I want to start off with as a Christian, I have NOTHING against celebrating the resurrection of our Redeemer. In fact, I think it’s a wonderful event to celebrate. Our Redeemer conquered death. It is this that is celebrated. Now that my disclaimer is out of the way, I’m going to share some thoughts about this day.
We get the word “Easter” straight from the pagan goddess “Eostre.” She is the goddess of sunrise and spring, and the fertility goddess. In fact, the sunrise “East” is named after her. What better representation of fertility than eggs and bunny rabbits who reproduce prolifically. Really, what could be a better representation in honor of the fertility goddess, Eostre? If we’re going to be naming an event of our Redeemer after pagan gods or goddesses, why not use something a bit more modern such as “Eid il Fitr?” I can make a connection. It is the morning breaking of the fast in the Muslim Ramadan. Get it? Sunrise? Okay, I’m being very sarcastic – there’s as much connection with the Eid Il Fitr as there is to Eostre, bunny rabbits and pretty colored eggs. (I admit, I love eating the chocolate eggs and chocolate bunnies.)
I am quite positive I would be lambasted, flogged, tarred and feathered if I started calling Easter “Eid il Fitr.” People would scream at me “PAGAN.” Here is what I really don’t understand. I understand us Christians wanting to celebrate and honor that monumental event where He conquered death and thus secured everlasting life. In fact, without the Lord’s Resurrection, death would not be conquered. What I don’t understand is whose brilliant idea it was to name this most awesome of HOLY events after a false and pagan god? And why did we agree to it and continue to agree with it? And to complete the whole charade, we even borrowed the rituals that went along with honoring Eostre (bunnies and eggs) and incorporated that into celebrating our Risen Lord. What’s up with that? Why stop there? Why not borrow some Muslim rituals?
Something I have thought about on and off through my years as a Christian is since we have chosen to borrow from other faiths (false ones I might add), why did we not bother borrowing from the Old Testament. I can’t tell you how many times Christians have spoken to me harshly when finding out that I have celebrated some of the Old Testament holidays such as Passover. I
am always told that I am not Jewish and the Old Testament holidays are for the Jews. I don’t necessarily disagree. There is nothing in the New Testament that even remotely suggests that we are required to keep those holidays (though the Lord’s Supper or communion that we do keep is straight from the Passover Seder). No, I am not Jewish but then again, I am not a follower of the faith that bows to the fertility goddess. If anyone is going to take me to task for some of the “Jewish” holidays that I do celebrate, from now on I am going to ask to make sure that whoever asks me is not borrowing from pagan gods or goddesses. Until their own hands are clean, they give up the right to question or criticize how I worship my Risen Lord!
The day that we celebrate His resurrection NEVER EVER should have been named after a pagan goddess of fertility. Why not something more modern such as “Mohammed?” Calling that day “Mohammed” is as disgusting as calling it “Easter.”
I wonder why Christianity did not borrow customs and practices from the Old Testament but instead chose to look at pagan faiths and borrow those. I’ve never figured out the answer to that. I guess if we’re going to borrow something, I figure what’s found in the Old Testament would be pretty safe. Seriously, what’s up with that bright idea of looking to pagan gods and goddess to get some ideas on how to worship the one true God? Even so, I will celebrate and do honor the day that we Christians set aside to remember the day that He conquered death through His death and then His resurrection. I like calling it “Resurrection Day.” My post on that day will be called just that ‘—Resurrection Day. I plan on NOT giving any honor to Eoster by NOT using her name when referring to my Lord and Savior’s resurrection. My Resurrection Day post will not even make mention of that fertility goddess.
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8 comments
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Repent Harlequin
April 1, 2010 at 3:27 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hey Blog Lady T.,
There was a time when I would have argued with you but either you’re making more sense or I’ve matured. I like to think I’ve matured
Seriously, I think this goes along with a lot of the pagan seepage into the Roman Catholic Church which was for a time the only game in town.
Your point is well taken. To be honest with you I look forward to Easter being over.
Tishrei
April 2, 2010 at 10:24 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hey Kent,
I think we both have matured. And yeah, lot of this stuff comes from Roman Catholicism. Whether I’m right or not, this is what I think. During the reformation, we didn’t distance ourselves enough as to practices and now it’s just sort of become tradition. Granted, no believer is worshiping bunnies or fertility goddesses. It’s just tradition and fun for the kids to paint eggs, get baskets, Peter cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail, hippity hoppity, easter’s on its way.
Yow, I think that tune is now stuck in my head. See what you did?
BLT
Margaret
April 1, 2010 at 8:36 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Tishrei,
I agree with you, and have been saying this for years and years and years and years
….. It’s ditto with the santa and halloween bit….. It’s a shame to proclaim the name of Christ as our one and only Savior, and yet cling to heathen traditions, like the Jews did in the Old Testament….. God sent Israel into exile because they clung to their heathen traditions, along with going to the Temple to worship the LORD….. That means this is serious in God’s eyes.
Anyway, a quick web search brought up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter, which gives more information than anyone really cares to know regarding the term “Easter”, the traditions, dates, etc…… I can’t verify that it is all legit and don’t care to try….. It is much more beneficial to just worship and honor the Lord who loves us and gave His life for us, so that we might have total forgiveness and eternal life….. The rest of the world will continue to do what it wants.
In the same breath, there are true Christians that celebrate Resurrection Day in different ways….. For those who truly honor the Lord in their different ways, loving the salvation we have in Christ alone — Romans 14:1-12 applies….. That instructs us to not judge one another by how someone chooses to serve the Lord….. It ends with, “So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
So, there can be different ways of worshiping and honoring God that are acceptable in God’s sight….. All of these different ways of honestly worshiping do not do homage to the bunny and other heathen traditions….. It’s just comforting to know that God knows our every thought and what is in our heart….. He will be our Judge….. Point being, it is good to live in obedience to our Lord’s ways in love.
Rejoicing in Christ’s resurrection is a daily comfort.
Great post.
Margaret
Tishrei
April 2, 2010 at 10:19 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi Margaret,
I started my post off with the caveat because I realize that there are some that take issue with this holiday. I do not. I would not care if someone started a holiday celebrating His teaching on the Sermon on the Mount as long as pagan practices were not incorporated.
I agree, there can be different ways in honoring Him and worshiping Him. Some practices that people use I am not comfortable with for myself EVEN though there is nothing wrong with it and not against the teachings of scripture.
Margaret
April 3, 2010 at 7:50 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Tishrei,
Right on….. There are practices I am not comfortable with, but cannot be judgmental about because it is not against scripture….. God is so kind and patient with us all.
Margaret
Liz
April 3, 2010 at 4:22 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Great indepth post Tishrei!!!
I was watching Martha Steward living and she even though she is not a believer explained about the bunny and the godess. and laying eggs. First off bunnies do not lay eggs.
Repent Harlequin
April 4, 2010 at 4:00 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
“First off bunnies do not lay eggs.”
Really, Liz? Then where do chocalate eggs come from?
Let’s see you wriggle out of that one!
Tishrei
April 4, 2010 at 9:43 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hey Liz,
You’re correct, bunnies have live, squiggly wiggly babies. I think the point of the eggs and bunnies are that both represent fertility. Bunnies are unbelievably prolific reproducers. Eggs are obvious as to why they are a good representation of fertility — without the egg, fertility is futile (I’m thinking Borg from Star Trek)
Hope you had a blessed Resurrection day!
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