Are you an atheist? (5 Viewers)

[spikepl]

... and god was in a funky mood on the day of creation, because he also gave Adam nipples and navel, and an appendix and a foreskin, for good measure

 

[Vassago]

Hope everyone had an amazing Zombie Jesus Day!

 

[Brianwarnock]

Are we in danger of poking fun at people's sincerely held beliefs instead of entering a meaningful discussion.

Brian

 

[Vassago]

Are we in danger of poking fun at people's sincerely held beliefs instead of entering a meaningful discussion.

Brian

Hasn't that been done this entire thread?

I thought a little light hearted humor was needed.

Everyone should just not say anything, because someone will always be offended.

 

[Rabbie]

In general I think people have tried to attack the arguments and not the person. A bit of humour is always good.

 

[Galaxiom]

Hope everyone had an amazing Zombie Jesus Day!

My family and friends celebrate the genuine meaning of Easter. It is an ancient fertility festival that predates the origins of the Jesus myth by millennia.

The name very probably originated from Ishtar and is also connected to terms meaning fertility such as oestrus and its spelling variants.

Ultimately it is undoubtely the celebration of the northern spring equinox marked as the passing of winter from ancient times when mankind first became aware of the astronomical patterns of the Sun's movements and its relationship to the seasons.

The attempt to usurp the festival with the commemoration of the crucifiction of Jesus was introduced much later by Constantine. It never really took over, as along with the name, the fertility symbols of rabbit and eggs still dominate the celebration.

 

[Vassago]

My family and friends celebrate the genuine meaning of Easter. It is an ancient fertility festival that predates the origins of the Jesus myth by millennia.

The name very probably originated from Ishtar and is also connected to terms meaning fertility such as oestrus and its spelling variants.

Ultimately it is undoubtely the celebration of the northern spring equinox marked as the passing of winter from ancient times when mankind first became aware of the astronomical patterns of the Sun's movements and its relationship to the seasons.

The attempt to usurp the festival with the commemoration of the crucifiction of Jesus was introduced much later by Constantine. It never really took over, as along with the name, the fertility symbols of rabbit and eggs still dominate the celebration.

It actually more probably originates from Eostre/Ostara, the Germanic paganism Goddess of fertility, as the earliest mention of Easter originates from present day Germany and surrounding areas. Ishtar never had a hare or egg symbol, whereas Eostre can be connected to both. There are many theories that connect Eostre to both. Eostre was also closely connected and possibly integrated with, the Nordic goddess Freyha, who has ties to the hare.

I've studied many holiday ties and that one always made the most sense to me, since Anglo pagans were integrated into Christian customs.

Ishtar never had a hare or egg symbol, much to the recently forwarded information's inaccuracy.

 

[Galaxiom]

It actually more probably originates from Eostre/Ostara, the Germanic paganism Goddess of fertility, as the earliest mention of Easter originates from present day Germany and surrounding areas.

I wonder if Eostre is connected to Ishtar in the distant past too and the hare and eggs were added to Eostre or dropped from Ishtar (depending on which way the tradition migrated).

Many of the old traditions including many of the aspects ascribed to Jesus (such as the virgin birth and resurrection) come from much older myths.

 

[Vassago]

I wonder if Eostre is connected to Ishtar in the distant past too and the hare and eggs were added to Eostre or dropped from Ishtar (depending on which way the tradition migrated).

Many of the old traditions including many of the aspects ascribed to Jesus (such as the virgin birth and resurrection) come from much older myths.

Very true. It's fascinating how similar many religious texts and books are, especially considering it's highly likely they are nothing more than evolutions of a predating religion. I think it's obvious that most Christians accept that Easter was not the day Jesus actually came back from the dead any more than the date for Christmas was the day Jesus was born. It's merely the date they choose to celebrate it. They know decorating trees and eggs has nothing to do with their religion. It's a tradition they've accepted. There's nothing wrong with that and in no way makes them stupid. I get sick of people bashing Christians for celebrating a holiday their way, even if some of the traditions belonged to another religion first. Who cares? The way religion evolved back then was to accept, adapt, and evolve traditions from other religions and cultures in order to thrive. This means dropping rules and adjusting others. It's part of why the church no longer uses "obey" in marriage.

This is something the Catholic Church can learn from today. They seem to have forgotten how.

 

[Galaxiom]

I get annoyed when Christians go on about the "true meaning" of Easter.

I have written letters to our local paper a couple of times after they published such stories. It has been several years now and they have not since run any stories about it. I think Christians realise that they undermine their own credibility with such claims.

However I do think it is entirely fair to to point out that the offensive nature of a belief system that claims all are born sinners and only can be "saved" through the brutal murder of an innocent. The tone of their Easter message is extremely negative and yes, their beliefs are irrational and stupid.

 

[amberkei]

There's very little, aside from a few lines from Bede and Grimm, to support Eostre as a historical goddess. That being said, as a Pagan, I celebrate Ostara over Easter.

I've always loved the story of the "Ostara bunny" that was told to me when I was in college (keep in mind that I've never found this mythos outside of my friend's coven, and I've no idea where it originates):

The Goddess had a white dove that was most beloved of all of her birds. When it had an accident and broke its wing, it could no longer fly. Unable to repair the wing, she transformed the dove into a beautiful white hare - who still laid eggs.

 

[Vassago]

There's very little, aside from a few lines from Bede and Grimm, to support Eostre as a historical goddess. That being said, as a Pagan, I celebrate Ostara over Easter.

Eostre and Ostara are the same goddess...

 

[amberkei]

Eostre and Ostara are the same goddess...

Yes. I tend to use Eostre as the Goddess name and Ostara for the holiday. *shrug* Just the way I was taught, I suppose.

 

[Vassago]

Yes. I tend to use Eostre as the Goddess name and Ostara for the holiday. *shrug* Just the way I was taught, I suppose.

Gotcha. I thought you were stating she didn't exist, and then stating you celebrated her holiday.

The problem with communication via text alone is you only receive 10% of the actual message. You're missing tone and body language which can cause the wrong words to be emphasized.

 

[amberkei]

Gotcha. I thought you were stating she didn't exist, and then stating you celebrated her holiday.

The problem with communication via text alone is you only receive 10% of the actual message. You're missing tone and body language which can cause the wrong words to be emphasized.

There's a great deal of debate as to whether or not any ancient peoples actually celebrated her, and to what extent she is wound up with the other mother/fertility goddesses. I think there's a fascinating set of questions around the meta-myths. Isthar/Eostre/Freya - are they similar because cultures tend to fill the same roles with the stories of their gods? Is there some sort of progenitor Goddess from whom these stories diverged? (Like an evolutionary tree - what is the common ancestor?) How much were the mucked up by the (primarily Christian) historians who wrote them down?

(I consider myself an agnostic Pagan - Not particularly convinced that there are any gods, but I identify with the culture and celebrations of the Neo-Pagans. I celebrate Ostara as the Spring Equinox, but deal much with the gods and goddesses. That's why this thread drew my curiosity.)

 

[Dayton]

An interesting conversation. Thank you for bringing it to the table Alisa.

Sadly, enough I am from the states, and I have witnessed the brain washing religion in the states brings us. Just watch fox news for a few moments and you'll see it in action.

This is actually why I'm trying to move to the UK. (If you know of any UK construction companies that are hiring estimators and construction managers from the US let me know )

That being said, I'm actually buddhist in practice. Which, can be considered more of a philosphy than a religion.

As far as the afterlife goes and all that jazz. I consider it a possiblity, due to the law of conservation of energy.

Just consider for a moment how much energy the human consious contains. Where does that go when a human dies? It must be converted to something else, possibly though and evolutionary process or not. OR! Nothing at all could happen.

Just food for thought.

 

[ColinEssex]

This is actually why I'm trying to move to the UK. (If you know of any UK construction companies that are hiring estimators and construction managers from the US let me know )

We are already full up with EU hopefuls trying to earn a living in the UK taking British jobs. Those that can't, scrounge on benefits and get free housing despite paying zero tax.

Col

 

[Dayton]

We are already full up with EU hopefuls trying to earn a living in the UK taking British jobs. Those that can't, scrounge on benefits and get free housing despite paying zero tax.

Col

Alrighty. Won't mention it again. Can feel the venom in that statement from here.

 

[ColinEssex]

Alrighty. Won't mention it again. Can feel the venom in that statement from here.

No venom, just stating facts.

There is massive resentment (not all British, but a rising swell) at too many foreigners coming here draining our resources, like schools, hospitals, housing etc.

Col

 

[MrsGorilla]

Clubbed like a baby seal.

Lol! Sorry, but that made me laugh.