Are we teaching our children wrong about Easter?

[pjohns]

Now that Easter is behind us, I am beginning to wonder: Are we actually teaching our children the wrong message?

Is it possible that we are imparting the message that the central figure of Easter is a giant bunny, that lays colored eggs for children to locate?

Similarly, are we teaching children that the central figure of Christmas is a jolly old man--clad in red, and with a long beard--who flies through the sky on December 25, and leaves gifts for children all throughout the world?

(Yes, I know that these children will not grow into adults--or even into adolescents--who truly believe this. But is it possible that they will never learn just what Christmas and Easter are all about?)

[nathanbforrest45]

Why do we make Christmas a larger holiday than Easter? Easter is much more important to our souls than is Christmas.

[pjohns]

Why do we make Christmas a larger holiday than Easter? Easter is much more important to our souls than is Christmas.

You are surely correct. (Without the death of Jesus and His resurrection, we would all be lost souls.)

In answer to your question: The only reason that I can imagine is that the secular version of Christmas requires lavish gift-giving--unlike Easter--so it seems possible that we focus upon that.

[jet57]

Now that Easter is behind us, I am beginning to wonder: Are we actually teaching our children the wrong message?

Is it possible that we are imparting the message that the central figure of Easter is a giant bunny, that lays colored eggs for children to locate?

Similarly, are we teaching children that the central figure of Christmas is a jolly old man--clad in red, and with a long beard--who flies through the sky on December 25, and leaves gifts for children all throughout the world?

(Yes, I know that these children will not grow into adults--or even into adolescents--who truly believe this. But is it possible that they will never learn just what Christmas and Easter are all about?)

Our children are being marketed just like we were to yell “mamma I want!”.

The real teaching is in church.

[jet57]

Why do we make Christmas a larger holiday than Easter? Easter is much more important to our souls than is Christmas.

Easter is only a metaphor; it isn’t true.

[RMNIXON]

Both Christmas and Easter retain symbolism and rituals from Pagan Holiday's celebrated in ancient Europe. In the case of Easter it is fertility symbolism of eggs and bunnies, and the Spring coming at the Equinox when the sun is half way moving North.

The Problem is our growing anti-Christian Culture is erasing the Jesus part and keeping the rest.

[Mister D]

Both Christmas and Easter retain symbolism and rituals from Pagan Holiday's celebrated in ancient Europe. In the case of Easter it is fertility symbolism of eggs and bunnies, and the Spring coming at the Equinox when the sun is half way moving North.

The Problem is our growing anti-Christian Culture is erasing the Jesus part and keeping the rest.

Easter is in the Spring because Passover is in the Spring. The feast is only called Easter in English and German. It's called by some derivative of the Hebrew term for Passover (Pesach) in every other language.

[pjohns]

The Problem is our growing anti-Christian Culture is erasing the Jesus part and keeping the rest.

Although this is certainly true, the fact is that such a culture is not nearly so advanced in the US as it is in Europe (which is regularly described as being in its "post-Christian" phase).

Christianity is declining in the US; but not so rapidly in evangelical and fundamentalist churches, as it is in mainstream churches.