No passion for Easter Bunny at church show
Children in audience watch as actor in rabbit costume whipped

The Associated Press
Updated: 9:37 a.m. ET April 08, 2004
GLASSPORT, Pa. - First, the Passion of the Christ. Now, the torment of the Easter Bunny?

It may not have been as gruesome as Mel Gibson’s movie, but many parents and children got upset when a church trying to teach about Jesus’ crucifixion performed an Easter show with actors whipping the Easter bunny and breaking eggs.

People who attended Saturday’s show at Glassport’s memorial stadium quoted performers as saying, “There is no Easter bunny,” and described the show as being a demonstration of how Jesus was crucified.

Melissa Salzmann, who brought her 4-year-old son J.T., said the program was inappropriate for young children. “He was crying and asking me why the bunny was being whipped,” Salzmann said.

Patty Bickerton, the youth minister at Glassport Assembly of God, said the performance wasn’t meant to be offensive. Bickerton portrayed the Easter rabbit and said she tried to act with a tone of irreverence.

“The program was for all ages, not just the kids. We wanted to convey that Easter is not just about the Easter bunny, it is about Jesus Christ,” Bickerton said.

Performers broke eggs meant for an Easter egg hunt and also portrayed a drunken man and a self-mutilating woman, said Jennifer Norelli-Burke, another parent who saw the show in Glassport, a community about 10 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

“It was very disturbing,” Norelli-Burke said. “I could not believe what I saw. It wasn’t anything I was expecting.”

I agree with the part that Easter is not just about the Easter Bunny and is about Christ too, but I don't agree that the Easter Bunny is bad. It's OK to believe in both. I have always been a christian and believe that Jesus was the real reason, but I still like the Easter Bunny too! That sounds a lot like how people rearrange the letters in Santa and say Satan! They're not bad at all!

I'm a very religious person, but that is just ridiculous.

They sound like a bunch of weirdos to me. :crazy:

so they performed their own little version of "The PAssion" did they?

Good thing they brought the kids - they should do a puppet show next

I heard about that. ohno:

Small kids in the church don't fully understand something like "The Passion" so they associate Easter with the Easter bunny. I don't think it's bad at all.

that's awful, poor kids...hell, i'd be scarred if i saw that

When I was a kid I knew the real meaning of Easter and I also associated it with the Easter Bunny. Just like the real meaning of Christmas and believing in Santa.

A local church had "The Easter Bunny is Dead- He is risen" on it's billboard last year. Many people here were offended by this and complained so they took it down.

Everybody is certainly entitled to their belief and opinion. But when it directly effects someone else (who does not share the same belief) then it is wrong. By placing this billboard in public viewing offended those who did not share the belief.

I'm just wondering if these people knew what the play was about before they went in. Clearly, the ones interviewed did not.

That sounds kind of funny.

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica
No passion for Easter Bunny at church show
Children in audience watch as actor in rabbit costume whipped
Melissa Salzmann, who brought her 4-year-old son J.T., said the program was inappropriate for young children. “He was crying and asking me why the bunny was being whipped,” Salzmann said. :lol:

I'm surprised PETA hasn't weighed in on this. Even though an actor portrayed the Easter Bunny, I would think they would take issue with the imagery and the message it sent to the kids on the treatment of animals.

They must be planning on putting together a heck of a Christmas play, where they beat the crap out of Santa Claus and Rudolph.

:santa2: :rednose: :bash:

haha. i had no idea easter had anything to do with christianty until just a few years ago when we got some easter egg decorating kit thing and it came with cross stickers. i always thought it was about bunnies. and the fact that i've seen the easter bunny with my own eyes doesnt help convince me that it's not.

And they wonder why people are leaving the Church...

;)

IMO religion is nothing more than a cult. With crap like this it's no wonder I have issues with religion. I'm better off without it. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by MandieR1980
IMO religion is nothing more than a cult. With crap like this it's no wonder I have issues with religion. I'm better off without it. :rolleyes:
religion itself isnt a cult, theres just some people who are too over religious.

7 ELEMENTS OF A CULTIC GROUP - kifed from a Google Search

1) A centralized form of leadership that rules with unquestioned authority

2) A body of convictions, beliefs, and practices set forth boldly as "the truth"

3) A compelling presentation of the group vision to prospects that is inviting and challenging

4) A series of manipulative socializing sessions to instill psychological dependence on the group

5) A definable process of group dynamics used to unethically control and manipulate members

6) A history of abuses of authority by group leaders freely using deception and fear tactics

7) A history of psychological and spiritual abuses of group members that destroy lives

I'm not going to answer these questions for anyone, as we ALL have our own beliefs. Just check what you believe with that list, and decide for yourself. Personally, I think that depends on the religion and/or denomination, it can border from a definite no, to a resounding yes

Originally posted by Seth Thrasher
7 ELEMENTS OF A CULTIC GROUP - kifed from a Google Search

1) A centralized form of leadership that rules with unquestioned authority

2) A body of convictions, beliefs, and practices set forth boldly as "the truth"

3) A compelling presentation of the group vision to prospects that is inviting and challenging

4) A series of manipulative socializing sessions to instill psychological dependence on the group

5) A definable process of group dynamics used to unethically control and manipulate members

6) A history of abuses of authority by group leaders freely using deception and fear tactics

7) A history of psychological and spiritual abuses of group members that destroy lives

I'm not going to answer these questions for anyone, as we ALL have our own beliefs. Just check what you believe with that list, and decide for yourself. Personally, I think that depends on the religion and/or denomination, it can border from a definite no, to a resounding yes Sounds like fundamentalism.

organized religion is DEFINATELY a cult.


but i shouldnt say much more.... im working at church at the moment.

My family is religious. And I always knew the real meaning of Easter. But I'm sure I wouldn't of if I didn't have to recite a poem every year before Easter dinner.

This whole bunny thing sounds terrible to me.:( My church has always taught us about the real meaning of Christmas and Easter but also made it fun for the children by having the Minister dress up as Santa or the Easter Bunny.

My mom saw on the news that some church did a play about the passion of the Christ and they actually nailed the person to the cross with three inch spikes and they showed the bloody hands on TV.

those people out to be ashamed. I think the whole point of the easter bunny and santa clause and stuff like that is to get children excited for certain holidays. i agree that it's not just about those fictitious characters and they should teach children about the true meaning of the holidays but crucifying a bunny rabbit in front of 4 - year- olds? that's just sick.

damn i didnt know this was like all over the place i live in glassport up the street from the stadium and me and my friend walked passed last saturday and it looked fun there was like a moon bounce and stuff n there was kids everywhere and my mom told me to go. the day after i went to 9th street park and the kdka news can and helicopter was there.....i been to the assembly of god youth group with one of my friends before its fun and on halloween to get kids to stop trick or treating they have like a fair with free hotdogs and moon bounces, plays and like a big screen tv playing vegetable tales because they think halloween is evil