- Feb 8, 2015
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Something I have been wondering, the belief in patron saints.
Now, I don’t see doing things not mentioned in Scriptures or practicing something that has roots in paganism as necessarily wrong, as long as it does not contradict clear doctrinal or theological teachings of the Bible. If we are to purge the Church of all pagan influences, we cannot be truly consistent. I used to go to an SDA school which believed that Sunday worship was a pagan practice that seeped its way into the Church by Satan, yet they still celebrate Christmas.
Now, I see the idea of patron saints as having pagan origins, with each saint having something they preside over, whether it is a place, group of people, a profession, etc.
I noticed a parallel with the Ancient Greek religion where not only did the gods have their own domain (Poseidon being the god of the Sea and earthquakes), but they were also patrons. Athena was the patron deity of Athens and the patron of Odysseus.
The Greek religion was henotheistoc rather than polytheistic, as even though the Greeks believed in the existence of several different gods, most of them chose one as their patron god. Hermès was the god of messengers and travelers, Artemis the goddess of hunters, and Poseidon was the patron for sailors.
Where did the idea of having a patron saint come from?
Also, if having some traditions with pagan roots is okay, then where do we stop and draw the line?
Now, I don’t see doing things not mentioned in Scriptures or practicing something that has roots in paganism as necessarily wrong, as long as it does not contradict clear doctrinal or theological teachings of the Bible. If we are to purge the Church of all pagan influences, we cannot be truly consistent. I used to go to an SDA school which believed that Sunday worship was a pagan practice that seeped its way into the Church by Satan, yet they still celebrate Christmas.
Now, I see the idea of patron saints as having pagan origins, with each saint having something they preside over, whether it is a place, group of people, a profession, etc.
I noticed a parallel with the Ancient Greek religion where not only did the gods have their own domain (Poseidon being the god of the Sea and earthquakes), but they were also patrons. Athena was the patron deity of Athens and the patron of Odysseus.
The Greek religion was henotheistoc rather than polytheistic, as even though the Greeks believed in the existence of several different gods, most of them chose one as their patron god. Hermès was the god of messengers and travelers, Artemis the goddess of hunters, and Poseidon was the patron for sailors.
Where did the idea of having a patron saint come from?
Also, if having some traditions with pagan roots is okay, then where do we stop and draw the line?