Easter is weird

PJ_Soul wrote:

I'm an Atheist, and I'M offended by what Easter is (at least in North America).

I'm not a religious person, I guess I would be labeled Agnostic if push came to shove, but what's the point of being offended by other people's beliefs? If it's not your thing, that's fine, but why does it offend you?

You just need to relax and not get mad if somebody wishes you a Happy Easter, Merry Christmas, or says God Bless You after you sneeze. They're not trying to convert you, they're just being friendly the way they know how. If somebody says that to you and you feel the need to confront them with the fact that you're an atheist, that's your problem. It's your problem that it offends you. Most of us can let that sort of thing roll down our back and take it as somebody just being friendly and not as an opening to start a religious debate.

brianlux wrote:

Loulou wrote:

CHOCOLATE PEOPLES!!?......WONT SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHOCOLATES!!

Well you Aussies just take the cake. Here the rest of the world has chocolate bunnies and you have... chocolate people?

Hmm, wait a minute... come to think of it... not a bad idea. All that chocolate, extra calories to store up for winter Down Under. I take it back- that's brilliant! Good show, Loulou!

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm chocolate people (*drool*)

SatansFuton wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

I'm an Atheist, and I'M offended by what Easter is (at least in North America).

I'm not a religious person, I guess I would be labeled Agnostic if push came to shove, but what's the point of being offended by other people's beliefs? If it's not your thing, that's fine, but why does it offend you?

You just need to relax and not get mad if somebody wishes you a Happy Easter, Merry Christmas, or says God Bless You after you sneeze. They're not trying to convert you, they're just being friendly the way they know how. If somebody says that to you and you feel the need to confront them with the fact that you're an atheist, that's your problem. It's your problem that it offends you. Most of us can let that sort of thing roll down our back and take it as somebody just being friendly and not as an opening to start a religious debate.

The op was saying he was offended by the commercialization of Easter not the celebration of Easter.

We are completely unreligious but all of my kids know why most holidays are celebrated.

I think the whole bunny thing came from an ancient pagan celebration to celebrate a deity known as "Eostre", hence the expression, "Happy Easter" (the word "Easter" isn't found in the Bible; some Christians go so far as to call today "Resurrection Sunday" because they realize that the word Easter is a pagan reference). I could be wrong about that, but I remember that the whole bunny and hiding eggs thing was part of some old spring ritual that doesn't actually have anything to do with the Christian celebration of the resurrection.
It doesn't offend me. I figure if people want to buy candy and eggs, let them. I don't think it necessarily diminishes or takes anything away from the holiday, although when I was a kid I was really confused as to what Easter was actually about, since all I knew was egg hunts and chocolate bunnies.

iamica wrote:

I think the whole bunny thing came from an ancient pagan celebration to celebrate a deity known as "Eostre", hence the expression, "Happy Easter" (the word "Easter" isn't found in the Bible; some Christians go so far as to call today "Resurrection Sunday" because they realize that the word Easter is a pagan reference). I could be wrong about that, but I remember that the whole bunny and hiding eggs thing was part of some old spring ritual that doesn't actually have anything to do with the Christian celebration of the resurrection.
It doesn't offend me. I figure if people want to buy candy and eggs, let them. I don't think it necessarily diminishes or takes anything away from the holiday, although when I was a kid I was really confused as to what Easter was actually about, since all I knew was egg hunts and chocolate bunnies.

Here is an article that explains the origins of the Easter Bunny.... Eggs.... And decorating.
You were right on

http://news.discovery.com/history/what- ... 20406.html

Whoa. I must admit I hate Peeps, but that Peep Show is amazing!

comebackgirl wrote:

curlygirly9 wrote:

Whoa. I must admit I hate Peeps, but that Peep Show is amazing!

It's making me think I made too hasty a judgement about peeps :think:

Well, my opinion of them was just reaffirmed: Either way, they are nasty

Herd consumerism.
Let's all go and buy chocolate eggs and bunnies.

There were lines out the shop door on Saturday, people buying chocolates from the confectionery store at the local shopping plaza.

My mum attempted to chastise my brother in law yesterday for him not going to church on Easter.
I chimed in with ''not all of us are angels like you".
Room fell silent, my niece giggled.

dimitrispearljam wrote:

Carey wrote:

Easter can mean whatever you want it to mean. I am a Christian, and I know what it means to me. For me, the week before Easter (starting during the second half of Palm Sunday service) is quite dark. And Easter Sunday feels more like a celebration. In spite of my desire for my kids to understand the "true meaning" of Easter, we also celebrate the commercialized version of Easter. In my mind, they are two different things. I am not giving my kids peeps because Jesus was crucified.

The beauty of this is, you are free to believe what you want. Its not my business what you think of Jesus or Easter, I am merely sharing my perspective.

like..

Nami wrote:

The commercialization around Christmas and Easter is terrible. As a parent and Christian it is my job to inform my child the real reason behind the two events.

Happy Easter Everyone!

like..

Poke.