Pure Pascha: Separating pagan from pure on Resurrection Sunday

By Michael O'Connor

The historical origins of Pagan Easter, Jewish Passover, and Christian Easter. Included are the cultural and geographical developments of each, and their intertwining over centuries. The character and spiritual essence of each are very different from the other, however symbols are sometimes used interchangeably. Also discussed is the modern view on the topic, as well as traditions among various Christian denominations. The significance to the modern Christian is discussed at the conclusion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Digital On Demand
• Release date: Dec 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9780620983372

Michael O'Connor

My friends call me Okie. For 45 years, I've known Leanne and her husband, Marc. When I heard about their son, Trey, I reached out to Marc. His panicked words still echo in my mind: "Welcome to my nightmare, Okie."Leanne's story is a raw and unfiltered account that lays bare the horrors of addiction. She bared her heart and soul, revealing her family's struggle with drugs-without holding anything back. It's a harrowing journey into the abyss of addiction, an emotional rollercoaster that evokes tears, laughter, and inspiration.Through Leanne's eyes, we see that no one is immune. Drugs' grip reaches into our neighborhoods and communities, affecting lives in ways we can't imagine. The stigma surrounding drug abuse and addiction must be shattered, and our stories need to take center stage.Leanne's tale reminds us how fragile our world truly is. In the blink of an eye, drugs or alcohol can alter lives forever. But amidst the darkness, there's survival-the resilience of a family fighting against the odds. Leanne's story is a testament to courage, hope, and the power of sharing our truths. ?

Book preview

1.png

PURE PASCHA

Separating pagan from pure on Resurrection Sunday

Michael O’Connor

Pure Pascha

Publisher: Self

Copyright 2020

First Edition 2021

ISBN: 978-0-620-97182-9

EISBN 978-0-620-98337-2

All rights reserved

No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, photographic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording on record, tape or laser disk, on microfilm, via the Internet, by e-mail, or by any other information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the copyright owner.

The author has made every effort to obtain permission for and acknowledge the use of copyrighted material.

Refer all enquiries to the author.

[e-mail]

Views reflected in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor the printer.

Produced / Printed and bound in South Africa by Print on Demand PTY (Ltd)

5 Koets Str, Parow Industria, 7493

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I thank my family for their patience and supportive encouragement. Mom and Rachel kept the faith and forgave my often-distracted company. My appreciation to Gillian Fraser who edited my original manuscript, adding much needed order and polish, a mammoth task. Cousin Patrick, thank you for your artistic work on the cover image.

My thanks also to the many church leaders who generously made time to add their insights regarding modern practices on Resurrection Sunday. The kindness of the Hellenic Orthodox congregation of Melrose extended to welcoming me at short notice to offer a Christian motif alternative to worshippers during their most Holy services, you took in a stranger, many thanks.

INTRODUCTION

Sacrificing a human baby to a pagan deity is not something that Christians associate with ‘Easter fun’. Nor do we imagine that our material well-being can be improved by presenting an offering of agricultural produce to a fertility idol. However, there are subtleties that have crept into our traditions over millennia, which have resulted in many people today tipping their hat to symbols of just such practices. These unwitting people would never dream of endorsing anything but their precious Christian Faith and its sacred values.

How did it happen? It’s simple really, traditional symbols that are handed down from one generation to another are well understood when they are first instituted. Successive generations may be told the significance of these traditional acts and symbols, but like many stories, these explanations become retold with less accuracy and frequency, until the original significance is lost to the mists of time.

I would like to set out the historical origins of the symbols typically used during the Christian Passover, as best I can put the pieces together from old writings and traditions. The purpose here is to inform and not to preach. We live in the information age, and any reader has any number of historical sources available at their fingertips to flesh out this topic. I have by no means attempted to put forward an academic work, there are more studied minds than mine who can do a much better job at that. I have instead put together an overview of the beginnings of the Pagan Easter, as well as the Jewish and Christian Passover, and how these festivals and observances have become intertwined and overlapped during the millennia since their inception. So lower those gun barrels, moms and dads, I’m not here to ruin your children’s holiday fun, but only to inform. You can then decide what you want to do with the information.

The Resurrection of Christ after the crucifixion is the central Truth on which the entire Christian Faith is based. It is the lynchpin on which our hope for our own resurrection from physical death depends. I believe that the annual remembrance and observation of this event deserves our whole-hearted participation and clear-minded thought.

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

THE ORIGINS OF EASTER

CHAPTER 2

THE ORIGINS OF PASSOVER

CHAPTER 3

THE LAST LAMB

CHAPTER 4

PASCHA IN THE EARLY CHURCH

CHAPTER 5

CHRISTIANISATION OF PAGAN EUROPE

CHAPTER 6

THE MODERN VIEW

CHAPTER 7

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

CHAPTER 8

YOUR BEST CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CHAPTER 1

THE ORIGINS OF EASTER

The events marking the beginning of the Pagan festival of Easter happened so long ago that different versions of the story abound.

What is astounding to a modern researcher are the similarities to be found between the legends in diverse and separate ancient civilisations. The story can be patched together from