Easter Celebrations are Worship of the Sun

[Jipsah]

If you’ve limited yourself to christian texts you can‘t expect to be well informed about other cultures.

I'm know a fair bit about other cultures, being blood kin (no more than 3 generations back) to folks from 3 continents and from at least 4 different languages, as many nationalities, and all of whom, save one, confessing Christians. I reckon you can get a goodly bit of insight into other cultures by attending one or two of our bigger family reunions. (The good news is that we almost all speak English with fair fluency.)

I’ve provided the modern term if you want to know more. You have to go to the source and see how it was recognized by different groups. Choose an area and look at its history. There’s a wealth of information on pre-christian practices and quite a bit of it is scholarly.

And most of it has no bearing at all on the Christian Faith.

The bible provides numerous examples of groups living differently and the impact of their influence on Israel.

I don't actually care all that much about Israel, either.

They didn’t live in a vacuum and you can see the same in their calendar.

Assuming they had one.

Some of the names are Babylonian. To assume christians never did the same is unrealistic. People rub off on one another when they live in community.

You'll find precious few of myKOrean kin following Korean animism. Except for the solitary Buddhist, they're all Christians.

Have you forgotten Paul’s words?

To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews [for Christ]; to men under the Law, [I became] as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might win those who are under the Law. To those who are without (outside) the Law, [I became] as one without the Law, though [I am] not without the law of God, but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became [as the] weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means [in any and every way] save some [by leading them to faith in Jesus Christ].

~bella

Do you believe he was advocating syncretism?

 

[prodromos]

I think where a lot of people who identify as Christians struggle w/ this concept is they think it's an attack on the very foundations of Christianity: "if we can prove that what Christianity is doing was pagan, we can disprove Christianity."

No, we are simply pointing out that there is no historical basis for the claims being made. It is entirely bunk.

 

[prodromos]

We're trying to say the 2 co-existed at one point, then the pagan beliefs were brought in.

If this is what you are trying to say then you need to provide evidence. You need to show from primary sources that the practices you believe were co-opted by Christians, were actually practised by pagans at that time, and that they were co-opted by Christians at that time. The problem you will face is that there is no such evidence. In every thread where the above claims are made, we've asked for evidence and then the thread fades into obscurity, only for a new one to pop up a year later making the same claims.

Remember, you need primary sources from the relevant period. If you quote some historian making the claim then that historian needs to be quoting primary sources themselves.

 

[RileyG]

An often repeated yet totally baseless claim.

Especially since Christmas means Christ’s Mass, and Easter is called pascha in other languages. NONE of it is pagan.

 

[RileyG]

No, we are simply pointing out that there is no historical basis for the claims being made. It is entirely bunk.

Yeah, it’d usually people who aren’t Christian who claim Christmas, Easter et al are pagan because they want to attack Christianity. None of it is credible.

 

[ralliann]

Evidence?

All we know about Eostre comes from the 8th-century English author Bede. Bede does not associate Eostre with any animal. Hares are not obviously symbols of fertility in medieval Christian art. If anything, they are symbols of virginity.

Here is where we also can look. Far more likely. From scripture itself.

Etymology​

The theonym has been reconstructed as *Ēastre (Old English), *Ôstara (Old High German) and *Āsteron (Old Saxon).[4]

Zec 6:12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; (395) and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: {grow … : or, branch up from under him }

Grk LXX branch = anatole
395 ἀνατολή anatole an-at-ol-ay’

from 393; n f; TDNT-1:352,57; {See TDNT 64}

AV-east 9, dayspring 1; 10

1) a rising (of the sun and stars)
2) the east (the direction of the sun’s rising)

See below.. Dawn, daybreak, east, towards the dawn.....
[5] These are cognates – linguistic siblings stemming from a common origin. They derive from the Proto-Germanic theonym Austrō(n),[4][5] itself a descendant of Proto-Indo-European (PIE) *h₂ews-reh₂ (cf. Lithuanian auš(t)rà, 'dawn, daybreak'), extended from the PIE root *h₂ews-, meaning 'to shine, glow (red)'.[6][5] The modern English east also derives from this root, via the Proto-Germanic adverb *aust(e)raz ('east, eastwards'), from an earlier PIE *h₂ews-tero- ('east, towards the dawn').[5]

Now lets look at this word in the Byzantine
Greek new testament...
EAST STAR.....

Mt 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Mt 2:9 ¶ When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star (astera), which they saw in the east (anatole), went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Lu 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, {tender … : or, bowels of the mercy } {dayspring: or, sunrising, or, branch

What we can also Look to the "star" prophecy....for King Messiah...

Nu 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

Which interestingly, the false Messiah was called.....
Simon bar Kokhba (Hebrew: שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר כּוֹכְבָא Šīm‘ōn bar Kōḵḇāʾ‎) or Simon bar Koseba (שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר כֹסֵבָא Šīm‘ōn bar Ḵōsēḇaʾ‎), commonly referred to simply as Bar Kokhba,[a] was a Jewish military leader in Judea. He lent his name to the Bar Kokhba revolt, which he initiated against the Roman Empire in 132 CE.
During the revolt, the Jewish sage Rabbi Akiva regarded Simon as the Jewish messiah. The Jerusalem Talmud (Taannit 4:5) records his statement that the Star Prophecy verse from Numbers 24:17,[10] "There shall come a star out of Jacob,"[11] referred to him. This was based on identification of the Hebrew word for star, kokhav, and his name, bar Kozeva.

Why people look to pagan gods and goddesses Is simply confirmation bias, IMO. They can find these things in scripture.

Sun, of righteousness.
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun (Heb 08121) of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

08121 שׁמשׁ shemesh sheh’-mesh

from an unused root meaning to be brilliant; n f/m; [BDB-1039a] {See TWOT on 2417 @@ "2417a"}

AV-sun 119, sunrising + 04217 9, east side + 04217 2, windows 1, eastward + 04217 1, west + 03996 1, westward + 03996 1; 134

1) sun
1a) sun
1b) sunrise, sun-rising, east, sun-setting, west (of direction)
1c) sun (as object of illicit worship)
1d) openly, publicly (in other phrases)
1e) pinnacles, battlements, shields (as glittering or shining)

We know ferom Roman history, Christians would meet just before "DAWN". Who has not ever heard of Easter "sunrise" services?

 

[Mockingbird0]

Neither the Romans nor the Greeks had a Spring equinox festival that I know of. The closest nation to the ancient Mediterranean to have a Spring equinox festival were the Iranians, and they were far away.

I should modify this statement. In the middle to late Empire, the Romans had a festival on March 25, the hilaria matris deorum, the "merrymaking of the mother of the gods." But it is plain from the sources that eggs and hares were not part of the celebration.

 

[Jipsah]

Especially since Christmas means Christ’s Mass, and Easter is called pascha in other languages. NONE of it is pagan.

Apparently those who attack the celebration of our Lord's resurrection believe that the first language of all Christians is English. FWIW, in Korean, Easter/Pascha is called the equivalent of "Ressurection Holiday". No way to attach any pseudo-pagan significance to it at all.

 

[Palmfever]

....and deep in pagan symbols to say nothing of the rites and rituals. If one looks, they will see the origins of Easter are found in a pagan festival celebration of seasonal renewal that has taken place around the time of the Spring Equinox. The date upon which Easter is held varies from year to year, and corresponds with the first Sunday following the full moon after the Spring Equinox.

Here is a good explanation.. "Easter is one of Christianity’s highest and holiest days, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. But the origins of today’s very Christian holiday are firmly rooted in the ancient traditions of pagan religions from many parts of the world. With its blend of solemn religious symbolism and the fun of Easter eggs and bunny rabbits, Easter as we know it is a patchwork of beliefs and practices related to the themes of springtime, rebirth, and renewal....

Easter doesn’t fall on the same date every year. Thus, even this aspect of the holiday is connected with pagan celebrations of the cycles of nature. The vernal equinox marks the time when night and day are of equal length. It’s also a celebration by pagan cultures to welcome the arrival of the long days of spring and summer."

And more..."Easter is a pagan festival. If Easter isn't really about Jesus, then what is it about? Today, we see a secular culture celebrating the spring equinox, whilst religious culture celebrates the resurrection. However, early Christianity made a pragmatic acceptance of ancient pagan practises, most of which we enjoy today at Easter. The general symbolic story of the death of the son (sun) on a cross (the constellation of the Southern Cross) and his rebirth, overcoming the powers of darkness, was a well worn story in the ancient world. There were plenty of parallel, rival resurrected saviours too.

The Sumerian goddess Inanna, or Ishtar, was hung naked on a stake, and was subsequently resurrected and ascended from the underworld. One of the oldest resurrection myths is Egyptian Horus. Born on 25 December, Horus and his damaged eye became symbols of life and rebirth. Mithras was born on what we now call Christmas day, and his followers celebrated the spring equinox. Even as late as the 4th century AD, the sol invictus, associated with Mithras, was the last great pagan cult the church had to overcome. Dionysus was a divine child, resurrected by his grandmother. Dionysus also brought his mum, Semele, back to life.

In an ironic twist, the Cybele cult flourished on today's Vatican Hill. Cybele's lover Attis, was born of a virgin, died and was reborn annually. This spring festival began as a day of blood on Black Friday, rising to a crescendo after three days, in rejoicing over the resurrection. ....."http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/03/easter-pagan-symbolism

As a young child Easter was a day of fun. Lotta chocolate and play with friends. I had no religous nor pagan connection.
When I raised children it continued as such. Fun with family and friends.
Romans 14:22
You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.

Sometimes we make more of holidays than they warrant.

 

[RileyG]

Apparently those who attack the celebration of our Lord's resurrection believe that the first language of all Christians is English. FWIW, in Korean, Easter/Pascha is called the equivalent of "Ressurection Holiday". No way to attach any pseudo-pagan significance to it at all.

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Mockingbird0]

Egyptian Horus. Born on 25 December,

Horus's birthday, if he had one, would have been on a fixed day in the old Egyptian calendar which had 365 days each year without any intercalations. So in the Gregorian calendar, Horus's birthday (if he had one) would shift by about 1 day every 4 years, and so would not be on a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar.

In an ironic twist, the Cybele cult flourished on today's Vatican Hill. Cybele's lover Attis, was born of a virgin, died and was reborn annually. This spring festival began as a day of blood on Black Friday, rising to a crescendo after three days, in rejoicing over the resurrection.

The temple of Cybele was on the Palatine Hill, not the Vatican. And Arnobius, relating the myth of Cybele and Attis, states (Adversus Gentes 5.7) that Attis was not restored to life. The festival you refer to can only be the hilaria Matris Deorum, which was not on fixed days in the 7-day week but was every year from the ides of March to the 27th. The hilaria proper were on the 25th. This festival was unknown to Ovid, writing in the first century. I can't find any reference to it before the 4th century; some of those references report it being celebrated in the 3rd century. So it seems to have been a recently-invented festival in the 4th century, which if so means it cannot be the original of Easter, which Christians were celebrating already in the 2nd century.