The Ox

EASTER:   HERE WE GO AGAIN

      “It belongs to them, let’s give it back...”                                           -    Midnight Oil, Beds are Burning

   Eostre, an ancient celebration of the Goddess of Spring, using a rabbit as a sign of fertility.  Sound familiar?  Should do.  The name and the rabbit are a giveaway.  Christianity borrowed it (well, took it over actually) and turned Eostre into Easter. Which leaves me wondering why Pagans haven’t complained more about us stealing their ideas.  I suspect Christians would be a little less gracious if they stole one of our icons. So maybe it’s time to give it back.  Just say, “Sorry, we shouldn’t have pinched your stuff.  You can have it back.”

   Preposterous idea?  Pointless gesture?  Maybe, maybe not.  Before explaining why, let me just say that I have been as keen as anyone about Easter celebrations.  I loved the Hot-X buns; the excuse to end Lent and drink coffee again.  The long holiday weekend, hopefully with some decent weather, and a variety of church services to remember Christ’s death and resurrection. But you’ve got to wonder if that’s the best we can do to commemorate it.

   So let's give it back because:

 -  We shouldn’t have pinched it in the first place.  There’s no record that we asked permission.  Most times they call that theft.  And just because it was a long time ago, doesn’t make it right.  And when we give it back, how about apologising.  Saying sorry is always right, so let’s get some Christian reps to meet with pagan leaders and do a handover.  That should get some decent communication happening, and that’s got to be a good thing.

  -  The medium is the message.  By mixing the core part of our faith with a pagan celebration are we not saying we’re comfortable with the mix?  How can Christianity claim to be the only way, yet be so enthusiastically accepting of compromise? If nothing else it will save Christian parents from having to come up with bizarre explanations as to what Jesus’ death has to do with bunnies and chocolate eggs.  I mean, new life symbolism?  Are we serious?

  -  Frankly I’m not sure I can handle another round of resurrection hymns, Hot-X Buns and “It’s- Friday-but-Sunday’s-coming” sermons.  Lets start again and come up with a much more creative commemoration. Totally fresh.  At another time of year.  Something unique.

  -  Giving it back will force everyone to think about it.  For a start, what will the Government do if Christians no longer want Friday and Monday off?  It will provoke some great dialogue... “do we keep the holiday?” “The Christians don’t want it anymore” “Surely we can’t have a long weekend pagan celebration?”

   We wont of course.  Give it back.  We don’t have the resolve.  We’re not sure if we should.  Like confiscated land, if you keep it long enough you think it’s yours.  We’ll worry about the kids missing out.  We’ll feel like we’re losing the battle if we give something to pagans.  We probably don't have the spirit-breathed creativity to create something new.

Which saddens me because the current Easter routine won’t capture my grandchildren’s imagination.  Well, not the real message.  That’s being overshadowed by chocolates and a holiday.