why do Christians celebrate Easter?

[Grace Seeker]

didn't his raising Lazarus from the dead bring victory over death?

No. It only showed his power over life and death. His resurrection brought actual victory eliminating the power of both death and sin.

Funny that I never heard of a holiday celebrating Pentecost when I was a Baptist. I guess I was just one of those "nominal Christians" like my preacher. What day of the year does Pentecost fall on and what is it called? How do you celebrate it in your church?

It is funny that you never heard of it, because Baptists most certainly do celebrate it. Since didn't know you when you were a Christian and don't know your former pastor at all I can't specifically comment on why you didn't know about or celebrate Pentecost beyond the general statements I've already made. But I'm not alone in suggesting it's importance among Christian holidays:

Pentecost (Ancient Greek: Πεντηκοστή [ἡμέρα], Pentēkostē [hēmera], "the Fiftieth [day]") is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection.(source: wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecost)

Pentecost (Whitsunday)A feast of the universal Church which commemorates the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, fifty days after the Resurrection of Christ, on the ancient Jewish festival called the "feast of weeks" or Pentecost (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10). Whitsunday is so called from the white garments which were worn by those who were baptised during the vigil; Pentecost ("Pfingsten" in German), is the Greek for "the fiftieth" (day after Easter). Whitsunday, as a Christian feast, dates back to the first century.(source: New Advent (Catholic) Encyclopedia)

Christmas Christians, Easter Christians, and Pentecost ChristiansMay 28, 2009Posted by Dan R. Dick in Congregational Life, Pentecost, Personal Reflection, Religion in the U.S.. This isn’t a post about when the most people attend church in our denomination (or Pentecost would be replaced by Mother’s Day). This is about three ecclesial worldviews I have experienced in my 30+ years of church leadership that shape the spectra of contemporary Christian belief. This is a personal reflection on three kinds of Christian, and is not meant in any way to say what “ought” to be, or what is “best.” All three types of relationship with God through Jesus Christ offer immense value to individuals, congregations, and the world. In brief:•Christmas Christians form a deep relationship with Jesus, wanting to know Jesus personally, follow Jesus’ teachings exactly, and live life in a way they believe is pleasing to God. Right belief is a driving force for Christmas Christians.•Easter Christians seek to understand the risen Christ, to live lives that reflect the power and presence of Jesus the Christ in the world today. Behavior pleasing to God in the form of mercy, grace, justice, and love shape this worldview.•Pentecost Christians seek to be the incarnate body of Christ in the world, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Shunning legalism and exclusion, this worldview embraces a future grounded in the vision of the realm of God, and refuses to be bound by the past......For years, one of my deepest wishes has been for United Methodists to celebrate Pentecost with the same passion, energy, sacrifice, and joy as Christmas and Easter. Pentecost, in my experience, has been the short leg on the three-legged stool of our Christian story. Why is the rebirth of Christ as the Church not as wonderful as the birth and the resurrection of Jesus the Christ? It makes no sense to me. I’m not meaning we should commercialize it or create specialized candies and ornaments. I mean why aren’t our sanctuaries filled to standing-room-only? Why don’t we march from our sanctuaries into the world singing our songs and telling our story? Why don’t we make it impossible for any conscious person NOT to know that Christians are celebrating Pentecost? I don’t have any answers. I just keep wondering.(source: http://doroteos2.wordpress.com/2009...s-easter-christians-and-pentecost-christians/)

But in my very quick gleaning of internet articles, as incredulous as it seems to me, I do see that you would not be the only Baptist to have not heard of or at least not celebrated Pentecost:

May 24, 2010"Pentecost, Racial Reconciliation, and Southern Baptists"This past weekend, our Southern Baptist church celebrated Pentecost Sunday for the first time. That sounds odd. We celebrate Christmas and Easter every year, why not Pentecost? Pentecost marks the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the church. Why do many evangelicals skip this celebration altogether? It was a glorious day as we considered the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the amazing events in Acts 2, the globalization of the church, and the gospel for all peoples. Pentecost represents the indwelling of the Holy Spirit for all believers, no matter your culture, tribe, race, or ethnicity. Whether you are male, female, young, old, rich, or poor - it doesn't matter - the Holy Spirit is for all who receive Jesus Christ!Pentecost is about barriers coming down. The barriers between us and God and between each one of us because of sin, pride, and the divisions that we erect as we determine who is best have now all come down in Christ. Ephesians 2:11-22 shows us that the effect of the gospel is that people who were once enemies now become one in Christ. To remain separate from other believers on the basis of superficial factors is to deny the power of the gospel itself....... I wonder if a return to the truths of Pentecost Sunday and the coming of the Holy Spirit in all His power to all people would enable us come together with all Christians in a more unified way, despite cultural or racial differences? Maybe by missing Pentecost, we are also missing something very important in our witness to a country that is constantly finding new ways to divide.(source: http://www.downshoredrift.com/downs...ial-reconciliation-and-southern-baptists.html)

 

[glo]

Please, forgive my ignorance. I learned something today as it was never mentioned when I was a Baptist or member of the Church of Christ. In what way do you remember the day as being special? I assume in your thoughts and prayers.

Here is some information on the liturgical year, Mustafa.

The liturgical cycle divides the year into a series of seasons, each with their own mood, theological emphases, and modes of prayer, which can be signified by different ways of decorating churches, colors of Paraments and Vestments for clergy, scriptural readings, themes for preaching and even different traditions and practices often observed personally or in the home. In churches that follow the liturgical year, the scripture passages for each Sunday (and even each day of the year in some traditions) are specified by a list called a lectionary.

Among non-Catholic Western Christians, Anglicans and Lutherans have traditionally followed the lectionary since the days of the Protestant Reformation. Following the Roman Catholic liturgical reform of the Roman Rite instituted by Pope Paul VI in 1969, the adoption and use of lectionaries in other Protestant churches (Methodist, Reformed, United, etc.) increased. In particular, the growing influence of the Revised Common Lectionary led to a greater awareness of the Christian year among Protestants in the later decades of the 20th century, especially among mainline denominations.

Grace Seeker, I would be interested to hear if the Methodist churches follow the same or a similar liturgy throughout the year.

Mustafa, I spent some years in a church which did not follow any church calendar at all. I guess the emphasis was more on 'hearing God's Spirit' than on following a prescribed pattern.
So the concept of a liturgy is fairly new to me too, but I am learning the beauty and importance of following a church calendar.

 

[MustafaMc]

GraceSeeker and glo, you did not tell me how you specifically celebrate Pentecost. I honestly want to know because in growing up Baptist I knew what Pentecost was but I never heard anyone say that it was a holiday to celebrate.

For our 2 Islamic holidays, my wife and I wear our best clothes to attend a special congregational prayer at various cities from 2 to 3 hours away, and we usually have local get-togethers to share food. We give a zakat al-fitr prior to E'id Al-Fitr and for E'd Al-Adha we either donate money to a charity or sacrifice an animal, distributing it: 1/3 to poor, 1/3 to friend, and keep 1/3. I usually donate to Islamic Relief such that an animal is sacrificed for Muslims in need oversees. Others may comment as to whether this is exactly correct Islamically, or not.

 

[جوري]

Others may comment as to whether this is exactly correct Islamically, or not.

I can't think of better ways to spend 3eed and give thanks..

 

[GuestFellow]

i dont get what eggs have to do with bunnies :hmm: did i miss something :hiding:

I know, since when rabbits lay eggs! o_o

I think the egg represents new life, as in the resurrection of Prophet Jesus (P.B.U.H) as Christians believe.

 

[MustafaMc]

Here is some information on the liturgical year, Mustafa.

I am not at all familiar with liturgy. I understand it is a ritualized form of worship. How is it related to a holiday celebration such as for Pentecost?

 

[Grace Seeker]

Mustafa, for me worship is itself celebration. So, reading scripture connected with that day, saying prayers in celebration of the work of the Holy Spirit, and other liturgical acts would be the primary way of celebrating not just Pentecost, but also Easter and Christmas. Remember I've called much of the other stuff distractions from the attention we are called to give to God.

Perhaps better answering your question is some suggestions that my denomination provided last year:

Celebrating Pentecost in the Home

MaryJane Pierce Norton

On Sunday, May 23, 2010, Christian churches celebrate Pentecost. For Christians, Pentecost occurs fifty days after Easter. On that day, the church celebrates the happenings recorded in the New Testament Book of Acts, chapter 2. Notice when you go into church, the changes in colors in the sanctuary. Red is the color of Pentecost, and it signifies the tongues of flames seem over the heads of those praying together. The Scripture also tells us that the sound of the blowing of a violent wind filled the house where they were praying. In addition to the color red, churches often display tongues of flame and symbols of the wind on banners and posters.
In Scripture, we read that the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to go into the streets telling of Jesus to all those they met. Following Peter's sermon, many were baptized; and the church began to grow. Because of this, we call Pentecost, "the birthday of the church."
In our families, we may have elaborate celebrations of Christmas and Easter, but fail to celebrate Pentecost. However, without Pentecost, we wouldn't have the church. It is worthwhile to spend time in family devotions and celebrations for this church holy day that helps us remember how the church began.
What can you do in your family to celebrate Pentecost?

• Read together Acts 2:1-40. Ask each family member to tell of one thing he or she will try to remember from the Scripture reading.
• Make a Pentecost cake to celebrate the birth of the church. Tint icing red and decorate. Place candles in clusters to symbolize the flames.
• Enjoy wind activities together. Make and fly a kite. Sit outside at dusk and feel the wind on your faces.
• Visit an older member of your church. Ask your church friend to tell you about memories of how your church started, of memories of Sunday school, and of memories of people who were important to his or her faith formation.
• Decorate your home by making red banners, posters, or pictures.

Some of the things we have done in the church to help set the tone have been in the form of decorations. The increased use of read as mentioned, particularly with banners. I've also filled the place with red helium-filled balloons attached to every pew and given to every person at the end of the service for a balloon launch. I know of another pastor who had a large fan blowing red crepe paper streamers as a reminder of the tongues of fire described in Acts 2.

As Pentecost is also celebrated as the birthday of the church, it could be a time for baptisms, ground-breaking on a new church, or special offerings to support the work and ministry of the church around the world. It might be a time when sister churches in different parts of the world tried to have some special joint activity via the internet, or a mother church would formally "give birth" to a daughter congregation.

Hope that helps some.

 

[Ramadhan]

His resurrection brought actual victory eliminating the power of both death and sin.

What does this mean?
Does this mean that before jesus' resurrection, God never had victory over the power of death and sin?

 

[truthseeker63]

Easter is a Pagan holiday just like Christmas.

 

[MustafaMc]

GraceSeeker, yes that definitely helps, particularly the insert from MaryJane. What she said was definitely a celebration which to me is different from routine worship although a special worship for a particular day such as a 'sunrise service' can also be seen as a celebration.

Your earlier comment indicated that those who don't celebrate 'Pentecost' as a holiday are in some way 'nominal' or 'marginal' Christians. Well this is a quote from your denomination, "In our families, we may have elaborate celebrations of Christmas and Easter, but fail to celebrate Pentecost." This indicates to me that even in the Methodist community of Illinois the celebration of Pentecost is not a widespread practice. I assure you that in all of my years of attending Baptist churches and the Church of Christ I never once saw a red balloon, or red streamers blowing in a fan, or went flying a kite to mark the day of Pentecost as being special.

If one counts 50 days after Easter (Sunday), then Pentecost must have fallen on a Monday (Whit Monday). Why is it marked as being on a Sunday? Is this like Jesus raising himself from the dead after he said he would spend 3 days and 3 nights in the grave (like Jonah) when he only spent 2 nights, and 1 full day in the grave?

 

[جوري]

Easter is a Pagan holiday just like Christmas.

agreed .. Thank you for uttering a word of truth.. Jesus indeed never said celebrate my birth on the wrong date, and celebrate my alleged crucifixion!

peace

 

[Grace Seeker]

GraceSeeker, yes that definitely helps, particularly the insert from MaryJane. What she said was definitely a celebration which to me is different from routine worship although a special worship for a particular day such as a 'sunrise service' can also be seen as a celebration.

Your earlier comment indicated that those who don't celebrate 'Pentecost' as a holiday are in some way 'nominal' or 'marginal' Christians. Well this is a quote from your denomination, "In our families, we may have elaborate celebrations of Christmas and Easter, but fail to celebrate Pentecost." This indicates to me that even in the Methodist community of Illinois the celebration of Pentecost is not a widespread practice. I assure you that in all of my years of attending Baptist churches and the Church of Christ I never once saw a red balloon, or red streamers blowing in a fan, or went flying a kite to mark the day of Pentecost as being special.

I don't doubt your experience. But, again, I ask you to remember that for me the celebration of Christmas is not the secular holiday with Santa, and the celebration of Easter has nothing to do with colored eggs and chocolate rabbits. The real celebration of these events involves the worship of God and the remembrance of what has done and is doing. And in this sense, since you do remember at least the recognition of Pentecost from your days attending churches, it does sound like your respective churches did celebrate them, however low-keyed that celebration was.And I can assure you, from personal experience as a United Methodist pastor in Illinois and my presence in its churches, though probably only a handful would incorporate things like balloons or red streamers, that all our churches do celebrate Pentecost in the sense that I mean celebrate. I pretty familiar with the Lutheran Church (ELCA) as well, and feel confident making the same statement with regard to them. Now the UMC and the ELCA are both more liturgical than some other denominations, so that may be skewing my observations. But I again affirm I have NEVER met a Christian congregation (including my non-liturgical peers at other congregations in the communities that I have served) that did not take notice of and celebrate Pentecost to at least some degree in the sense that I mean to celebrate as an act of worship.
On the other hand, if you insist that celebration of a holiday must include decorations and not worship related rituals. Then there are many a Pentecost, and not just then, but Easter also, that my very own churches have not celebrated for we celebrated through worship and without other sorts of external trappings. (Christmas always at least had some extra greenery decorations.)

If one counts 50 days after Easter (Sunday), then Pentecost must have fallen on a Monday (Whit Monday). Why is it marked as being on a Sunday? Is this like Jesus raising himself from the dead after he said he would spend 3 days and 3 nights in the grave (like Jonah) when he only spent 2 nights, and 1 full day in the grave?

Pentecost means 50 days, and already existed as a first century Jewish festival that took place 50 days after Passover. It was for this Jewish Pentecost festival that people had gathered to Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples:

When the day of [this Jewish] Pentecost [festival] came, they [the disciples] were all together in one place [the Upper Room]. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts2:1-4)

So, Pentecost doesn't mean 50 days after Easter, but actually refers to this original Pentecost which was 50 days after the Passover before which Jesus was crucified. Again, sloppiness in the way people pass these things on to others has led many who can make the connection between "Pente" and 5 to that it is the counting of 50 days, but then they mistakenly think that it has to do with counting from Easter since we celebrate Pentecost today as a Christian festival of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and not the Harvest festival that it was for 1st century Jews.

In trying to figure how we determine Pentecost today, one must recognize that because of the use of different calendars today Jewish Passover and Christian Easter don't always end up overlapping -- though they usually do. But since we are no longer celebrating the Jewish harvest festival of Pentecost, but the Christian event that took place on one particular Pentecost it doesn't really matter (to Christians at least) if the two pentecosts today are the same day. (In fact, I don't even know if Jews continue to celebrate their original Pentecost anymore.) Liturgical practice is to celebrate 7 Sundays of Easter (including Resurrection Sunday itself) and then Pentecost Sunday.

 

[Grace Seeker]

What does this mean?
Does this mean that before jesus' resurrection, God never had victory over the power of death and sin?

To answer this question we have to go back to the beginning and a theological point over which Muslims and Christians disagree. That is--What is our natural state?

From the Christian point of view Adam and Eve were created perfect? They enjoyed complete and perfect fellowship with God as well. They did not know both good and evil, but were created knowing only good. But they were allowed freedom of choice. They could choose to serve God and conform their will to His or to assert their own will over God's will and usurp the divine will of God in their lives with their own will. This latter is what they chose. The act of choosing one's own will over God's will is itself a sinful act. And such sin lead immediately to the separation of Adam and Eve from the fellowship they were created to enjoy with God -- a type of death, spiritual death which would subsequently be followed by physical death as well.

As fallen creatures, marred at their spiritual core, and living in a world separated apart from continued fellowship with God as they had once had they now lived in a fallen world. It is into this fallen world, with a fallen nature similarly marred as their parent's nature was that all their children were born. (Again, I know Muslims disagree with this assessment, but you have asked for my Christian understanding of events.) And so, death was what all persons knew. God still had power, as one saw with healings and other miracles to step into this world and change the natural order even to bring people back to life, but our very natures had been changed so that death, not just physical death but also spiritual death, and permament separation from God was to be normative for us. Thus it is that Jews believed that they dead resided in Sheol, which is quite apart from God.

Yet there was for many also a belief in the ultimate promise of at least an eschatological resurrection when God would set all things right again. Many Jews of Jesus' day believed that this would be a result of the arrival of the Messiah who would usher in the Day of the Lord at the end times. Indeed, this is a belief that some (though not all it seems) Jews still hold and await. For Christians, we believe this day has come.

We see in the person of Jesus Christ, the triumph over death and the offering of a new way of connecting with God again. We believe that the old nature can be replaced with a new nature in which one is reconciled and made whole with God again through not our own work, but the work of Jesus Christ. And most specifically, his willingness to die our death that we might receive from him the offering of his life. So, in the words of all Muslims' favorite (sarcasm intended) Christian, St. Paul,

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:4)

we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. (2 Corinthians 4:14)

So, from the time of the fall, till the time of the resurrection, the natural order was that for people who sinned (and even if you don't believe in original sin or inherited depravity, there is still the reality that we all do in fact commit sins) death reigned. But now, for those who are in Christ, as a result of his resurrection, life reigns. And this is why we say that it is by means of Christ's resurrection that we have victory over the power of sin and death.

-----edit-----

And Naidamar, I see one other thing of import in your question that I failed to address before. Whose victory are we talking about? As I said above, God has always had power over sin and death. They have no effect on him. Huamnity are the ones subject to them. So, what Christ accomplishes by means of his resurrection is to secure us victory where we previously had been defeated. God wins the victory for us which we could not win for ourselves.

 

[glo]

GraceSeeker and glo, you did not tell me how you specifically celebrate Pentecost. I honestly want to know because in growing up Baptist I knew what Pentecost was but I never heard anyone say that it was a holiday to celebrate.

For our 2 Islamic holidays, my wife and I wear our best clothes to attend a special congregational prayer at various cities from 2 to 3 hours away, and we usually have local get-togethers to share food. We give a zakat al-fitr prior to E'id Al-Fitr and for E'd Al-Adha we either donate money to a charity or sacrifice an animal, distributing it: 1/3 to poor, 1/3 to friend, and keep 1/3. I usually donate to Islamic Relief such that an animal is sacrificed for Muslims in need oversees. Others may comment as to whether this is exactly correct Islamically, or not.

Mustafa, I don't think how people celebrate is that important. I am sure different people/churches/denominations do it differently, I have never given it much attention.

What is important is to know and appreciate what happened on Pentecost. The Spirit of God descended on his people, and to this day people receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. God's Spirit lives with us and in us, and guides us every moment of our lives, if only we listen!

Just reading the account in Acts and making myself aware of the enormity of the event, praying and seeking God's Spirit for myself is enough for me. Any other celebrations or new clothes or social events may be fun, but are definitely secondary in importance.

 

[Ramadhan]

To answer this question we have to go back to the beginning and a theological point over which Muslims and Christians disagree.

---snippet----

I get what you are saying. So christians believe that humans inherited sins from adam, hence, god need to reincarnated on earth and died so that the inherited sins can be forgiven so that humans will be able to be reunited with God later.
Is that correct?

Also, can you explain how the inherited sins is forgiven by the death of God.
The details seem very sketchy and glossed over.
(can you also explain it in less wordy, more succinct? your flowery long-winded sentences unfortunately only confused me further)

What about humans who had existed before God decided to come down to earth? They will not be able to reunite with god.
Also what about babies who are not baptised? they also will not be reunited with God.

 

[MustafaMc]

Just reading the account in Acts and making myself aware of the enormity of the event, praying and seeking God's Spirit for myself is enough for me. Any other celebrations or new clothes or social events may be fun, but are definitely secondary in importance.

Glo, I appreciate your perspective. I can understand why Christians would honor the day, but that is not to say that those who don't are any less a Christian.

My perspective on Pentecost as a Christian was the same as the one I have now for the birthday of Muhammad (saaws), the night journey (miraj) to receive the commandment for salah, the migration to Medina, and the conquest of Mecca. I recognize the importance of those days, but I don't celebrate them or even really know what day they occur each year. I guess that makes me a 'nominal' Muslim in some people's eye.

 

[Grace Seeker]

I get what you are saying. So christians believe that humans inherited sins from adam, hence, god need to reincarnated on earth and died so that the inherited sins can be forgiven so that humans will be able to be reunited with God later.
Is that correct?

Close. What Jesus did was to live the perfectly submitted human life that Adam (and the rest of us) were created for. Thus he serves as a new Adam. As sin entered the world through the first Adam, so righteousness does by the second Adam (i.e. Jesus). Thus by his life Jesus creates a bridge across the chasm that sin creates that separates us from God and provides means of reconciliation for all who will trust in that bridge which he provides. As to how this happens? There are a myriad speculations made by theologians. But ultimately the method is something that God knows best. I just know that he proclaims it to be so.

You find the details sketchy because they are. I've found you to have a low tolerance for things explained at length. If that has changed, I will be glad to recommend some books for you to read on the subject.

As for those who existed before Jesus, this offering is once and for all (including for all time). We read in Hebrews of how the Old Testament saints lived looking forward to Jesus' day. They would not have known of Jesus by name, but they knew of God's promised of a Messiah to affect the gift of reconciliation between God and humankind and lived placing their faith in God who would one day redeem them.

As for unbaptized babies, I don't see baptism being the key. Faith is. So, a better question would be what about those who either because of age, mental defect, or geographical isolation have not heard the message and been able to respond in faith? Faith itself is understood to be a gift from God. So, as I understand the scriptures those who respond in faith to the knowledge that they have, however limited that might be, are just as saved as the next person.

You might find other Christians answering those questions different than I do. But that is my general response -- God can do what God wants to do in accepting whosoever he wills simply as an act of his grace. I hope that helps with your questions. You are not alone in asking them. I know many who have grown up in the church all their lives and accept its teaching that still wrestle with some of these very question, as I remember doing myself at one time. What helped me the most was to understand that even more than judgment, God was about offering grace. And my accountability stems from my desire to live in a committed and faithful relationship with God, than with me trying to earn God's good pleasure.

And now this thread has gotten much deeper into theology than the simple question of why we celebrate Easter to what we are celebrating when we do celebrate it.

 

[glo]

Glo, I appreciate your perspective. I can understand why Christians would honor the day, but that is not to say that those who don't are any less a Christian.

My perspective on Pentecost as a Christian was the same as the one I have now for the birthday of Muhammad (saaws), the night journey (miraj) to receive the commandment for salah, the migration to Medina, and the conquest of Mecca. I recognize the importance of those days, but I don't celebrate them or even really know what day they occur each year. I guess that makes me a 'nominal' Muslim in some people's eye.

I understand what you are saying, Mustafa.

Although I am learning to appreciate the cycle of the church calendar, it is just an aid for me to remember certain events on an annual basis - but that doesn't mean I can only remember Jesus' birth at Christmas, his resurrection at Easter and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Those events and their importance to my faith are with me daily.

I quite like the idea of setting aside a 'special day' of remembrance, but the actual celebration, the gifts, the parties, the new clothes are fairly unimportant to me.
In fact, sometimes I wonder whether letting go of those 'worldy' things would actually help me focus on the divine meaning.

I don't think it makes you 'nominal', I think it means you have your eyes on more important things!

As always it is nice to recognise the values we share despite our differences in faith.

 

[MustafaMc]

Although I am learning to appreciate the cycle of the church calendar, it is just an aid for me to remember certain events on an annual basis

Today, I spoke to a couple of Catholic coworkers and learned a little more about the liturgy and their marking of special days. I have also learned there is a wide range of practices and beliefs among those who call themselves Christian.

 

[Grace Seeker]

I have also learned there is a wide range of practices and beliefs among those who call themselves Christian.

I am learning this, too. Indeed much more than I ever suspected.

I've put a question on a Christian forum to different denominational groups asking about what they consider the MAJOR Christian Holy Days or holidays, the feedback has astonded me.

Mustafa, I was wrong. And I apologize. I didn't expect uniformity, but I did expect a few common threads. My experience, which I did not think was so narrow, has been to highlight those holidays of Christmas, Easter (including the preceeding days of Holy Week), and Pentecost as the major celebrations of the Christian faith. I knew that for some liturgical groups there were other important holy days and festivals, and that a few people who use the name Christian didn't like to celebrate any holidays at all. But the diversity of responses I have received thus far is significantly greater than I could have ever imagined. Indeed, about the only thing that we can come close to agreeing on is that the celebration of the Resurrection is our pre-iminent celebration -- and even here disagreement over whether it is acceptable to use the term "Easter". Beyond that, there isn't agreement over the appropriateness of celebrating Christmas, let alone the importance of Pentecost which I do seem to be in the minority in considering as important as I (and at least some others) do.

So, with egg on my face and eating humble pie, I stand corrected.