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.

This is what happens when people turn their backs on religion and stop believing in God. People believe in materialistic things and political things, ie NHS 'Our world-beating glorious NHS' or climate change, calling people climate change deniers, or LGBTQIA etc. My question is how far away are people going to stray from God before they can't turn back?

Christ is Lord. Christ is King.

And the many Christians being killed for their faith every day now, as members of the most persecuted religion on earth?

It is being dismantled, whether for good or ill. Various things have combined to do this, one of which I agree is the behaviour of the church. But this country was a very different place a hundred years ago. Christianity was the lifeblood of the country in a way it isn’t now. All that’s left now is the “afterglow” - the buildings are still there, a few diehards still go to church, but religious observance is no longer what it was. Religious festivals are hollowed out of religious meaning. I’m not religious, but I understand why any truly religious person would be dispirited by this. That is all.

Some of us have never believed in god so nothing to turn back from. Life is good so no plans to change.

I’m not religious but do agree that these things are just commercial, money making events now.

Surely you should get a donkey rather than a Volvo?

You are free to celebrate your own religious festival in whatever way is meaningful for you. Other people are free to celebrate it a bit differently, or ignore it. Fortunately (and not entirely thanks to the forces of organised religion) there is a choice.

I am not a Christian and don’t “believe” in Easter as a religious festival, but I totally agree with your sentiments @Opol .

It was one thing having a chocolate egg and hunting for dyed cooked hens eggs. But the commercialisation I’ve seen for Easter in the past 5 years or so feels pretty obscene. Utterly cynical consumerism and fomo at its worst.

Jesus wasn't born on Christmas and didn't die at Easter. Those were festivals hijacked by the catholic church. The heathens are taking it back now and replacing it with chocolate.
Honestly, celebrate Easter and Christmas in the way it means something to you, whether that's religious or material. In a few decades it might have morphed into something entirely different again.

By that logic, perhaps the Saudis should go back to carpets and camels, but let's not beat around the burning bush.

Erm. That’s a bit of a stretch. Check your algorithms. Or are you a Russian bot stirring up division? 🤔

I’ve no interest in the religious part, but I do like hot cross buns, chocolate eggs and a bloody good roast.

But the commercialisation I’ve seen for Easter in the past 5 years or so feels pretty obscene

It's turning into another version of Christmas. People sending Easter cards, meet and greets with the Easter Bunny, decorating the whole house... Maybe my family were miserable sods but I don't remember any of that when I was small

Hot Cross Buns. Chocolate Eggs.

Oh I feel quite good about myself reading this!

I'm an atheist with a 5 year old, I don't really get the chocolate eggs thing never have. On Easter weekend we plant seeds for our plants - granted we haven't had much reason for this beyond that we have a weekend together but reading about the start of spring etc just made my accidental tradition feel quite nice!

We do sometimes go to farms etc during the weekend too but not that bothered about this whole Easter bunny thing, it doesn't make sense to me so we haven't done it, perhaps peer pressure will make us in the end 🤣

Do you call everyone you disagree with a Russian bot? So rude and unnecessary.

It's definitely pagan. Hares, eggs, come on. If Christians stopped stealing our festival dates this wouldn't happen. Everyone knows christmas and Easter didn't occur on either of those dates and used the correct dates this wouldn't happen.

Of they are, but there should be some introspection on their part. Why do they (or some of them) accept abuse and sexism? Homophobia. I know you're not saying this, but it sure as hell isn't my problem to sort through somebody's issue with the decrease in influence of their religion.

Easter was originally the pagan festival linked to the goddess Eastore, it was nothing to do with Christianity or Jesus, so yes you are being unreasonable. It is Christianity which has hijacked a pagan festival and tried to make it religious, not the other way around!

Each to their own. I went to a Church of England school and learnt about the Easter story. I don’t see myself as a Christian now but I do like to celebrate Easter. I see it as the arrival of spring and all things new. We’ve always celebrated with an egg hunt in the garden but have never gone overboard. Everything is commercialized - some folk enjoy it some done but everyone should feel they can keep Easter (or Christmas) in their own way

Hi OP, no idea if you're still reading... I haven't RTFT but for in my belief system, this weekend is the pagan celebration of Ostara/Eostre, the goddess of spring reawakening after the winter, the victory of light over dark - with Spring Equinox literally marking that tipping point when there's more light than darkness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%92ostre

For me it's much more likely that the Christians highjacked an ancient Pagan holiday that is traditionally celebrated with eggs and bunnies, by making it fit their story about Jesus' resurrection!

Maybe that gives you access to a bit more of the tolerance and grace that supposedly characterised Jesus himself...? Happy Easter!

I'm a practising RC too, and while obviously Easter is important to me I can't get too upset about other people indulging in (what I see as) the daft commercialism. I count myself lucky that I get Good Friday as a bank holiday and the long weekend to celebrate - I have Jewish and Muslim colleagues who have to use annual leave if they want to observe their religious festivals.

I went to mass with the kids this morning and there was a scavenger hunt in the church garden (incorporating both eggs/chicks/flowers and a cross) and the prize was a little chocolate bunny. We had hot cross buns afterwards. All good

Your God allows atrocities to go on day in and day out.
If any of it exists the devil would be a better person than God or Christ.

Yes of course. I’m not religious, as I say. Christianity (and other religions for that matter) have clear views about gay people, women etc and it’s good that we no longer accept them. I do feel there is a “baby in the bath water” element to all this - I agree we should reject many things but there is something soulless about reducing religious festivals to commercial events.

What a load of wank.