While I'm certainly not religious, like Fractelle I'm grateful to the Christians for keeping the old pagan fertility rites alive. I love the symbolism of rabbits (the embodiment of fornication and reproduction) and eggs (say no more), the fact that we get to close our business for four days in a row so that we can spend time with our kids and each other, and indeed the enhanced possibility of engaging in some fornication ourselves.

The only negatives are the road toll, the fact the pubs are shut on Good Friday, and a tendency to overindulge in chocolate - however my partner would likely suggest the latter is an impossibility.

Have a good one everybody - see you all after the fertility holiday!

Peter,

"StG, I wrote that Christians celebrate the sacrifice, not that they perpetrated it."

Very first post;

"...Christians sacrificed a living human, so their god would forgive the sins of everyone else!".

Yeah, ya did.

"All we say is that there’s no evidence for the supernatural claims of any religion."

I don't know how you can make a statement like that with a straight face, my friend. I really don't want to argue the topic. It's pointless, and circular. There's no evidence there isn't 'God'.

"We are perfectly happy for adults to practice whatever religion they choose in private, with other adults."

Gee thanks, but you're not, or we wouldn't be talking about it. You raised the issue, remember?

Am I the only person who thinks that the posting of this subject was counter-productive for an Atheist Foundation?

Peter, I understand the aim of your group is to combat christian proselytising. But no-one - not even BD - had even brought the subject of Easter up, much less used it as an excuse to Spread the Word.

Maybe this article was looked at as a pre-emptive strike in anticipation of words to come? But even in that case, as you state that members of your foundation have no problem with peoples beliefs but rather with the spreading of them...isn't that exactly what you were doing?

"Am I the only person who thinks that the posting of this subject was counter-productive for an Atheist Foundation?"

I think it's the people IN the foundation that's counter-productive. They make NO sense. I don't understand why they wuld even bring it up. It's weird to continually make an effort to pick at one scab that isn't even part of your appendage.

Fraccy

'Christians' didn't change the name of the Easter events.. hmmm maybe because they didn't see fit to IMPOSE 'our' religion on the popular festivals of the community? :)

Also... it appears that the 'English' word Easter has it's origins in the Germanic link Fraccy mentioned (Oestres), but in other languages it isn't the same. The connection is more with the Jewish passover or the death and resurrection of the Lord.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter#Germanic_languages

Romany is right.. no one had said 'boo' about Easter or the Christian beliefs about it, (until I did this morning:) and I sure hope my topic is accepted, cos it has some gems in it. Just in case it doesn't get up..I'll post the links here also. Very much worth a listen/look.

Friday..but Sunnnndays a COMin...

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/index.cfm?hndl=details&tab=MM&id=4505

Jesus.. Republican or Democrat?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m584z5aE4Uc&feature=related

Safe holidays everyone... er Fraccy.. if ur going to fornicate, make sure you are careful eh.. we don't want to read some sad post here of you falling apart at the seams from some diabolical disease that at this point you don't have.

But hey..why not try something novel, instead of just going for the 'existential experience' of a bit of pleasure..why not consider a deep and meaningful love for life...without extra emotional baggage?

I have just enjoyed 3 of my wife's excellent hot cross buns, and I will eat lots of chocolate over the weekend.

I don't give a stuff what atheists or religionists think about anything.