Freethought & Rationalism Archive

BadBadBad · 04-08-2007, 07:01 AM

Can someone tell me how we came to celebrate the date of Easter? What's the history behind this date? If we don't really know if Jesus existed, how did we come to know what date he died?

The Reformer · 04-08-2007, 07:36 AM

The history: from the Bible.

The validity: none.

Simen · 04-08-2007, 07:39 AM

It's not a celebration of the date he supposedly died, because Easter doesn't fall on the same day every year. It's more of a celebration of the concept of death and ressurection. I don't believe in any of it, but I do like holidays.

Splarnst · 04-08-2007, 07:41 AM

This is easy. It's connected to date of the celebration of Passover. It's explicitly mentioned in the Gospels. That doesn't mean it really happened, but that's how they know when to celebrate it.

BadBadBad · 04-08-2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revolutionary

This is easy. It's connected to date of the celebration of Passover. It's explicitly mentioned in the Gospels. That doesn't mean it really happened, but that's how they know when to celebrate it.

Can you explain? I'm not familiar with the passover or these passages in the Bible.

BadBadBad · 04-08-2007, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simen

It's not a celebration of the date he supposedly died, because Easter doesn't fall on the same day every year. It's more of a celebration of the concept of death and ressurection. I don't believe in any of it, but I do like holidays.

You'd think people would remember the date when Jesus Christ, the son of God, gave up his life for all of mankind. I'm still curious about the history behind this. For example, when did this become a celebration of Jesus Christ' sacrifice?

Clivedurdle · 04-08-2007, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Contrary to what the Church may try and tell you, Christianity came late to the Easter party. There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament, or in the writings of the apostolic Fathers. A comment made by St Chrysostom on I Cor. V. 7 has been supposed to refer to an apostolic observance of Easter, but this is erroneous. The sanctity of special times was an idea absent from the minds of the first Christians. The ecclesiastical historian Socrates (Hist. Eccl. V. 22) states that neither Jesus nor his followers enjoined the keeping of this or any other festival. He attributes the observance of Easter by the Church to the perpetuation of an old tradition, just as many other customs have been established.

http://www.witchology.com/contents/march/ostara.php

Can anyone confirm this?

Cege · 04-08-2007, 01:07 PM

The 325CE council of Nicea compromised among several opinions and decided on this calculation for Easter: Easter must be on a Sunday and must be the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring equinox. It can occur as early as March 22 and as late as April 25, but must fall between those dates.

The Julian and Gregorian calendars put the observation by Orthodox churches at a differing date, except for occasional overlaps.

Cege · 04-08-2007, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clivedurdle

Can anyone confirm this?

Before the council of Nicea's ruling in 325CE, Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus on various dates and days of the week, albeit in spring time. Various pagan celebrations of spring, fertility, and rebirth were already in place, including one called Eastre.

Like the holiday named Christmas, Easter was created in a season of pagan holidays in order for Christians to have holidays to celebrate in the midst of long-established, non-Christian celebrations.

itsamysteryhuh · 04-08-2007, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadBadBad

Can someone tell me how we came to celebrate the date of Easter? What's the history behind this date? If we don't really know if Jesus existed, how did we come to know what date he died?

All you have to do is look it up (click here).

By the way, if you (and I quote) "really don't know if Jesus existed", then why do many of you pretend to know whether or not Jesus existed? :huh:

Happy Easter!

04-08-2007, 07:01 AM	#1
BadBadBad Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: WHERE GOD IS NOT!!!!! Posts: 4,338	Easter Sunday Can someone tell me how we came to celebrate the date of Easter? What's the history behind this date? If we don't really know if Jesus existed, how did we come to know what date he died?

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04-08-2007, 07:36 AM	#2
The Reformer Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern Africa Posts: 78	The history: from the Bible. The validity: none.

04-08-2007, 07:39 AM	#3
Simen Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Norway Posts: 2,382	It's not a celebration of the date he supposedly died, because Easter doesn't fall on the same day every year. It's more of a celebration of the concept of death and ressurection. I don't believe in any of it, but I do like holidays.

04-08-2007, 07:41 AM	#4
Splarnst Contributor Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 13,161	This is easy. It's connected to date of the celebration of Passover. It's explicitly mentioned in the Gospels. That doesn't mean it really happened, but that's how they know when to celebrate it.

04-08-2007, 01:07 PM	#8
Cege Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 36078 Posts: 849	The 325CE council of Nicea compromised among several opinions and decided on this calculation for Easter: Easter must be on a Sunday and must be the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring equinox. It can occur as early as March 22 and as late as April 25, but must fall between those dates. The Julian and Gregorian calendars put the observation by Orthodox churches at a differing date, except for occasional overlaps.

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