I heard that Easter was originally a pagan holiday?

[xxxscenekidxxx]

like the people who worship the earth and stuff and they have many difrent gods. and they wanted more animals or something... its why there are bunnies, turtles, and eggs... cuz bunnies ant turtles have a lot of babies at once ant eggs are were babies come from... and its in spring cuz thats when animals have babies
coments?

[Vicky]

[size=1]Yes it was.

'Cause my friend's dad said so and he's clever and Christian anyway.

Not in anyway trying to break down religion, but the majority of things in Christianity (and all of the four Abrahamic religions for that matter) come from ancient past times. Horus, an Egyptian God, was born in December, had 13 followers, was born of the virgin mother, performed miracles and was crucified, buried, and rose (then ascended) on the third day. Sound familiar? There are thousands of exact stories of hundreds of Gods and myths based around the same tale. It's very much based on stars.

Like I said, people can believe in what they want. Just because there's evidence that Jesus and most holidays are simply patched together from older religions doesn't falsify anything; it's just great to use that when someone gets zealous and righteous on your arse about their lifestyle being flawless and yours being wrong.[/size]

[John]

[quote name='Vicky'][SIZE=1]Not in anyway trying to break down religion, but the majority of things in Christianity (and all of the four Abrahamic religions for that matter) come from ancient past times. Horus, an Egyptian God, was born in December, had 13 followers, was born of the virgin mother, performed miracles and was crucified, buried, and rose (then ascended) on the third day. Sound familiar? There are thousands of exact stories of hundreds of Gods and myths based around the same tale. It's very much based on stars.[/SIZE][/quote] Protip: [spoiler][I]Zeitgeist[/I] sucked.[/spoiler]

[Vicky]

[size=1]Wasn't just Zeitgeist. Books are kind of handy too... books without [i]opinions =p.[/i] (edit: what I mean is history books, which is still a little biased probably but barely as much).[/size]

[Axel]

[INDENT][quote name='Vicky'][SIZE=1]Horus...performed miracles and was crucified, buried, and rose (then ascended) on the third day.[/SIZE][/quote]

*COUGHNotHorusCOUGH*

Oh, indeed, Easter was originally pagan. It was all to do with fertillity and rebirth. Easter, or Oestara/Eostre/Ostara/Spring Equinox, depending on what you prefer, was a celebration of spring time and the life which returns to the earth. At that time, the fertility goddess was praised by means of a festival. This festival is named after the Anglo-Saxon Goddess Oestara, often depicted with daffodils in her hair and a hare by her side.
[IMG]http://www.olevikingshop.com/i/Viking%20Prints/95_WC_OSTARA_300.JPG[/IMG]
Her name is the source of the word Easter. She was naturally connected with hares and eggs. The general customs of this time were to eat eggs which are the perfect symbol of rebirth. The white being the colour of the goddess and the yolk being the sun.

Perhaps these links will be of some help:

[URL]http://www.religioustolerance.org/easter1.htm[/URL]

[URL]http://www.albatrus.org/english/festivals/easter/is_easter_pagan.htm[/URL]
[/INDENT]

[Zen]

[color=royalblue][size=1]

There's a character in the Neil Gaiman book [b]American Gods[/b] based off of the above opinion. She's very offended the Christians stole her day.[/color][/size]

[Skye]

[size=1]...And I had to. Why? Because, for once, its something I know about.

Yes, it was originally a pagan holiday. Axel more or less nailed it. And thanks, Mike. I do like to think she's irked that the Christians were that arrogant.

The whole "bunnies and eggs" thing also has to do with birds that nested in the ground, and got scared away by farmers. The farmers would come back and burrow would be occupied by a rabbit - and the eggs would still be there. =].[/size]

[The Spectacular Professor]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Most big Christian holidays are somehow based around some kind of Pagan holiday somewhere down the line. Don't believe me? Look up what "Yule" means.[/FONT]

[Zen]

[quote name='Ace'][FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Most big Christian holidays are somehow based around some kind of Pagan holiday somewhere down the line. Don't believe me? Look up what "Yule" means.[/FONT][/QUOTE]

[color=royalblue][size=1]

Almost all modern western holidays are. They just tag a Saint's name or add something to do with Jesus to it.

Also Halloween.

The only one that comes to mind that's pretty much original is St. Patrick's Day. And we celebrate that by getting super ****-faced.[/color][/size]

[TheShinje]

Easter is originally a pagan holiday, like Christmas, and they were assimilated into Christianity to make it easier for followers of pagan religions to follow Christ, something like you don't have to give up your culture to follow Jesus, but direct your worship to him, the saviour.

Horus, the son of Osiris, is not a pre Jesus messianic figure. He did not die to reconcile humankind to God.

Christianity stands alone in this regard. Look at other religions, they are centered on what you can do for your God/s. Look at Christianity (be careful when you do this, there are many wolves about) and it's all about what God has done for us, should we accept his sacrifice, we will be reconciled to him in eternity.

Christians remember this on Easter, regardless of the pagan origin.

[xxxscenekidxxx]

[quote name='Stephanie'][size=1]...And I had to. Why? Because, for once, its something I know about.

Yes, it was originally a pagan holiday. Axel more or less nailed it. And thanks, Mike. I do like to think she's irked that the Christians were that arrogant.

The whole "bunnies and eggs" thing also has to do with birds that nested in the ground, and got scared away by farmers. The farmers would come back and burrow would be occupied by a rabbit - and the eggs would still be there. =].[/size][/QUOTE]

wow thats realy interesting

[Cat]

Its true Easter was originally a pagan holiday. How do I know? Well I'm a pagan myself. I wont go into any more explanation cause everything I was about to say has pretty much already been said. I don't like to repeat and make it boring.

I only have a tiny dispute about how pagan concepts got into Christianity. The way I was told was in order for the pagans to keep their believes they had combined them with Christianity. It wasn't really Christians adding the pagan beliefs Christianity but the pagans adding their beliefs into Christianity. If that made any sense at all.

[Raiha]

[quote name='Cat']I only have a tiny dispute about how pagan concepts got into Christianity. The way I was told was in order for the pagans to keep their believes they had combined them with Christianity. It wasn't really Christians adding the pagan beliefs Christianity but the pagans adding their beliefs into Christianity. If that made any sense at all.[/QUOTE]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][LEFT][FONT="Times New Roman"]Yes, that does make sense. And I know there are a lot of hardline Christians that like to claim that they thought of it first. But as far as actual Easter worship services go, we proclaim the divinity of Christ through his resurrection from the grave.

We don't include animals, eggs, candles, incense [unless we're Catholic], etc. as part of the 'ceremonies' because there IS no ceremony. The only difference between Easter and other Sunday worship services is the amount of people who shop up for the service that you'll never ever see again but welcome happily anyway. It's about the same as Christmas. On these holidays people regardless of their actual faith or belief show up to church because they think it's the right thing to do.

I don't know too many Christians [in my acquaintance and there are many] anyway who particularly care about the origins of their holiday so much as they remember to celebrate Christ's resurrection. The bunnies and eggs these days is just a cheap way to get your kids pumped full of sugar so the parents want to beat them. Our church does an Easter egg hunt mostly to get the kids out of everyone else's hair. I helped. Found an egg on the roof with a dollar coin in it. Woo.[/FONT][/LEFT][/COLOR]

[Skye]

[quote name='Raiha'][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][LEFT][FONT="Times New Roman"] I helped. Found an egg on the roof with a dollar coin in it. Woo.[/FONT][/LEFT][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

[size=1]There was a reason it was on the roof. =D

And I agree, it's not like we asked Christians to come traipsing in. Many people did like the conversion, yes, but a good many objected, too.

And I hate to say it, but too many people have died in the name of this God that asks for nothing, too many people believe themselves condemned to an eternal pit of pain and torture because they weren't perfect enough. Doesn't sound very nice to me. =/[/size]

[Raiha]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]A few thousand people died in New York in the name of Allah as terrorists died shouting that their god was great too.

Don't you turn this into a gleeful Bashing of Christianity fest because I will happily tell you how many people have died in the name of Allah, how many women have been burned in the name of family honor in India, or how many children in China have been killed because they were the wrong gender according to the Chinese tradition. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[Allamorph]

[quote name='Stephanie][size=1']...too many people believe themselves condemned to an eternal pit of pain and torture because they weren't perfect enough.[/size][/quote]
[FONT=Arial]....do what?

o_O [COLOR=#EDEDED]

I think someone is missing some information....[/COLOR][/FONT]

[Skye]

[size=1]You go to Hell if you do this, or don't do that. =/

D'Ann, darling, I was just sayin' that whats-his-name up there was glorifying Christinanity. I agree, there are fabulous things about it, and horrible others. I completely agree. I just disagreed with the way he said it. I'm not gonna bash Christianity. I can find some horrible things to say about many 'pagan' religions, too.[/size]

[Rosencavalier]

Oh, yay. Christianity.

Don't forget children, your lord and saviour brought you into a world of disease, pain and suffering, and will end up sending the majority of you to a place of fire and torture, and burning, and spice girl albums -

- but he loves you. And he needs money.

Anywho, you'll find most things (traditions, biblical figures such as the differing images of satan, ideas and concepts, etc) were absorbed into christianity like a giant sponge if you do your homework. It's an easier way of bringing about transition between cultures and differing religious sects after they've been conquered.

[quote name='Zen']There's a character in the Neil Gaiman book [b]American Gods[/b] based off of the above opinion. She's very offended the Christians stole her day.[/QUOTE]

The only fictional book that ever stole the breath from my lungs.

[TheShinje]

[quote name='Rosencavalier']Oh, yay. Christianity.

Don't forget children, your lord and saviour brought you into a world of disease, pain and suffering, and will end up sending the majority of you to a place of fire and torture, and burning, and spice girl albums -

- but he loves you. And he needs money.

[/quote]


Let me help you understand this. God did not intend this world to be a place of pain and suffering, this is the symptom of the generational curse of Adam and Eve that began with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and will end with the second coming of Christ. This world will be fixed again.

Our lord and saviour, Jesus Christ, did not bring us into this world, he came to restore it to the father's original intention. He came to bridge the gap between man and God.

It's true that many people will end up in a place of fire, burning as punishment for their sins. A just God requires that evil abnd wickedness is punished. How can God be good if the murderer, or the rapist, is not brought to account for their crimes?

Here's the good news. Jesus, our lord and saviour, took the punishment that was meant to be ours, so that if we accept what he has done and follow him, we will be made one with God when the generational curse is broken.


And my God doesn't need money to infect peoples lives. Our financial offerings are voluntary. ;)

[Axel]

Oho. Watch out there, Lee. You incurred some wrath there. *Guffaw*

Just to make you aware, oh defensive Sabre person... The start of that comment was actually a partial George Carlin quote. :P ( [URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o[/URL] )

By the way guys... Nice to see that things haven't changed and that people are still on the religious-defence starting blocks to make a topic that was originally about the origins of Easter go off track. Ho hum. Very disappointing. :(

[Nerdsy]

[quote name='Axel Alloy']

By the way guys... Nice to see that things haven't changed and that people are still on the religious-defence starting blocks to make a topic that was originally about the origins of Easter go off track. Ho hum. Very disappointing. :([/QUOTE]

[color=deeppink]You find the defense of a religion disappointing, but say nothing about those who have attacked it?

Very disappointing.[/color]

[Korey]

[FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"]Honestly, I wasn't gonna get in this thread for the subject matter it covers. People are not willing to concede in their beliefs and consider all possible angles or just let people be. [/FONT]

[quote name='Stephanie']D'Ann, darling, I was just sayin' that whats-his-name up there was glorifying Christinanity. I agree, there are fabulous things about it, and horrible others. I completely agree. I just disagreed with the way he said it. I'm not gonna bash Christianity. I can find some horrible things to say about many 'pagan' religions, too.[/quote]

[quote name=' Stephanie'] And I hate to say it, but too many people have died in the name of this God that asks for nothing, too many people believe themselves condemned to an eternal pit of pain and torture because they weren't perfect enough. Doesn't sound very nice to me.[/quote]
[FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"]
I see a disparity in those two posts.

The people who have done these horrible things in the name of God did not read the Gospel or had it interpreted to them correctly. I've never read a single passage in the Bible that says to kill the heathens because they are godless and therefore need to be eradicated. The Qu'Aran (I know I'm spelling this wrong) doesn't speak of this either. I haven't read many other religious scriptures, but most religion's messages are that of peace, love and understanding.

I respect your views on Christianity and many horrible things have come about with people doing things in the name of their chosen deity, but it doesn't speak for others as a whole.

So overall I'm trying to say tomahtoe, and you say tomaytoe. It's a common goal we're trying to reach anyways.[/FONT]

[Axel]

[quote name='Nerdsy'][COLOR=deeppink]You find the defense of a religion disappointing, but say nothing about those who have attacked it?

Very disappointing.[/COLOR][/quote]

All I was getting at was that this was originally a topic about the origins of Easter and that, as usual, it got out of hand and turned into a religious battle of words. That is what I was referring to as disappointing mostly.

I didn't say anything about those who attacked it for a simple reason... Why care so much? Back when I was a Christian, I was tought that it didn't matter what others thought, or said about it, all that mattered was that YOU believed in it. So, why feel the need to defend it if you know it's right? Why does it matter if another person who has no affect of your life disagrees with your opinion? Oh and... What happened to turning that other cheek? :P"

[Nerdsy]

[quote]All I was getting at was that this was originally a topic about the origins of Easter and that, as usual, it got out of hand and turned into a religious battle of words. That is what I was referring to as disappointing mostly.[/quote]

[color=deeppink]I know what you were getting at. I was saying that you're placing the blame squarely on one side: the defense of religion. You claim that the starting blocks of becoming off-topic are "religious defense." This is one sided, as it takes both the attack and defense to derail a thread (and ignores how the attackers were the ones who initiated it). And you do it in a very condescending way.

And that's what I find disappointing.[/color]

[quote name='Axel Alloy']I didn't say anything about those who attacked it for a simple reason... Why care so much? Back when I was a Christian, I was thought that it didn't matter what others thought, or said about it, all that mattered was that YOU believed in it. So, why feel the need to defend it if you know it's right? Why does it matter if another person who has no affect of your life disagrees with your opinion? Oh and... What happened to turning that other cheek? :P"[/QUOTE]

[color=deeppink]Why care so much when people defend their beliefs? They believe it is right to defend themselves; if you think it only matters what individuals believe is right, why do you mock them when they act on those beliefs?

Or, why are you defending yourself when you know you're right?

Or, why is it you're criticizing another person who has no effect on your life because he decides that he wants to respond to an attacker?

By writing this paragraph I quoted, aren't you doing [i]exactly[/i] what you say there is no need for? What you have chastised others for doing because it derailed a thread?


And turning the other cheek doesn't mean "don't have a dialogue."[/color]

[xxxscenekidxxx]

[quote name='Nerdsy'][color=deeppink]I know what you were getting at. I was saying that you're placing the blame squarely on one side: the defense of religion. You claim that the starting blocks of becoming off-topic are "religious defense." This is one sided, as it takes both the attack and defense to derail a thread (and ignores how the attackers were the ones who initiated it). And you do it in a very condescending way.

And that's what I find disappointing.[/color]



[color=deeppink]Why care so much when people defend their beliefs? They believe it is right to defend themselves; if you think it only matters what individuals believe is right, why do you mock them when they act on those beliefs?

Or, why are you defending yourself when you know you're right?

Or, why is it you're criticizing another person who has no effect on your life because he decides that he wants to respond to an attacker?

By writing this paragraph I quoted, aren't you doing [i]exactly[/i] what you say there is no need for? What you have chastised others for doing because it derailed a thread?


And turning the other cheek doesn't mean "don't have a dialogue."[/color][/QUOTE]

i think its great that y'all have the courage to defend your religion... most people cant in fear of rejection...