Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

*boldened mine

Surely you are not saying that because I choose to celebrate Easter or Christmas, my children do not have the truth???!!

Because if you are, that is a very slanderous statement.

 

You would not have to worry about celebrating Easter and Christmas if you were to go to the Middle East.

 

Eggs are part of the passover plates (seder). Grass (herbs) are also part of the seder. I still hold to my original theory that pagans copied things from Jewish observances and perverted them for their own use. The rabbit is just an in your face to Jewish dietary laws.

 

LE, did you see my post? The pagans celebrate the Spring Equinox on March 21st or whatever day it falls.

This celebration has to do with fertility rites and the rabbit represented fertility (no surprise there), as do eggs. It has nothing to do with Passover.

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/ostara-wiccan-sabbat-march-20-2009-spring-equinox

 

Paganism with Christian wrapping paper, but it makes everyone feel warm and fuzzy inside so it must be ok, right?

 

Hey, Marcia, I did see your post but my question to you is, which came first, the pagan religions (wiccans) or Passover?

The first passover was celebrated roughly 1441 BC.

 

Paganism (not Wicca, which is a modern form of Neo-Paganism) is older; when Moses was leading Israel into the pagan lands, the pagans were there and practicing their rituals. But even if Paganism were not older, that does not mean Paganism stole things from the Passover for its rituals. I do not see any parallels between Passover and Pagan nature rituals at the Spring Equinox.

As for the bunnies and Easter eggs as part of Paganism, I am not saying these were practiced necessarily in the earliert forms of Paganism - they were probably practiced in Celtic forms of paganism, who knows when. But that is neither here nor there - there is no evidence that Pagans stole Passover for their rituals. They wouldn't want to, for one thing. These rituals are based on pagan gods and things from nature (such as rabbits and eggs) that symbolized fertility.

Having said all that, let me clarify my position. I think believers who want to observe Easter with decorated eggs and egg hunts and bunnies, should have the freedom to do so. And those believers who do not like these aspects of Easter and do not want to participate, should have the freedom not to do so without any criticism. And each should give the other grace.

 

Has God shown you that buying gas for your car shows you are supporting Muslims too?

 

[B"]Having said all that, let me clarify my position. I think believers who want to observe Easter with decorated eggs and egg hunts and bunnies, should have the freedom to do so. And those believers who do not like these aspects of Easter and do not want to participate, should have the freedom not to do so without any criticism. And each should give the other grace."[/B]

This is well said. If the easter bunny messes with your Christian sensibilities then you better leave him alone. But, if it's just a tradition that brings joy to your children or brings back good memories of childhood, then, by all means, carry on.

When I was a little boy (probably three years old) my dad cut the grass and a pile of grass would be blown up in a corner by the front door steps. I remember getting up one Sunday morning and getting ready to go to church. I remember my mother telling me that I should go out and check out the clump of grass by the front door steps. Underneath that pile of grass was some candy and pretty eggs. It's funny, for several weeks after that I remember checking out that pile of grass almost every day.

 

Question then. This post is in regard to Ishtar....I mean "Easter." What would you say about celebrating Halloween?

 

Are you asking me? I'm not sure but if you are, here is my statement on Halloween on my site:
http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Halloween.html

 

The only thing I disagreed with, Marcia, was the statement that there is no evidence that Halloween night is a night of Satanic rituals. I believe there is much evidence for this. Otherwise, others may do as they like, but I prefer to abstain altogether except to make it a night to pray for the lost. My children knew it was a "stay-at-home and honor the Lord" night.

Easter? I refuse to call it that, but I do believe we can celebrate the Lord's resurrection. Forget the bunnies and eggs for me.

 

Consciously or unconsciously I celebrate HIS resurrection every day, for it is by that I can be born again...:thumbsup:

As for the "easter candy", Ill take if you want to give it to me...:laugh:

BTW, I am one who prefers to esteem every day alike.

 

So that means you'll take candy everyday!!!
I like that... Easter candy 365 days a yr!...
OH.. and Christmas candy too...

Can't leave out Halloween... OH and Valentines day...

Chocolate... YUM...

 

There is no evidence for Satanic rituals of killing people. I've written on Satanism, been invited to speak on radio programs on it, and have spoken on it in churches for years. I am an acknowledged expert on the occult an I've been involved in it (before I was a believer, of course, though I was not in Satanism). Most Satanists are atheists - do not believe in God or Satan. Satan is a symbol of being their own god.

Those who do believe in a Satan figure do rituals but not rituals of killing people.

Then there are self-styled Satanists - those who call themselves Satanist and just do what they would do anyway but say it's in the name of Satan.

Both Wiccans/witches and Satanists practice rituals on Halloween, but not involving killing anyone (and witches and Satanists have different views and purposes in the rituals. Witches honor earth/nature or a god/goddess while Satanist are self-indulgent).

It's always good for Christians to have their facts straight; otherwise, we can lose our credibility.

I totally agree that those who are uncomfortable acknowledging Halloween in any way should refrain from doing so and not be criticized for it.

In fact, my plea has been for Christians to see Halloween as a day to pray for those in the occult, that they would see the truth and light of Christ.

And, ironically enough, Halloween is my birthday! :laugh: