Right before I could write/type bringing some illumination to the Sunday/Blue Laws/Volleyball discussion regarding the Easter dates --- which will always be more controversial than Transgender Visibility Sunday.
Fixing the date on which the Resurrection of Jesus is observed and celebrated triggered major controversies in the early church along more than the Eastern Orthodox and a Western divide. The dispute was partially resolved by the 8th century. In Asia Minor, Christians observed the day of the Crucifixion on the same day that Jews celebrated Passover — on the 14th day of the first full moon of spring, 14 Nisan according to the Jewish calendar.
The Resurrection, then, was observed two days later, on 16 Nisan, regardless of the day of the week. In the West the Resurrection of Jesus was celebrated on Sunday when Jesus had risen from the dead. Consequently, Easter was always celebrated on the first Sunday after the 14th day of the month of Nisan. Then more and more churches opted for the Sunday celebration --- cause it was GOOD for Jesus to die on a Friday -- and the Quartodecimans (“14th day” proponents) remained a minority.
The Nicean Council established in the year 325 that Easter should be observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21). Easter, therefore, can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25.
Your Eastern Orthodox churches use a slightly different calculation based on the old Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar (which is 13 days ahead of the former), with the result that the Orthodox Easter celebration usually occurs later than that celebrated by Protestants and Roman Catholics. Interestingly enough, the Eastern Orthodox tradition prohibits Easter from being celebrated before or at the same time as Passover.
In the 20th century several attempts were made to arrive at a fixed date for Easter, with the Sunday following the second Saturday in April specifically proposed. While this proposal and others had many supporters, none worked. Renewed interest in a fixed date arose in the early 21st century, resulting from discussions involving the leaders of Eastern Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, Coptic, Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches, but a formal agreement on such a date still hasn't happened and likely never will as fewer and fewer people actually care any more.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATORS LOCKED YET ANOTHER THREAD BEFORE AN OLD MAN CAN GET HIS THOUGHTS TOGETHER.
People would rather watch their kids play sports (whether they have to pay for it or not) than send them to Sunday School. Obviously, it's more fun for the kid and for them.
What's more relevant to the vast majority of humanity, particularly in the US? Not religion, but sports and commerce sure is.
The vast majority of Christians' view of keeping the Sabbath holy is simply showing up for church for a couple of hours on a Sunday morning. Then they go home and sit on the couch and watch other people make a living playing sports. Hell, their preacher's doing the same thing going out to play golf Sunday afternoon encouraging Sunday commerce. (not that anyone's got anything against golfing preachers)
To each is own. If you are a believer, observe as you feel led. No need to judge those taking advantage of the marketplace. Jesus only drove the money changers out of the temple. Don't get me started there.
LOCK IT!
Fixing the date on which the Resurrection of Jesus is observed and celebrated triggered major controversies in the early church along more than the Eastern Orthodox and a Western divide. The dispute was partially resolved by the 8th century. In Asia Minor, Christians observed the day of the Crucifixion on the same day that Jews celebrated Passover — on the 14th day of the first full moon of spring, 14 Nisan according to the Jewish calendar.
The Resurrection, then, was observed two days later, on 16 Nisan, regardless of the day of the week. In the West the Resurrection of Jesus was celebrated on Sunday when Jesus had risen from the dead. Consequently, Easter was always celebrated on the first Sunday after the 14th day of the month of Nisan. Then more and more churches opted for the Sunday celebration --- cause it was GOOD for Jesus to die on a Friday -- and the Quartodecimans (“14th day” proponents) remained a minority.
The Nicean Council established in the year 325 that Easter should be observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21). Easter, therefore, can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25.
Your Eastern Orthodox churches use a slightly different calculation based on the old Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar (which is 13 days ahead of the former), with the result that the Orthodox Easter celebration usually occurs later than that celebrated by Protestants and Roman Catholics. Interestingly enough, the Eastern Orthodox tradition prohibits Easter from being celebrated before or at the same time as Passover.
In the 20th century several attempts were made to arrive at a fixed date for Easter, with the Sunday following the second Saturday in April specifically proposed. While this proposal and others had many supporters, none worked. Renewed interest in a fixed date arose in the early 21st century, resulting from discussions involving the leaders of Eastern Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, Coptic, Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches, but a formal agreement on such a date still hasn't happened and likely never will as fewer and fewer people actually care any more.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATORS LOCKED YET ANOTHER THREAD BEFORE AN OLD MAN CAN GET HIS THOUGHTS TOGETHER.
People would rather watch their kids play sports (whether they have to pay for it or not) than send them to Sunday School. Obviously, it's more fun for the kid and for them.
What's more relevant to the vast majority of humanity, particularly in the US? Not religion, but sports and commerce sure is.
The vast majority of Christians' view of keeping the Sabbath holy is simply showing up for church for a couple of hours on a Sunday morning. Then they go home and sit on the couch and watch other people make a living playing sports. Hell, their preacher's doing the same thing going out to play golf Sunday afternoon encouraging Sunday commerce. (not that anyone's got anything against golfing preachers)
To each is own. If you are a believer, observe as you feel led. No need to judge those taking advantage of the marketplace. Jesus only drove the money changers out of the temple. Don't get me started there.
LOCK IT!
