First off, the Christedom has always held Easter as a very important, and very joyful.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/t/strifeis.htm
Check out this Hymn, it seems pretty joyful and Christ Victorious.
Any time your in a Catholic Church around Easter, every single hymn is Joyful. Plus, they always indicate the Victory of Christ over the powers of Satan, and destroying Death.
Besides that Easter (Isthar) has pagan root you can ask yourself what was the victory of Christ?
Some for example same Jesus came to bring life; but only for the elect.
Others say Jesus came to bring life for all but only a few people will accept that gift.
So what do Catholics celebrate? Salvation of the world or salvation of the Catholics?
Speaking of the pagan origin - wasn't the original word "Ishtar", goddess of fertility?
Also, the one time 'easter' appears in the KJV, the word all other occasions was apparently translated as 'passover' - guess king james' men wanted to stick with the pagan roots of the "holiday" [holy day] and leave the easter tradition alone. Supposedly, when the translators were commissioned, they were instructed to not translate in any manner that would depart from the accepted traditions/customs/practices of the "church".
I've seen where Gary wrote that he believes this current age to be a time of mixed truth and error. So there is the joy of Jesus' birth, resurrection, victory etc., often celebrated through "holidays" with pagan influence, roots, and regalia (christ-mass trees, mistletoe, ishtar bunnies, etc.).
Looking again at the OP, I think I somewhat missed the exact point of the question - hopefully still related enough though. :mblush:
Quote from: jabcat on February 06, 2010, 04:06:23 AM
Speaking of the pagan origin - wasn't the original word "Ishtar", goddess of fertility?
Yep. A virgin girl was raped on the altar by the high priest. A year later the baby was sacrificed on the same altar. The blood of the baby was used for.... painting eggs.
QuoteAlso, the one time 'easter' appears in the KJV, the word all other occasions was apparently translated as 'passover' - guess king james' men wanted to stick with the pagan roots of the "holiday" [holy day] and leave the easter tradition alone. Supposedly, when the translators were commissioned, they were instructed to not translate in any manner that would depart from the accepted traditions/customs/practices of the "church".
Easter and passover sometimes are almost on the same date. Just did a quick check and when calculating back Easter sunday was on First Fruits (resurrection day) in the year Jesus was resurrected.
I've read many views on the exact date of death of Jesus but they all seem to agree it was on Nisan 14th. So even if church calls passover Easter I would expect they stick to the Hebrew calendar. So celebration is always on Nisan 14th or perhaps a day earlier/later because of timezones. (25th December is rebirth of the sun god)
Quote from: Universalist Catholic on February 05, 2010, 03:47:52 AM
First off, the Christedom has always held Easter as a very important, and very joyful.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/t/strifeis.htm
Check out this Hymn, it seems pretty joyful and Christ Victorious.
Any time your in a Catholic Church around Easter, every single hymn is Joyful. Plus, they always indicate the Victory of Christ over the powers of Satan, and destroying Death.
Well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.