Any other Christians annoyed at what society has turned Easter into?

[Opol]

I’m resigned that the same has been done to Christmas. But for me that is “only” the birth of Christ.

As a Roman Catholic, Easter is of far more importance to me. For me, God’s love for humanity meant he sacrificed his only son. Jesus’ resurrection is literally the embodiment of the victory of light over darkness, good over evil etc.

I don’t wish to gate keep but seeing it reduced to Easter baskets and chocolate rabbits is unpleasant to witness. I’m more annoyed at society making everything hollow and superficial via consumerism and over consumption.

It doesn’t bother me too much. There isn’t anything I can do about it really, anyway. In a way, if I was to be very evangelical about it - better to celebrate something than just ignore it as it opens conversations. Ie the Pope on TV meant atheist relatives were having a convo with me about religion, it makes people wonder why we celebrate it etc. I actually feel very privileged around Easter as it embodies real meaning and joy to me, and it probably wouldn’t have done it I just saw it as a big bank holiday with loads of chocolate and a roast. I wish everyone else could experience the joy and hope Easter brings to me, as a Christian. What does annoy me increasingly (and I’m an easy going person!) is the free rein society seem to have to take the piss out of, and mock Christian’s and Christianity. I was listening to the Chris Moyles show on radio X and most of the programme was them ripping the piss out of Easter, Jesus, the resurrection. And the constant memes on Facebook etc. I’m pretty thick skinned and a part of me was even feeling a bit upset by it all, so others must have felt worse. And I’m not talking about richly gervais style ‘in the name of comedy’ it’s just ride in every day life. It’s the only religion left that it seems to be socially acceptable to openly mock. Catholicism particularly…

I'm not a Christian and get pissed off by easter wreaths

This

You were talking about the church being "disestablished" because the UK isn't according to you a Christian country. The only established church in the UK is the Church of England so clearly you don't know what "established" means as it's not even , and never had been a concept in Wales, Scotland or N.Ireland.

I said "My cultural life in the sense of music and art would be very diminished if Christianity were removed" I've explained this at least twice - Christianity is engrained into what has shaped Western society. The UK is culturally Christian because of those influences. Without Christiany many, many great works of art and music, fabulous architecture would never have existed.

Spot on!

The name Easter is derived from Eostre - the pagan fertility goddess of humans and crops.

We are celebrating the arrival of spring and new life.

Non Christians don't feel obliged to go to church; others don't feel obliged to buy Easter eggs etc etc. Each to their own!

To interject, whilst Christianity did win out, pagan ceremonies still happen in the mainstream in Celtic Britain. I’m Welsh, there is a lot of paganism in our arts, if you watch events like Chairing of the Bard at the Eisteddfod for example. Old traditions have held strong.

I grew up in Ireland (which was apparently staunchly Catholic at the time but really wasn't) and Easter was always about the eggs and overconsumption.

In Ireland many also commemorate the Easter rising, so that would be next in line of importance for many Irish

You say you're offended, but there is much about the Catholic church which offends me and many others.

Some would be offended that in Ireland many celebrate the Easter rising also. I'm sure many were offended at the parade up in Northern Ireland too.

So basically you can be offended, but remember your beliefs also offend others. You're not right and other people aren't wrong. You're not morally superior just because you think others are only celebrating something without meaning and for you it's full of meaning.

For me, God’s love for humanity meant he sacrificed his only son. Jesus’ resurrection is literally the embodiment of the victory of light over darkness, good over evil etc.

As a side note, similar is being discussed on another thread. And the stories don't even make sense.
Now if there really had been a victory of light over dark and good over evil you might have a point, but there wasn't?

"I said "My cultural life in the sense of music and art would be very diminished if Christianity were removed" I've explained this at least twice - Christianity is engrained into what has shaped Western society. The UK is culturally Christian because of those influences. Without Christiany many, many great works of art and music, fabulous architecture would never have existed."

But
a) Christianity won't be removed from the past - as if it never existed. So all these great works of art will still exist.

b) Removed usually means in the future.

I have no idea what you are concerned about if the Church of England was disestablished.

You don't think that all Christian things would be removed?

I am a Pagan of sorts and have been to one or two things but tend to ‘worship’ (for want of a better word) alone and in my own way.

I know that old religions in Scandinavian countries are gaining more popularity which is fascinating!

Thank you for sharing, I haven’t seen the Chairing of the Bard so I’ll look it up. Mostly if you say you have these ideals people think you’re out dancing naked and making voodoo dolls, but it’s not like that at all!

Oh my word why? Wreaths are so happy and welcoming. I make my own, all year round.
I really like a well decorated entryway.

I really like a well decorated entryway

Lol

Yes I saw that after I posted 😂 get your mind out of the gutter, it's a religious thread!

I remember as a child wondering why we made so much of Christmas when Easter is way more important for those of the Christian faith. It doesn't really bother me OP, I'm just glad it's being celebrated even in the pagan sense, having said that Iceland putting ticks instead of the crosses on some of their buns can get in the sea!

get your mind out of the gutter, it's a religious thread!

This is why I don't go to church, pretty sure I'd burst into flames

I'm really really sick of the 'poor me' Catholicism whining. Has it occurred to you at all that people are slagging the church off for very good reasons? That some of us have suffered at their hands? I'm perfectly happy to discuss my dislike of other religions, but given the proximity of abuse by the Catholic church to my own front door, I feel perfectly entitled to express my dissatisfaction with them. If that makes you feel uncomfortable then tough luck.

Easter is part of our culture and heritage. I can see that it's annoying but surely your focus should be on God and forgiveness? 😒

As a Christian, I get more annoyed by people who pretend that Easter is meaningful to them as a Christian Festival, while spending their time acting in very un-Christian ways. For me, Easter is a symbolically special time, but I also enjoy the reminder that Spring is Springing, and I like the chocolate. What anyone else does is of very little consequence to me.

Why are you banging on about the Church of England being disestablished?

I've explained "cultural Christianity" at least 3 times to try to explain the idea that even if the majority of the population in the UK say they are not Christian that the influence of Christianity is engrained into Western society.

I'm Catholic and my mum, when alive went to mass daily. She had no issue with Easter eggs etc. and neither do I. Other than confectionary, it doesn't seem to have encroached too much. Even growing up in the 70s some kids got Easter baskets with proper presents - we did an Easter egg hunt which was fun, pure and simple. Then off to mass.

I don't think the Pagan point is relevant, imo. It's not like vast swathes of the country are going all-out on chocolate eggs and kids' bonnets because Paganism - it seems to me to be purely commercial. Which is fine, but let's not pretend everyone is celebrating the spring equinox with their Mini Eggs.

I don't know if you think you're being edgy using terms like 'imaginary sky man', but you're not. You're just being offensive. Why come on to this thread at all, much less insult other people's beliefs, if that's how you feel?

The talk of confirmation reminds me, my mum had sunglasses on in the church for mine as my dad had given her a black eye. What good Catholics they were. I’ll stick with the eggs thanks.

I love it because it brings the promise of lighter nights and warmer days and as humans it is natural to celebrate that. I am not and never have been religious despite going to a church school. I think I was about 10 when I stopped believing in God, we were taught that he was all seeing and all knowing and I recall thinking that was just very odd. I must have been a precocious kid in some ways! I appreciate that if someone follows the Christian faith it might seem as if things are commercial but then nobody is stopping you spending the weekend or indeed holy week itself in prayer and contemplation. People are not disrespcting others' beliefs, they just have a different way of observing the change in the season and as others have already said, this time of year was always a Pagan festival before Christianity reached these shores

Mine used to stand up and do readings mass in between doling out the black eyes. It's almost comical. But it wasn't.

So I was confirmed, I’m 52 now and I’ve no idea what it was for other than the next sacrament to reinforce that I believed in god. Even if I had realised what that meant and objected what could I have done - said no? That’s not how religion works. So I’m dim?