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Guest blogger Davis Danizier “3-D” began life as a political and religious conservative, even entering into formal Seminary studies. Gradually, he became troubled by inconsistencies in factual assertions and values in both political and religious conservatism and, after deeply traumatic soul searching, reversed course in both areas. After retiring from a career in commercial property and casualty insurance, Dave has had the free time and flexibility to share with others some of the thoughts that led to his life-altering epiphanies. His book “Betrayal of Jesus” presents unorthodox (believers might say heretical) perspectives on the Christian mythology. Dave currently resides in Oceanside, California.
"Be wise. Be wild. Care for others. Love your neighbor as yourself. The mysteries of the universe are not beyond your grasp." https://danizier.wordpress.com
Easter Sunday:
"How Christians transformed a Jewish holiday into a Pagan Spring Celebration..."
"How Christians transformed a Jewish holiday into a Pagan Spring Celebration..."
As we again celebrate the annual advent of Passover and Easter, reflection demands that we consider the origins and meanings of these central Judeo-Christian observances, among the holiest of the year for both Jews and Christians.
For Jews, the Passover holiday — or more accurately, holy day — has remained relatively pure in the religious, historical and cultural significance of its origins and observances. Passover originates as a purely Hebrew religious tradition, not adapted or co-opted from any other tradition, and has remained pure in the religiousness of its observance. It honors the Biblical account in Exodus of how the Hebrews were spared the worst of the plagues of Moses, the Angel of Death, as they escaped their time of bondage in Egypt before fleeing to their promised land. Even as Judaism has evolved into differing branches such as Orthodox, Ultra-orthodox, Reform, Liberal and even Humanist sects, the traditions have remained intact and untainted, even among those whose adherence is more cultural than a matter of literal religious belief.
Many Christians try to make sense out of the hodgepodge of competing and conflicting meanings of Easter, its origins and its evolution. While many faiths celebrate the “Lord’s Supper,” few take the time to remember, much less celebrate, its origins as Jesus’ Passover Seder. And over the years, as the holiday evolved away from its Jewish origins and was taken over by pagan symbols and celebrations, it eventually ceased to bear any resemblance at all to the Passover Seder that spawned it.
Many Christians wonder how symbols of Easter eggs and Easter bunnies fit in with remembrances of the crucifixion and resurrection of their human sacrifice. In reality, Easter eggs and Easter rabbits long predate the “Christian” human sacrifice myth. They originate from ancient pagan fertility rites to celebrate the advent of spring. As Christians expanded out of the Holy Land and even beyond the Mediterranean lands into Northern Europe, the purity of the religious observances was blended with the ancient spring fertility rites of the pagans they encountered, who did not want to give up the big spring party with which they celebrated rebirth, life and a reawakening from the harsh winter’s slumber. They were, however, more willing to adapt them into a toned-down Christian observance. Calculation of the date on which Easter falls each year is based on the beginning of spring, the spring equinox.
Easter symbols such as eggs and rabbits are symbols of fertility and birth, not symbols of morbid reflections on the wrongful execution by crucifixion of an innocent man. The ancient spring fertility celebrations that the Christians co-opted had more in common with the orgiastic revelries of spring break than of death and sin, or the perplexing questions of how killing an innocent human sacrifice absolves anyone else’s sins. The very name “Easter” originates from the Anglo Saxon goddess of female fertility, Eostre, who also gives origin to the terms “estrus” for the female cycle and the female hormone “estrogen.”
As with Christmas, the followers of the renegade “apostle” Paul have tried to run away from their Jewish origins, take over ancient pagan celebrations and then seem perplexed as to why those pesky ancient traditions persist in a muddled confusion of ambiguity.
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Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher. 
