NO TRUE CHRISTIAN WOULD OBSERVE EASTER

So, I guess you also refuse to celebrate Christmas, since it is at celebrated at the time of another Pagan day, and very few Christians still believe that Christ was born in December?? Just wondering.

Is it okay with you if true Christians observe the death and ressurrection of the Savior Christ, Son of God?

Would it seem too much like heresy to you if they observed this event at the time of Passover, of which ancient Jewish tradition it is the culmination and fulfilment?

Is it really so shocking that the Creator would redeem all humanity in the springtime, the time of new life and new growth on Earth? Does it surprise you that people everywhere, from every tribe and tradition, see in the springtime a living, breathing symbol of Heaven's own life promise?

Of course the pagan traditions recognize the spiritual power of springtime, for it is truly there. When else would they celebrate fertility and rebirth?

The pagan rituals of Ishtar may be false teachings, as you claim, but they point to a truth we all know and desire. Colored eggs may be the pretty playthings of an empty religion, but even they can be given new life and true meaning as symbols and celebrations of the Risen King, Savior of us all.

Christmas is another such pivot point in the seasons. It would be a great shock indeed if all the spiritual traditions did not converge on these dates in our calendars. The solstices, the equinoxes; these are rare times when the transcendent mysteries are made manifest in our lives, on our terms. The death of the old year and the birth of the new is no less a perfect time to celebrate the birth of the Savior, no matter who else might celebrate their own ideal of birth and hope on that date. And why not adopt the evergreen tree as a symbol of the eternal, ever-loving God?

If God created all things, including the Earth in its orbit and the Sun in its celestial track, then how could it possibly be wrong for His worshippers to set aside these most holy days of the seasons for special worship?

No true Christian would celebrate Easter? Not at all! No true Christian could do anything else! The spiritual significance of the date demands it. What true Christian could possibly ignore it? Do you claim that the worshippers of Ishtar had some special revelation about the vernal equinox that was not given to worshippers of the true Creator God? Isn't it more likely that those worshippers know the true meaning of Easter, and the pagan rituals are but dim echoes of this truth? But what's your interest in this, Marvin? Are you a Christian, who begrudges the pagan rites which echo your own? Or are you a curmudgeon, here to piss on the sincere and joyful celebrations of a faith you don't understand?

Either way, set your grudges aside. Join us in celebration of this time of Earthly rebirth, and of the hope of Heavenly rebirth it promises.

Just a thought, but don't "true Christians" leave the decision about who is and isn't a "true Chirstian" to Christ? ;~D

Perhaps the dates aren't correct, but it's the thought that counts, isn't it?

Perhaps the dates aren't correct, but it's the thought that counts, isn't it?

Marvin! Good to hear from you! How is the weather on your planet? Terrific blog, well up to your usual standards of lunacy. But this time, you've managed to outrage other Christians too, so this is a double whammy for the humanists amongst us. Keep up the good work.

Insightful (if unintentionally so).

Mmmmm...sacrelicious! Marvin get's the Insightful just because he has maintained iron consistancy through the use of ALL CAPS in the title...

this explains why there's no annual campaign to put the 'east' back into easter.

the use of ALL CAPS in the title...

clearly he's learned from the masters Link

Marvin! Good to hear from you! How is the weather on your planet? Terrific blog, well up to your usual standards of lunacy. But this time, you've managed to outrage other Christians too, so this is a double whammy for the humanists amongst us. Keep up the good work. Insightful (if unintentionally so).

Hey Furry, just between me you and the fence post, can you blog on what a Humanist is?  I am serious as I would want to know more (I am curious, not yellow ).

But I give you a thumbs up on your post!

Would it seem too much like heresy to you if they observed this event at the time of Passover, of which ancient Jewish tradition it is the culmination and fulfilment? Is it really so shocking that the Creator would redeem all humanity in the springtime, the time of new life and new growth on Earth? Does it surprise you that people everywhere, from every tribe and tradition, see in the springtime a living, breathing symbol of Heaven's own life promise?

The problem with false prophets is that they try to twist the true word.  You seem to have cut through the bull crap and gotten to it tho.

Yes, Easter is named not for ishtar, but for east as in the direction of the Rising Sun (no pun intended).  It is celebrated based upon the Jewish holiday of passover (since that was what the last supper was).  That the Church decided to make it the first sunday after the first full moon after the spring Equinox (dont ask me why) does not seem to matter.

marvin, if you were a true Christian, you would know that above all else, Easter is the most holy of days (not christmas) and that it is the time for the rebirth of the soul.

The Date is not important.  The meaning is.  Get it?

Perhaps the dates aren't correct, but it's the thought that counts, isn't it?

Bingo!  I should have read farther before I repeated you.

Seeing as Christianity is a cult, it does not surprise that they adopted earlier festivals as its own. It was an easier way to get followers of other traditions to change over. In the same way it made previous gods, its god, which, of course had to be superior to all others. Ditto, the "son of god" story. But, then, who am I to judge what Christians believe. After all the cult has its own judge.

Seeing as Christianity is a cult, it does not surprise that they adopted earlier festivals as its own. It was an easier way to get followers of other traditions to change over. In the same way it made previous gods, its god, which, of course had to be superior to all others. Ditto, the "son of god" story. But, then, who am I to judge what Christians believe. After all the cult has its own judge.

RRH or HRH Or HHR or HRR?

You exposed yourself for the petty little troll you are.  Too bad that Marvin, a nice person, does not ban your comments!  But I have seen them on other articles and know you to be just a gnarled little bitter person.  In other words a troll.

 

Let's see, no Easter, no Christmas, and for damn sure no Halloween! What's a poor Shovelheat to do?

Marvin, I agree completely with this article. You've got all your facts right in this one, and I have to commend you on posting it.

Cheers.

Easter is named not for ishtar, but for east as in the direction of the Rising Sun

since easter is only called easter in english/german speaking countries, it seems unlikely members of the council of nicea were thinking 'east like the rising sun' and writing 'pascha' when setting the date for the holiday.

the english word easter is derived from the ancient german month of oestremonat (which may owe its name to oestre the goddess of spring...at least acording to the venerable bede).

since easter is only called easter in english/german speaking countries, it seems unlikely members of the council of nicea were thinking 'east like the rising sun' and writing 'pascha' when setting the date for the holiday.

No, Easter is the english word and means what it says. you dont like it? invent your own. Words are invented in every language and then when no translation exists, they make up their own. So did the English. You dont like it? Creat your own.

BTW. It is oester in Deutsch and oest is East in that language as well. Dont like it? invent your own.

in Deutsch and oest is East in that language as well. Dont like it? invent your own.

as i guess you musta since ost was the german word for east last time i checked.

Are we splitting hares as a tribute to the Easter Bunny?? ;~D

as i guess you musta since ost was the german word for east last time i checked.

That's true. Easter is Ostern too, so in the end, the point still stands.

Are we splitting hares as a tribute to the Easter Bunny?? ;~D

aaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahaha

'Hey Furry, just between me you and the fence post, can you blog on what a Humanist is? I am serious as I would want to know more (I am curious, not yellow ).'

Unfortunately, Dr. Guy, Humanism - like almost any other 'ism' you care to mention - probably has nearly as many definitions as it has adherents. I like to think of it, in its simplest terms, as an approach to living which places as central human beings and their actions in this life - as opposed to any kind of existence after death - or, indeed, before birth. (And before anyone cares to tell me that this is wrong and / or simplistic, I would stress that I began that last sentence with 'I like to think of it, in its simplest terms ...'.)

In other words, Humanism is an approach in which, if our actions and accomplishments are to be judged, they should be judged ON this earth, with respect TO this earth, and BY our fellow inhabitants, rather than in terms of some perceived existence beyond it. Thus, to suggest a couple of scenarios:
1) Suffering in this life is not measured in terms of, say, a reward in heaven; and
2) Providing relief to sufferers in this world is measured in terms of the good / harm it does them / others, not how much it pleases or displeases a supreme being.

There are many websites that can tell you more, most of them doubtless more accurate and erudite than me. However, this is perhaps a good place to start:
http://www.humanism.org/

Now, time to stop this line of thought, as I feel like I am usurping Marvin's blog - my apologies, Marvin.

Marvin, as a rather less flippant response to your blog than my first, I would simply echo the thoughts of ParaTed2k, enigmatic jester and Dr. Guy. Is it more important that a festival derives from a pure and untainted history and etymology, or that it embodies a pure and untainted message? And don't forget that whatever is the case for Easter must surely also apply to Christmas, Lent etc. Do you really want to throw out all those Christian messages with the bathwater?

The ritualistic observance of natural phenomena has been practiced since pre-historic times. What's changed are the labels. But what troubles me is when a belief system moves beyond general acknowledgements of changes in the seasons or in people's lives (births, deaths, marriages etc.), and a group try to assign deeper significance to these events, manipulating the calendar, history and symbolism associated until it becomes a recognised "brand" exclusive to one particular "religion". This is a ridiculous idea, and serves only to profit those who perpetuate the mythology. To try to claim that an act of nature "belongs" exclusively to one particular belief system is both ignorant and arrogant. It is understandable that communities tied closely to the natural world should mythologise nature. But when someone tries to institutionalise these beliefs and claim exclusive rights to them in order to win power and influence in society, then we have moved one step away from an altruistic celebration of our world and ourselves, and one step towards calculated self-interest and greed. That institutionalised religion has survived into the 21st Century is quite amazing. Are religious "leaders" any more relevant today than Royal ones? It seems to me that it is inherent in human nature to celebrate beliefs, and to defend those beliefs from the threat of outside challenges. If we must insist on continuing to observe different religions, then why can't we focus on the similarities they share instead of the petty differences?