Halloween Poll: Do You Celebrate Halloween?

I was appalled at how many christians think Halloween is harmless. Partly because they don’t think scaring children is a bad thing, but then neither did I as a non-believer, so more so because they are not sensitive enough to the Holy Spirit to feel His grieving when we entertain evil even in so subtle a form. I am grieved at how we are desensitizing our children to the things that are an abomination to our Holy God. May He reveal His truth.

We are a family who allows our children to participate in Halloween. I don’t agree with the ugly, nasty, scary things that come out of it, but I don’t think that allowing my children to dress up and trick-or-treat is any less Christian than decorating a Christmas tree or hunting for Easter eggs. Christmas and Easter both come from ancient pagan holidays, Yule and Ostara, respectively.
Our household also participates in observing the Jewish holidays, which are technically the only holidays found in the bible and created by God.
It’s amazing to me how offended people can become at the mention of Christmas and Easter being essentially pagan. I’m not criticizing these two holidays at all, because we participate in them ourselves and utilize them to teach our Children about God.
I just find it interesting that there are so many Christians who refuse to have anything to do with Halloween, and yet treat Christmas and Easter with such reverence and awe. They all have the same roots.

Jan & Kathy –

I do hear a common thread in both of your posts – a deep concern for your children. This article “Christian Alternatives to Halloween” offers several ideas and options for families with children to be involved in a Christian approach to Halloween.

What is wrong with cute little kids wearing cute costumes and sharing candy? Yes, scariness and death is part of the theme — shouldn’t that make us aware that we need a faith that can provide meaning and hope?

I live in a large apartment building and the kids in their costumes are so cute. I can’t resist. I buy safe snacks or hand out nickels.

I have only one point to make: ALL the spirits in we dirt&water(which received the breath of life)have in us at least one of the Original Spirits who decided some evil would spice-up the “Holy Spirit Zone”and were kicked-out to earth; also we human beings gave up dominion over the earth to the devil. The contineous impressions in our minds from Holy Spirit, we traded for contineous impressions in our minds from the devil. But some spirits realize they made a mistake&want to use we humans as medium to demonstrate they now seek only experience of good. But we humans must kick-out the spirit(s)from our minds who enjoy evil(by prayer by one in Association with Holy Spirit)&seek to gain spirit which seeks to experience only good, also to gain Association with Holy Spirit.that we may enter&live through “millennium Period”; then transfigure into “Holy Spirit Zone”. The Devil&demons are real; not something to fun with. We who have experienced Sorcery, witchcraft, etc can attest to the fact that there are people with bad spirits who contact other evil spirits to do evil. “WE” have done a poor job relating the truth&how to work to restore select spirits back home”Holy Spirit Zone”. Now your comments. Marion Wayne Horne

Until such time as the Holy Spirit and various demons show up at my place for a chat, I am not prepared to take the word of either ancient writers with a political agenda in a world they had no understanding of; and certainly not on the instructions of some of the most unpleasant people I’ve ever known of.

Yeah I’ve been really praying about what to do this Halloween as a Christian. I’ve never celebrated it before. Previously I would have avoided it by making sure I was busy that night so couldnt go to any halloween parties. But running and hiding is no freedom. Naturally I’m very legalistic, won’t watch questionable films, read harry potter, listen to any music with worldly lyrics etc. But I’ve been challenged this year to make up my own mind what i think about it.

So with the question in mind, I’ve been reading I Cor. and a few things have struck me. Firstly the part where Paul is talking about food sacrificed to idols, and how we shouldnt have any problem eating it, as long as its sold in the market place (and not at their actual sacrificial feast)(10:25). And that we are free to recline and eat at a table in an idols temple, provided it doesnt offend a weak brother(8:10). I still havnt completely made up my mind. But these 2 things seem to point towards a believers freedom, that we are free to celebrate halloween because for us it is harmless fun, despite it being actually quite evil for some people (like witches). Like the Corinthians were free to be eating in the idols temple, or eating the food which had been sacrificed to idols, because it did not mean anything for them, they knew that ‘the earth was the Lord’s and everything in it’. I’ve been thinking that I want to get a more robust consciense and be able to reach out to people by inviting them over to for a halloween party on that night.

But having said all this, I’m still worried I might be doing the wrong thing. And I wouldn’t know how to respond if everyone turned up wearing witches costumes or devil outfits. (Pumpkins I can handle!). So…more prayer and reading…and I’ll hopefully make up my mind soon. Maybe we just have to take a step of faith to get out of these legalistic mindsets that make us so out of touch with unbelievers. I don’t know…

Lucy –

Perhaps a study in Romans 14 will help also.

You wrote, “Maybe we just have to take a step of faith to get out of these legalistic mindsets that make us so out of touch with unbelievers.” And Romans 14 ends with these words, “…and everything that does not come from faith is sin.” So faith in Christ is the key to our freedom from legalism. I think you hit the nail on the head!

giving candy to the children that show up at our door in the inner city helps them realize that sometimes the world is not a violent difficult place and that there are strangers willing to welcome them, to gift them and not harm them…get over your self-centered suburban christiancorrect mindsets…and start seeing this for what it is….an opportunity to rebuild community spirit….
there’s a lot of little angels, kings and queens that come to our door…

This is for comment 1. & comment 10. I am a christian also and I do see a big differnce in christmas and easter vs. Halloween. Christmas & Easter are both holidays that bring about good cheer and wonderfully happy things. Halloween is a holiday about greed (teaching your children to go out and get more & more candy), Evil that we as christians are to have no part of (Ephesians 5:7-12 and Deut.18:10-12)and is not safe anymore. Yes, I did go trick or treating as a child because I did not have parents that knew any better. I would say that there is something wrong with a holiday where we have to tell our children not to eat any of their candy until we swing by the hospital and have them X-ray it first. Which is a big practice here where I live. Not to mention that we have more and more cases where these “nice strangers” are out there shooting heroin & other drugs into candy with needles, so it is impossible to tell until it’s too late. I would much rather let my child dress up in cute but not scary or evil costume and let them go to a fall festival at a local church . They have alot more fun and they are safe. If you would like to speak with me further on this topic I would love to. Email me at tkwhite404@yahoo.com and we can talk about why God has said this is wrong. I am not a holier than now Christian. I am a sinner just like everyone else in this world BUT I have been saved by Gods GRACE. That is a choice I made and A choice all of us can make. If you want email me and I will try to get back to you soon. If I get a out right nasty email I will delete it and not read it.

There is a common misconception when it comes to examining 1 Corinthians. Chapter 8 talks about not attending idol feasts based on the argument that it doesn’t edify your weak brother. Paul starts with this qualification to address the Corinthian problem with boasting. Typical Pauline style is to make sure to address the deeper heart issues behind the behaviour. Chapter 8 in no way allows for attendence with feats in the pagan temples. This is made especially clear in chapter 10 where Paul points out this fellowship with other gods is actually involvement in demonic activity. Paul’s point is clear, one cannot be unified with Christ in his death and ressurection and be participants with demons as well. These two are mutually exclusive.

Paul switches issues in the middle of chapter 10 to talk about eating meat sold in the marketplace that had formerly been sacrificed in pagan temples. This issue is not an absolute rule, not at all like eating meat in the pagan temples themselves. (This usually was also associated with sexual immorality mentioned in chapter 5, both male and female prostitues were involved with pagan worship). Eating meat sold in the marketplace was completely fine and should be done without question as long as you are not offending any pagan’s concience who draws attention to the fact that this meat was previously sacrificed in a pagan temple.

Alright… thats a summary of 1 Cor 8-10, discuding chapter 9 (which talks about Paul’s apostolic authority). So what are the implications (if any) on Halloween. It is clear that Halloween has pagan roots. The real question that I think most people dance around is a very simple one: is participating in Halloween a form of idolatry because one is allowing fellowship with demons? In my opinion there is not a simple yes or no answer. Can Halloween be a participation with demons? Absolutely. By dressing your kids up as witches and demons does that not seem to communicate that these things are good and not evil? Is there a way to participate in Halloween and not be participating with evil spirits? If I walk my daughter around in a princess costume and have her ask for candy is that considered evil because its on a specific day? Even if there is heightened spiritual activity on that day does that mean as Christians we should stay in our homes? These are the important questions that need to be asked. For those that feel that participating in Halloween is ok, be sure to inform your children about the reality of spiritual things. Teach them that demons are evil, and should not be impersonated as a “just for fun” thing. Going along with this, and I will end here, is another question. Is allowing my daughter to dress up as something not evil and go to doors where evil is celebrated ok? If we truly teach our children that these things are wrong, then should we even approach the doors plastered with wicca symbols? The light and dark spiritual realms are real. Decide for yourself, but be careful.

#12 Good comments. Though the Bible may not mention Halloween, it has a lot to say about about the aspects of Halloween. Witches are an abomination to God. Withcraft is REAL and always evil. So therefore, any caricature of witches, whether in decoration or costume cannot be pleasing to God. The Bible also has a lot to say about paganism. More than any other holiday–HALLOWEEN RETAINS MANY PRACTICES OF ITS PAGAN ROOTS. Easter and Christmas are CHRISTIAN Holidays. The 12/25 date of Christmas was admittedly placed near a pagan holiday to combat it, but its theme has nothing to do with paganism. Admittedly, some Christmas practices (trees) have pagan roots. But we worship the Creator, not the tree that he created as did some Germans at one time. And the date for Easter and the vast majority of its celebrations have nothing to do with paganism (with the excetion of egg hunting). Easter is the fullfillment of the Jewish Passover!! Don’t see how anyone can equate the two.

At my house, we choose to attend a church Halloween alternative with carefully selected costumes. Although dressing in costumes and trick-or-treating ARE directly related to pagan customs. they aren’t practiced that way today. IMO, we aren’t participating in a pagan festival just by doing those activities, so there is liberalism for the Christian to decide. But costumes of witches, or any of the occult mentioned in Deuteronomy is WRONG!!!! So is intentinally scaring kids with non-occult but “violent” costumes. Christians need to stand up and be vocal about the fact that God calls them an abomination. Never participate or laugh when a child is mimicing a witch! And the main problem here is the stumbling block caused to others–because enough Christians AREN”T vocal about what God clearly says is wrong, and perhaps not always liberal enough with what is a matter of opinion, the world thinks American christian wink and approve of ALL Halloween practices. Read an article today by an Australian Christian who is appalled that Halloween practices are spreading to his country.

We are Christians, light of the world. We have an example to set.

Halloween us harmless fun, you go around with your family or friends haveing a good time trick or treating. It doesnt matter that you are scaring little kids, are you hurting them? NO. The children chose to come out

When I was a child, we used to have Halloween parties at our church so we wouldn’t have to go trick or treating. At that time in the 80s here in Memphis, people were dropping really bad things in the kids candy bags. Now I’m an adult and the Assistant Youth Director of my church I have some better ideas about what our kids can do. This is my 6th year and I’m trying something different. First we changed the name from Halloween to Hallelujah Celebration. The only spirit we entertain is the Holy Spirit. There are no spooky faced pumpkins (they all have plesant smiles), happy ghosts (think Casper), no graveyards or spiders, etc. This year, the teens are going to spend part of our celebration time at the corn maze. We are having a Hallelujah All-Start Celebration. I even have a red carpet. Each person who enters will receive a nametag with a Biblical character on it. And sometime during the evening, if that name is called they will have to give a few details about that character. We will also have swag bags. We usually just give out candy bags, but this year we’re doing it a little differently. At my church we know there is evil. Our church is in the inner city- we’re surrounded by it. But we know how to celebrate God and we have fun doing it.

Erica –

This sounds like a great community church, and a terrific alternative to Halloween for the church families!

Yes, I celebrate Halloween because there is nothing evil in it, never was until people started to make it up. The true origin of Halloween is simply about the second harvest and the approaching dark days of winter. It is a time nearly equidistant between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice. Yes, the ancient Celts believed that the doorway between the living and the dead was opened, but they welcomed and celebrated the spirits of those departed loved ones. Bonfires helped to light the spirits’ ways. The wearing of grotesque masks is a way to ward off any evil spirits. It is also a way to laugh at death and despel fear, especially in a society so dependent on agriculture and husbandry. (We could all use some psychological easing of fear). Today, many of those meanings are lost, but Halloween remains as a day of simple fun, particularly for the young and young-at-heart. Even those who practice other religions do not do evil things on Halloween–unless they are not true to their religion, in which case they are not worthy to be considered in this evaluation of what Halloween really means. I am weary of all the misinformation that gets spread around about it all. I do not care what other things the ancient Celts did that would be disgusting to us nowadays. The fact is that, originally and at its root, Halloween has nothing to do with evil, unless you want to make it so. What is evil has been erroneously added to it by those who don’t understand and don’t know the REAL story. And that’s been relatively recently. It makes me angry, when all it is is a celebration of the changing seasons and honoring departed loved ones.

My family does celebrate Halloween, we participate in wearing non demonic costumes (most of which are just very silly and funny), and we take our children trick or treating. I think if we keep Halloween a modern day pumpkin carving, costume wearing, candy eating tradition, whats the harm? We absolutely do not celebrate anything about Halloween, that has to do with oija boards, or psychics, or demons. People out there practice this stuff on a daily basis, why should we be so afraid of it on this particular night? I am not whatsoever afraid of these things on any night because I know I have on God’s armor, that can only be penetrated if I allow it to be. I am not afraid of the things of the devil. He cannot touch me. God has his claim on my life and I know that my faith is stronger than any of that garbage some people practice out there.Why are some Christians so afraid of this tradition? Because they did those things long long long long ago on all Hallows Eve? Or, is it because people actually show their true colors on Halloween night? Your friendly neighbor from down the street may actually be a wiccan. Whatever your reason is for not participating in Halloween, just remember that no matter if your child dresses up as Superman or a spider or even a ghost, do not be afraid that they will be trapped by satan, because if you are saved, and your children are saved by the blood of JESUS CHRIST, your light will shine even on the very blackest of nights. If God has His hand on your heart, you are the only one who can change that. God will not leave you for carving pumpkins or trick or treating. Why can’t we take Halloween for ourselves? Let it be a fun “tradition” for our families to participate in rather than a holiday filled with evil and witchcraft. There is not alot we can do to keep people from celebrating Halloween in an awful way other than prayer and getting ourselves out there for our Christian light to shine. Like I said, people practice these evil things on a daily basis. Do not let them or the devil keep you locked in your house with your front porch light out on this particular night. If you do not agree with me and still choose to exclude yourselves from alot of the fun that Halloween has to offer, I’m sorry, but please let your faith be stronger than your fears of what this night used to mean and think of the fun it could be for you and your family. God bless all of you.

I am a young christian, 16, and I have fond memories of participating in Halloween. I never viewed it as a satanic holiday nor as a threat to my faith. As I child all I knew was this was the day that all the neighborhood children accompanied by a group of trusted adults went door-to-door and recieved candy. Personally I feel as if the relationship amongst the neighbors is as tightly knit as the one I felt as a child, Halloween is a fun activity/

AS A CHRISTIAN I FEEL THAT HOW HALLOWEEN MAY HAVE STARTED OUT AT WHAT IT HAS BECOME TODAY ARE WORLDS APART. AS SITUATIONS CHANGE WE MUST COME UP WITH NEW WAYS TO REACH THE LOSS WITHOUT LOSING OUR PRINCIPALS. HALLOWEEN HAS BECOME PERVERTED AND OVERTAKEN BY THE EVILS OF THIS WORLD. IN THAT LIGHT CHRISTIANS MUST RETHINK HOW TO APPROACH THIS TIME OF SEASON. USING IT AS AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR WITNESSING AND OUTREACH BOTH FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS. INSTEAD OF HAVING THE NOW POPULAR HALLELUJAH NIGHT ON HALLOWEEN IN PLACE OF TRICK OR TREAT NIGHT AS IF OUR CHILDREN ARE MISSING OUT ON THE TRICK OR TREAT SCENE. THE CHURCH OR INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES SHOULD SCHEDULE A NIGHT A WEEK OR SO BEFORE HALLOWEEN TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN ON WHY WE DON’T CELEBRATE. NOT ONLY TO BE PREPARED FOR THE REPEATATIVE WHY DON’T YOU CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN QUESTION, BUT ALSO SO WHEN THE COMMUNITY DOES COME KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR THAT NIGHT IT CAN BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUTREACH. THANK YOU FOR READING MY THOUGHTS.

I believe it’s OK to give treats to people at Halloween, so long as you say it is not because they threatened them. However, it is wrong to ‘trick or treat’. By doing so you are threatening someone with a trick if they don’t give you something, and blackmailing them. I know this may not be a serious saying but just a phrase but you cannot take the risk or condone such behaviour. Also, this may sound stupid, but make sure that when people trick or treat at your house, that it is people and not actually Satan/evil demons (etc.). You don’t want to be found by God to be giving treats to the Devil! Check for signs of flesh (e.g. hands).

Let me say this as nicely as I can. Christians should not be celebrating halloween. Halloween has absolutely nothing to do with Christianity, but Christmas and Easter do. You can take pagan rituals out of Christmas and Easter. I never taught my daughter about santa claus or the easter bunny and we do not color eggs. We have a Christmas tree because the tradition dies hard. When celebrating any holidays we stick to what the holiday is about. Jesus of course. Nothing else. Halloween is a non-Christian tradition that is just pure evil. The bible tells us to not even have the appearance of evil. Also it has gotten worse in the last few years. Why would you want to celebrate with witches who claim that this is their holiday? Why not a fall party? Our church has them every year. Create better traditions for your children and grandchildren. I tell you God is not pleased with this.

I don’t understand why so many people are “afraid” of Halloween. I feel that some of the comments made here have a smugness and judgemental air about them…the feeling that people who choose to escort their little ones around the neighborhood to say ‘trick or treat” are consorting with the Devil. How dare you tell me what God is happy with or not happy with! Who are you to be so judgemental? I absolutely do not condone the sadistic behaviors that are associated with sick people who use Halloween as an excuse to do evil. However, most people that I know associate this holiday with fun: bobbing for apples, parties and kids dressing up…Come on!! We are talking about kids dressing up in Pumpkin costumes or like Little Red Riding Hood or whatever…I just think that when you are quoting the Bible you should remember who the people were that Jesus associated with. You are not acting like the Lord when you act as if you are better than other people! He was also kind and loving and not judgemental. I believe that people who believe that they have a right to judge others will be judged themselves. If I am correct that is stated in the Bible as well.

Something we need to realize is that calling someone judgmental, is passing judgment. The moment a person calls out another for being judgmental, they become a hypocrite. The Bible says that we will ALL be judged, not just those who judge others, which is every human being, by the way.

“Judge not, that ye not be judged” is the most misused and taken out of context term in the entire Bible. Finish the statement…… “…For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged. and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”

Does it say to remove the beam from your own eye and then just LEAVE the mote in your brother’s eye? No, it says to remove the beam from your own eye so that you will SEE CLEARLY to remove the mote from your brother’s. When you read the entire passage, you see that we are not being told not to judge, ever. We are being told not to judge hypocritically and to judge RIGHTEOUS judgment. If someone judges that those participating in Halloween festivites are partaking in appearances of evil, they should probably abstain from participating in Halloween, or like activity, themselves before pointing it out to you.

It isn’t just, “judge not….judge not…..judge not.”

sow-in).

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.

During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of “bobbing” for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints’ Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints’, All Saints’, and All Souls’, were called Hallowmas
Source(s):
History channel online
2 years ago

I choose to celebrate life not death. Be lead by your own convictions. God bless.

I find it absolutely hilarious that Christians are splitting hairs as to which pagan beliefs they will and will not accept. The “Jesus” – or more accurately, “Joshua” – Jewish version of Dionysus, the REAL “Christos” or “Anointed One”, is about as so-called “pagan” as one can get. Seems the Jewish intellectuals who were under Greek rule felt it necessary to plagiarize Greek mythology and co-opt it for their own version of “holy” writings. Many beliefs in the collection of variously-authored books collectively called the “bible” are actually quite pagan – or more accurately, HEATHEN – in origin. One just has to do the research; the entire “bible” is based upon older, non-biblical, non-Jewish mythologies. To ’snit’ about Halloween, or Christmas or Easter, is to totally ignore the overarching ‘paganism’ of the entire bible. Christianity is based upon HUMAN SACRIFICE; need I say more?

Ohhh, Sandy. Thank you. A voice of sanity. How can Christians not see the hypocrisy in damning Halloween, but still want to celebrate Christmas which is based on Paegan religions too? Do you people actually think Jesus (if he actually existed) was born on December 25th?

I especially like the first comment by Jan: “they don’t think scaring children is a bad thing.” Yes, let’s completely ignore the fact that children are threatened and scared into believing by constantly telling them they will go to Hell if they don’t believe. Leave it to a Christian to not see the hypocrisy.

Another subtlety of Satan, just make it harmless fun. We need to be more definate in what we believe. To much of the outside world creeping into the Church instead of the Church going into the world. I will be praying agaisnt all the schemes of the Devil this night and every other night. Amen

From my perspective, there is absolutely nothing fun about Halloween. Why would you celebrate something that has a dark history in the first place? that doesn’t make any since, watering it down ad making it fun doesn’t change the fact that most people STILL make human sacrifices on that night. If you use common sense you would know that.

Halloween, the 31 0f 0ct0br were the pagan practises 0f w0rshippn the dead, but pple d0 this daily! y sh0uld we make a fuss? Let us n0t f0ll0w in the f0otsteps 0f th0se pagans!there is n0 harm in celebratin halloween f0r G0d. which is t0 celebrate anything but evil, much less the dead. the bible tells us to d0 everythin f0r the glory 0f G0d! there is the c0stume thing. pple should kn0w that there are only angels who d0 wut G0d wills them, they are messangers… then there are angels 0f satan, who masquarade as righteous to decieve the pple who dont kn0w left from right.. i am a christian, my fear 0f Jesus wh0 is G0d and my shunning 0f evil is incontrivertably true.. we should n0t let any day the lord has made become unpr0ductive, 0r hated!

My wife and I have been convicted for a long time that Christians are not to celebrate Halloween for many reasons already mentioned. Now that we have school-age children, we are faced with the challenge every year of how to deal with October 31 and give them Biblical reasons for why we do not participate. Our issue is that we cannot find ANYONE in our community who have the same convictions, including leadership in our current church. Does anyone have any ideas on how we can seek out those in the community who choose not to participate in Halloween activities?

Samhain (Halloween) was never satanic. Satan is, a person, if you will, that was thought of not by pagans, but christians, jewish, etc. Samhain is when the layer between what they believe is our world and the spirit world (which is, in no way, a bad thing at all) was closest, and when they would celebrate, perhaps, being closer to their passed away ancestors than normal.
I have done research, and believe that it’s really nothing bad. Very few people practice paganism, and if you notice the holiday is even the Pagan one in reality; it’s Halloween, not Samhain. Kind of like Christmas vs Yule, or Easter vs Ostara. Halloween is a time of fun and happiness. I believe if you wish to keep yourself from the festivities, that’s fine. But if you have young children, I don’t think it will do any harm to dress them up a little and get some candy. If you wish maybe give out some christian related things for candy; maybe a cross shaped chocolate or something of the sort. You may get some people getting mad at you and call you “religiously intolerant”, but that’s better than being “the grumpy old lady down the street who never has candy”.
I am personally Pagan. I believe it’s critical to do research on other religions and their beliefs, in order to not insult anyone.
I personally do not see why it would be bad to celebrate Halloween as a christian, as it’s just a time of fun and happiness. It’s a time to celebrate autumn and the beginning of colder times.
I hope you read this and do not get too offended at my gestures, I’m simply implying my knowledge.
I hope you have a happy Halloween, or whatever you may decide to celebrate. Perhaps you can have a prayer session with some fellow christians that night, and maybe share some candy among yourself. Have fun with what you do, and have blessed days to come!
~Raine

First of all, I would like to make note of the comments made on this site by the several self-acclaimed “pagans”, athiests, and non-believers…I truly hope that you are thirsting for THE TRUTH, which is why you may be perusing a Christian website and that some day your thirst will be quenched, and that you are not just being goaded by your demon to make light of a supposed ‘holiday’ that predominately celebrates darkness; spiritually, literally, or otherwise.

I dearly claim the Christian faith as mine…and due to my personal beliefs I choose not to celebrate Halloween as it is represented…and I do not condemn any Christian who chooses to classify it as harmless ‘fun’…afterall, Christians would not be ‘intententionally’ setting out to cause harm on this occassion. But, on this day/night there is cause for the devil to revel and for this I protest! If, as sheep, we must flock together by economic peer pressure to participate in this occasion then might I suggest, or I would like to think “what might Jesus do or suggest”, that we, as Christians, take the revel out of the devil…turn it around…teach our children to be ‘givers’ not ‘takers’…celebrate ‘good’, not evil…celebrate all the saints that have gone before or even the goodness of ’super-heros’, fictional or otherwise…teach children to go and give out candy, including those other than family and friends, and not the primary purpose of this occassion be to ‘take’ candy and accumulate as much as possible…protect all in God’s armor, Ephisians 6:11-18…then, come home and celebrate as a family these charitable deeds…so, it is in giving that we truly receive.

I do understand both views, To Celebrate or Not to Celebrate?

I, myself am a Christian. Born and raised a Christian. I do choose to what everyone calls “Celebrate”, this Fall Holiday. Whereas my sister chooses NOT to celebrate.

I teach my children that this is a Holiday that is not to be taken lightly because there are alot of temptations that will arise.
I use this Holiday to instead shine the LIGHT of Jesus in the darkness. For instance this year we are giving little booklets that teaches God’s love along with the treats. My children in exchange for the treat will give a booklet of God’s love.

I look at it this way, in (1Cor 9:22-23)To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the Gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

My children DO NOT dress in scary costumes, rather in their playful characters that they see daily (spongebob, supermario, princess). They like most children do not go out with the intent to do evil or wish to partake in evil activities, rather in their minds and hearts are out to spend time with friends and gather treats.

I chose to give God’s light and if I can do that by giving God’s message along with a treat to the children or handing out a booklet while “Trick or Truthing” on a Holiday that draws most of the world out of their homes, then so be it.

My sister chooses NOT to celebrate. She feels like some, that it is an evil day and she chooses not to partake in the activities. Her children are young and are too innocent to understand all the scary costumes.
We as sisters have talked about the issue several times and she understands my view and I understand hers.

It all comes down to each person and his/her convictions in his/her own hearts.
I believe that we as Christians should NOT judge others for their beliefs on the issue, because we DO NOT know what is in the heart of the next person.

My sister chooses to protect her family from the evil, whereas I choose to shine God’s light in the darkness. If I am able to save at least one person on the darkest of Holidays, then that is one more soul for God.

I pray and Hope that we DO NOT judge others, but instead pray for our children and family and friends who will be out and about on this Fall Holiday that they are all safe in GOD.
God Bless!
Lii

Lii –

That was a very meaningful post explaining a wonderful way to spread the love of Christ!

Thanks for sharing.

MAY G0D BLESS US ALL. GREAT IS THE LORD AND HIS L0VE ENDURES FOREVER! NEVER D0ES JESUS WH0 IS G0D, EVER DELIGHT IN EVIL, AND NEITHER SHOULD WE! IF ANY 0F YOU SHOULD ARGUE, YOU MUST ALS0 TEACH! (2 TIMOTHY 3:16- SCRIPTURE IS G0D BREATHED AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, REBUKING, CORRECTING, AND TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS-… G0D IS G0OD, I PRAISE HIM!.. 0UR G0D IS TRULY MIGHTY T0 SAVE!

Hi, i am a currently a student at the university of Guelph. I have been doing some extensive research on the origins of Halloween and the myths that surround it.

The number one myth I have seen repeated in these posts is the myth of tainted Halloween candy. In all of recorded history, not one child has ever died or been seriously injured by tainted candy given to them by a stranger. There in fact has only been two recorded cases of tainted candy hurting a child and both of these cases are of relatives giving their children this tainted candy.

The Second common myth I see is the idea that telling children to go trick or treating is teaching them bad ethics. The practice of trick or treating how ever was first developed in order to change previous traditions of pranking. Children where often given the right to go out and prank on Halloween do to survivals of pagan traditions as well as christian adaptations, which carried over when pope Gregory the third transferred the day to celebrate all saints day. This transference of days happened to help comfort pagans which missionaries were trying to convert to Catholicism. In the early 1900 people decided that a way to combat the pranking the children would do was to offer a new tradition. If the children would not prank they would be allowed to get candy from peoples houses. Hence the term “trick or treat” suggesting they would have to choose between the two. I would much rather reinforce good behavior with candy than to allow terrible behavior.

These are just two common misconceptions of Halloween. Feel free to research.

To Michele # 23. Because God is Holy thats why. We are to walk in holiness and rightousness always. You have to ask yourself Would Jesus do that? If the answer is no. Then we should not be doing it. Judgement is something we do on a daily basis as the bible as our guide.