Is Halloween really that bad?

KFBobInsanesMom · 10-30-2004, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gracie Love

I agree with Lee and Bill. We aren't talking about us going trick or treating we are talking about our kids. I see no problem with it as long as we don't dress up our kids as witches and devils. Although that tradition came about to scare off Evil spirits. Here is what my kids are dressed up as this year. I see nothing bad or evil about it. Do you?

Gracie, they are adorable !!!!

Gracie Love · 10-30-2004, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KFBobInsanesMom

Gracie, they are adorable !!!!

Thank you.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 10-30-2004, 12:54 PM

That is an amazing picture, especially of Ethan. Looks like you got a bit of gold there.

Watermarked · 10-31-2004, 02:45 PM

Hmm... we just went through this, too. I told the kids they couldn't go trick or treating, and when they asked me why, I gave them three reasons.

1) It's the devil's holiday. Basically, as a culture, we've taken a pagan holiday, which in itself wasn't really evil, and added on a bunch of creepy satanic nonsense. Then we've watered it back down, making the cardboard jack-o-lanterns (idols originally intended to ward off evil spirits), witches, and skeletons have cute expressions. But let's face it... there's no real Christian meaning to Halloween. All Saints' Day? That was just an attempt to weaken the impact of Halloween. Our family celebrates Reformation Day on Nov. 1, but that's completely different.

2) With all the junk food out there, I'm already having a hard time getting my kids to eat right. I really don't want them to haul back a big bag of pure sugar.

3) Since when has it ever been a good idea to encourage children to take candy from strangers? I refrained from giving them any details, but I told my kids there are weird people out there who look for a chance to hurt children.

They whined and groaned, but my husband backed me up on it, and they really need to learn the lesson that the world will often encourage you to participate in stuff that just isn't good or right, and it's OK to say no.

I don't have any problem with kids wearing costumes. It's a lot of fun for everyone, even the parents. But why not have a costume party some other time during the year instead? That would let them have their joy but keep it separate from this revolting 'holiday' that we've come to accept as normal.

Please understand I don't judge anyone who lets their kids participate in Halloween. I choose to react the way I do for my own reasons, but someone else will see it differently, and that's fine.

~WM~

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 10-31-2004, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watermarked

Hmm... we just went through this, too. I told the kids they couldn't go trick or treating, and when they asked me why, I gave them three reasons.

1) It's the devil's holiday. Basically, as a culture, we've taken a pagan holiday, which in itself wasn't really evil, and added on a bunch of creepy satanic nonsense. Then we've watered it back down, making the cardboard jack-o-lanterns (idols originally intended to ward off evil spirits), witches, and skeletons have cute expressions. But let's face it... there's no real Christian meaning to Halloween. All Saints' Day? That was just an attempt to weaken the impact of Halloween. Our family celebrates Reformation Day on Nov. 1, but that's completely different.

2) With all the junk food out there, I'm already having a hard time getting my kids to eat right. I really don't want them to haul back a big bag of pure sugar.

3) Since when has it ever been a good idea to encourage children to take candy from strangers? I refrained from giving them any details, but I told my kids there are weird people out there who look for a chance to hurt children.

They whined and groaned, but my husband backed me up on it, and they really need to learn the lesson that the world will often encourage you to participate in stuff that just isn't good or right, and it's OK to say no.

I don't have any problem with kids wearing costumes. It's a lot of fun for everyone, even the parents. But why not have a costume party some other time during the year instead? That would let them have their joy but keep it separate from this revolting 'holiday' that we've come to accept as normal.

Please understand I don't judge anyone who lets their kids participate in Halloween. I choose to react the way I do for my own reasons, but someone else will see it differently, and that's fine.

~WM~

How does the devil get a holiday? Last time I checked, this was a day the Lord made to rejoice and be glad in it. Every day of the week has pagan conotations, as do some of the names of months.

Halloween was originally far more insidious than today in its origins. Heck I used the ghost and skeleton on the nursing home wall as part of my sermon on the ressurection today.

I see the point of not taking candy from strangers. I know when I am a parent I will not let them go door to door, unless I happen to live in a close knit neighborhood where I know and trust my neighbors.

But lets not take a day God made, and give it to satan. Lets not let the enemy take what is not his.

Gracie Love · 10-31-2004, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillSPrestonEsq

How does the devil get a holiday? Last time I checked, this was a day the Lord made to rejoice and be glad in it. Every day of the week has pagan conotations, as do some of the names of months.

Halloween was originally far more insidious than today in its origins. Heck I used the ghost and skeleton on the nursing home wall as part of my sermon on the ressurection today.

I see the point of not taking candy from strangers. I know when I am a parent I will not let them go door to door, unless I happen to live in a close knit neighborhood where I know and trust my neighbors.

But lets not take a day God made, and give it to satan. Lets not let the enemy take what is not his.

You are right Bill as usual, if you look at the names of the days they come from greek roman and nord gods.

**Role Modlin** · 10-31-2004, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gracie Love

You are right Bill as usual, if you look at the names of the days they come from greek roman and nord gods.

Don't forget our Christmas trees....which I think someone has already mentioned. Pagan....totally. Originally the trees were adorned with the entrails and organs of victims. Our trees have nicer decorations....but they still have pagan origins.

**Role Modlin** · 10-31-2004, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watermarked

1) It's the devil's holiday. Basically, as a culture, we've taken a pagan holiday, which in itself wasn't really evil, and added on a bunch of creepy satanic nonsense. Then we've watered it back down, making the cardboard jack-o-lanterns (idols originally intended to ward off evil spirits), witches, and skeletons have cute expressions. But let's face it... there's no real Christian meaning to Halloween. All Saints' Day? That was just an attempt to weaken the impact of Halloween. Our family celebrates Reformation Day on Nov. 1, but that's completely different.

And you call Halloween pagan?

That was joke....please don't kill me.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 10-31-2004, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Modlin

And you call Halloween pagan?

That was joke....please don't kill me.

especially since the theses went up on 10/31 not the first

nckcool_11 · 11-01-2004, 08:07 PM

wow lots of replys...

well first of all i must say that it is far-fetched to celebrate hannukah, because there is no reason too. its not our holiday, and i think its bordering on idol worship to celebrate something not to glorify our lord God.

second... that All Saints day thing was MOVED by the church to counteract halloween because halloween was so satanic. the vigil is so we dont allow the demons to come onto earth through celebrating halloween.

third... yes all the other holidays come from pagan origin. actually it was the date that was preserved because of the traditions that already took place on that day... but what do we celebrate on christmas? we celebrate christ's birth. now if one of you can actually prove to me that halloween has ANY christian significance AT ALL them please tell me, because it doesnt. at the risk of repeating myself, All saints day is a holiday to COUNTERACT halloween, not take its place...

now i dont want u guys to get me wrong.... i dont think halloween is too bad, but i think we as christians should realize that there is evil in this world. it is stupid and arrogant to say that satan cannot affect us and that he does not have power on this earth. now as believers we dont exactly have too much to fear for ourselves, but i have heard countless stories of people going down to Salem for Hallloween and dabbling in dark arts and witchcraft just for fun.

also i just read this from Bill
"Last time I checked, this was a day the Lord made to rejoice and be glad in it."
where are u checking?!?!?!?! there is nothing farther than the truth. first of all, God didnt make ANY holidays. actually, the puritans have removed Christmas as a holiday because God did not command it. how can we say something about a holiday that is obviously overrun with satanism??

Gracie Love · 11-02-2004, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nckcool_11

also i just read this from Bill
"Last time I checked, this was a day the Lord made to rejoice and be glad in it."
where are u checking?!?!?!?! there is nothing farther than the truth. first of all, God didnt make ANY holidays.

I believe Bill was referring to the fact that everyday is a day the Lord hath made, not Halloween in particular.

Just because the puritians didn't do it.... Well the puritians were not the greatest of examples.

DO the Salem witch trails ring a bell? I would have never made to my first birthday if I had been born in purtain times, because I was born on Halloween.

Watermarked · 11-02-2004, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Modlin

And you call Halloween pagan?

That was joke....please don't kill me.

BillSPrestonEsq, I agree, God made all the days. So they all really belong to him. But if we celebrate Halloween, we are giving the use of one of them to the devil.

Our church actually encourages us to sit out on the stoop and hand out little pamphlets with the candy, but to me, that's just playing the game. I prefer to be guided by Phillipians 4:8, and think on noble things instead.

By the way, I don't think my beliefs on this make me holier than thou... or thou... or even thou over yonder. It's just a personal interpretation. I'm a bigger sinner than any of you. So there!

~WM~

nckcool_11 · 11-02-2004, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gracie Love

DO the Salem witch trails ring a bell? I would have never made to my first birthday if I had been born in purtain times, because I was born on Halloween.

just cause ur not a witch doesnt mean that witches dont exist. the salem witch trials were insane, but if u guys do ever go to salem u will see some crazy stuff, and know wut im talking about.
this is really frusterating because obviously u guys have never seen witches and stuff, and u probably dont believe it exists. if youve seen this stuff u will probably know where im coming from

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 11-02-2004, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watermarked

BillSPrestonEsq, I agree, God made all the days. So they all really belong to him. But if we celebrate Halloween, we are giving the use of one of them to the devil.

Our church actually encourages us to sit out on the stoop and hand out little pamphlets with the candy, but to me, that's just playing the game. I prefer to be guided by Phillipians 4:8, and think on noble things instead.

By the way, I don't think my beliefs on this make me holier than thou... or thou... or even thou over yonder. It's just a personal interpretation. I'm a bigger sinner than any of you. So there!

~WM~

how are we, by celebrating a cultural construct, giving the use of a day to the devil? thats a logical leap that I don't believe can be made.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 11-02-2004, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nckcool_11

just cause ur not a witch doesnt mean that witches dont exist. the salem witch trials were insane, but if u guys do ever go to salem u will see some crazy stuff, and know wut im talking about.
this is really frusterating because obviously u guys have never seen witches and stuff, and u probably dont believe it exists. if youve seen this stuff u will probably know where im coming from

I obviously haven't??? Im of celtic descent and my great grandmother taught me some spells as a little kid that have been used for generations. My family is steaped in witchcraft and Christianity. My fiancees aunt is wiccan.

I deal with witchcraft a bit more than I like actually.

I am not opposed to Halloween. If we were having Samhein celebrations I would be opposed. However my oposition would probably best be noticed by a figure in black Jeans and a black leather jacket and a wallet chain either wandering the streets in prayer, or finding a quiet spot to pray. This year my school forbad me from halloween activities.

Normally I do something with kids on Halloween, to proactively share the gospel.

Whoch is better, to sieze th night as a beachhead, or hide from it?