HEAR THE BELLS?

     Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) was a Russian physiologist.  In his work of digestive research, he learned that he could ring bells and dogs would respond and eat food.  In time, the dogs would salivate in their anticipation of food; later, the dogs would also salivate to either the ringing of bells or even at the arrival of an assistant who would bring their food.  By this method, Pavlov believed the response of the dogs was a learned behavior:  that a conditioned stimulus provoked a conditioned response with the presentation of food.  Pavlov's discovery as a physiologist became the Classical Conditioning Theory of psychology, which has been helpful in understanding human behavior.
     Church bells have been used for centuries as a signal to call people to prayer and worship to Christian churches and Christian religions because the bells is a conditioned stimulus, which provokes a conditioned response, with the presentation of food or reward.  Bells were introduced in churches as early as 400 A.D., and they have also been used as a safeguard against lightning and violent tempests, which is superstition. 
     Bells were used first in ancient Egyptian religions as a signal of worship to their god Osiris, the god of the afterlife, the underworld, and the dead.
     In addition to bells, the ancient Egyptians used music in temples, palaces, workshops, farms, battlefields, and the tombs:  with gods associated with music, such as Hathor and Bes. 
     Egyptian percussion instruments included hand-held drums, rattles, castanets, ells, and sistrum.  Stringed instruments included harps, lyres, and lutes.  Male and female voices were frequently used as well, including professional musicians.  The highest status belonged to temple musicians in the office "musician" (shemayet) to a particular god or goddess was a position of high status frequently held by women.  Ritual temple music was a matter of the rattling the sistrum, accompanied by voices, sometimes with harp or percussion.  The sistrum was used in dances and worship for the goddess Hathor.  The sound of the instrument was used to appease and attract the attention of gods and goddesses.
     In the Greco-Roman period, the sistrum spread with the cult of Isis wherever the kingdom spread, even today in worship rites in Coptic and Ethiopian churches. 
     Isis, a goddess in ancient Egyptian religions, was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife, the matron of nature and magic.  Isis had a brother, Osiris, who became her husband, and she had a son, Horus, who was killed by Set (Satan).  Isis was instrumental in the resurrection of Horus (son god).  Thus the monogram, IHS, stands of Isis, Horus, Set, which equals mother-son-satan).
     Thus, the ringing of bells, music, and worship of pagan dieties had their orgins in ancient Egyptian religions, which were incorporated by pagan priests in the religion of Christianity, beginning in the Roman Empire.  The false apostle, Simon Peter Magus, added the mystery religion of ancient Babylon, which is witchcraft, and the casting of spells on believers, beginning in Rome, and a practice that continues even to this day.
     In many Christian churches and religions, the sound of bells is the conditioned stimuli, which provokes a conditioned response to music, with the belief that a presentation of food will be received from the ministers of religion.
     Christ, however, does not dwell in buildings made by human hands; neither does the Lord mix Himself with man's religions, nor allow Himself to be as a pawn among pagan rites, rituals, and relics.  Christ dwells in the hearts of believers, so that we can worship and serve the Lord without buildings.
     God did not create us to be obedient puppies to the masters of religion.  God wants us to know Christ and experience the power of His resurrection.