What do you think?
Rate this book
Easter: Is it pagan?
Simply put, this book shows "Easter" is not the name of a pagan goddess; Constantine did not start Easter at the Nicene council; the 40 days of Lent did not start in Babylon; Christians who attend sunrise services are not worshipping Baal; eggs and rabbits are not vile, abominable objects! This study shows how many have been victims of misinformation.
57 pages, Unknown Binding
First published February 15, 1996
6 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 13, 2024
THE "BABYLON MYSTERY RELIGION" AUTHOR DEFENDS THE CELEBRATION OF EASTER
Ralph Woodrow was the author of Babylon Mystery Religion: Ancient and Modern, but he recanted this book in 'The Babylon Connection?' He also reconsidered his former rejection of Christmas celebration in 'Christmas Reconsidered.'
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1996 book, "Within the pages that follow, I will share with you my studies which have caused me to reconsider the subject of Easter in a more positive light. I will try to present this information in ways that are strong enough to make the point, yet want to assure the reader that nothing is intended in an unkind or unfriendly way. I have Christian friends on both sides of this issue, friends that I regard highly!"
He states early on, "The belief that `Easter' comes from the name of a pagan goddess is far from conclusive... The Encyclopedia of Religion says: `The English word Easter... probably derives from Eostur, the Norse word for the spring season, and not from Eostre, the name of an Anglo-Saxon goddess.' One writer sums it up this way:... it looks as if our English word for the spring holiday commemorating the Resurrection comes from the season and not a pagan deity.'" (Pg. 2)
He later gives the example of the origin of words such as honeymoon, bridal, pharmacy, gymnasium, etc. and observes, "These are examples of words that, despite their original meaning, have now acquired a general and acceptable meaning. We believe that Easter is in the same category. If it was once linked with the worship of a pagan goddess, this obviously is no longer its meaning." (Pg. 4-7) He notes, "Pagan deities, along with the sun and the moon, have provided the basis for the naming of the days of the week... But these names are in such common use now, they no longer convey any pagan significance." (Pg. 15)
He says, "`But what do things like bunnies and eggs have to do with Christ's resurrection?' some ask. This is easy to answer. Nothing. And, this is the point! I am not aware of ANYONE who supposes that they do! Eggs, bunnies, and the like, are separate---mere decorations, cultural accessories, generally recognized symbols of the spring season---no more than that." (Pg. 32) He adds, "It could be argued that coloring eggs and hiding them is a waste of time and money... It could be argued, quite correctly, that there is no Biblical command for the practice. But to say that Christian people who hide Easter eggs for their children are practicing a pagan fertility rite---no! This is not true. Is there even one person, anywhere, who does this as a fertility rite?" (Pg. 33-34)
He suggests, "Having such a service at sunrise does not come from paganism, but from the Bible. It was at sunrise that the women came to the tomb and discovered it was empty: `And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher AT THE RISING OF THE SUN.' (Mk 16:2) If some choose to argue against this, they must argue against the Bible itself." (Pg. 39-40) He notes, "Some of us are prone to ask questions like, `Where in the Bible did Peter or Paul ever conduct an Easter sunrise service?' This type of questioning does not prove anything. Do we ever read that Peter or Paul performed a wedding ceremony, conducted a funeral, or constructed a building for worship?"(Pg. 42-43)
Woodrow's book is one of the very best defenses of the celebration of Easter by Christians, and his non-polemical approach make this a book that can even be read by those who disagree with this position.
Ralph Woodrow was the author of Babylon Mystery Religion: Ancient and Modern, but he recanted this book in 'The Babylon Connection?' He also reconsidered his former rejection of Christmas celebration in 'Christmas Reconsidered.'
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1996 book, "Within the pages that follow, I will share with you my studies which have caused me to reconsider the subject of Easter in a more positive light. I will try to present this information in ways that are strong enough to make the point, yet want to assure the reader that nothing is intended in an unkind or unfriendly way. I have Christian friends on both sides of this issue, friends that I regard highly!"
He states early on, "The belief that `Easter' comes from the name of a pagan goddess is far from conclusive... The Encyclopedia of Religion says: `The English word Easter... probably derives from Eostur, the Norse word for the spring season, and not from Eostre, the name of an Anglo-Saxon goddess.' One writer sums it up this way:... it looks as if our English word for the spring holiday commemorating the Resurrection comes from the season and not a pagan deity.'" (Pg. 2)
He later gives the example of the origin of words such as honeymoon, bridal, pharmacy, gymnasium, etc. and observes, "These are examples of words that, despite their original meaning, have now acquired a general and acceptable meaning. We believe that Easter is in the same category. If it was once linked with the worship of a pagan goddess, this obviously is no longer its meaning." (Pg. 4-7) He notes, "Pagan deities, along with the sun and the moon, have provided the basis for the naming of the days of the week... But these names are in such common use now, they no longer convey any pagan significance." (Pg. 15)
He says, "`But what do things like bunnies and eggs have to do with Christ's resurrection?' some ask. This is easy to answer. Nothing. And, this is the point! I am not aware of ANYONE who supposes that they do! Eggs, bunnies, and the like, are separate---mere decorations, cultural accessories, generally recognized symbols of the spring season---no more than that." (Pg. 32) He adds, "It could be argued that coloring eggs and hiding them is a waste of time and money... It could be argued, quite correctly, that there is no Biblical command for the practice. But to say that Christian people who hide Easter eggs for their children are practicing a pagan fertility rite---no! This is not true. Is there even one person, anywhere, who does this as a fertility rite?" (Pg. 33-34)
He suggests, "Having such a service at sunrise does not come from paganism, but from the Bible. It was at sunrise that the women came to the tomb and discovered it was empty: `And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher AT THE RISING OF THE SUN.' (Mk 16:2) If some choose to argue against this, they must argue against the Bible itself." (Pg. 39-40) He notes, "Some of us are prone to ask questions like, `Where in the Bible did Peter or Paul ever conduct an Easter sunrise service?' This type of questioning does not prove anything. Do we ever read that Peter or Paul performed a wedding ceremony, conducted a funeral, or constructed a building for worship?"(Pg. 42-43)
Woodrow's book is one of the very best defenses of the celebration of Easter by Christians, and his non-polemical approach make this a book that can even be read by those who disagree with this position.
Displaying 1 of 1 review