Easter=Holiday for EVERYONE?

[UnluckyLove]

Easter is a large religious celebration for any branch of Christianity (Catholic, etc) but what about those of us who don't celebrate Easter (for example Jewish, who believe that Jesus has yet to rise, if im not mistaken), after all, only 30% of the world are branches of Christianity. So why is it considered a holiday and we don't have school etc, when other religions have religious events and we don't get those days off school/work?? is it really considered fair, not that i mind days off school but is it fair that we get all hyped up with easter eggs and get no school when other religious holidays for any religion other than Christianity we don;t get all hyped up and miss school for?

EC

[Chief Hoult]

hmm....30% of the World, I'll take your word, but what's the number in North America? I imagine in Israel, they don't have Easter/Christmas off (although I may be incorrect, I really don't know to be honest), or in Pakistan.

I imagine it goes back to who settled Canada....And if we were to give every holiday of every religion time off....well....

I think a lot of religious celebrations happen around the same time anyway. Isn't passover around now? (again, I really don't know....my friend and I are going out for coffee later and said she couldn't eat something because of passover, or soemthing like that...I really wasn't paying attention).

CH

[Bright Eyes]

She probably mentioned that she couldn't eat donuts with the coffee because you can't eat anything with yeast (I think) over Passover. But Passover was last week, she can eat all the donuts she likes now.

The population of this country is largely Christian, so we have Christian holidays off. I don't think it should be an issue of huge contention. I don't want to make this statement in case it isn't true, but if you practice a different religion, in some cases you can have those days excepted. But I really don't know.

And ... do I really need to say that Easter isn't about the eggs? :rolleyes:

[Wood]

Other religions are indeed allowed to take off their religious holidays. I know that in all my classes around Ramadan their were 3 or 4 people away. However, I don't think that policy would work for christian holidays as the vast majority of people would be gone. Also most christian holidays events have atheist practices to it, that are practiced by most people. Presents, easter eggs...

One more reason that I've heard used is that the Canadian Economy has evolved around these holidays, and it would take a huge hit if it were altered (I'm no economisist, maybe someone that is would know more).

[CProctor]

in Korea, it's apparently about 50-60% Christians (although by the sheer number of churches everywhere, you'd think it higher), and Easter is not a big national holiday.

Some kids haven't heard of it. Only those who're uber-religious go in for it.

All very odd, compared to what I'm used to.

CP

[Wood]

Ya, especially since easter is considered to be the most important christian holiday. At least to the Catholic Church (can't speak for all the different septs)

[sailrox]

To be honest, I think of Easter as two separate holidays.

There's the Jesus one, and the Egg one.

Easter 1: A guy died so you could eat.
Easter 2: You eat.

[Anzac Angel]

Good Friday is widely celebrated here.. the Shopping centers shut, and everything.. its hard to find any shops open at all on that day

also we celebrate easter sunday, and the shops are shut this day also..

Its also widely comertialised - Shops thrive on Holiday events.. if it wernt for religion.. i think that the shops would make there own special events up..

Cheers
angie

[wb256]

They do make their own special days up...what do you think Valentine's day is?

lol

[Logan]

i believe that the reason that we mainly only get time off for the christian holidays is because that was the primary religion of the first settlers in north america (settlers not the natives) so the society that we have now springs from that christian based one about 300 years ago.

And being a christian with slightly different beliefs than someone mentioned earlier it might be an idea to some what lay off the actual discussion of said beliefs and what they think about the fate of others. it might cause offense to others. though might make an interesting thread to run somewhere else.

[Bright Eyes]

Because Easter as mentioned above coincides with the athiest easter egg activities that are based on Pagan concepts.
Ummm ... if you're a real atheist and not just a person that says "I don't like god because it's cool" then you wouldn't celebrate a pagan festival.

Besides, I don't really think the "easter egg activities" were meant to be an atheist substitute for a celebration that goes on at this time. The atheists don't have any right to feel left out. They chose their path. If they wanted to feast on delicious eggs and easter ham, then they should simply accept Jesus into their hearts. :)

[Wood]

So now Jesus isn't enough of a symbol for Christianity, instead it requires ham and chocolate to draw people in?

The celebration of Easter is simply part of the culture here in Canada. And the Easter Egg hunt, is obviously not Christian and has nothing to do with that part of the holiday. It is now very secular.

People who are not Christian shouldn't be Categorized as trying to be cool (ironic because that's percisely why so many people are christian). They can simply not believe. And no one has the right to tell them how they should feel. They can have what ever traditions they want, and they can eat whatever they want. Its a huge leap to say just because someone wants bring their family together around this tradition they should have to convert to a religion of your choice.

[sailrox]

The reason I said the above comment was that I have to work all Easter weekend. It's not a holiday for me, I work in a classified Tourist Area.

We were saying "Happy Easter" to all of our clients that day.

To me, Easter the relgious part was what I was missing out on with my family. I didn't get to go to church cause I had to work, and that was the relgious part.

But we had bunny and egg stickers we were sticking on our bags, and a Jewish lady (how was I supposed to know she was Jewish, I ask?) got angry at me for offering her son a sticker and a Happy Easter.

And it made me think. I didn't offer it as "Happy Jesus-Resurrected-Today" gift, but a "Yay-the Easter-Bunny came!" gift. To me, that's an all-religion sort of holiday.

That being said, when EVERYTHING (except me!) is closed for Easter, like the Rideau Centre, the grocery stores, etc. It's really dificult for people of other religions to ignore it. Maybe it IS a good excuse for getting together with family. A couple extra days off, sure!

And maybe, at the end of the day, that's all that's important.

[wb256]

So now Jesus isn't enough of a symbol for Christianity, instead it requires ham and chocolate to draw people in?

The celebration of Easter is simply part of the culture here in Canada. And the Easter Egg hunt, is obviously not Christian and has nothing to do with that part of the holiday. It is now very secular.

People who are not Christian shouldn't be Categorized as trying to be cool (ironic because that's percisely why so many people are christian). They can simply not believe. And no one has the right to tell them how they should feel. They can have what ever traditions they want, and they can eat whatever they want. Its a huge leap to say just because someone wants bring their family together around this tradition they should have to convert to a religion of your choice.


I think you misunderstood. She claimed if you were a real atheist you would not celebrate a pagan holiday. Hold on, I'll explain.

You see, Paganism is a category of religions. An atheist is someone who does not follow any religions. Therefore, a true atheist would not celebrate a pagan holiday. I think she meant that using the term "pagan" and "atheist" in the same sentence sounded rather odd (especially in the context that you used them).

[Walsh]

Yeah, us non-religious, agnostic and athiest, people dont get any holidays... it sucks.

[Bright Eyes]

The collection and giving of eggs in the spring is SECULAR?!?!?!

If you want to talk about religions getting exploited and abused, you should look at the pagans and other earth religions.

Easter eggs ... pagan ... from Egypt
Christmas trees ... pagan ... from Europe

I could go on.

If you Christians would like to keep complaining that your religion is getting trampled on by people making your religious holidays "secular" ... then take a look at what you've been doing to the pagans since your religion was started.

[wb256]

.....

[Wood]

Even though Easter eggs are Pagan in ORIGIN, that doesn't mean people who pass around easter eggs are Pagans. Which means an Athiest person has as much right to do it as anyone else. Its part of the culture of the nation, that's why people practice it. Its only a religious holiday when you spiritualize it, and that's an internal process.

Say you pass around "xmas" presents to your friends and family and the only thing you think about is your duty to do so or the pleasure you get, that is secular. While if you pass around presents and think about the wisemen giving gifts to Jesus, well that's religious. And if you go out celebrating Holloween well that's most likely secular, however if you refuse to celebrate for religious reasons, obviously its religious.

What's this obsession with people "robbing" religions? Does it actually hurt anyone? Can an argument other than, "then why aren't the christians" be made? This is supposed to be a free society.

[Logan]

Just a little more clearifacation, an athiest is someone who does not believe that there is/are (a) god(s), an agnostic is some one who believe that there is or might be a god but not in any organized religious sense.

[Bright Eyes]

Even though Easter eggs are Pagan in ORIGIN, that doesn't mean people who pass around easter eggs are Pagans.
Shouldn't it mean that? I call those that eat little wafers and drink wine "Christians" because they practice those traditions. Why should it be different for any other religion? And yes ... paganism is a real religion.

Its part of the culture of the nation, that's why people practice it. Its only a religious holiday when you spiritualize it, and that's an internal process.
And I, for one don't think it should be. These cultural and commercial things that seem all too commonplace for you just happen to be based on sacred rituals more ancient than even Christianity. I don't appreciate having sacred and holy days made a mockery of by ingrate consumers that don't even know what they are.

If you want to pass around presents at a certain time of year and think that you are giving offerings to the small aliens that live inside each human to appease them so they will not break out and conquer the world, that is just fine with me. I'm just saying that if you want to create a secular holiday, don't be stealing the dates and practices of a religious holiday that already exists on that day! And ... don't try to give it some other cute name like xmas. That name is clearly non-secular and using it to be otherwise is a joke all on its own.

Does it actually hurt anyone?
It hurts me spiritually that there are millions of people in the world that have no idea where the celebrations of this time of year came from and abuse the sacred days of the pagans with commercialism. If you are not a pagan, don't participate in a pagan ceremony, like the giving and receiving of coloured eggs in springtime. I'm not Jewish, so I don't eat matzah. It's not a difficult concept.

Can an argument other than, then why aren't the christians be made?
Is it just me or does this sentence not make sense?

This is supposed to be a free society.
Ha! Hahaha! You make a joke, yes? :rolleyes:

[wb256]

Is it just me or does this sentence not make sense?

is it just me, or does YOUR MOM not make any sense?

[Bright Eyes]

Funny ... that didn't seem to bother you last night. ;)


I guess my post must have been that great that no one dares challenge it. :D Nice.

[Dick]

So are you saying that because someone doesnt go to church regularly and practice christianity , they should do the whole egg thing?

OR

Are you saying the egg thing should have nothing to do with Easter at all and it should be purely a sacred time?

[wb256]

All I'm saying is despite the fact that she showed me an extreamly good time last night, Brandy's mother isn't the most coherent speaker. Slightly off topic yes, but relevant information none the less.

[Wood]

I can accept that it is upsetting to you personally, and if you don't think people should celebrate Easter, that's fine. However, some of us recognize that throughout history religion has influenced culture. And since traditions are often more resilient than religion, we still have tradititions from religions that are not widely practiced anymore. Looking at what you say, the harm caused to you, by children collecting easter eggs, is not substancial enough to overide their right to do it. Especially in Canada, consider what Canada is. It's an experiment where all cultures live together and mixing in the middle east and the European and the African ect. into what we call Canada.

[Lola]

an agnostic is some one who believe that there is or might be a god but not in any organized religious sense.

Nope!

Agnostics don't believe in a god or believe that there isn't a god, because there's no proof either way.

[RE Hopefull]

Nope!

Agnostics don't believe in a god or believe that there isn't a god, because there's no proof either way.


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2 entries found for agnostic.
ag·nos·tic ( P ) Pronunciation Key (g-nstk)
n.

One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.
One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
One who is doubtful or noncommittal about something.

Not quite, being agnostic covers an entire range of beliefs, and has strayed from its original meaning to basically being a "miscellaneous" pile for those who are not sure of what they believe., hence the second entry.

[Bright Eyes]

Wow ... talk about the irony ...

A thread about Easter brought back from the dead.

[Wiper]

Ouch.... My chest hurts from laughing so hard.

[J. Gleiberman]

Just to jump in here with both feet, a comment was made about Jews not celebrating Easter. That is true, Jews do not accept Jesus as Meshach, however Jesus was Jewish and the three days and nights from the time he was crucified to the resurrection were during Passover. In fact the Last Supper was a Passover Seder. So no Jews do not celebrate Easter but do have Passover.

[Agnew]

I'm not religious, but I love chocolate, and thus Easter is welcome in my home.

I think Easter egg hunts were a way of getting the children out of your hair while you make ham and relax on this lovely holiday. Or at least that is what I would do.

I hate the hollow chocolate easter eggs. They taste gross. Cheap chocolate.

[warrilow_167]

Your acting like its a bad thing that we only get time off school/ work for christian holidays (which isnt entierly true because as I remember in some more jewishly prodominent areas of montreal you get time off for both jewish and christian holidays)

anyways back to my point.. im not christian, or jewish for that matter, so, I get to take my own days off of school for holidays and the school can't mark me absent and cant cover anything major when im gone....oh the joys of being minority

[J. Gleiberman]

Your acting like its a bad thing that we only get time off school/ work for christian holidays (which isnt entierly true because as I remember in some more jewishly prodominent areas of montreal you get time off for both jewish and christian holidays)

anyways back to my point.. im not christian, or jewish for that matter, so, I get to take my own days off of school for holidays and the school can't mark me absent and cant cover anything major when im gone....oh the joys of being minority
True.

York University gets the Jewish Holidays off as well.