What Is Easter?

Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 1 month ago to Culture
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There's a lot I don't get about religion. However, one thing that I don't get the most is the popular manifestation of Easter. Supposedly, It commemorates when God in the form of a man was asphyxiated by being nailed to a cross and left to hang on the upright cross until death overcame him. A particularly hideous way to die. So in order to commemorate this grisly act, we are inundated with cute bunnies laying candy coated chocolate eggs and having our kids pictures taken at the malls with 6 foot tall rabbits who if they were real would scare the pants of kids more than the myriad of Santas during Christmas. Can anyone explain this phenomenon to me?

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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 9 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    You are right about Easter being the hook and about the promise of life after death, but there is more to it than that. It is the acceptance of the unearned and a form of second-handedness.
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  • Posted by coaldigger 9 years, 1 month ago
    Easter is the hook for acceptance of mystical control. Mankind contemplates death with great fear and dread. Most cannot resist a promise of life after death and are willing to sacrifice life on earth for it. Madison Avenue could not have done a better job with introducing chocolate, peeps and cute bunnies as a reminder of Easter so as to not wear out the welcome of the message by focusing on blood and gore. Islam throws in a bevy of virgins and off go the suicide bombers.
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  • Posted by Zenphamy 9 years, 1 month ago
    One of Christianity's primary activities to gain acceptance was to adopt pagan celebration and concepts and then arrange their theology history to fit with the timing of those existing celebrations/rites. Then after Christianity got everything to fit just so, mercantilism and marketing jumped in to get their pieces.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    The mention of the Smothers Brothers reminded me of a pleasant memory I'd like to share. My son and I were in Nevada on business when we drove up to Reno to see the Smothers in concert. After the show, my son, who always had more nerve than me told the backstage guard that two generations of fans would like to say hello to them. They came out of their dressing room and spent a few minutes chatting with us, but had to leave for a charity even before the 2nd show. Instead, their music director joined us and shared a snack with us in the hotel café, telling us stories about the brothers. It was a sweet gesture.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 1 month ago
    According to the Smothers Brothers....Tommy to be exact.

    It is the morning that Jesus arose from the Dead

    and if he doesn't see his shadow he has to go back in the tomb for another 40 nights.

    Don't kill the messenger....the networks wouldn't let them do it live even though a panel of clergy approved it.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    One of my all time favorite movies. Unfortunately, I have never been able to attract a pookah as a companion.
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