This is not to criticize Peter Rabbit or his creator, the British author Beatrix Potter, but he and his doppelganger, the Easter Bunny, have nothing to do with the true meaning of Easter.
So are Easter baskets, jelly beans, chocolates, bonnets, spring flowers, or other secular images that take center stage during the Lenten and Easter seasons.
All of this seems to push aside or completely ignore the foundation of Christianity: the Resurrection of Jesus.
Easter Bunny teaches kids the true meaning of Easter in new faith-focused book
If you doubt that, just think back to the ads in home decor stores for Easter products that alluded to the day’s religious significance.
It’s virtually guaranteed that you will never see the phrase “The Lord is risen!”
But bestselling author Anthony DeStefano is fighting back. He hugged the Easter Bunny to publish a new children’s book about Jesus. “I’m honestly tired of these stupid secular rabbits jumping in and taking center stage on Christianity’s most sacred holiday,” DeStefano said.
The Easter Rabbit, who seeks Jesus Christ to heal his sick mother, witnesses the events of the gospel and preaches the story of Jesus in the book “The Story of the First Easter Rabbit” by Anthony DeStefano. (Courtesy of Sophia Institute Press/Anthony DeStefano)
DeStefano is the author of more than 25 books for adults and children. His latest book, “The Story of the First Easter Bunny,” is an unabashed adaptation of “That Silly Bunny” to help children understand again what Easter really means. is.
He talked about this on a recent episode of his podcast, “Lighthouse Faith.”
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“I have to say that anyone who takes their faith seriously needs to be very careful when dealing with these kinds of secular symbols,” he says.
“Our deepest beliefs are under constant and relentless attack.”
“Parents cannot ignore the fact that the culture wars continue in our society. Our deepest beliefs are under constant and relentless attack.”
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Easter is the day millions of Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the culmination of the 40 days of Lent and is a time of reflection and sacrifice.
Its end is marked by Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and the waving of palms by the crowds. But joy quickly turns to sadness as political intrigue between religious leaders and itinerant rabbis turns tragic.
According to the Bible, on the third day God raised Jesus from the dead, defeating man’s ultimate enemy, death itself, and ending the rift that had existed between God and mankind since the fall of grace in the Garden of Eden. I buried it, writes Lauren Green in this piece. piece. (St. Petersburg)
Jesus is betrayed, arrested, subjected to a mock trial, and then crucified. He dies and is buried.
According to the Bible, on the third day God raised Jesus from the dead, defeating humanity’s ultimate enemy, death itself, and creating a relationship between God and humanity since his fall from grace in the Garden of Eden. I filled in the gaps that I had left behind.
A challenge for parents
One of the challenges for parents today is that Easter doesn’t make as much sense to their children as Christmas, another Christian holy day.
Although Christmas has its secular culture wars with Santa Claus, Frosty, and Rudolph, the core of the story is easy for children to understand.
Holy Week leads believers to Easter Sunday. Here are the special days and their meanings:
A small baby is born in a manger. There are angels, cute animals, shepherds, and wise men. This is a story in which children can put themselves. After all, like when Jesus was crucified, the children are closer in age to babies than to his 33-year-old man.
But it is Easter that makes Christmas a celebration. Without Easter there would be no Christianity.
Traditions like the Easter Bunny have cultural roots, but one challenge for parents is that the story of Easter is not as understandable to children as Christmas, another holy day in Christianity. (iStock, provided by user momcilog)
The author DeStefano is not a theologically light person. His books for adults deal with thorny Christian issues such as heaven, hell, and the power of prayer.
He is also a board member of Priest for Life, a staunchly anti-abortion, pro-life nonprofit organization that “preaches and teaches clergy in the effort to end abortion and euthanasia. We are working to encourage people to mobilize more effectively.
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He said traditions like the Easter Bunny have seemingly innocuous cultural roots.
Lately, a larger cultural debate has arisen as parents have had to battle with schools and even state authorities for control of their rights.
DeStefano said German Lutheran immigrants brought the tradition of the Easter bunny, or Osterhase, or Osterhause, to America in the 1700s.
It was a legendary rabbit that laid colored eggs in its nest.
One best-selling author says church leaders are not stubbornly opposed to Easter’s more secular symbols because they can bring a bit of fun to the holiday and are more like spices than the main meal. , said the bestselling author. But they shouldn’t be a meal in and of themselves. (St. Petersburg)
Eventually, the custom spread throughout the United States and extended to chocolate, candy, and gifts.
After that, the basket replaced the nest. Children even left carrots for the rabbits, similar to leaving cookies and milk for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
DeStefano said church leaders are not stubbornly opposed to secular Easter symbols because they are more of a spice than a staple and can bring a little fun to the holiday. That’s what it means.
“Children are truly at the forefront of culture. [and] Here is the line of religious war. ”
But it shouldn’t be a meal in itself. That’s the problem today.
Lately, a larger cultural debate has arisen as parents have had to battle with schools and even state authorities for control of their rights.
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DeStefano said, “The other side…isn’t afraid to go over the heads of parents and promote woke policies, so to speak, to kids…so kids are really at the forefront of culture.” . [and] Here is the line of religious war. ”
“To ensure that our core religious beliefs are not marginalized or undermined, we must ensure that the meaning of holidays like Easter remains at the forefront of our children’s catechism. yeah.” (iStock, provided by user kajakiki)
While a colorfully illustrated book about the first Easter Bunny may seem innocuous or even boring, DeStefano said he thinks it has a more important role.
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“To ensure that our core religious beliefs are not marginalized or undermined, we must ensure that the meaning of holidays like Easter remains at the forefront of our children’s catechism. yeah.”
The Story of the First Easter Bunny is published by Sophia Institute Press and is available wherever books are sold. including Amazon And Barnes & Noble.
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