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Is Halloween a Pagan Holiday?

...ow's Eve (catholiceducation.org) History of Halloween: Where All Hallow's Eve comes from and why we celebrate the date | Metro News Purgatory 101: Everything You Wanted To Know About Purgatory - D.J. Cyprich - Google Books, pp.35-36 Christian Roots: All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day | HowStuffWorks All Saints Day | History, Customs, Meaning, Images (prayerist.com) The Church and Halloween: Satan the Defeated Enemy - Faithlife Sermons Hennig, John. "BRITAIN'S PLACE IN THE EARLY IRISH MARTYROLOGIES" Medium Ævum, vol. 26, no. 1, 1957, pp. 17–24. JSTOR. Gregory IV | pope | Britannica Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night - Nicholas Rogers - Google...

From Paradise to Presents: The Christian Story Behind the Christmas Tree

...The Christmas tree is one of the most recognisable symbols of the festive season, adorning homes, churches, and public spaces with its evergreen beauty. But where did this tradition originate, and how did it become a central feature of Christmas celebrations? Looking into the history of the Christmas tree has turned out to be a fascinating historical story woven from various cultural and theological strands. The Paradise Tree and the Feast of Adam and Eve The connection between the Christmas tree and the Feast of Adam and Eve offers a large clue into its origins. In medieval Europe, December 24th was observed as the feast day of Adam and Eve, a commemoration t...

Nails, Theses, and Myth: The Truth About Luther's Famous Door

...As we commemorated the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation this year, the familiar image of Martin Luther striding up to the church door in Wittenberg — hammer in hand and fire in his eyes — has once again taken centre stage. It’s a compelling picture, etched into the imagination of many. But as is often the case with historical legends, closer scrutiny tells a far more nuanced and thought-provoking story. The Myth of the Door: Was the Hammer Ever Raised? Cambridge Reformation scholar Richard Rex is one among several historians who have challenged the romanticised narrative. “Strangely,” he observes, “there’s almost n...

The Reformation: A Sound-Bite History (Book Review)

...This short little book on the Reformation and some of the leading men who helped to kick-start it and continue to fan its flames has been very enjoyable to read. It really is a “sound bite history” as the chapters are short and snappy, and really only cover the absolute basics of each of the Reformers lives. The book has seven chapters, with six of them dedicated to an individual who had a pivotal role in the beginnings of the Reformation: Martin Luther, John Wycliffe, John Huss, John Calvin, Hugh Latimer and George Whitefield. The Reformation:A Sound-bite History I found it to be very educational and easy to read and digest; gleaning just enough info...

Creedal Christians: The Nicene Creed

...ne, holy, catholic (universal) and Apostolic Church. Eph 4:4; Eph 1:4, 5:27; Matt 28:19; John 17:20-23; Acts 1:8; Eph 2:20; Matt 16:18; Rom 12: 4-5; 1 Cor 10:17; Col 1:18   We acknowledge one baptism Eph 4:5; Gal 3:27; 1 Cor 12:13   for the forgiveness of sins, Acts 2:38; 22:16; Col 2: 12-13; 1 Peter 3:21   we look for the resurrection of the dead John 11:25; Luke 20:36; John 5:28-29; Rom 6:4-5; 1 Thess. 4:16   And the life of the world to come. Amen. 2 Peter 3:13; Rev 21:1 And whosoever shall say that there was a time when the Son of God was not (ἤν ποτε ὅτε οὐκ ἦν...

Spiritual Disciplines of the Early Church: Ancient Practices for the 21st Century

...I was asked not so long ago what kinds of things Christians did in the Early Church (first to fourth century) as a form of spiritual discipline, on a personal level as well as a corporate one. Though the concept of an individual “personal spiritual life” would have been quite foreign to first century believers as faith and Church was very much a corporate venture that had personal implications, rather than the other way around as it can often appear to be thought of today. Much of what made Christianity structured, disciplined and set apart from society, has largely been lost in practice, or forgotten and relegated to the annals of history by many practicin...