What's new
By:
Filters
Christian Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Why is the upright pentagram considered evil by Christians in this day and age...

E

essentials

Member
...when it used to symbolize the 5 wounds of Christ, and God (spirit) ruling over the 4 elements (wind, water, fire and earth)? I got given a beautiful cross with a pentagram in the middle of it for Christmas and I've been wearing it, but people often ask me if I'm a Satanist, and are shocked when I say I'm a Christian. Why is this? In medieval times the pentagram was symbolic of what I mentioned above, but it's been perverted and said to symbolize something that it's not. FYI it's the INVERTED pentagram with the goats head in the middle that represents Satan...
 
The upright pentagram is a symbol typically used by Neo-Pagans and Wiccans today. It represents the elements there, but it's still a symbol they use and hold in some esteem. Wearing it or having anything on it would not really scream, "Christian!" and gives more of a Pagan impression. I also know some Pagans who would be very insulted if Christians, given that some of its origin was used in a religion involving a Pagan Goddess in several cultures. It may have been used as a Christian symbol later, but its main uses were Pagan.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks for the reply Cheyenne-I've thought about it alot and have decided it would be best to just not wear it. Mods-Feel free to close this thread...
 
A symbol can never be evil. It is only given what the wearer symbolically gives it. Wiccans are not evil, thus the use of the pentigram/pentical is just a representation of spirit, earth, air, fire, and water.

There is nothing "holy" about a cross. In fact, that symbol was used in ancient paganism as well. It is only what meaning a person gives to it.
 
Absolutely Deavonreye, I couldn't agree more-I'm not going to wear it because I'm sick of people asking if I'm a Satanist, not because I think it's evil. As for a wearing a cross...I just like the way they look (especially the Celtic style cross), thats all...
 
People of often ignorant of the facts. . . . . seeing "evil" where it is not.

I really like the celtic cross as well. I am quite fond of many things Irish, and if I could live in any other country than the U.S., it would be Ireland. :)
 
Deavonreye said:
No, because originally it wasn't a Nazi symbol.
Click to expand...

i disagree , and i will show youThe swastika (Sanskrit: स्वास्तिक) is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing (卐) form or its mirrored left-facing (卍) form. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient India as well as Classical Antiquity. It remains widely used in Eastern religions, specifically in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

that later i have some more common by hindus.
 
It isn't a symbol that I care much about. The penticle, however, is a great looking symbol, and has impressive geometry about it. When I was a christian, I saw it as "evil" and "of the devil". Now, I appreciate it for what it is. :thumbsup
 
essentials -

Also, as this is something I have been thinking about recently, you personally may see nothing wrong with the symbol, but there may be a weaker brother or sister who finds it very offensive, perhaps because of what they were brought from.

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
- Romans 14:19-21 (NKJV)

9But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
- 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 (NKJV)


I personally have no stumbling block involving the pentagram, as even while in the occult, I was never really attracted to it or having much use for it. I still do not believe it is good for a Christian to wear, but it will not cause me to stumble. However, I do have stumbling block rooted in Pagan belief systems/ideas to the point where when I talk to Pagans about certain subjects, it leaves me in sin for an extended period of time. For another believer, there may be a similar case with the pentagram. I'm not saying to tip-toe around people's feelings as not to be a stumbling block or cause offense all of the time; this is improbable and does not hold any to account for their actions. However, the pentagram is much more than this. It is a symbol typically used in idol worship or the occult. And it definitely may prove a distraction for believers delivered out of the occult. It would be like dangling junk food in front of someone who struggles with gluttony. Provacative clothing in front of someone who struggles with lust. Drugs in front of a former addict. Booze in front of a former alcoholic.
There are plenty of temptations in the world, but when they come through the body, it's never a good thing.
 
Cheyenne-You have pretty much explained why I've decided to not wear it. As someone who was involved in the occult, and therefore knows a lot about it, I know what you mean about the temptation thing-I sometimes find it difficult if I walk past a new-age/occult shop to not go inside and start browsing through the books there etc. However, when wearing the pentagram I did not feel tempted to involve myself in these things again because it did me nothing but harm last time. May I ask what aspects of the occult you were involved with and why you decided to come to Christ? I'm just curious. For me, I was involved in the actual summoning of demons and knew people in a cult etc (not harmless Wiccans, actual Satanists...). I got extremely messed up from it all but then had a powerful awakening one night in the name of Christ and turned to the light. After going through a period of denial about Christ and disrepecting the word of God I am here now with new found faith. The demons, however, still do not leave me and trouble me to this day, but they are getting weaker. I feel I will have my life completely under control, thanks to God, in the months and years to come...Wow, I kind of got off topic there...My point is that I understand you. God bless.
 
essentials, . . . why does it say "not christian" under your name?

Anyway, I have to wonder why it seems to be those who went the wrong way in paganism that ended up turning to christianity? Or more properly stated, . . . got scared enough to turn back to the faith of their youth!! Messing with evil entities is not what paganism is about, but more about people who are attempting to be rebellious who get in over their heads.

Now, I'm not saying that this is your case, nor anothers on here, . . . just know that it happens all the time. My brother and his wife are witches and wear the penticle. I go to the "new age" shop with him, from time to time, and purchased a penticle a while back. Not because I'm Wiccan, but because I think the symbol looks good. I feel nothing malevolent when I enter the store. The people who work there are nice, as are the customers who enter. If I was going to a "black magic" store and people were openly involved with evil things, I wouldn't stay. Not because of anything else than I just don't fit in with that crowd.
 
Deavonreye-It says "non Christian" under my name because in the past I posted some things on here that led one of the mods to believe I was not a "proper" Christian. I can't really blame them either to be honest, a lot of Christians are very set in their ways and do not like people trying to shatter their beliefs, which is basically what I was trying to do. Also, Paganism was never really an interest of mine-I wanted to be a full on Satanist...I was so stupid looking back on it. Amongst other things, the "new-age" store I'm talking about was indirectly one of the catalysts that led me onto a negative path. I was not brought up in a religious household, I had no faith in my previous youth (I'm still young).

As for what I meant by "new found faith"-I have had a few direct, one on one experiences with God in the past few months, and these have been enough to light a fire in my heart and soul. I still don't know where I stand regarding the scriptures-I certainly do not believe every thing in them and I do not believe the Bible is the one and only ultimate truth. I do, however, believe it is a collection of books containing great wisdom and knowledge, and I believe they are a valuable tool for helping to understand the divinity that pulses through the universe. That being said, I don't think the Divine can be properly described in words, it has to be experienced, and this is why I have been drawn to Gnosticism lately-Gnosticism is based on direct experience.

I hope this clears up my previous post for you...
 
Yes, it has, essentials. And I would tend to agree with you. I also do not see the bible the way christianity sees it, . . . though there are a few places that are rather nice. . . . and nice sounding seromons can be heard when these sections are preached on.

I consider myself agnostic. I've not seen much on gnosticism.
 
essentials said:
Cheyenne-You have pretty much explained why I've decided to not wear it. As someone who was involved in the occult, and therefore knows a lot about it, I know what you mean about the temptation thing-I sometimes find it difficult if I walk past a new-age/occult shop to not go inside and start browsing through the books there etc. However, when wearing the pentagram I did not feel tempted to involve myself in these things again because it did me nothing but harm last time. May I ask what aspects of the occult you were involved with and why you decided to come to Christ? I'm just curious. For me, I was involved in the actual summoning of demons and knew people in a cult etc (not harmless Wiccans, actual Satanists...). I got extremely messed up from it all but then had a powerful awakening one night in the name of Christ and turned to the light. After going through a period of denial about Christ and disrepecting the word of God I am here now with new found faith. The demons, however, still do not leave me and trouble me to this day, but they are getting weaker. I feel I will have my life completely under control, thanks to God, in the months and years to come...Wow, I kind of got off topic there...My point is that I understand you. God bless.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean about the new age/occult shops. Over summer vacation I went into one by accident with my grandma. We just thought it was harmless faerie trinkets and stuff like that, and as it turns out, it wasn't. I had a hard time getting out and wanted to stay despite the bad feeling. Thank God my grandma and I saw a bunch of stuff in it. I didn't want to stay by that point as much, but my grandma is really close to God, so even if I did want to, she was not prepared to let me. And mind you, I stopped with the occult almost two years ago now and it's still a temptation. I'd hate for someone who got out of the occult more recently to be stuck in any situation like that to make them stumble. Even just little symbols can really set it off.

I was into a lot of what was supposed to be the more "harmless" stuff. I had a lot of Neo-Pagan ideas and things like that going on. I was into the chakras, manipulating energy, astral projection, etc. I tried my hand at tarot cards a few times. Didn't do anything for me. Then I started with other areas that screwed me up for a while. I thought I was a therian/otherkin (think spiritual werewolves/werebeasts and mythical creatures) and experimented with vampirism. Tried doing all these different types of shifts. Succeeded in a few. Wound up seriously distorting my sexuality. Later, I tried to invoke evil spirits. Thank God, I failed. After I got out of it, it was another year and a half or so before I finally found God. A lot of that had to do with problems I'd had because of the stupid things I had gotten into.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top