[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Sticks

The word Easter comes from Eostre an Anglo Saxaon pagon Goddess, so Christians celebrating Easter are celebrating a pagan rite.

Jsnip.

Whilst what you say is technically true to a degree there is abundant evidence supporting the fact that the Greco-Roman church tended to amalgamate idolatrous rites into the Christianity they were introducing to heathen cultures. If you place yourself in the history of the time it was a fairly sensible way to evangelise and spread the good news. It was not some cloak and dagger way of tricking people etc.

The idea was that non-Christians would be more likely to embrace Christianity if they were allowed to retain their pagan practices, especially if some Christian correspondence with their traditions could be established.

As you say there is no mention of "Easter" in my Bible I have on my desk here (ESV).

However for Christians I do not think that out customs built up over the years detract from the "Easter" message. We should celebrate the resurrection and our churches do. Whilst the secular Easter is chocolate, bunnies and holiday, the Christian Easter is marks the end of Lent, the death of Jesus on Good Friday and his resurrection from the dead three days later on Easter Sunday.

As long as Christians gather to celebrate this then that is in my mind correct and good.

[Stu]

I too like to celebrate the death and ressurection of Christ by telling kids that a giant rabbit is going to plant chocolate everywhere.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Judas Iscariot

I too like to celebrate the death and ressurection of Christ by telling kids that a giant rabbit is going to plant chocolate everywhere.

[Claymores]

Originally Posted by andyman

Is Easter about a guy that died and then came back from the dead with super Jedi powers to destroy the evil empire controling the galaxy chocolate bar?

Did he use the force or a creme egg?

[Shasown]

Its a time to celebrate what a bloody good egg Jesus was for dying for us all.

And what a bad lot those Romans were for being so cruel and nasty. I think we should all show our dislike for Johnny Eyetie by boycotting Dolmio sauces and kiwi fruit from lets say next Wednesday for about ummmm 40 days, that ought to be enough eh? In fact lets do it every year.

[Stu]

Someone told me the white stuff in creme eggs is Jesus Jizz.

[sooty]

Being non Christian, Easter means;

Gardening, chocolates, short holiday, cleaning windows,,,,.

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by sooty

Being non Christian, Easter means;

Gardening, chocolates, short holiday, cleaning windows,,,,.

Well dont forget to thanks Jesus for dying in order that you could have a short holiday, he really was such a nice chap eh?

[Crimson Dynamo]

The Death of Jesus

At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?").

When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."

Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

The Burial of Jesus

It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

Jesus Has Risen

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Mark (TNIV)

[InOne]

All borrowed from Egyptian and other Middle Eastern Religions at the time. The Ressurection is not unique

[sooty]

Originally Posted by Shasown

Well dont forget to thanks Jesus for dying in order that you could have a short holiday, he really was such a nice chap eh?

Gratefulness. I like the word.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by InOne

All borrowed from Egyptian and other Middle Eastern Religions at the time. The Ressurection is not unique

yes and we never landed on the moon

and Bush called 9/11 strikes

John Craven murdered Jill Dando

[InOne]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

yes and we never landed on the moon

and Bush called 9/11 strikes

John Craven murdered Jill Dando

It's fact mate, no matter how much you like to dance around it lol

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by InOne

It's fact mate, no matter how much you like to dance around it lol

Oh, the old (and by that I mean centuries old) accusation about Isis et al..

The pagan god Osiris is supposedly murdered by his brother and dumped in the Nile. The goddess Isis recovers the body, only to lose it again to her bro-in-law who slices it into 14 bits and scatters them around the world. Finding the parts Isis "Baptises" each piece in the Nile and Osiris is "resurrected".

Parallels with this and Christ's resurrection are stretched to say the least.

This and other "mysteries" flourished long after the closing of the cannon of Scripture anyroad.

It would be far more accurate to say that the above story was influenced by Christianity.

[InOne]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Oh, the old (and by that I mean centuries old) accusation about Isis et al..

The pagan god Osiris is supposedly murdered by his brother and dumped in the Nile. The goddess Isis recovers the body, only to lose it again to her bro-in-law who slices it into 14 bits and scatters them around the world. Finding the parts Isis "Baptises" each piece in the Nile and Osiris is "resurrected".

Parallels with this and Christ's resurrection are stretched to say the least.

This and other "mysteries" flourished long after the closing of the cannon of Scripture anyroad.

It would be far more accurate to say that the above story was influenced by Christianity.

All Egyptian mythology predates Christianity.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by InOne

All Egyptian mythology predates Christianity.

Mythology on one hand

History on the other


It would be like saying that 9/11 was just a fantasy based on War of the Worlds

[InOne]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Mythology on one hand

History on the other


It would be like saying that 9/11 was just a fantasy based on War of the Worlds

Yes but how is the story of Jesus history? It is only recorded in the Bible...

[Beastie]

I am off work easter weekend And I love easter eggs

[Beastie]

Originally Posted by Judas Iscariot

Someone told me the white stuff in creme eggs is Jesus Jizz.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Claymores

That sounds thrilling - worth Jesus being resurrected again for

trust me, it's bigger than jesus

[Sticks]

Originally Posted by InOne

Yes but how is the story of Jesus history? It is only recorded in the Bible...

See also the writings of Flavious Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny the Younger and some of the Talmud

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by InOne

Yes but how is the story of Jesus history? It is only recorded in the Bible...

the manuscript evidence alone (28,000 documents) written within 300 years of the event should suffice without what sticks said.

[InOne]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

the manuscript evidence alone (28,000 documents) written within 300 years of the event should suffice without what sticks said.

The Bible is historically inaccurate. Full of Contradictions and stories borrowed from other Religions.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by InOne

The Bible is historically inaccurate. Full of Contradictions and stories borrowed from other Religions.

The Bible is 66 books written over thousands of years. It is history, prophesy, poetry, song, allegory..

To sum it up as you have done is only to shine a torch on your own shortcomings in terms of Biblical knowledge.

[InOne]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

The Bible is 66 books written over thousands of years. It is history, prophesy, poetry, song, allegory..

To sum it up as you have done is only to shine a torch on your own shortcomings in terms of Biblical knowledge.

What about the Gnostic Gospals?