What is the history of Roman Catholic labyrinths? Is there pagan history/relation behind them?

Phantom_Of3: What is the history of Roman Catholic labyrinths? Is there pagan history/relation behind them?
Why don’t most Christian protestants (like me) prefer to use labyrinths (which started with Roman Catholicism)? Why do some claim there is paganism behind labyrinths? What is the history of labyrinths?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Cold Truth
Something to do with the Troll King and a weired looking puppet called Hoggle.

Answer by Catty
What exactly are you alluding to?

Answer by Lando
Jareth snatched toby to lure sarah into the labyrinth

Answer by Pirate AM™
Just what would you use a labyrinth for? Not sure if the word came from the Greek but it is used in association with an underground maze or lair in Greek mythology.

Answer by Freedom
Labyrinths have been used by a wide variety of cultures for at least 3,500 years. Evidence of ancient labyrinths exists in Crete, Egypt, Italy, Scandinavia, and North America. Ancient labyrinths had what is usually called the “classical” design of seven rings, or circuits. They were decidedly pagan in function: many labyrinths were dedicated to a goddess and used in ritualistic dances. The Hopi Indians saw the labyrinth as a symbol of Mother Earth, and the hundreds of stone labyrinths along the Scandinavian shoreline were used as magic traps for trolls and evil winds to ensure safe fishing.

In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church adapted the labyrinth for its own purposes within its cathedrals. The classical form gave way to a more intricate design of 11 circuits in 4 quadrants, usually called the “medieval” design. Within Catholicism, the labyrinth could symbolize several things: the hard and winding road to God, a mystical ascension to salvation and enlightenment, or even a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for those who could not make the actual journey.

Answer by Prospero Reincarnate
There’s only one Labarynth I know of here in Pittsburgh, and it’s in a Presbyterian church.

Answer by Kat
Oy. Do you honestly think that ANYTHING actually started when Rome Christianized? They just grabbed a bunch of stuff from various surrounding traditions and shoved it together.