No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. — Matthew 6:24 KJV
"The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints, and ornamented on occasions with branches of trees; incense, lamps, and candles; votive offerings on recovery from illness; holy water; asylums; holydays and seasons, use of calendars, processions, blessings on the fields; sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the East, images at a later date, perhaps the ecclesiastical chant, and the Kyrie Eleison, are all of pagan origin, and sanctified by their adoption into the Church." -An Essay on The Development of the Christian Doctrine by John Henry "Cardinal Newman" p.359
TEMPLES
A temple is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Islam, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, the Baha’i Faith, Taoism, Shinto, Confucianism, and ancient religions such as the Ancient Egyptian religion and the Ancient Greek religion. The form and function of temples are thus very variable, though they are often considered by believers to be, in some sense, the “house” of one or more deities. Typically, offerings of some sort are made to the deity, and other rituals are enacted, and a special group of clergy maintain and operate the temple.
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; — Acts 17:24 KJV
TEMPLES DEDICATED TO PARTICULAR SAINTS
TEMPLES/CHURCH BUILDINGS DEDICATED TO SAINTS
TEMPLES ORNAMENTED
BRANCHES OF TREES
incense
INCENSE
lamps, and candles
votive offerings on recovery from illness
votive vō′tĭv adjective Given or dedicated in fulfillment of a vow or pledge. Expressing or symbolizing a wish, desire, or vow. Given by vow, or in fulfillment of a vow; consecrated by a vow; devoted a medal struck in grateful commemoration of some auspicious event. an offering in fulfillment of a religious vow, as of one's person or property. dedicated or given in fulfillment of a vow or pledge this sense?) of, expressing or symbolizing a vow; and by extension a thick cylindrical candle
holy water
Holy water is water that has been blessed by a member of the clergy or a religious figure, or derived from a well or spring considered holy. The use for cleansing prior to a baptism and spiritual cleansing is common in several religions, from Christianity to Sikhism. The use of holy water as a sacramental for protection against evil is common among Lutherans, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, and Eastern Christians.
asylums
holydays and seasons
The liturgical year, also called the church year, Christian year or kalendar, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches that determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of Scripture are to be read either in an annual cycle or in a cycle of several years.
use of calendars
processions
In Christianity, a procession is an organized body of people advancing in formal or ceremonial manner as an element of Christian ritual or as a less official expression of popular piety. Public processions seem to have come into vogue soon after the recognition of Christianity as the religion of the Roman Empire by Constantine in the 4th century.
AS DISCIPLES OF MESSIYAH WE ARE CALLED TO BE HOLY / SET APART FROM PAGANISM AND ALL THE WAYS OF THIS WORLD
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. — 1 Peter 1:15-16 KJV
