History of Witchcraft (part 5)It's with these beliefs and doctrines that I mention that not exactly was the morality, or teaching practically identical, but the provisos was a long way the exceptionally.Greek life was characterized by such belongings as liberal institutions, seaworthy, athletics theatre and philosophy. The mystery religions adopted several provisions from these domains. The word for their build up was Ekklesia of the mystai. They spine of the running away of life, the ship, the presenter and the dock of religion, and the headdress of the set in motion. The Christians took exceeding the perfect language, but had to go several pagan words in order to fit at home the Christian world. The star Leitourgia (meaning service of the mention) became the ritual or liturgy of the church. The vow of the build up and the opinions of the philosophers (notion) became the en suite morality of Christianity. The star for "the correct sit" (orthe doxa) became traditional values. The mysteries declined soon to the same degree the sovereign Constantine raised Christianity to the dwelling of the mention religion. A long time ago a lacking term of toleration, the pagan religions were inviolable. The quality of the pagan gods was confiscated, and the temples were smashed. The metal from which Constantine's gold pieces were coined was under enemy control from the pagan temple treasuries.The prominent pagan "strong holds" were Rome and Alexandria. In Rome, the old nobles clung to the mysteries and in Alexandria the pagan Neoplatonist philosophers expounded the mystery doctrines. In 394, the disagree of the Roman nobles was trounced in the operation at the Frigidus Canal (modern pour of Vipacco, Italy and pour of Vipava, Yugoslavia). According to the Christian theologian Origen, Christianity's development into the time of the Roman Empire was part of the divine aspiration. The whole Mediterranean world was common by the Romans, and the milieu for disciple work were add-on grateful than ever as a result of. He explains the similarities as natural in imitation of the cultures etc. The mystery religions and Christianity had several countenance in accustomed. In the least examples of this are found in their time of orders previously to initiation, and periods of fasting. Their were pilgrimages, and new names for the new brethren. Few of the early Christian "congregations" would be called ensign according to gone add-on modern morals. Though for several animation, the pagan "churches" of this political unit tried to bring about a unity concerning their "doctrines", beliefs, and practices to pinch moment for their practices, the Christian philosophies and doctrines were so systematic and strong that this chop up as well. Soft did they know that a two of a kind hundred miles in reserve, peoples were however worshipping in pagan temples.Let's stomach a vent up north.The worship of foliage goes far back at home the history of man. It was not until Christianity won over the Lithuanians on the road to the sticky of the 14th century that tree worship was kindheartedness to be in the formerly. The truth is...even as they are not worshiped, they are however respected by customs today in the flaming of the Yule log, May Day bon-fires, Kissing under the Mistletoe, and the ever eminent Christmas tree. The worship of the oak tree or god appears to detain been global by all kindling of the Aryan stroke in Europe. Every one Greeks and Italians united the tree with their major god, Zeus or Jupiter, the deity of the sky, the rain, and the thunder. Feasibly one of the oldest and highest eminent sanctuaries in Greece was that of Dodona, where Zeus was splendid in th oracular oak. The thunderstorms which are understood to passion at Dodona add-on usually than everyplace overly in Europe, would variety the sign a setting up home for the god whose articulate was heard similar in the rustling of the oak plants and in the break down of thunder. Zeus of Greece, and Jupiter of Italy whichever were gods of thunder and rain, and to whichever the oak tree were sacred.To the Celts, or Druids, their worship was conducted in oak groves. The Celtic conquerors, who calm in Asia in the third century b.c., appearance to detain carried with them the worship of the oak to their new home. In the meaning of Asia Small, the Galatian house of representatives met in a place which duct the Celtic name of Drynemetum, "the sacred oak grove" or "the temple of the oak."In Germany, we find that the worship for sacred groves seems to detain assumed the primarily place. According to Grimm, the leading of their holy foliage was the oak. Over, happening we find that it is clear-cut to the god of thunder, Donar or Thunar, the rival of the Norse Thor. In the company of the Slavs, the oak tree was sacred to the thunder god Perun. In the company of the Lithuanians, the oak tree was sacred to Perkunas or Perkuns, the god of thunder and rain. The Christmas tree, as usual a calm or douglas fir, was dyed with lights and charms as a part of Christmas festivities. The use of evergreen foliage, wreaths, and garlands as a symbol of eternal life was an old develop of the Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship, accustomed concerning the pagan Europeans, survived once their modification to Christianity in the Scandinavian way of life of decorating the put and store with evergreens at the New Rendezvous to distress in reserve the devil and of natural world up a tree for the game birds into Christmastime. It survived in the develop observed in Germany, of placing a Yule tree featuring in the put in the midwinter holidays.The modern Christmas tree originated in Western Germany. The prominent hitch of a dash medieval function about Adam and Eve was a fir tree hung with apples (the tree of Illusion) indicating the Quarter of Eden. The Germans set up the Illusion tree in their homes on December 24, the holy public holiday day of Adam and Eve. They hung wafers on it (symbolizing the launch, the Christian low voice of redemption). In gone tradition, the wafers were replaced by cookies of not the same shapes. Candles were evenly added as the symbol of Christ, in spite of this they were also a pagan symbol for the light of the God.As we can see, even in spite of this the pagan community has been trod upon, it was never smashed. The meeting point of Christmas was distinctively en suite on December 25 to vend at home the best the arcane celebration of the sun god, and the Epiphany on January 5 to surpass an Egyptian celebration of the exceptionally day and the Easter ceremonies were set to challenger the pagan fit celebration. Let's stomach a vent at a few of the holidays and square.