Catholic-Pagan Apologetics against Syncretism

[spera]

I suspect that I will eventually wind up in some discussion on Catholics stealing Pagan traditions at some point.

I would like resources/literature on pagan culture...especially what has been 'incorporated into' Catholic life and why it was done as well as the distinction between incorporation of things which are compatible to the one true faith and syncretism. At the risk of opening myself up to thousands of resources, I would obviously like to know about pagan culture in Europe since all of the proselytizing seems to come from neo-pagans with European roots.

Thank you.

edited: If you also have resources about Catholic perspectives on creation and stewardship, I would appreciate them. I found this website which I found helpful...and if you have more resources I would appreciate them. Thanks

http://conservation.catholic.org/how_will_humanity_and_the_earth.htm

[BrevisVir55]

I destroyed all of my pagan literature shortly after being received into the Church but I can recommend "A World Full of Gods: An Inquiry into Polytheism" by John Michael Greer.

[CrusaderKing]

Here's a good article for you:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14383c.htm

[Oldavid]

G'day Spera,
And ,perhaps some of your fears will be realised.
It seems to me that the Catholic church has long had the idea that it could reduce the hold of paganism by planting Christian festivals over pagan. It's been moderately successful over time but a notable apparent failure was the "St. Joseph The Worker" Feast on May 1st to "replace" the Communist May Day Celebrations.
But none of this has anything to do with syncretism. It's more like a very pragmatic approach to the situation.

[devotedknuckles]

Similer to how the religion of secularism and multiculturalism is trying to replace christmass with a purchase and consume festival. The replacement of the pricepio with the evergreen tree, the replacement of merry Christmass with happy holidays
Oh yeah they did that.
Sip

[Oldavid]

Yep.