Is Easter Pagan?

[Rose of Shushan]

Quote:Ideally, as followers of Christ, I think it is reasonable to hope that our religious observances and traditions were handed down to us from none other than Christ himself or perhaps even His apostles whom He instructed.

Of course and thankfully, even though it has been 2000 years, we have the NT and a host of other writings from the early centuries to obtain a good idea of how some traditions and observances developed.

Quote:These customs are deeply engrained in our culture so it's perfectly understandable that it feels like an odd thing to discuss. Do you realize there are many other Christians who have come to similar conclusions?

The part that feels odd to discuss is whether one should honour His death without then rejoicing and celebrating His Resurrection.
I don't know what customs it is that you say are deeply engrained in "our culture".From what I know of you through your posts I don't think my culture is the same as yours. The christian world today is such a mix and made up of so many people throughout the whole world that what may be a long standing tradition for one christian may not be for another.
But traditions are just that traditions and it seems to me that we have freedom to develop commemorative traditions just as we have freedom to not specifically regard any day as more special than another.