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Original poster

to be cross with my elderly fil about the meaning of easter

585 replies

nickschick · 04/04/2010 21:18

Bit tongue in cheek really.

FIL was today bemoaning the fact that he couldnt go to tesco for his cigar supply as they were shut for Easter.

Its only Easter he said they could have had usual Sunday hours ,its not like Christmas or anything.....

ONLY EASTER?????? i SHOUTED - JESUS DIED ON A CROSS FOR US!!!! EASTER IS MORE SPECIAL THAN CHRISTMAS - YES EASTER IS IMPORTANT.

and that sais dh is why you should never discuss religion with a catholic especially not one who sat in a cold church for an hour and a half last night at the easter vigil.

OP posts:
onagar · 05/04/2010 13:12

we live in a culturally Christian country and the majority of us, whilst not strict observants, wish to continue with our Christian traditions.

runnybottom · 05/04/2010 13:12

What are you reading? Please point out the personal insults in pffts post?
I'm bemused, I really am.

claig · 05/04/2010 13:18

onagar, we don't want you to observe our Christian traditions, in the same way that we do not want Muslims or Hindus to observe our traditions. It would be nice if you didn't insult our traditions. But if you don't want to then that is fine.

ilovepiccolina · 05/04/2010 13:21

Claig well said - good post.

OP - YANBU

shockers · 05/04/2010 13:21

I must admit that I found the tone of Pffts post a little derogatory. She was questioning another person's faith based on her (and most other people of faith's) use of the word believe. It was a bit unneccesary.

onagar · 05/04/2010 13:22

claig, this thread is about why non christians should observe easter by not going shopping etc.

Original poster
nickschick · 05/04/2010 13:22
OP posts:
Fruitysunshine · 05/04/2010 13:27

"Being deeply offended by someone saying that Christianity is untrue is unfortunate. And rather ridiculous I think."

Your right to opinion.

"Are you careful to always state that "you believe" something to be true, rather than stating that Jesus did this, or Christianity is this? Firstly, I cannot believe you do, and secondly, if you do, it's not much of a belief if you cannot hold for it being true is it?"

This is personally attacking. Based on my choice of words, because I chose to be generic and not specific - this poster believes I am lying about my believe in Christianity. That is how I read it. I am not a liar.

Surely you believe Christianity to be fact? Not an opinion? If you don't see it as fact, then how much do you actually believe? At least have the courage of your convictions FGS! If you're going to build your life around a fictitious being, go all out!

This is following on from the paragraph above and ending once again in a deliberate insult by saying my whole life is a lie because is is built up around Jesus they say is fictitious.

I am not a liar, and believe this whole post to be personally attacking. Runnybottom it may not fit your standard of being insulting but it does mine.

As for the names used to describe Christianity on here I shall list them:

Fairy stories
stories
Supernatural
Superstition
Hogwash
A myth

To mention just a few.

You know, I am always happy and willing to have a good debate but can't and won't do it with people who can't at least show respect for other people.

I am not attacking any of you but feel completely attacked in return. I shall not be returning to this thread.

Kaloki · 05/04/2010 13:28

Just want to throw this into the mix, no other religion gets it's important days off. The pagans only get two off by pure chance. So Christianity is harldy being held to ransom in this country.

If they truly want to be treated equally to all other religions (eg. stop saying "oh well you wouldn't say that about islam") then either all religious festivals should be bank holidays, or none. Because right now Christianity is being treated differently, and it is getting advantages over the others. It's not the poor downtrodden religion that some people like to think it is.

shockers · 05/04/2010 13:29

nickschick

claig · 05/04/2010 13:30

onagar, I am guessing that the FIL in the question is a Christian, and that nickschick is only reminding another Christian about the importance of Easter to Christians.

EggyAllenPoe · 05/04/2010 13:32

this reminds me of a thread where someone came out with this wonderful quote -

'Let's put the Eostre back in Easter'

congrats whoever that was.

I will say further that the UK is largely in possession of British values, and UK Christianity reflects that (so get it the right way round!) (i mean think about it - Freedom of speech isn't mentioned much in the bible, nor is democracy, nor is there much celebration of tea-drinking...)

Easter sunday closing is nice if you are a shop worker as it is one of two days of the year you can be sure the shop will be shut. it is not a religious necessity. AFAIAA Jesus was was not particularly uptight about observation of the sabbath anyway (as someone believing in the spirit of Hebrew faith, and though knowledgeable of the text, liberal in interpretation) there are various episodes in the New Testament that reflect this. Easter as such was not celebrated in the first century either (though possibly it was as the festival of Eostre, with fertility rituals to boot).

runnybottom · 05/04/2010 13:32

You think atheists calling the bible stories "stories" or myths is offensive?

You seem massively over-sensitive. You say you want a debate but then say that we are not to gve any of our opinions as they are offensive to you. When any remark is made about how your beliefs are judged by others you cry personal attack.

So we can debate as long as we say nothing at all about you or your beleifs. That'll be interesting then.

Does no-one else see the irony in the Christians complaining of persecution? Its a bit like the middle class white male asking "wheres my parade"?

claig · 05/04/2010 13:33

Kaloki we are in a Christian country. This is not a Muslim country like Pakistan.

Fruitysunshine don't be worried about such threads, they are very illuminating and will only strengthen your faith.

onagar · 05/04/2010 13:33

I'm speaking about the thread generally, Claig. There are christians in this thread who think we should all have to refrain from shopping to observe the christian custom. This means that your claim "we don't want you to observe our Christian traditions," is incorrect.

runnybottom · 05/04/2010 13:34

You think we are a christian country. Do the non-christians not get a say then? We are, or should be, a secular country. What gives you the claim to the whole country?

Greensleeves · 05/04/2010 13:35

supernatural - be insulte if you like, but it's a perfectly legitimate perspective on such aspects of Christian dogma as the resurrection, the virgin birth, the immaculate conception, the "miracles" and the Holy Ghost

I do not believe in the supernatural

thus it would be rather difficult for me to believe in the items above

if you think "supernatural" is insulting because it makes these ideas look ridiculous - well, I agree with you. They are ridiculous.

Kaloki · 05/04/2010 13:36

We are in a country which has freedom of speech and a variety of different religions (and also a pagan past)

Also it was the Christians on this thread who first brought up the comparison with Islam, and complained about how the Muslims were treated better than the Christians in this country. So if they want to compare the way the two are treated in this country then fine. It's definitely not the Christians getting persecuted.

gaelicsheep · 05/04/2010 13:36

Can I just point out that Jesus is a historical figure who appears in all three of the major religions? Whether you want to believe the parts that many would consider to be superstition is another matter, but to say that Christianity is a fairy story is plain wrong.

I don't care about the reasons behind a national holiday particularly - I just think it's important to have at least a couple of days a year that are special in some way, when families can spend time together. On balance I'd rather those days had some basis in history, tradition and culture rather than be entirely arbitrary inventions.

Greensleeves · 05/04/2010 13:37

anything short of a transplant surgeon would only "strengthen your faith" though - that's the modus operandi of organised religion - when challenged on the more ludicrous and logically implausible aspects of your faith, you only have to smile beatifically and say "Ah, that's where faith comes in"

shockers · 05/04/2010 13:38

"I don't care about the reasons behind a national holiday particularly - I just think it's important to have at least a couple of days a year that are special in some way, when families can spend time together. On balance I'd rather those days had some basis in history, tradition and culture rather than be entirely arbitrary inventions".

I like the way you put that gaelicsheep.

claig · 05/04/2010 13:40

runnybottom, the Christians are the majority, something like 70% in the 2001 census. Most of us have some sort of Christian funeral service, just like Princess Diana did. They are the traditions of our country.

Kaloki · 05/04/2010 13:40

gaelicsheep I chose Samhain as a special day, it meant that the harvest was over and people would spend time with family traditionally, it was also a time to honour the family whether they were there or not. (I can't help feeling it's a slightly better reason to celebrate than someone allegedly rising from the dead)

However I imagine the Christians would object to it, due to it being superstitious and Pagan.

shockers · 05/04/2010 13:43

Well you imagine wrongly in my case kaloki.

gaelicsheep · 05/04/2010 13:45

I don't think most Christians would object to you observing your own beliefs. I rather like alot of pagan beliefs myself - our links with nature etc. I don't feel these things need to be mutually exclusive.

Of course everyone is free to choose their own special days. But I'm talking about days that are observed nationwide in some way eg by having the shops close etc. so that "society" comes together.