Swedish church unveils Lego Jesus statue for EasterSwedish church unveils Lego Jesus statue for Easter

STOCKHOLM (AFP) — While most Christians mark Easter with prayers and song, one Swedish church opened its mass Sunday by unveiling a life-size Lego statue of Jesus Christ, its pastor told AFP.

Churchgoers had donated nearly 30,000 Lego bricks to build the 1.78 metre (5.8 foot) high statue, said Per Wilder, the pastor of the Oensta Gryta Church in Vaesteras, about 110 kilometres (70 miles) west of Stockholm.

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Why thank you PollySame to you. Hope you had a fine time with your eggs & chocolate bunnies.

Getting a bit tiresome listening to the religion-bashers here who don't seem to be able to distinguish between Christianity (good) versus Organized religions (less good - sometimes sucks).

The 3 things Christianity brings to the table are (1) a set of laws that seem to make sense - killing, stealing, adultery, etc, = Bad (2) redemption no matter how screwed up you are or may be and (3) there is something more important in this life than you. In case you don't get it, it's the message not the messenger.

The rest is kind of screwed up interpretations by flawed men. I tend to view priests & such along the lines of the guys who wipe my car as it goes through the wash - helpful, but not necessary.

As for those who believe that men are innately capable of directing moral and principaled behavior without some of 1-3 above, you can wipe the part of the anatomy best represented by those "religious zealots" Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao, etc.

Oh yea. Forgot about that..

By deanrddApril 13, 2009 - 10:33amThey were more humble when they were starting out in Rome. And when they were spreading into europe but had no power yet. As soon as they got some power, the humbleness went out the door.

Years ago, Christians were more humble.Just asking, how many years ago? During the Dark Ages? Spanish Inquisition? Salam Witch trials?
When Galilao said the Universe didn't revolve around the earth? During the Crusades?

Christians say leftists hate religion, but they hate everyone. Gays, feministst, people of other religions, scientists, the educated. You might say they are equal oportunity haters.

moneyos,One more point I would like to make about allegation that "Christians in Europe used the pagan word Eostra while trying to convert pagans to Christianity.". This "fact" just may be erroneous and seems to be a bit of a story that you picked up on the Drudge Report, no shock here.

Yes, studies have suggested that the "Ostara myth" was potentially invented during a mischievous moment by the Venerable Bede, as this well-known monk mentioned her in connection with the pagan festival Eosturmonath in a book written in 750 A.D." Evidently, the research failed to prove of her prior to that date. Yes, that's right, a myth. A Goddess is a myth, who knew?

Myth or truth? Yes, that's right; your main point in trying to smear others in the name of "religion" just might be fiction. So please, think about your efforts before you type them as it weakens any attempt of serious debate.

By the way, no matter how we all come down on this, Happy Easter to you, your family and everyone else!

* http://tinyurl.com/cf3lyh
* http://tinyurl.com/d22t3k
* http://tinyurl.com/dyqptr

Easter GreetingsI wish you all a Happy Easter to those who believe and a great weekend to those who don't!

moneyos,First of all, let me say that I truly take offense at your generalization that all "leftists" (whatever that means exactly) hate religion, as no one has even hinted as such a thing; so for you to make such accusations is beyond the pale!

Next, it is my understanding that there is no unified or agreed upon definition of "paganism" since it has been a very controversial issue over these many years; so for you to take issue with this word and then discredit it’s very origin is utter nonsense showing a limitation of understanding theology or even debate, for that matter.

Evidently, at one point all religions that were not Christian were once considered pagan, but thankfully that has changed. All references to the term “paganism” need to be viewed in context to understand the meaning intended by the author. For instance, I am sure you are familiar with two of your leaders; Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, who both blamed 9/11 on pagans amongst others:
Falwell: "I really believe that the Pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians ...all of them who have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.' "
Robertson: "Well, I totally concur..."

As you can see they had a definitive image of who the pagans were and how they were part of the "leftists" to whom you like to smear, however if you look deeper you can see that their comments were mainly political and really had little to do with religion, but with a political party who were to be hated. They hate pagans and many others might jump the gun and agree they are justified to be hated; however who are these pagans and what do they represent? The definition is large and the associations of the word oftentimes are misused to the writers favor.

Some view paganism as something called Animism, which share the belief that rivers, animals, rocks, trees, land are all filled with varied whereas most Christians believe that only humans have souls or spirits. As you see, the meanings are many and diverse leaving the term almost moot unless there is so sort of elaboration about the meaning by the writer.

So moneyos, let me just assure you that some do agree that Easter is pagan in origin, but there are others who might take issue; thus for you not to address the broader meaning is simply sloppy at best. ...and by the way, everyone can benefit from your prayers, and most decidedly yourself.

Years agoChristians were more humble. The early Christians would adopt customs of others in order to spread their religion. Now they act like everyone else should adopt their beliefs.

If christians today were more like christians of the past, I'd still be a christian, or at least enjoy hanging out with them more.

And the funny thing is that midwinter and spring celebrations were always with us. Christians know christ wasn't born december 25th and they know that if anyone actually knew when christ was actually crucified, resurrection day would be the same sunday every year or better yet the same calendar day every year. And yet they have the nerve to say easter is about christ only with little tolerance for others who just want to celebrate spring. The nerve of some people.

Happy Easter From the Bastard FairiesVideo: Happy Easter From the Bastard Fairies

Wowyou leftists really hate religion don't you? Regardless of where the word originated, Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. What this "Christian" failed to say is that centuries ago, Christians in Europe used the pagan word Eostra while trying to convert pagans to Christianity. Easter isn't a pagan holiday and anyone who believes it is, doesn't understand Christianity at all. I'll pray for you though.

yesYes it's spring and love is in the air, And nine months from now it will show. Having said that, Easter has been more for the kids, Looking for eggs in the tall grass, and in every nook and cracks, it is also a time for a family get together for a barbecue,

Except for the original stories of mysticism and the occult created in the far past, there is very little that is "new". Religion simply doesn't lend itself to "original thought". Thought leads to questions and questions lead to....well, you get my drift.

I was talking to an Indian Hindu and he was asking me about the "Story of the Nativity". Of course, I attended Catholic School and believed all that stuff until I became a teenager, then skepticism over-powered the years of indoctrination. I asked him how he could live in this country and with all the Christmas and Christmas related stuff, not know the story?

He said he knew the part about Jesus born in farm animals living quarters, but that was pretty much it.

So I told him the entire story about the "escape" and the appearance of angels and God impregnating an underage girl while she was still a virgin. So when I finished, my friend said this is almost the entire story, word for word, of (some Hindu deity whose name I don't remember).

He was nearly convinced this was a trick because he said this story was four thousand years old so it couldn't be the "nativity" story.

It irks me that after thousands of years, people would still fall for these same repackaged stories of mysticism and the supernatural to the point of outlawing entire branches of science. Why the desperate need to believe the "occult" is true? Isn't reality enough?

More on the Origins of Easter...http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/19281/the_history_of_easter_assimilating.html?cat=34

Funny...I was just yesterday morning musing on Easter, wondering just what the hell do colored eggs and bunny rabbits have to do with Jesus's resurrection. My suspicion was that it was yet another tradition that was ripped off from Pagans.