Is Easter Still Relevant?

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 04-06-2010, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

And, as we all know, Christians are incapable of being condescending.

That's certainly a joke and a half. Can't pin it on all Christians however. But feel free to pin in on the corpse/vampire of a pope.

NSW · 04-06-2010, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duga

I honestly don't worry about celebrating holidays and what it means in terms of religion. Does anyone ever wonder why so many holidays from so many different religions share similar dates? Almost every major religion has a holiday on or around December 25th. Many also have a holiday around Easter. December 25th is known not to be Jesus's actual birthday, so why celebrate it then? Because it is the end of the Winter Solstice. Easter is around the beginning of Spring.

This is all due to syncretism - the melding of beliefs to ease the transition from the old to new. When missions and kings were busy converting everyone to Christianity, they did it aggressively, but they also knew that they couldn't just slap a brand new set of traditions on the people. So, they kept all the old holidays from the previous religion, renamed them, and tweaked the reason for celebrating it all to ease the transition into Christianity. Instead of worshiping the sun god on December 25th (who brings more sunlight and longer days with him), people worship the son of God.

All our holidays have a history dating back even to prehistory. So, I celebrate these holidays because I am a human and like to celebrate human history and accomplishment, not because I am religious.

I'm surprised at how many people don't realize this. Every time my coworker gets on her religious high horse and starts condemning people for "taking Christ out of Christmas", I wanna turn around and ask her when he was ever really a part of it to begin with.

TheCunningStunt · 04-10-2010, 03:58 AM

Easter eggs are class. So, Easter

Astronomer · 04-10-2010, 09:39 PM

Like already said, I think most of it has to do with family tradition. The same goes for Christmas which is primarily recognized as a religious holiday but almost everybody I know still celebrates it.

Personally, I don't follow any particular faith but a few members of my family and friends do. So while Easter is meaningful in a deeper way for them, for me it is about spending quality time with my family/ friends and joining in on their celebration.

boo boo · 04-17-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla

Personally for Christianity I believe it is, but it's become so over-marketed etc that it has lost it's meaning. If you don't celebrate Jesus rising from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion then why is it relevant to others?

It's always bothered me really, and I'd like to hear what others think on the matter. Feel free to give me a good reason why non-Christians/Catholics etc should celebrate it too?

Silly girl, Easter is way more complicated than that.

St. Peter was really a rabbit and the Catholic church is covering it up, everyone knows that.

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 04-27-2010, 02:28 PM

I saw a Chocolate Cross with Decorative Eggs set at Wal-Mart, once.

Yeah, I hate Easter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

Silly girl, Easter is way more complicated than that.

St. Peter was really a rabbit and the Catholic church is covering it up, everyone knows that.

South Park.

04-10-2010, 03:58 AM	#43 (permalink)
TheCunningStunt love will tear you apart Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 5,107	Easter eggs are class. So, Easter __________________ I don't feel and I feel great. Last FM

04-10-2010, 09:39 PM	#44 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	Like already said, I think most of it has to do with family tradition. The same goes for Christmas which is primarily recognized as a religious holiday but almost everybody I know still celebrates it. Personally, I don't follow any particular faith but a few members of my family and friends do. So while Easter is meaningful in a deeper way for them, for me it is about spending quality time with my family/ friends and joining in on their celebration. __________________