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Original poster

I think I have freaked DS out about easter

64 replies

sockmonkey · 30/03/2007 18:36

I told DS1 (aged 3.9) that it was his easter holidays starting next week. He asked what easter was, so I told him it was a time to remember Jesus, and that he died, but he came back to life again. (I told him christmas was when we remember he was born etc)We go to church every week, and they would be telling him about it anyway.

Now he is really scared. He says he doesn't want Jesus coming to his house. I have told him he wont be and that he is busy in heaven with the angels, but he is still upset. He says he doesn't want his egg and he doesn't want easter.

What have I done??!!

How can I calm him down about it? Any ideas?
TIA

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 30/03/2007 18:42

Personally I would have talked about Easter as a time for new life - eggs, lambs, flowers etc

I wouldn't have gone into the resurrection with a 3 year old who can't begin to understand the fact that it is a story to illustrate your religious beliefs.

Original poster
sockmonkey · 30/03/2007 18:45

I have explained about eggs and new life too. It was silly of me to think he would kind of understand. It's just we like to make sure he knows the religious reasons behind things

OP posts:
chancery · 30/03/2007 18:48

F&Z no fair! not a story to illustrate - its what we believe.

behave yersel'!

maybe not a wise course of action - however maybe you could tell him that God bought jesus an easter eg and he will be at home with God eating an easter egg and so couldnt possibly come round

FrannyandZooey · 30/03/2007 18:58

Oh crikey

you really believe it happened?

I have a warped idea of modern Christianity, obviously

Sockmonkey I think your instincts were good, I think giving truthful answers to tough questions is the best thing to do. However when you are dealing with very complex religious beliefs like this I think you may have to fudge or simplify a lot for a few years yet.

Are there suitable children's books about the Easter story?

Original poster
sockmonkey · 30/03/2007 19:11

I will see what I can find. I can't imagine there will be one for someone so young. I know they will be doing a lessson about it at church on Easter sunday, it's maybe best I know he is a bit worried by it so I can warn his teacher.
I did honestly tell him with the best intentions. I want him to know what his parents and family believe, but I didn't think it would freak him out.

OP posts:
chancery · 30/03/2007 19:21

F&Z uncalled for!

colditz · 30/03/2007 19:23

Oh chancery, the woman is allowed to speak.

Whizzz · 30/03/2007 19:25

DS (6) came home from school & said "I feel really sorry for Jesus - he got killed but he was the the son of God, that's really mean"

chancery · 30/03/2007 19:27

not nice though - this is my faith my choice.

obviously the choice of the OP.

i wouldnt say of any other faith

"your beliefes are fictitious."

yes entitled to views but i think just to come on a thread like this to slag is unecessary.

should the thread be titled " does god exist, was the reserecction a pile of ol' shite"

then cool - go for it.

but it wasnt - the comment was unwarrented

Rhubarb · 30/03/2007 19:28

We went to an Easter service in a CofE Church and I was really disgusted!

Where was the cross with the bleeding Jesus attached? Where were the Stations of the Cross showing his suffering from every possible angle? Why were all the hymns bouncy and jolly?

We'll have to go into a good old Catholic Church now just to make up for it! Might have to make the kids watch The Passion of Christ too.

SaintGeorge · 30/03/2007 19:29

chancery, not everyone is Christian and of those who are, not everyone takes every word as gospel ('scuse the pun )

There is a good version for children (AFAICT since I am NOT Christian) here . It explains about the sadness but also the joy of his resurrection and what it meant.

colditz · 30/03/2007 19:30

but I don't think franny deliberately came to mock - she just didn't realise that the OP does in fact believe in the Easter part of the bible - many people, and a few Christians, don't.

Once it was cleared that the OP does believe in the traditional Easter thing - franny tried to offer some advice/

colditz · 30/03/2007 19:31

Yes it's not Easter without "There is a green hill"

Rhubarb · 30/03/2007 19:31

Good job the Pope has reintroduced the whole idea of Hell, don't want people to become too lapse do we?

Aloha · 30/03/2007 19:34

I used to take ds to a playgroup held in a church hall. I knew the people who ran it were a bit religiousy but I was rather stunned when at Easter, they gathered all the children around and said, 'why do we have Easter Eggs?' I was just about to answer with something about the goddess Oestre and the hare cult, and the belief that hares laid eggs, when she started on about Jesus, then told her audience of mainly two and three year olds that they were all going to watch a nice cartoon about Easter. Blimey. There were nails going in, mothers sobbing, dead bodies a-go-go. We all sat there with our mouths open, stunned. Then ds said, 'why is that lady (Mary) crying?' and I just said, 'Um, her little boy is poorly....but it's alright...he gets better'. All very bizarre.

Rhubarb · 30/03/2007 19:34

"See him at the judgment hall,
beaten, bound, reviled, arraigned;
O the wormwood and the gall!
O the pangs his soul sustained!
Shun not suffering, shame, or loss;
learn of Christ to bear the cross. "

That's the true meaning of Easter!

Rhubarb · 30/03/2007 19:34

"It's alright he gets better" - psml!

Aloha · 30/03/2007 19:35

Well, it's more to do with the goddess Oestre whose cult animal was a hare, really. Hence the Easter bit, the egg bit and the rabbit bit!

chancery · 30/03/2007 19:36

st george my pagan and well respected friend.

i negate not your views.

in fact i celebrate that we all have different views.

please please read my posts more carefully.

colditz

the first post did mention going to church everyweek. on top of subject matter being discussed to assume practising christian is not a great leap.

to reply to a post asking for help with - the 'its a story' stuff

was a bit OTT i my opinion.

love you both

love you too F&Z usually

Aloha · 30/03/2007 19:36

Blooming church, always nicking the poor pagan's festivals

chancery · 30/03/2007 19:37

well fuck me up the arse if it hasnt just turned into a fucking meaning of eater thread again.

Rhubarb · 30/03/2007 19:38

Eater?

Get thee to the Church thoust art a philistine!

Aloha · 30/03/2007 19:38

Did I ever mention going to see Jesus Christ Superstar with friends as someone's birthday treat when we were about 13? In the interval;
Friend 1: It's good, isn't it?
Friend 2: Yes, but I know what's going to happen in the end...
Friend 1: Oh, don't tell me!

Aloha · 30/03/2007 19:39

Is arse fucking part of the Easter tradition now?

chancery · 30/03/2007 19:39

we havent nicked any festivals.

they are still there to be celebrated and i hope they are by the pany practicing and active pagans obviously about on this board.

becuase christian hierarchy put these dates over pagen festivals to aid conversion in the past does not negate the original christian celebration either.

it doesnt have to be one or the other in a tolerant society.