Religion
In reply to the discussion: An interesting graphic about Easter (Dial-up warning large) [View all]Brettongarcia
(2,262 posts)The calculation of Easter involves golden numbers ... and many other odd calculations.
Like 1) when did the Bible say Easter was? There seem to be conflicts
And 2) then there are odd choices of solar vs. lunar dates. An awkward or to most obscure reconciliation between lunar vs. solar months. Your Metonymic cycle?
But in any case 3) "golden" as your numbers are, for some reason, the Orthodox church simply ... chooses different numbers. And comes up with a different date.
4) Given the precision of astronomy, science (cf. religion), likely we could backtrack from present dates to some original date. If that date was clearly known from the Bible itself.
In the meantime though, and in lack of any solidity from religious sources? 5) We see the date for Easter shifting quite out of any obvious (cf. metonic) sync with any fixed or solar scale. Easter drifting all over the map from year to year. Easter now occurs from any day from March 22 to April 25.
Though we might be able to determine some fixed date for the crucifixion, the day we celebrate all this drifts and coils and shifts direction from year to year; confusing nearly everyone. While drifting out of any obvious sync or identity, with all-important landmarks; like the Vernal Equinox.
Only a relatively sophisticated astronomical science can even begin to clarify this. Leaving the vast majority of everyday preachers lost in confusion. And with conflicting dates, that bear no obvious relationship to our more transparent solar calendar.
A few might make it all out. But most of the people are soon lost. Not a good thing for a religion.
(PS: didn't you yourself claim in post 40 that it was all too complex to reliably identify any original Easter? I'll have to re-read #40)