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THE TRUTH ABOUT EASTER


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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astarte

The word "Easter" is a tranliteration of the Greek word - Astarte or the Mesopotamian - ISHTAR, or the Hebrew form - Ashtoreth. These words are names for the pagan Goddess of "fertility." The Old Testament is repleat with warnings from God, to His people, to stay clear of the Goddess of Ashtoreth. You may remember that this was one of the major sins of Gideon's father...he had an altar built to this Goddess. God instructed Gideon to destroy it. Sadly, this same altar still exists in many churches as EASTER, complete with the celebration of "fertility" with bunnies and eggs, baskets and flowers. The resurrection of Jesus often takes a back seat in many "Christian" homes and churches to the celebration of the "spring season" through the Goddess of "Easter" or Ishtar.

ASHTORETH
Astarte (from Greek (Astárte)) is the name of a major goddess as known from Northwestern Semitic regions, cognate in name, origin and functions with the goddess Ishtar in Mesopotamian texts. Another transliteration is 'Ashtart; other names for the goddess include Hebrew or Phoenician (transliterated Ashtoreth), Ugaritic 'Athtart, transliterated Atirat), and Akkadian dAs-tar-tú (also Astartu).
Ashtart was connected with fertility, sexuality, and war.
Ashtart was accepted by the Greeks under the name of Aphrodite
Her name is the second name in an energy chant sometimes used in Wicca: "Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna."



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http://www.ldolphin.org/ishtar.html

"Asherah" the Greek form of this word from the Septuagint is "Astarte", who is the Babylonian goddess of the sea, sea being symbolic of people, and consort of the god El. She was the mother of several gods, including Ba'al, the Babylonian god of the sun.

The Roman Catholic Church adopted the Asherah worship and named it EASTER around 155 A.D. According to the CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA, Easter was named after a pagan goddess of the Anglo-Saxons named Eostre, the goddess of the dawn. Many historians believe that the evidence is strong that Eostre is the same as ISHTAR or ASHTORETH.

A great controversy arose between the Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church in 325 A.D. on whether to celebrate Easter on Sundays or on whatever day the Jewish Passover fell upon. Unfortunately, the Greeks lost a lot of followers and the Catholics contended that keeping Easter on Sundays would stimulate the practices of both the Christian world and the pagan worshipers.

Hence, since the original practice of Asherah worship we now have in our time the celebration of Easter, a counterfeit holiday to the true Christian festival of the Passover which was instituted in the Bible and completed in the New Testament when Christ died on the cross as our Passover Lamb.


http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t020.html

THE BUNNY and THE EGG
The rabbit is well known as a sexual symbol of fertility. In various parts of the world, religions which developed from Babel also associate the rabbit with periodicity, both human and lunar (Egypt, China, etc.). As you may remember, the Mother Goddess Semiramis (Easter) is associated with the Moon. In other words, the Easter bunny symbolizes the Mother Goddess. Annual Spring time fertility rituals are associated worship of the Mother Goddess and Tammuz, the reincarnation of her husband.

Most children and families who color or hide Easter eggs as part of their Resurrection Sunday tradition have no knowledge of the origin of these traditions. Easter egg activities have become a part of Western culture. Many would be surprised and even dismayed to learn where the traditions originated.

The egg was a sacred symbol among the Babylonians. They believed an old fable about an egg of wondrous size which was supposed to have fallen from heaven into the Euphrates River. From this marvelous egg - according to the ancient story - the Goddess Astarte (Easter) was hatched. And so the egg came to symbolize the Goddess Easter. The idea of a mystic egg spread from Babylon to many parts of the world. In Rome, the mystic egg preceded processions in honor of the Mother Goddess Roman. The egg was part of the sacred ceremonies of the Mysteries of Bacchus. The Druids used the egg as their sacred emblem. In Northern Europe, China and Japan the eggs were colored for their sacred festivals. The egg was also a symbol of fertility; Semiramis (Easter) was the goddess of Fertility. The Easter egg is a symbol of the pagan Mother Goddess, and it even bears one of her names.




If you are Christian, it is not difficult to discern the bizarre deception and confusion that has successfully orchestrated. For example, notice the embarrassing irony in these traditions which are practiced innocently by most people. They are repeated year after year, because they have become traditional and their origin is unknown to many.

On the day commemorating Jesus' Resurrection, Americans roll decorated eggs on the White House lawn and pretend the Easter rabbit hid them. The same ritual is practiced at some Christian churches.

This must surely given Satan, the Great Deceiver, some twisted delight. He seduced millions into worshipping people and other created things, instead of the true Creator. Through the millennia, humankind has been easily seduced into participating in every type of perversion. The seductive symbols of ancient ungodly religions inspired by Satan have been incorporated into people's everyday lives, even to this day - continuing to obscure the truth of God. Often this happens because we willingly let it happen. Selfishly and foolishly "all we like sheep have gone astray" Isaiah 53:6

One might wonder if there is a better way for Christians to celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection, the most important of all Christian holy days. In retrospect, it seems obvious that it would have been a better witness to the world if Christians had not attempted to Christianize pagan celebrations - adopting the name Easter (Ishtar/Semiramis) in remembrance of Christ.

Painted eggs and bunnies have obscured Jesus. Attention has been shifted away from spiritual truth and toward materialism (clothing, products and candies with the wrong symbolism). Stores merchandise the name of Easter and sell goods that have nothing to do with Christ's death and resurrection. Christians naively use symbols and practices that unknowingly perpetuate ancient anti-Christ traditions - symbolic customs followed by the same religious cults that inspired the destruction of great numbers of Christians and Jews. Is the Devil laughing at us? Many church bodies recognize the problem and make every effort to keep the focus of Resurrection Sunday totally on Jesus Christ and the Good News that He brought. These same churches also use the term "RESURRECTION SUNDAY" rather than Easter to describe their services, celebrations and activities.

WE DO AT Hickory Hammock Baptist Church! –


We also use the term “Resurrection Sunday” rather than “Easter” and we do NOT conduct Easter Egg Hunts or other pagan rooted activities at our church facilities or on our church property.

All of this is done and communicated in a decent, respectful manner with the prayer that our membership and those visiting us would come to the true knowledge of these very important matters.





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