Is Easter Pagan?

[sheep wrecked]

(12-29-2010 10:18 PM)Backpacker Wrote:  Etymology is a fascinating subject and is a subject of great interest to me. You can't just look at two words, like "red" and "read" and say they come from the same root just because they have two consonant in common. You have to research the history of the words as they travel from one culture and language to another. Your example of bell and ball is very interesting, because bell and ball, along with bald and blue come from the same Proto Indo-European root "bhel."

I do respect your view of Easter and its trappings through you research and study and you have every right to celebrate it in the way you see fit. I on other hand view things differently from my research and study. I would never say you are wrong and I am right, but instead your view is right for you and my view is right for me.

Etymology is a fascinating topic. But you also have to aware that some sources will promulgate error based on what is considered "common" knowledge or understanding. If you are as studied as you represent yourself to be, you must know that taking a simple explanation that Ishtar is Ostara is a huge leap in the world etymology.

The very fact that those who study the ancient deities present zero connection to Ostara/Eostre is enough to question the validity of any "etymology" that connects them - as is shown in the quote from one of my sources on it.

My point about bell and ball is that you can connect any language in the world to known phonetic sounds from one language to another. If you consider that "scholarship", have at it.

I do find it interesting that you had mentioned the famous HR concept of not using the names of other gods [taking the Lord's Name in vain], yet you continue to use both "Easter" and "Ishtar" quite freely. Aren't you concerned?

As far as "trappings" - it is far too easy to say que sera sera when you have pointedly taken the position that those who celebrate Easter are actually involving themselves in paganism. Could you not view that as being a bit hypocritical?