A) Atheism
B) A healthy distrust of organised religion
I do however believe that we should remember Jesus whose death is traditionaly ‘celebrated’ at this time of year. I look at Chritianity as a humanistic philosophy and Christ as a man rather than the son of God. In doing so I hold him, his life and his death in the greatest of respect.
When I was at school, we were allways told that Easter was the most important of all the religious festivals.
The results of mine are the same. One year as a child I went to mass every day for lent, by which point I had convinced myself I wanted to become a priest - like that idea lasted very long!!
I do however have like you the greatest respect for basic Christian tenets. But I find it difficult to separate that out from all the incalculable evil that has been and is being done in the name of all religions not just Christianity. The world would be a better place without all forms of tribalism religion included.
As a Jew, I also have great respect for the life and teachings of my 2000 yr old homeboy. The troubles and atrocities which have been carried out in his name have nothing at all to do with his humanistic and loving teachings. It’s really sorry how people always seem to take something or someone good, and warp them to their own twisted uses.
Wishing all of my Christian friends a joyous, meaningful Easter.
FWIW, it is not Jesus’s death that is “celebrated” at this time of year, but rather his resurrection from the dead on the third day. His death is “observed” on Good Friday, but I wouldn’t call it a celebration.
I’m off to mass to be indoctrinated by evil, child molesting priests who are directly responsible for the crusades, the inquisition, the conquistadors and whatever else…
:roll:
I sympathize with, and appreciate all the above pov’s. This has been my most uncomfortable Easter ever, as I find my thinking increasingly heterodox/heretical.
Nonetheless, I am off to church in a few minutes to greet the holiday crowding, and perhaps give up my seat to someone who would love to be there.
It has been my ongoing goal to reconcile my uneasiness with some form of “belief(?)” so that I can feel good about participating in the fellowship and good activities churches can pull off as a community.
In the meantime…I wish everyone what I believe to be the best parts of the spirit of Easter–Hope, love, transcendence of spirit!
You’ve got it right. Sure you can be uncomfortable with the strict structure of the church and its politics. But don’t try and deny that the majority of the people who take part in it (bishops, priests, deacons, nuns, singers, choirs, altar boys/girls, ushers and members) are good people, who like the message of love, hope and humility that is being preached. The Church does alot of good, in areas that no one else wants to touch. Have reservations if you want but don’t tell me the Roman Catholics Church is basically evil.
Personally, I have never really connected easter with anything but bunnies, eggs, daffodils, springtime and new beginnings. Plenty of space to let everybody give it their own twist. Best wishes to you all.
It depends what standard of proof you want - I’d say that the Church would have been convicted and spent eternity on Devil’s Island (or should that be Fantasy Island) if the standard applied was beyond reasonable doubt.
I have a hard time accepting that the good balances out the bad and that’s coming from someone on whom the indoctrination failed miserably.
Actually my use of the word celebrated was very deliberate, as were the inverted commas. In my youth we ‘celebrated’ all important religious festivals with a Mass.
Onthemoor:
Nobody on this thread has described the RC Church as evil and I strongly resent the the implication that anyone - particularly me - has. Some of us have shared our feelings about organised religion and the result that it has had on ourselves.
Personal experiance and world events are what has led me to mistrust organised religion, however common sense and common curtesy would prevent me from commenting on anyone elses spiritual beliefs.
I will say that I was very confused as a child about why bunnies were suddenly laying eggs and hiding them. But I was so “soused” on chocolate and Peeps that I put aside those cares…
Just out of curiousity, for those who have Easter egg hunts and such with real eggs, did any of you or your family actually sit and eat any of the eggs after the hunt? My Dad always ate one egg and I am beginning to wonder if it was just thrift or some symbolic thing…Lord knows we weren’t hungry with all the party food, candy then big feast following.
We used to paint eggs for the occasion when I was a child and yes we’d eat one. I don’t remember any big amounts of chocolate or sweets and Jesus didn’t come into it at all.
I ate too many Cadbury Cream Eggs…I think I’m gonna be sick.
