by paganism. Is that true?
Mr. Leger
Dear Mr. Leger,
Peace in Christ!
Some have suggested that Christian celebrations, such as Easter and Christmas, are of pagan origin. If these celebrations are of pagan origin, why does the Church associate with them? By way of clarification, these celebrations are feasts of the Church and have their origin in the Church. The charge that often comes against the Church is their association with paganism (i.e. fertility rites with Easter or druids with All Hallow’s Eve, etc.). I think, however, that these next few examples will serve to show the difference between the false charge of paganism in the Catholic Church vs. how the Church has utilized “goodness and truth in other religions” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 843). Even if it is only partial goodness and truth, the Church sees it as a “preparation for the Gospel.”
Let’s begin in Acts 17. Paul is on Mars Hill in Athens, taking note of the many monuments and altars, when he points out one to “the unknown God.” He did not say, “all these altars are useless, let me proclaim my God to you.” He took that altar of pagan worship and used it to preach the Gospel.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has put eternity in every man’s mind (or heart) so that he cannot know the end from the beginning. Even in erroneous pagan worship, the longing for God in every human person is present. It can bring them to some aspects or elements of truth. Even if such elements are used wrongly or obscured by error, that small ray of truth may be there. On this basis, many pagans were evangelized with elements of their own worship and culture. The charge that Catholicism just took on pagan customs to compromise in order to make converts has it backwards. Catholicism rejected falsehood among pagans, but used truth within these cultures in order to introduce the full and true meaning of the elements they did possess. The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness (Psalm 24:1).
A methodology that rejects the fact that certain common elements can be seen in various religions is ultimately not workable. We would have no argument against the atheist that claims the Bible is not a unique book, because, after all, many practices of Israel and many aspects of the law were already to be found among pagans. Animal sacrifice, for example, wasn’t new with Moses and Israel. This is one example of many. There were also many sayings of Jesus that can be found earlier from Greek philosophy. It is man’s religious nature that led him to many of his practices, even with no knowledge of the God of Scripture. To the atheist we would respond that man’s common religious experience is so much more clearly evidenced in Scripture. Given that fact, it surely sets itself apart as a more reliable text in interpreting and giving meaning to religious behavior.
For further understanding, you may want to check out the documents of the Second Vatican Council. Read the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church (Lumen Gentium), the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes), the Decree on Ecumensim (Unitatis Redintegratio) and the Declaration on Religious Liberty (Dignitatis Humanae). Also see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 843.
United in the Faith,
