Halloween?

[Ryan&Amber2013]

So, for the majority of people, what makes us as humans to be so intrigued with darkness, death, gore, monsters, horror, demons, etc.? A large portion of Halloween celebrations are very dark and frightening. I wonder why this is appealing and fun to us, when none of us would actually want the reality of it.

 

[Ben Zartman]

So, for the majority of people, what makes us as humans to be so intrigued with darkness, death, gore, monsters, horror, demons, etc.? A large portion of Halloween celebrations are very dark and frightening. I wonder why this is appealing and fun to us, when none of us would actually want the reality of it.

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Gen. 6:5
It's because of the fall. Every aspect of humanity was affected by it.

 

[Deleted member 6112]

This year, I'm pretty confused as to how we are going to approach the fall and Halloween. To be honest, there is something about that time of year that really makes me happy. I think it reminds me of the fun innocent memories I have of being a child and participating in the things of the season. An old spooky cartoon, a fun ghost story, wearing orange and black, taking the kids out to get candy, the black cats and spider webs, etc. Is it wrong to innocently enjoy those things with a childlike heart? Or should they be avoided all together?

I think we should go back to some basic principles of our existence as God's creatures in a fallen world here.

God created all things good. There was no death or corruption in God's creation. When man fell, death and corruption (gore, etc.) entered in. The celebration of the macabre is a glorification of the corruptions of the fall.

Why don't we make games out of abortion? How about necrophilia? Cannibalism? These are all examples of the macabre that are rightly repulsive to us. Why try and dip our toes into water that we would never dare to swim in by making games out of less repulsive representations of death?

When I was a teenager, I used to listen to a band called The Misfits. They were all about the macabre, and they did go so far as to celebrate necrophilia, cannibalism, and infanticide. They made an absolute game out of it. And, yes, one of their most popular songs is called Halloween (it even speaks of impaled cats, a subject that has been mentioned on this thread). I would argue that they're just carrying out a Halloween-esque obsession with the macabre to its logical extent.

So, think about what it is that you're desiring to celebrate. Does it accord with what God called good when he finished is creation? Or are you trying to make something fun out of the principle of corruption that entered in after the fall?

 

[Ryan&Amber2013]

I think we should go back to some basic principles of our existence as God's creatures in a fallen world here.

God created all things good. There was no death or corruption in God's creation. When man fell, death and corruption (gore, etc.) entered in. The celebration of the macabre is a glorification of the corruptions of the fall.

Why don't we make games out of abortion? How about necrophilia? Cannibalism? These are all examples of the macabre that are rightly repulsive to us. Why try and dip our toes into water that we would never dare to swim in by making games out of less repulsive representations of death?

When I was a teenager, I used to listen to a band called The Misfits. They were all about the macabre, and they did go so far as to celebrate necrophilia, cannibalism, and infanticide. They made an absolute game out of it. And, yes, one of their most popular songs is called Halloween (it even speaks of impaled cats, a subject that has been mentioned on this thread). I would argue that they're just carrying out a Halloween-esque obsession with the macabre to its logical extent.

So, think about what it is that you're desiring to celebrate. Does it accord with what God called good when he finished is creation? Or are you trying to make something fun out of the principle of corruption that entered in after the fall?

Excellent point, Tyler. Right at the heart of the issue.

 

[LightBringer]

Not a fan of Halloween at all because its focus is macabre. My church has a harvest festival in November to thank God for the crops being brought instead of Halloween. There's no costumes. There's plenty of food and treats for the kids. We have hay rides for the kids and we roast marshmallows over a campfire.

 

[hammondjones]

I see that almost every point I'd make is already made. Summary: We don't do it, or substitute for it. It is a nullity for us.

Spoiler: Rationale

My wife and I grew up in Africa (separately), and lived in S. America (together), where we saw actual sacrifices to Satan. Nothing like going to the market and turning down the witchcraft aisle and seeing a bunch of dried llama fetuses, ready for burning with incense. We know that the spiritual realm is real, and we don't like to play with it. Granted, American Halloween might have been invented by Hallmark, but it still plays on the pagan for it's caché. Not to mention that Halloween is a huge for drinking. Princess costumes are cute, but in this case, I wonder what light has to do with this darkness, even pretended, playful darkness.

 

[VictorBravo]

I wonder why this is appealing and fun to us, when none of us would actually want the reality of it.

Like Brandon, I think most of it has been said. But the why question caused me to think of a simple Proverb--8:36: "those who hate me love death."

Isn't that the essence of it all? Without God's grace we have no faith, and without faith we are, by nature, haters of God.

 

[Ask Mr. Religion]

This crossed my desk this morning:

https://calvinistinternational.com/2018/10/03/what-should-christians-think-about-halloween/

 

[Ryan&Amber2013]

This crossed my desk this morning:

https://calvinistinternational.com/2018/10/03/what-should-christians-think-about-halloween/

Excellent. Thanks Patrick!

 

[jwithnell]

I don't want my kids to call evil good. We do, however, take November 1 as a school holiday, eat deeply discounted candy, and watch wholesome movies

 

[Ryan&Amber2013]

I don't want my kids to call evil good. We do, however, take November 1 as a school holiday, eat deeply discounted candy, and watch wholesome movies

I think his point is that a child wearing a costume isn't evil, but sin is evil. Am I misunderstanding?

 

[jwithnell]

This isn't responding to a specific post. I just have not been comfortable with the whole witches and goblins motif, nor the celebration of death. It is the enemy that has been defeated in Christ.