Pagan Origins of Easter — Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition
7:14 The practices being done during that so-called Holy Week that’s leading up to Easter, where do they also really come from?
8:38 Where does the Catholic Church get that celebration of palms and their use of palms like that in the first place?
10:00 What are any other customs that are done leading up to Easter? And what does the Bible have to say about them?
11:33 Does God accept such practices even with good intentions but it’s not based on his and His commands and His instructions on what He wants done in service to Him?
14:16 Would God be pleased with such service which people would render to a false god or a false goddess?
15:29 Is it safe to consider these pagan practices in Easter safe or acceptable? Is Easter a Christian or a pagan holiday?
21:27 Does the Catholic Church herself deny that the teachings, doctrines and practices they uphold are from pagans?
22:45 What would happen if we would give in to the request that we would just celebrate these holidays, such as Easter, that are based on paganism?
24:55 What kind of a stand should everyone take in moments like that according to the scriptures?
25:56 How is it then that we can truly please God? How are we instructed to lead our daily lives?
[Show Open]
Brother Bob Pellien: Today’s topic: Easter. Is it Christian? Is it of Christian origins?
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Today’s topic: PAGAN ORIGINS OF EASTER
Brother Bob Pellien: Should Christians be celebrating or participating in Easter traditions? Is this a service that God is seeking? We’ll take a look if the Bible says anything about Easter. How is it even connected to Christ and or the Bible itself?
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Bob Pellien
San Francisco, California
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob Pellien: This will be our discussion today, right here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. And joining us in this important program for today is
Brother Bob Pellien: Brother Eric Waterman in Quezon City, Philippines. How are you, Brother Eric? Thank you for awakening early and joining us in our program for today.
Brother Eric Waterman: Thank you, Brother Bob, for having me and Good day to all our viewers.
Brother Bob Pellien: Also joining in this important discussion is Brother Marvin Mangune in Los Angeles, California. Brother Marvin, welcome as well.
Brother Marvin Mangune: Hi, Brother Bob. Thank you for having us today.
Brother Bob Pellien: And we have across the pond in the UK. Brother Rommel San Pedro there in London. Brother Rommel, thank you as well for joining this discussion.
Brother Rommel San Pedro: Thank you, Brother Bob, for having me here as well.
Brother Bob Pellien: You know, Brothers, nowadays there’s a lot of traditions and practices during this so-called Holy Week, right? That leads up to the Easter celebration and the Easter Day traditions itself, right?
Brother Eric Waterman: That’s very true. Brother Bob, here in this part of the world, in the Philippines, many people in the Catholic Church are preparing to celebrate the Lenten season, beginning with the Palm Sunday, following Ash Wednesday, with different acts of penitence, like whipping their backs or crawling to the altar.
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Eric Waterman
Quezon City, Philippines.
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Eric Waterman: Some even carrying a large wooden cross and going as extreme as nailing themselves to the cross, for they believe in doing so they’re sharing or imitating the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Brother Rommel San Pedro: Well, here in the United Kingdom, it might not be celebrated exactly that way, but here, members of many religious groups are painting easter eggs. They’re also having all kinds of arts and crafts activities for the children, and other activities like that.
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Brother Rommel San Pedro
London, England
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Marvin Mangune: And in other places of the world, what may be popular, and has been popular over the years, is that they would have a lot of family oriented activities. You know, someone dresses as an Easter Bunny, and the kids do scavenger hunts for hidden eggs. You know, by the way, bunnies don’t even lay eggs, chickens do.
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Brother Marvin Mangune
Los Angeles, California.
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob Pellien: Those are very interesting things to point out Brothers and you know, many people in religious groups do all these so many different kinds of things for the Easter holiday celebrations, right? And there’s a lot of opinions about where all these different practices actually originated. But I’d like to first ask to take a look at this post where a gentleman discusses what he believes some of these people have begun to celebrate these kinds of Easter traditions. Take a look.
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It’s a reminder of what Jesus did on the cross. For me, some time ago, Jesus paid the ultimate price by dying on the cross. He’s crucified to pay for our sins and to allow us to have a relationship with him. He was crucified and buried in a tomb, and he rose three days later. He rose from the dead, and I think that because he rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, that’s what we celebrate Easter. I don’t know how eggs made their way into Easter, but that’s not why I celebrate it. But as a matter of why you celebrate, as long as you have a good time, okay? I want to put this one for you. It floats because you’re hollow. Look, watch this. See. Anyway, it took me a while to do that. I hope you have an amazing Easter. However, where you celebrate it, I love you.
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Brother Marvin Mangune: In what we watch, notice, you know how this gentleman admits he’s not even sure about how eggs became a part of Easter. But you know, let’s take another look at another video.
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VO: …church celebrated the resurrection of their Messiah every year by observing the feast of Ishtar. Do you think the apostles had a mass on the first Sunday after the first full moon, after the spring equinox, when samramus fell from heaven into the Euphrates River in a giant moon egg? Do you think the apostles would have dyed Easter’s eggs and the sacrifice of baby’s blood, and then have some orgies surrounded by rabbits with temple prostitutes to make new sacrifices? No matter how loyal you are to any system, you know the true answer to that question.
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Brother Marvin Mangune: In this video, they mention one origin of Easter is from the ancient service to a pagan goddess of fertility, who held several names such as Eastre or Ishtar and Brothers that is one presentation rooted in events of history showing that there are pagan origins of Easter.
Brother Rommel San Pedro: Then they are among many that point to these ancient pagan goddesses as the root of some of the Christianized festivals done in the Catholic and even some Protestant churches today, at the time of Easter. But these are not merely opinions of those on that video clip. Here’s a quote from this Catholic book entitled The Catholic Encyclopaedic Dictionary on page 161:
[The Catholic Encyclopedic Dictionary, page 161]
EASTER (etymology uncertain; Saint Bede derives it from Eastre, a forgotten dawngoddess). The English name for the Sunday of the Resurrection of Our Lord… Meat, eggs and other goods formerly forbidden in Lent are blessed, and there are still numerous local customs, some of pagan origin.
Brother Bob Pellien: Well, Brothers, hang on a second. They’re here as you as you read there, Brothers, the Catholic Church is openly admitting that numerous local customs performed at Easter time. Well, they’re based on ancient pagan practices.
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Today’s topic: PAGAN ORIGINS OF EASTER
Brother Bob Pellien: And before we look deeper into those statements and admissions that’s made in that Catholic book, and there’s also on the video about Easter that the gentleman was presenting there, let’s take a brief look at the events that lead up to that grand Easter holiday. The Catholic Church calls it Holy Week. Each day of the week prior to Easter. Well, they call it a very special day, and let’s note some of the practices being done during that so-called Holy Week that’s leading up to Easter. And where do they also really come from? Let’s go to you. Brother Eric, where do they come from?
Brother Eric Waterman: Well, Brother Bob, since they’re Catholic in origin, we have a book called A Catholic Dictionary, written by Addis and Arnold. And this is what is recorded on page. 636, and 637:
[A Catholic Dictionary, Nihil Obstat: Eduardus S. Keough & Imprimatur: Henricus Eduardus MA, page 636, and 637]
PALM SUNDAY: The Sunday before Easter on which the Church celebrates Christ’s entry into Jerusalem… According to our present rite, palms or olive branches are blessed by the celebrant before Mass, and distributed to the faithful, the clergy walk in procession through the church and pass outside.
Brother Eric Waterman: So dear friends, according to the Catholic authority that we just read, this is what they do on Palm Sunday to remember Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. What did they do in their commemoration of that according to their Catholic tradition? They bless palm fronds, and clergy walk over them in procession outside of their places of worship.
Brother Bob Pellien: But wait a second, Brother Eric, is that an instruction, though of the Bible? Maybe they’re doing that because it’s biblically based. Where does the Catholic Church get that celebration of palms and their use of palms like that in the first place? And is it right or wrong? Good or bad? What do you think?
Brother Eric Waterman: Well, we don’t base this on our opinion or our own idea. But here in another Catholic book entitled The Visible Church written by John F. Sullivan, this is what we can read:
[The Visible Church, Nihil Obstat: Artemous Scanlan & Imprimatur: Paritius J. Hayes, page 171]
It is likely that the use of palms in our churches began in the early Middle Ages, the Palm is the symbol of victory. Among pagan nations victorious armies decked themselves and their chariots with palm-branches.
Brother Eric Waterman: So dear friends, such a practice on Palm Sunday is clearly and admittedly by the Catholic authorities of pagan origin and not from the Bible.
Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you for that Brother Eric, that’s very important. And we could say it’s alarming, right? Because some, you know, some of our viewers may consider, or think that, well, such practices are just Palm Sunday and all the things of Holy Week that they’re of Christian origin.
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Today’s topic: PAGAN ORIGINS OF EASTER
Brother Bob Pellien: So let’s further, let’s further discuss this way Brothers. What are any other customs that are done leading up to Easter? And what does the Bible have to say about them? Let’s go to the UK there, Brother Rommel, where are you?
Brother Rommel San Pedro: Brother Bob, there was a whole series of things done during the period called Lent, which is studied in another episode of this program. But it might be worthwhile to add here the use of ashes on the day they call Ash Wednesday, which is an important part of the extensive Easter festival. Here’s what they have to say in that Catholic book that was read earlier, The Visible Church, by John F. Sullivan. This time I’ll be reading on page 170:
[The Visible Church, Nihil Obstat: Artemous Scanlan & Imprimatur: Paritius J. Hayes, page 170]
Concerning Ash Wednesday and its origins: the use of ashes to express sorrow and humiliation was common in ancient religions.
Brother Rommel San Pedro: The use of ashes based on ancient or pagan religions, not from our Lord Jesus, Christ and His apostles.
Brother Bob Pellien: But you know, Brothers there may be those viewing our program also that well, they just might not see a problem with that. Maybe they would argue, “Well, so even if their origins are not found in the Holy Bible, or they’re not from God, or just as long as their intentions are good, many would say, right?” Well, it should be okay. God would surely be pleased with that, they think. Does God accept such practices even with good intentions but it’s not based on his and His commands and His instructions on what He wants done in service to Him?
Brother Eric Waterman: Well, Brother Bob, that’s a very good and fair question. So let’s ask the Bible. This is what our Lord, Jesus Christ quoted God here in Matthew, chapter 15 and the verses 9, we can read:
And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men
[Matthew 15:9 New King James Version]
Brother Eric Waterman: So clearly God is not okay with services rendered to Him, not based on His commandments, even though many might say that their intentions are good, clean or pure in their heart. In all of our services to God, we must make certain, then that it’s in the Bible and that what we’re doing is based on God’s teaching. Christianity and paganism don’t mix, and should not be thought of as being okay to combine or to integrate. What we do for God should not be based on man’s traditions, like what many are doing before and during Easter. So here’s the question, “Is Easter a Christian or a pagan holiday?”
Brother Bob Pellien: Is what they’re doing Brothers in these celebrations like, like Easter, is it really for God? Would it honor God? Would it honor His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ? Let’s take a look at this next video. And as we do, ask ourselves this question, “Should we apply these Easter traditions and practices in our own life?” Take a look.
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VO: You take them down to the local cathedral and observe the ancient mass of Istar.
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Ishtar: is the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, war and sex.
Wilkenson, Philip. Illustrated Dictionary of Mythology, NY:DK, 1998. P. 24
VO: Now, does something about this seem a little strange to anyone else out there? I mean, is that a little weird?
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Easter: derived from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility.
Encyclopedia Britannica
VO: So what is this Easter deal, anyways?
[Video ends]
Brother Bob Pellien: Brothers, it’s surely not for God, and it’s certainly not to honor His son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Easter is a service that is rendered to a Babylonian goddess of war and sex, or a false god named Ishtar. Is Easter then a Christian or pagan holiday? Dear friends, the answer is very clear, right? It is truly and plainly a pagan holiday.
Brother Marvin Mangune: Should that be okay for the true Christians then? Is God okay with that? Would God be pleased with such service which people would render to a false god or a false goddess? Let’s read here in the Bible in Exodus 20 and the verses are 4 to 5.Listen here:
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, …
[Exodus 20:4-5 New International Version]
Brother Marvin Mangune: God will not tolerate then any services to other gods or other goddesses like Ishtar. And if I could emphasize that part in verse five, God said, “I the LORD your God, am a jealous God.” Having then such worship of false gods would bring sadness to the Lord God. It’s not something that would bring God happiness. It’s not something that would bring God joy. It’s as though they are replacing God with false gods.
Brother Rommel San Pedro: Some may say they’re not doing that. They’re not replacing God. It’s just fun for the kids. It’s harmless. It’s about the chocolates, the Easter Bunny and scavenger hunts for painted eggs. It’s just for the children’s amusement. Well, is it safe to consider these pagan practices in Easter safe or acceptable? Is Easter a Christian or a pagan holiday? Let’s quote the official stand of the Catholic Church, and here’s how they respond to this question.
[The Catholic Encyclopaedic Dictionary, p. 161]
EASTER (etymology uncertain; St. Bede derives it from Eastre, a forgotten dawngoddess). The English name for the Sunday of the Resurrection of Our Lord,… Meat, eggs and other goods formerly forbidden in Lent are blessed, and there are still numerous local customs, some of pagan origin.
Brother Rommel San Pedro: So Brother and dear friends the Catholic church knows very well these traditions are not founded in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ’s death. But rather are carryovers from pagan service to false gods and goddesses.
Brother Bob Pellien: Even the Catholic Church openly admits that Easter is, and has connection, or has its roots in relation to a pagan goddess Estrae or Ishtar. Are there others know that the practices of the Easter season have their origins in the pagan practices and services to the ancient goddess of love and fertility Estrae or Istar?
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Today’s topic: PAGAN ORIGINS OF EASTER
Brother Bob Pellien: Brothers, your viewers, take a look at some of the local customs mentioned and determine their value or lack of value when it comes to service to the Lord. Take a look at yet another brief video clip:
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VO: I remember being a bit confused as a kid. I mean, what’s up with the Easter Bunny?
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Easter: derived from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility.
Encyclopedia Britannica
VO: What does that have to do with the resurrection, you know? Although we convince our kids that rabbits lay colorful eggs in the bushes, we know that this is not reality. This story is not as innocent and cute as many think. So, what’s going on here? Where does this all come from, anyways? I don’t want to make up any more fictional stories than there already are floating around out there. So let us just consult the Mother of all Churches and see what she has to say about all this:
[Catholic Encyclopedia: Easter]
“Easter: The English term– relates to Estre, a Teutonic goddess of the rising light of day and spring.”
VO: That’s interesting. Okay, so what does that have to do with the resurrection–the goddess here? You know some of the other names for this ancient Teutonic mother goddess, Ishtar, Eastre, Astarte, Eostera, Aestera…
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“The Teutonic dan goddess of fertility [was] known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Astarte.”
Larry Boemler “Asherah and Easter,” Biblical Archaeology Review, Vol. 18, Number 3, 1992-May/June
VO: These are all names that originated from the original Mother Goddess Semiramis, the mother of Tamuz. In short, Ishtar was the wife of Baal.
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Ishtar (Easter) was the wife of Baal.
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Brother Bob Pellien: So as you can see here, dear friends, even the Catholic Church, who was quoted there in that video clip a couple of times, Easter relates to that pagan goddess Estrae, or Ishtar. But who is Ishtar and how if customs related to her affect customs in our time? Well, we’re going to find out that and much more when we come back after this short break. Stay with us right here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition.
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INC International Edition
Brother Bob Pellien: Welcome back, everyone.
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Today’s topic: PAGAN ORIGINS OF EASTER
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Bob Pellien
San Francisco, California
Brother Bob Pellien: We left off discussing the pagan practices related to Ishtar. But who is she and how have pagan customs related to Ishtar affect the traditions in our time?
Brother Eric Waterman: Brother Bob in Easter traditions, then their services to Ishtar is not just harmless fun.
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Eric Waterman
Quezon City, Philippines
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Eric Waterman: That goes against what the servants of God stand for and believe in. Though they might make it seem like an activity that is fun for the family and kids. Is it really a Christian activity? When it comes to painted or dyed eggs for Easter, is this Christian?
Brother Marvin Mangune: Brother Eric, you know, if I could jump right in there on that, you know, it definitely is not Christian.
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Marvin Mangune
Los Angeles, California
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Marvin Mangune: And why are we so sure about that? You know, the Catholic Church has this to say about the origin of the Easter egg here in a book called A Catholic Dictionary by Donald Atwater on page 169 this is what it says here.
[A Catholic Dictionary, Nihil Obstat: Arthur Scanlan & Imprimatur: Patrick Cardinal Hayes, page 169]
Easter eggs may possibly be a “baptized” pagan custom, since they are an obvious symbol of fertility… In many places it is still the practice to paint the eggs and bring them to church in decorated baskets for a blessing before or after Mass. Chocolate eggs and such-like fooleries are a degeneration of no significance.
Brother Marvin Mangune: You know, we can clearly see, then, dear viewers, whether it’s from the records of history or the statements of the Catholic Church themselves, the practices of Easter as their use of palms or ashes and their so-called easter eggs are of pagan origins. They’re not given by God. They’re not an instruction of Christ or even the apostles. It is not a service then implemented by the Bible for true Christians.
Brother Rommel San Pedro: Should we be surprised if Catholics celebrate such a holiday that has pagan origins?
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Rommel San Pedro
London, England
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Rommel San Pedro: Does the Catholic Church herself deny that the teachings, doctrines and practices they uphold are from pagans? I’d like to read this Catholic book, The Externals of the Catholic Church, by John F. Sullivan.
[The Externals of the Catholic Church, by John F. Sullivan, p. 156]
It is interesting to note how often our Church has availed herself of practices which were in common use among pagans… Thus, it is true in a certain sense, that some Catholic rites and ceremonies are a reproduction of those of pagan creeds; but they are the taking of what was best from paganism, the keeping of symbolic practices which express the religious instinct that is common to all races and times.
Brother Rommel San Pedro: The Catholic Church herself admits that their rites, ceremonies and practices are from paganism or from pagan origins.
Brother Bob Pellien: Just a moment, Brothers. Thank you, Brother Rommel. Brothers, can we not just overlook these pagan origins? And you know, just let it be enjoyed by everyone anyway?
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Today’s topic: PAGAN ORIGINS OF EASTER
Brother Bob Pellien: What would happen? I guess, that’s the important question, what would happen if we would give in to the request that we would just celebrate these holidays, such as Easter, that are based on paganism?
Brother Eric Waterman: Brother Bob, you make a very clear point. That question continues to be asked by many. But we cannot just ignore the warnings that are given to us in the Holy Scriptures. For example, what was mentioned here by the Apostle Paul to the early Christians in Colossians, chapter 2 and the verses 8, this is what we can read:
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
[Colossians 2:8 New King James Version]
Brother Eric Waterman: So it’s very clear here, Brother Bob and dear viewers, that we should not follow the basic principles of the world that are not according to Christ.
Brother Marvin Mangune: Brother Eric, it’s, it’s very obvious from what you read. You know, we shouldn’t just go along with something just because it has been a long tradition of man. You know, Christ didn’t give any instructions regarding Easter practices, and all the more because those Easter traditions, they didn’t come from God. They came from pagan services to false gods.
Brother Bob Pellien: Brothers, again, some may say, though, that their family, you know, though they know, maybe that Easter and Easter practices and customs are connected to paganism and have their roots in pagan origins. Still, their family will encourage them to participate in their family Easter traditions, and if they refuse to participate, it’s going to cause them a lot of backlash from their family. Their family could be upset. Their family might say bad things about them if they don’t participate in the family Easter celebration, tradition of the household, let’s call it. So what if our viewers then would present that scenario to us Brothers. What kind of a stand should everyone take in moments like that according to the scriptures?
Brother Rommel San Pedro: Brother Bob the apostles gave important advice to anyone who may find themselves in that kind of situation. Here’s what was said in Colossians 2:16:
So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not-celebrating certain holy days or new-moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
[Colossians 2:16 New Living Translation]
Brother Rommel San Pedro: We should stand our ground as what was instructed by Apostle Paul, though they would condemn us. They could say all kinds of things against us for not conforming to their Easter or any practice based on paganism. They could even ignore us, and worse, even to the point they may not consider us to be family or friends anymore, but our Lord God is our priority, and it’s Him that we should please.
Brother Eric Waterman: Very good point, Brother Rommel and dear friends. How is it then that we can truly please God? How are we instructed to lead our daily lives? How should a Christian live? Here in Ephesians, Chapter 4, the verse is 17. This is what is recorded:
I declare and solemnly attest in the Lord that you must no longer live as pagans do, their minds are empty.
[Ephesians 4:17 New American Bible]
Brother Eric Waterman: So clearly in the Bible, we should no longer live like pagans. In doing only the things that please us or following traditions that are not found in the Bible. As Christians, we should live obeying the commandments of God. We shouldn’t have the way of thinking that pagan people have. They worry only about things of this world. Our mindset should be what pleases God, what is God’s will, and what God wants us to do in our lives.
Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you. Brother Eric. So Brothers, after considering all that, then we have discussed together here today, you can understand that the so-called Easter is a pagan origin and service to Ishtar, a pagan goddess.
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Today’s topic: PAGAN ORIGINS OF EASTER
Brother Bob Pellien: Even the Catholic practices that precede Easter are all based on these various pagan traditions. Such a holiday, then brings honor to false gods, false idols. As true Christians, we have to stay away from all such practices. We should never observe dear friends or honor the holiday Easter. We commemorate the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, how? In the way that he taught the apostles to do. How did He teach this to be done when he instituted the holy supper where we partake of the bread, representing his body and the fruit of the vine, representing his blood shed on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. That is what we will do.
Brother Bob Pellien: So we invite you, our viewers, to learn more about the words of God here in the Church Of Christ. We invite you to our Bible studies, and we invite you to attend with us in our worship services to the true God, the Father above. For now, we’d like to thank Brother Eric Waterman there in Quezon City, Philippines, Brother Marvin Mangune in Los Angeles, California. And we thank Brother Rommel San Pedro there in the United Kingdom. We thank you all Brothers for providing to us Bible-based answers, so that, as the Apostle Peter said to the members of the Church:
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
[I Peter 3:15 New International Version]
Brother Bob Pellien: Well, that does it for us here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. We hope that you’ll join us again next time. This is Bob Pellien, thanks for watching.
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