Australia is inclined to often paint itself as a progressive country, one that has left the conservative era, by and large, behind, and one that no longer accepts the common myths that religious leaders and politicians used in the past to keep the people under their sway.<\/p>\n
But that impression is largely a myth. And there is no better time when the extent to which Australia is a land that is deeply conservative is evident than Easter.<\/p>\n
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As any encyclopedia will tell the average reader, Easter is a pagan festival that was brought into the Christian calendar in order to increase the number of those in Christian ranks. Even the most cursory glance at scripture will reveal the absurdity of the claims; how can anyone be claimed to be within a tomb for three days and three nights when that period is said to be between Friday and Sunday?<\/p>\n
Yes, as folklore has it, Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and then rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. That makes about a day and a half at best; yet, the Bible says Christ was dead for three days and three nights. How does that work out?<\/p>\n
Anyone who tries to pour cold water on this myth is likely to be tarred and feathered and ridden on a rail. Easter means a commercial bonanza and anyone who gets in the way of businesspeople making money is likely to be about as popular as a communist in the Vatican.<\/p>\n
Easter had its origins as a pagan festival celebrating spring in the Northern Hemisphere, long before the advent of Christianity.<\/p>\n
New Unger’s Bible dictionary has this to say: “The word Easter is of Saxon origin, Eastra, the goddess of spring, in whose honour sacrifices were offered about Passover time each year. By the eighth century, Anglo\u2013Saxons had adopted the name to designate the celebration of Christ\u2019s resurrection.”<\/p>\n
In 325AD, the first major church council, the Council of Nicaea, decided that Easter would fall on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox.<\/p>\n
The rabbits and eggs that are part and parcel of Easter represent the pagan symbols for new life and the celebration of spring. The church turned a blind eye to the pagan origin of these things as it has done with many things before and after.<\/p>\n
But just try and telling anyone that this whole tamasha has no religious meaning at all. You will become an outcast even in your own family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Australia is inclined to often paint itself as a progressive country, one that has left the conservative era, by and large, behind, and one that no longer accepts the common myths that religious leaders and politicians used in the past to keep the people under their sway. But that impression is largely a myth. And … <\/p>\n