easter then & now

It's Easter once again and here at wonder | wander | world we wish to set the record straight. We celebrate the occasion paying homage to the Queen of Heaven and not the much later trumped up church declared resurrection of Jesus the Christ. 

Pagans believed in a god that was resurrected each spring on Easter - a day dedicated to Ishtar, the mother goddess. She was also called the queen of heaven and supposedly interceded with the gods on behalf of humankind. 

Ishtar - The Burney Relief  (c. 19th or 18th century BCE)

A belief has been applied to Mary by the Roman Catholic Church though it is pagan in origin and has no basis in the Bible.

a tragic tale of injustice

wonder | wander | world wishes us all a joyous Easter Sunday! This time we have at least 28 substantial eggs in our Easter basket that we are very grateful for. Halleluiah! 

According to some scholars, such as Dr. Tony Nugent, teacher of Theology and Religious Studies at Seattle University, and Presbyterian minister, the Easter story comes from the Sumerian legend of Damuzi (Tammuz) and his wife Inanna (Ishtar), an epic myth called “The Descent of Inanna” found inscribed on cuneiform clay tablets dating back to 2100 BC. 

The Descent of Innana

When Tammuz dies, Ishtar is grief–stricken and follows him to the underworld. In the underworld, she enters through seven gates, and her worldly attire is removed. "Naked and bowed low" she is judged, killed, and then hung on display. In her absence, the earth loses its fertility, crops cease to grow and animals stop reproducing. Unless something is done, all life on earth will end.