Episode 13: Easter, Ishtar, and the Feast of Firstfruits
Summary
In this episode, Jon and Jim discuss the difference between the Feast of First Fruits and Easter. They explore the pagan origins of Easter and how the Roman Catholic Church adapted pagan practices to create Easter as it is celebrated today. Jim shares his personal convictions and why he chooses to celebrate First Fruits instead of Easter. They discuss the importance of living in the middle ground and respecting the convictions of others. They also touch on the challenges of navigating family celebrations and how to approach these conversations with love and kindness. Finally, they preview the upcoming discussion on the Feast of Shavuot.
Chapters
00:00 — Introduction and Review
00:52 — The Difference Between Feast of First Fruits and Easter
03:18 — The Influence of Rome and the Roman Catholic Church
04:14 — The Pagan Origins of Easter
05:40 — The Goddess Esther and the Spring Festival
07:26 — The Roman Catholic Church's Adaptation of Pagan Practices
08:12 — Personal Convictions and Celebrating Easter
09:38 — Celebrating First Fruits
11:12 — Living in the Middle Ground
14:22 — Navigating Celebrations with Family and Friends
16:22 — The Importance of Personal Convictions
21:05 — The Dissatisfaction with Easter Celebrations
22:55 — The Challenge of Communicating Convictions with Family
23:23 — Reconciling Convictions with God's Commands
25:21 — Living in a Kosher Way
27:09 — Inviting Others to Discover the Beauty of God's Ways
28:31 — Looking Ahead to the Feast of Shavuot
33:08 — Conclusion
Takeaways
The Feast of First Fruits and Easter have different origins and meanings.
Understanding the pagan origins of Easter can influence personal convictions and choices in celebrating.
Living in the middle ground allows for respect and understanding of different perspectives.
Inviting others to discover the beauty of God's ways can be done with love and kindness.
