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

999 replies

Opol · 31/03/2024 14:20

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.

OP posts:
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MintCocoa · 01/04/2024 00:50

InactionIsAWeaponOfMassDestruction · 01/04/2024 00:46

@MintCocoa “Everyone wants…, fairness, equality, ….. while proclaiming themselves a proud atheist. These are all Christian ideas.”

You’re seriously claiming that fairness and equality are Christian ideas??

Yes. ‘Turn the other cheek’ and ‘love thy neighbour..’ are exclusively Christian ideas, neither has an equivalent in any other religion.

The medieval idea of death being the great leveller and everyone being equal before God gave way to the later idea of equality before law irrespectively of one’s status.

I recommend books by Tom Holland. He’s a historian, btw, not a priest. :P

No need to get defensive.

UpsideLeft · 01/04/2024 00:50

Nope

ImpendingDoom1 · 01/04/2024 00:50

thepastinsidethepresent · 31/03/2024 20:13

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?

I don’t think I’m being edgy at all. But I have a scientific background and by applying some critical thinking…the whole thing seems improbable to say the least. And I speak as someone who went to a convent school and had hours of reading the Old Testament foisted upon me each day.

Durkheim called religion ‘opium for the masses’ - it’s a relatively recent social construction and was useful in its day for guiding people to behave in a certain way. That’s now been overtaken by science and the media, hence why the majority of people are pretty indifferent to religion these days.

If people take comfort from believing there is a god and attending church etc then that’s great, it’s pretty harmless as things go (religion based wars and terrorism aside), and the basic premise of it is don’t be a wanker and be nice to people, which is no bad thing. Personally I’ll stick to the chocolate though.

BlueEyesBrownHair · 01/04/2024 00:51

Ill be honest, i have no idea what the story is about easter/god. Not interested in that. To me, its purely the chocolate/easter bunny!!!

Wibblywobblylikejelly · 01/04/2024 00:52

MintCocoa · 01/04/2024 00:46

Communism = over 100 millions people killed
Nazism = over 17 millions

I was born and raised in a communist country where being a Christian was an act of mutiny.

Every totalitarianism eradicates religion. The only allegiance allowed is that to the state.

And Christinaity has, I would say, easily hit that number.

Witch trials.
The crusades
Catholic/ protestant drama
The baby's still being dug up.
The natives begging to find their missing loved ones.
The violent sexual abuse.

It goes on and on and on for 2000 years.
The church has always and will always cause bloodshed in its name. And male billions doing it.

The only difference with your examples is that being a Nazi is condemned by society. Yet Christianty doesn't face the same condemnation for its crimes.

InactionIsAWeaponOfMassDestruction · 01/04/2024 00:56

MintCocoa · 01/04/2024 00:50

Yes. ‘Turn the other cheek’ and ‘love thy neighbour..’ are exclusively Christian ideas, neither has an equivalent in any other religion.

The medieval idea of death being the great leveller and everyone being equal before God gave way to the later idea of equality before law irrespectively of one’s status.

I recommend books by Tom Holland. He’s a historian, btw, not a priest. :P

No need to get defensive.

You’re confusing defensiveness with incredulity at your claims.
Christianity is one of the most patriarchal, misogynistic, homophobic organisations in history.
It certainly not held up as an exemplar in equality, diversity & inclusivity issues.

EndlessWashingUp · 01/04/2024 00:57

Ok, I'm an atheist (and I've not read the whole thread!) but popping into my local supermarket tonight I was appalled at the amount of plastic Easter tat still on the shelves in the middle of a cost of living crisis that won't be sold now and will ultimately end up in landfill (even if some is sold cut price in the next few days).

Whether you're religious or not, that can't be defensible, surely?!

Justpontificating · 01/04/2024 01:11

Elphame · 01/04/2024 00:37

Your actual words….

The country is Church of England.
We are not a Secular country
we are a Christian country, still!

The “country” is more than just England you know…..

England is a country

Any other Christians annoyed at what society has turned Easter into?
Justpontificating · 01/04/2024 01:14

Elphame · 01/04/2024 00:37

Your actual words….

The country is Church of England.
We are not a Secular country
we are a Christian country, still!

The “country” is more than just England you know…..

Wales is a country

Any other Christians annoyed at what society has turned Easter into?
Coldrains · 01/04/2024 01:18

At the end of the day, it’s a lovely chance to have some time off work and celebrate the arrival of spring with family with feasting thrown into the mix. It’s a good, happy time for people whether or not they’re religious so live and let live .

IloveAslan · 01/04/2024 01:19

Flopsy145 · 31/03/2024 23:13

But what we use to celebrate "Easter" is actually taken from ostara/spring equinox, so by using these things people are by default celebrating spring (bunnies, eggs, spring flowers). I for one use it to celebrate the arrival of spring and ostara as I do not believe or agree in the Christian Easter. Easter has been celebrated under that name since the Christians arrived and piggy backed on an existing pagan holiday which was about spring, so the Christians then taking it to other countries where it wasn't spring at that time is how these now non springtime countries celebrate Easter. Ostara would have been celebrated in different ways across northern Europe for many centuries before.

How can we celebrate the arrival of spring when it's autumn? Can you not understand that it is possible to celebrate Easter as a Christian tradition without thinking about spring, however that tradition originally started. We don't celebrate the arrival of spring here at all.

kkloo · 01/04/2024 01:51

MintCocoa · 01/04/2024 00:23

I actually agree with you.

I was raised Roman Catholic, currently of no denomination (a separate story).

It always amazes me how eager people are to deny they have anything to do with Christianity while embracing and celebrating everything to do with it.

Everyone wants a church wedding, a white wedding dress, fairness, equality, to tell their child their Nan is ‘up there with the angels’ while proclaiming themselves a proud atheist. These are all Christian ideas.

I know people like to say religion is the source of atrocities but the biggest atrocities have been committed by atheist totalitarianisms. This is just a fact. When God dies, people tend to replace Him with ideas that tend to be a lot worse.

Feel people in the West could at least have the decency to contemplate this issue around Easter and Christmas.

Rant over ;)

Edited

I'll give you the church wedding but fairness and equality aren't Christian ideas 😂
As for what people tell their children in the event of death, can't say I've ever heard an atheist say that but if they do then so what, people do whatever they can to try to make grief hurt a bit less.

It always amazes me how eager people are to deny they have anything to do with Christianity while embracing and celebrating everything to do with it.

What's more amazing is the people who say they do believe but yet they don't pray or try to have any relationship with God or try to live their life as a decent human.

JackNoMiddleNameReacher · 01/04/2024 01:59

I think the commercialism of Easter as a religious event has certainly had an effect on its real meaning.
I was at Exeter Cathedral on Good Friday at the Liturgy and tourists couldn’t understand why the Cathedral was closed to tourists on that day. They seemed to not appreciate Good Friday is a Holy Day of Obligation and religious buildings might actually be prioritising that over tourism.
People stuck outside were completely oblivious. The Cathedral had to put people on the doors to stop them entering.

Really, not a clue!

Minymile · 01/04/2024 02:04

kkloo · 01/04/2024 01:51

I'll give you the church wedding but fairness and equality aren't Christian ideas 😂
As for what people tell their children in the event of death, can't say I've ever heard an atheist say that but if they do then so what, people do whatever they can to try to make grief hurt a bit less.

It always amazes me how eager people are to deny they have anything to do with Christianity while embracing and celebrating everything to do with it.

What's more amazing is the people who say they do believe but yet they don't pray or try to have any relationship with God or try to live their life as a decent human.

But how do you know they don’t pray or have a relationship with God. That’s a very personal thing and don’t shout about it.
How do you know most Christians don’t live their lives as decent human beings.
These are quite sweeping statements about the millions of Christians around the World

Minymile · 01/04/2024 02:06

Minymile · 01/04/2024 02:04

But how do you know they don’t pray or have a relationship with God. That’s a very personal thing and don’t shout about it.
How do you know most Christians don’t live their lives as decent human beings.
These are quite sweeping statements about the millions of Christians around the World

Meant to say
Thats a very personal thing and most Christians don’t shout about it.

CheeseDreamsTonight · 01/04/2024 02:20

I am interested in Easter because of its pagan roots. The eggs and rabbits and even name have no origin in Christianity which was laid over the top, so it really isn't a Christian only celebration.

MintCocoa · 01/04/2024 02:20

The fact that so many here are quick to make derogatory statements about Christianity that they would never make about any other religion (despite many of them being more homophobic) speaks volumes. It shows that it is ‘yours’ to criticise. In a way, this is good.

No priest has ever abused a child in the name of Christianity. Abuse in public schools is 100x more likely to happen than abuse by priests or nuns. Unfortunately predators always gravitate to positions of power and unrestricted access to children. The Church is also full of sinners.

But to judge all Christians by the deeds of few means you must also be prepared to judge all other religions by the deeds of few black sheep.

Yes, I stand by my assertions about equality and fairness being Christian ideas. Not sure how much you know about the Bible but there is a lot more to Christianity than the Sunday mass.

As to misogyny, no other region has elevated a mortal woman to the status of deity for giving birth (Catholicism). It’s Western Protestants that ended the ritual burning of wives when their husbands died in far away lands. It’s also them who abolished slavery at a great cost to themselves when it was rampant (and still is) everywhere else. Because every human has been created in God’s image.

Plus, centuries ago everyone was a misogynist, not only Christians. Now where else in the world have women’s rights advanced as much as in the Christian West.

‘Today, even as belief in God fades across the West, the countries that were once collectively known as Christendom continue to bear the stamp of the two-millennia-old revolution that Christianity represents. It is the principal reason why, by and large, most of us who live in post-Christian societies still take for granted that it is nobler to suffer than to inflict suffering. It is why we generally assume that every human life is of equal value. In my morals and ethics, I have learned to accept that I am not Greek or Roman at all, but thoroughly and proudly Christian.’
Tom Holland

PrestonHood121 · 01/04/2024 03:02

As a Christian, I’m focusing on the resurrection every week,
like we are supposed to. I’m not worried about what everyone else is doing once a year.

kkloo · 01/04/2024 03:05

Minymile · 01/04/2024 02:04

But how do you know they don’t pray or have a relationship with God. That’s a very personal thing and don’t shout about it.
How do you know most Christians don’t live their lives as decent human beings.
These are quite sweeping statements about the millions of Christians around the World

Because they say they don't.

I didn't say that MOST Christians don't live their lives as decent human beings though did I?

kkloo · 01/04/2024 03:27

MintCocoa · 01/04/2024 02:20

The fact that so many here are quick to make derogatory statements about Christianity that they would never make about any other religion (despite many of them being more homophobic) speaks volumes. It shows that it is ‘yours’ to criticise. In a way, this is good.

No priest has ever abused a child in the name of Christianity. Abuse in public schools is 100x more likely to happen than abuse by priests or nuns. Unfortunately predators always gravitate to positions of power and unrestricted access to children. The Church is also full of sinners.

But to judge all Christians by the deeds of few means you must also be prepared to judge all other religions by the deeds of few black sheep.

Yes, I stand by my assertions about equality and fairness being Christian ideas. Not sure how much you know about the Bible but there is a lot more to Christianity than the Sunday mass.

As to misogyny, no other region has elevated a mortal woman to the status of deity for giving birth (Catholicism). It’s Western Protestants that ended the ritual burning of wives when their husbands died in far away lands. It’s also them who abolished slavery at a great cost to themselves when it was rampant (and still is) everywhere else. Because every human has been created in God’s image.

Plus, centuries ago everyone was a misogynist, not only Christians. Now where else in the world have women’s rights advanced as much as in the Christian West.

‘Today, even as belief in God fades across the West, the countries that were once collectively known as Christendom continue to bear the stamp of the two-millennia-old revolution that Christianity represents. It is the principal reason why, by and large, most of us who live in post-Christian societies still take for granted that it is nobler to suffer than to inflict suffering. It is why we generally assume that every human life is of equal value. In my morals and ethics, I have learned to accept that I am not Greek or Roman at all, but thoroughly and proudly Christian.’
Tom Holland

Edited

It wasn't just a few black sheep, it was many black sheep, and then there was all the other sheep who let it happen.

If people turned away from Christianity and you think it's unfair then blame the clergy who committed the crimes, the blame lies with them and with those who let it happen.

This is like NAMALT but with priests. NAPALT 😂

Fairness and equality are not Christian ideas 😂

There is no way to know how the world would have ended up without religion or organised religion so putting positive things down to religion and making out we wouldn't have them if we didn't have Christianity is simply a theory (and one which I don't share).

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 01/04/2024 04:57

merrymonthofmay · 31/03/2024 23:01

Just WTF is a xtian?!

xmas - christmas
xtian - christian

Nobody else seems to have been challenged by it, especially in the context of the thread.......

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 01/04/2024 04:58

Minymile · 01/04/2024 02:04

But how do you know they don’t pray or have a relationship with God. That’s a very personal thing and don’t shout about it.
How do you know most Christians don’t live their lives as decent human beings.
These are quite sweeping statements about the millions of Christians around the World

Which god?
You cannot have 'a relationship' with a mythical being.

EasternEcho · 01/04/2024 05:22

@cakeorwine I'm not from the UK, but I am a baptized Christian. I am in agreement with your questions about what being founded on Christian values actually is. The CoA was basically created to allow one tyrant king to marry his mistress? This is the basis of Christian values? The slave trade was capitalism. Again, Christian values? I still don't get what founded on Christian values is when it has historically been malleable to suit the ruling classes, and why it's anything to be so proud of? Do unto others and all that, does that include colonization, but complain about migrants?

As for Easter, no one is forcing anyone to buy chocolate bunnies. Eat them if you like them. Go to church if you do so. To each his or her own. Looking over there to see what "others" do and get mad about it is whipped up all organized religions in my opinions.

Pickled21 · 01/04/2024 05:27

It's up to you to reclaim it in your own home. So if you are Catholic then reinforce the importance of Easter in your own home. It doesn't mean you can't do an easter egg trail with children (if you have any) but emphasise the importance of going to church etc on the day. You can't control what wider society does but in your own home you make the rules.

kkloo · 01/04/2024 05:37

EasternEcho · 01/04/2024 05:22

@cakeorwine I'm not from the UK, but I am a baptized Christian. I am in agreement with your questions about what being founded on Christian values actually is. The CoA was basically created to allow one tyrant king to marry his mistress? This is the basis of Christian values? The slave trade was capitalism. Again, Christian values? I still don't get what founded on Christian values is when it has historically been malleable to suit the ruling classes, and why it's anything to be so proud of? Do unto others and all that, does that include colonization, but complain about migrants?

As for Easter, no one is forcing anyone to buy chocolate bunnies. Eat them if you like them. Go to church if you do so. To each his or her own. Looking over there to see what "others" do and get mad about it is whipped up all organized religions in my opinions.

The narrative seems to be that all the good things in society were influenced by Christian values, but any of the bad stuff is just because we're all sinners who needed religion to sort us out.

Any relatively recent progressions towards equality or fairness are due to Christianity just because....

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