I would like to thank all that responded to my simple question. My intent was to use the Socratic method of “asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions.” I learned long ago not to ask a question unless I knew the answer. My hypothesis is there is a human need to celebrate the joy of the coming of spring, a natural time of rebirth and growth due to longer days and more direct sunlight. As usual this natural need was co-opted, codified and enforced by religious and civil authorities. Now we have better methods based on better data from precise observations with better mathematics and astronomical science. Who do you believe. The codification by civil and religious authorities is necessary for defining Easter Sunday, Good Friday, the Passover etc. Science does a better job defining the equinox, the solstices and the seasons
My reference on this topic is “Sun in the Church” by J L Heilbron. Regards, Roger Bailey From: Roger Sent: March 19, 2019 9:00 PM To: sundial@uni-koeln.de Subject: Equinox, Full Moon and Easter I always thought Easter Sunday was on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. This year at my location, time zone PDST, the equinox is at 2:59 pm Wed 20 March 2019. The full moon is about 4 hours later at 6:43 pm. Why is this Sunday not Easter and Friday not Good Friday. What about the Passover. It is also a month later. I know setting the date of Easter was the problem that inspired astronomy but this year the scientific data and the religious credo do not seem to agree. Where have I been mislead? Roger Bailey Walking Shadow Designs N 48.669°, W 123.403°
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