Halloween

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Halloween derives from druidic samhain observances that involved human sacrifice to appease gods at the change of the seasons. Over time, the holiday morphed into an annual date on which pagans believed spirits of the dead walked the earth. Gourds were carved grotesquely to resemble skulls and illuminated from within to ward off these spirits. Disguises/costumes were worn either to hide from these spirits or to impersonate pagan dieties. Trick-or-treating derives from appeasement offerings to demons and their representative druid priests.

Do you have a Christmas tree in your home for Christmas? Maybe you don't. There comes a point in time when what use to be represented by holidays is no longer represented. I don't celebrate halloween bc I don't have children and I hate having ppl knock on my door or ring my doorbell. I'm antisocial that way, but if others want to walk around for hours in the cold just to get candy when they can go to the store and get the same said candy then all I can say is, "Exercise is good for the heart!"
 
We're not really into Halloween, but our girls love dress-up, so its been pretty hard to avoid. Also, it seems like the only time when all the families are out in our neighborhood!!

We always give our fun (not super-preachy) tracts to trick-or-treaters. But I tape good candy onto them, in an attempt not to have our house rolled.

By the way, as far as candy consumption goes, we let them have a bunch that night, then put the rest in the freezer for special treats. Doled out like that. their bags usually last until the next spring, and I don't spend anything on reward treats. Just an idea for the health nuts. :)
 
We don't celebrate haloween and don't intend to "trick-or-treat" with our kids when they are older (our son is 1 1/2). This puts us in the minority at our church (all the parents of young children that we socialize with celebrate haloween) and apparently on this board. This year we'll escape by going swimming and later our for diner.

It's a matter of conscience, and I can't in good conscience allow my children to participate in the holiday because of its pagan roots, despite it's popularity or it's modern, commercialized, and not explicitly pagan practices.

Yes, I know that many Christmas practices have pagan roots and that the hoilday sits on an old pagan holiday. However, I believe that Christmas can be redeemed as a day to celebrate and focus on Christ, where I don't see that being possible with haloween.

That's just my :2cents:
 
Halloween is a time for removing spirits from the face of the earth. This year I will remove some Member's Mark. :lol:
 
I would enter this conversation, but since I write supernatural horror, I feel pretty disqualified from making any unbiased remarks on this subject except to say that I think that in regard to Halloween, we must each act in the way that the Spirit has convicted us to act -- a pretty loaded remark I know and one that is often abused by false "Christians" with their own agendas. But I think that this is a case of what Paul meant when he said that there are some who will have no moral qualms about eating meat sacrificed to idols and others who will, but that we must respect both opinions as long as there is no Scripture to definitively denounce or support one or the other position.
 
One year at Halloween, my mother gave out dried fruit instead of candy. I don't know if this was her goal, but we had MANY fewer trick or treaters the next year.
 
It should be noted that the Scripture likewise forbids us from celebrating pagan observances, when pagans watch us do it. For example, eating meat offered to idols is nothing, since an idol is nothing. However, one may not eat if they 1. Think it is sinful (conscience), or 2. Are observed doing so by a pagan.

Some of the remarks about paganism dying out in the 19th Century are naive in extremis. Lord of the Rings, C.S. Lewis, and Harry Pot-head, along with the Church of Satan, the Wiccans, Odan worship, and a host of other neo-pagan practices are common in our society, and growing in popularity. Wake up people. The pagans are watching you. This is a particularly real issue if you live in or near metropolitan areas.
 
Oh, one comment re my post above--I'm one of those who doesn't celebrate Halloween owing to its pagan/Satanic origins. Even if there's nothing "objectively" wrong about it. ;)
 
It should be noted that the Scripture likewise forbids us from celebrating pagan observances, when pagans watch us do it. For example, eating meat offered to idols is nothing, since an idol is nothing. However, one may not eat if they 1. Think it is sinful (conscience), or 2. Are observed doing so by a pagan.

Not being sarcastic: can you tell me where you get that from scripture?
 
All religion and theology aside, any thing that teaches kids to be greedy should be banned and made illegal. Are there no politicians that are REAL men?

Taking off my Archie Bunker hat now.
 
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It should be noted that the Scripture likewise forbids us from celebrating pagan observances, when pagans watch us do it. For example, eating meat offered to idols is nothing, since an idol is nothing. However, one may not eat if they 1. Think it is sinful (conscience), or 2. Are observed doing so by a pagan.

Some of the remarks about paganism dying out in the 19th Century are naive in extremis. Lord of the Rings, C.S. Lewis, and Harry Pot-head, along with the Church of Satan, the Wiccans, Odan worship, and a host of other neo-pagan practices are common in our society, and growing in popularity. Wake up people. The pagans are watching you. This is a particularly real issue if you live in or near metropolitan areas.

This would be true several hundred years ago when Halloween actually had any religious significance. Fortunately (or unfortunately, perhaps, since it indicates a growing secularism in our society), Halloween has really become nothing more than a celebration of horror fiction and horror movies and has little to do with pagan rituals anymore. If it did, then you would be absolutely right -- we would be giving off the wrong signals in celebrating Halloween. However, I believe that as long as a person celebrates Halloween in a subdued, Christian fashion -- and yes, that means watching scary movies and enjoying ghostly tales, so long as they are not gratuitous and do not send the wrong messages -- then no pagan is going to watch your behavior and think badly of Christians. As for actual Wiccans and occultists, they're going to do what they do whether they see the next-door Christian putting a pumpkin on their porch or not.

It's interesting, though, that you mention C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, two Christian authors. Do you believe that the use of occultism in their fiction is unwarranted?
 
It should be noted that the Scripture likewise forbids us from celebrating pagan observances, when pagans watch us do it. For example, eating meat offered to idols is nothing, since an idol is nothing. However, one may not eat if they 1. Think it is sinful (conscience), or 2. Are observed doing so by a pagan.

Some of the remarks about paganism dying out in the 19th Century are naive in extremis. Lord of the Rings, C.S. Lewis, and Harry Pot-head, along with the Church of Satan, the Wiccans, Odan worship, and a host of other neo-pagan practices are common in our society, and growing in popularity. Wake up people. The pagans are watching you. This is a particularly real issue if you live in or near metropolitan areas.
Adam, if you re-read my post you will note that I did not say that paganism died out in the 19th century. Rather I said that it died out hundreds of years ago & was REVIVED in the 19th century.

That is something very different.

The reason that this is germain to this discussion is that the revival is based on guesses as to what paganism even looked like. Trust me modern wiccans may be very devoted to their "faith" (the ones I know are) but they are following a made-up religion. So any claim that they stake to halloween is on shaky ground. The modern folk practice of being nice to neighborhood kids is a much more authentic then any modern pagan claim.
 
This article by Rev. Matthew McMahan convinced me to have nothing to do with Halloween.

The Way of the Heathen: A Brief History of Halloween

I say this with a true respect for Reverend McMahan (whose articles I have benefitted from very much in the past), but I do not believe that he presents a convincing argument that all celebrations of Halloween are of the Devil. Rather, it appears that he sets up a straw man representation of Halloween with quotations from Satanist bibles and proceeds to tear down the straw man without addressing what Halloween actually has become to most Christians and non-Christians in the 21st century. I suppose if one actually believed that all fiction and discussions dealing with supernatural horror, regardless of their religious perspective, are inherently evil because they even mention such things, then his point would be valid. But I don't believe that such a thing has been proven yet or is supported by Scripture.
 
It should be noted that the Scripture likewise forbids us from celebrating pagan observances, when pagans watch us do it. For example, eating meat offered to idols is nothing, since an idol is nothing. However, one may not eat if they 1. Think it is sinful (conscience), or 2. Are observed doing so by a pagan.

Not being sarcastic: can you tell me where you get that from scripture?

Megan,

There are a few passages:

2 Corinthians: 14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

If we partake of meat sacrificed to idols, and do so in the pagan's context, they consider this as a fellowship with their idols.

Even more to the point (about meat offered to idols) is the following:

1 Corinthians: 23All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 24Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. 25Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 26For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 28But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 29Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 30For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? 31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Cheers,
 
It's interesting, though, that you mention C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, two Christian authors. Do you believe that the use of occultism in their fiction is unwarranted?

Of course, occultism, if portrayed in a positive light, is evil. Lewis and Tolkein are more dangerous because they are considered (and professed to be) Christian, while promoting lawlessness. Such authors introduce people into the world of the occult and satanism. This is not surprising, since Lewis blasphemed the Holy Ghost's inspired Psalms, and Tolkein was a papist; after all, we get hocus pocus from the Idolatry of the Mass.

-----Added 10/9/2009 at 07:26:41 EST-----

but they are following a made-up religion.

Did you think that paganism has a fixed form?
 
We don't celebrate haloween and don't intend to "trick-or-treat" with our kids when they are older (our son is 1 1/2). This puts us in the minority at our church (all the parents of young children that we socialize with celebrate haloween) and apparently on this board. This year we'll escape by going swimming and later our for diner.

It's a matter of conscience, and I can't in good conscience allow my children to participate in the holiday because of its pagan roots, despite it's popularity or it's modern, commercialized, and not explicitly pagan practices.

Yes, I know that many Christmas practices have pagan roots and that the hoilday sits on an old pagan holiday. However, I believe that Christmas can be redeemed as a day to celebrate and focus on Christ, where I don't see that being possible with haloween.

That's just my :2cents:

Do you think they'll still go out if they have to wear snow shoes?
 
It's interesting, though, that you mention C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, two Christian authors. Do you believe that the use of occultism in their fiction is unwarranted?

Of course, occultism, if portrayed in a positive light, is evil. Lewis and Tolkein are more dangerous because they are considered (and professed to be) Christian, while promoting lawlessness. Such authors introduce people into the world of the occult and satanism. This is not surprising, since Lewis blasphemed the Holy Ghost's inspired Psalms, and Tolkein was a papist; after all, we get hocus pocus from the Idolatry of the Mass.

I know this is off-topic, but how did Lewis blaspheme the Psalms? Also, you did not answer any of my earlier points.
 
We do not celebrate it anymore as that it is a Roman Catholic Holy-Day. The Pagan influence is from the Celtic Samhain (pronounced sow-in) festival. The festival has aspects of a festival of the dead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain


The Romanists celebrate the Patron Saints on All Saint's Day (Nov1st) and All Hallow's Eve(Oct 31st).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints_Day


This is the same reason we do not celebrate Easter or Christmas. Roman Catholic amalgamations of Pagan festivals wearing a Christian Mask. (a cheaply made Christian mask cut off the back of a cereal box)

We Celebrate Reformation Day instead of Halloween.
 
Halloween? Forget that. I'd rather celebrate the demise of Potpourri Plus! And if anyone thinks I'm waiting til Oct 31 each year to get my Jolly Rancher, SweeTart, Smarties, Shocktart, BlowPop fix, well... whatever.

Does the potpourri cover the aroma of simmering rat brains?
You'll just have to read! ;) 'Tis not what you think.

Bu ah ha ha ha (originally posted by Austins' brother, Dr Evil, somewhere around 2002.... ignore Mr Bigglesworth's useless meows)
 
One of my favorite candies comes out now. Hersey Apple Carmel kisses, yummy. :) Peeps, can't forget those :) Ah, the joy of the holidays and the candy :D

-----Added 10/9/2009 at 07:52:44 EST-----

Of course, occultism, if portrayed in a positive light, is evil. Lewis and Tolkein are more dangerous because they are considered (and professed to be) Christian, while promoting lawlessness. Such authors introduce people into the world of the occult and satanism. This is not surprising, since Lewis blasphemed the Holy Ghost's inspired Psalms, and Tolkein was a papist; after all, we get hocus pocus from the Idolatry of the Mass.

I love CS Lewis and Tolkein's work, great stories. Jack's "Grief observe" help me with my parents death, God still uses his writings :)
 
If the jocularity would get many freewill thinkers to understand Josh's post, I would say more jocularity and read his post twice! Good stuff.
 
One of my favorite candies comes out now. Hersey Apple Carmel kisses, yummy. :) Peeps, can't forget those :) Ah, the joy of the holidays and the candy :D

-----Added 10/9/2009 at 07:52:44 EST-----

Of course, occultism, if portrayed in a positive light, is evil. Lewis and Tolkein are more dangerous because they are considered (and professed to be) Christian, while promoting lawlessness. Such authors introduce people into the world of the occult and satanism. This is not surprising, since Lewis blasphemed the Holy Ghost's inspired Psalms, and Tolkein was a papist; after all, we get hocus pocus from the Idolatry of the Mass.

I love CS Lewis and Tolkein's work, great stories. Jack's "Grief observe" help me with my parents death, God still uses his writings :)

I enjoy the works of Lewis and Tolkien as well. I actually sympathize with the points made by those who criticize works of fiction that represent the occult in a positive fashion (Harry Potter and Phillip Pullman's trilogy come up as two examples of such morally questionable fictions), but in the light of an obviously Christian context, where the reader is clearly meant to understand that the moral point-of-view of the author and the tale is Christ-centered, I believe that it depends on how the author is using the occult in his story. Are we to condemn the King Arthur tales because they have Merlin, a "good" magician (an obviously a throwback to old pagan archetypes)? Or are we to enjoy them as good stories that espouse the Christian values of chivalry and piety? Tolkien's tales are obviously set in a fantasy world that is not meant to resemble this world at all and his Gandalf fits into the Merlin mould fairly well; I cannot think of any story that C.S. Lewis ever wrote that portrays sorcery as something that a Christian ought to practice -- in fact, I think he condemns it quite severely in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
 
[video=youtube;Q-1aui-wluE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-1aui-wluE&feature=player_embedded[/video]
 
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