Speaking of belief structures...

[pat]

I have a question for my pagan friends that has been bugging me since early December.

I know that many of the "Christmas" symbols: trees, wreaths, holly, mistletoe, etc. were appropriated from pagans. (Even the date... wasn't it originally the day bulls were sacrificed to Mithras?) There are some Christian sects who reject such things because of their pagan origins.

And my question, asked in all seriousness, sincerity, and with the humble recognition of my own ignorance is... how do pagans feel about this? Do they snicker? Are they offended? Angered? Exasperated? I know that when people appropriate Christian symbology for other uses it makes me at best uncomfortable and at most angry depending upon the nature ot the (mis)use.

And does it depends upon the nature of the pagan belief? I've come to understand that there are many differing varieties of paganism, and I am unfortunately ignorant on the differences between them.

Comments

[lizw.livejournal.com]

I tend to feel it's none of my concern. The uses that offend me are not the Christian ones, but the racist ones, which have the potential to change the popular perception of a symbol to the point where it becomes difficult for us to use in public any more (the swastika being the prime example).