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I am not Christian. Nor is my husband. But we are typical Americans who celebrate major holidays, from Christmas to Independence day. Pre-kids, of course we didn't celebrate Easter. But since the kids were old enough to learn about it from friends (Easter egg hunts, bunny rabbits, easter baskets, big ham dinners) I gave in and we celebrate those aspects of it.
However...I feel like it is wrong. I feel like it is an insult to the Christian religion to take, arguably, your most sacred holiday and bastardize it. My husband thinks I take it too seriously.
I am not Christian. Nor is my husband. But we are typical Americans who celebrate major holidays, from Christmas to Independence day. Pre-kids, of course we didn't celebrate Easter. But since the kids were old enough to learn about it from friends (Easter egg hunts, bunny rabbits, easter baskets, big ham dinners) I gave in and we celebrate those aspects of it.
However...I feel like it is wrong. I feel like it is an insult to the Christian religion to take, arguably, your most sacred holiday and bastardize it. My husband thinks I take it too seriously.
What are other people's opinions?
Another non Christian here, you are taking part in activities that are already aimed at Christians hence YOU are not bastrizing it in my opinion. If Christians opposed Easter Egg hunts the hunts would not even exist. Many things associated with a religion have become part of a culture and you are simply exposing your children to one aspect of the dominant culture of your country. I suspect that most people from North America would expose their children to activities associated with other religions if they moved to Isreal, Thailand or Egypt. Just be respectful and teach your children to respect those who are different from your own family.
Do your children take part in Halloween or Christmas and if so how is that any different?
I am not Christian. Nor is my husband. But we are typical Americans who celebrate major holidays, from Christmas to Independence day. Pre-kids, of course we didn't celebrate Easter. But since the kids were old enough to learn about it from friends (Easter egg hunts, bunny rabbits, easter baskets, big ham dinners) I gave in and we celebrate those aspects of it.
However...I feel like it is wrong. I feel like it is an insult to the Christian religion to take, arguably, your most sacred holiday and bastardize it. My husband thinks I take it too seriously.
What are other people's opinions?
As a Christian who recognizes that non-Christian elements are a part of the traditional and cultural observation of Spring which was adopted as part of our joy in the new life we experience in
Christ, I am happy that you are able to take part in the cultural elements that are part of your community without giving all that much attention to the religious element. Quite sneakily, I am happy that the message of the love of Christ IS a part of it and don't mind at all that this is another way that it does get presented even though there is no particular scriptural basis for an annual observance.
It's just nice to teach your kids traditions. Most are fairly harmless. Having said that, we don't do Halloween - having a Christian background and knowing that there is a spirit realm, I don't feel that scary stuff should be entertained because it doesn't fit the scripture's exhortation to think only on positive things. Scary stuff and death appeals to the dark side of human nature, where by contrast the inner still small voice of the Holy Spirit is all about love, life and goodness.
Nothing has any meaning, except for the meaning you give it.
In other words, it's what you make of it, or how you take it.
I agree. It's a cultural thing to celebrate Easter and Christmas. Whether one is a believer or not, I think it's fine to keep traditions. I can't imagine a Christian getting offended by others hunting Easter eggs or eating chocolate bunnies. May Christianity never become something co-erced. I do celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Christ - but that is not why I do Easter things with the kids.
As a Christian who recognizes that non-Christian elements are a part of the traditional and cultural observation of Spring which was adopted as part of our joy in the new life we experience in
Christ, I am happy that you are able to take part in the cultural elements that are part of your community without giving all that much attention to the religious element. Quite sneakily, I am happy that the message of the love of Christ IS a part of it and don't mind at all that this is another way that it does get presented even though there is no particular scriptural basis for an annual observance.
I agree. It's a cultural thing to celebrate Easter and Christmas. Whether one is a believer or not, I think it's fine to keep traditions. I can't imagine a Christian getting offended by others hunting Easter eggs or eating chocolate bunnies. May Christianity never become something co-erced. I do celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Christ - but that is not why I do Easter things with the kids.
Is teaching the traditions of men outside of Scripture connected to worship/Scripture acceptable to Jesus.
Didn't Jesus teach to avoid doctrines of men according to Matthew 15:9.
Often social pressure perpetuates man-made traditional cultural things (which are often connected to commercial interests)
Perhaps we should remember the words of 1st Corinthians 10:20-21 to see if we are offending God.
I am not Christian. Nor is my husband. But we are typical Americans who celebrate major holidays, from Christmas to Independence day. Pre-kids, of course we didn't celebrate Easter. But since the kids were old enough to learn about it from friends (Easter egg hunts, bunny rabbits, easter baskets, big ham dinners) I gave in and we celebrate those aspects of it.
However...I feel like it is wrong. I feel like it is an insult to the Christian religion to take, arguably, your most sacred holiday and bastardize it. My husband thinks I take it too seriously.
What are other people's opinions?
Does you husband take the Bible seriously. Take the teachings of Jesus as serious.
To me, it Not what are other people's opinions, but what is God's opinion as taught in Scripture.
- 1st Corinthians 10:20-21; - 2 Corinthians 6:14-17
Especially when un-faithful Jews began mixing with the Greeks they adopted theories and philosophies out of harmony with Scripture, and the blending and fusing of scriptural with un-scriptural does Not make it as being Scriptural.
Jesus warned about doctrines of men at Matthew 15:9.
Since Jesus gave us only one date by which to remember him - Luke 22:19 - his day of death by the bread and wine.
So, the only scriptural date is the Jewish lunar calendar date of the month of Nisan the 14th day.
The rest are all man-made holidays outside of Scripture. They were often already existing non-biblical celebrations. Christian names were just added to them.
Is teaching the traditions of men outside of Scripture connected to worship/Scripture acceptable to Jesus.
Didn't Jesus teach to avoid doctrines of men according to Matthew 15:9.
Often social pressure perpetuates man-made traditional cultural things (which are often connected to commercial interests)
Perhaps we should remember the words of 1st Corinthians 10:20-21 to see if we are offending God.
Crawl into your religious hole if you must, but the rest of us are happy about new life.
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I agree. It's a cultural thing to celebrate Easter and Christmas. Whether one is a believer or not, I think it's fine to keep traditions. I can't imagine a Christian getting offended by others hunting Easter eggs or eating chocolate bunnies. May Christianity never become something co-erced. I do celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Christ - but that is not why I do Easter things with the kids.
