[Faith-talk] Halloween

Thu Oct 6 15:48:59 UTC 2011

Even if I agreed with the idea that Halloween were completely evil, I don't think it makes sense for Christians to withdraw completely.  Can't God use something "evil" to bring about good?  I think you could use Halloween and even trick-or-treating with your kids as an excellent way to connect and build relationships with the families in your neighborhood/community.  Why not be salt and light on Halloween like every other day of the year?  

Of course you need to exercise wisdom and discernment about how you do this, but I think Christians can enjoy Halloween without "celebrating Satan." 

I'm not sure why wearing a costume would be wrong.  If I dress as a pirate, I'm not trying to deceive anyone into thinking I'm actually a pirate.  Are costume parties not allowed or just not on Halloween?  What about actors in church plays or nativity scenes?  

Kids are going to be exposed to ideas like witchcraft, vampires, etc. no matter what.  If I were a parent, I imagine I would want to be there when it happened to help them interpret what they see, instead of sheltering them and letting them hear about it from people I don't know or trust.  This is probably just a philosophical difference though.  

Anyway, just my thoughts.  

-Greg
On Oct 6, 2011, at 9:54 AM, Nikki wrote:

>   Amen.
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Andrew Edgcumbe
> Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 9:35 AM
> To: Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion
> Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] Halloween
> 
> john I dis agree with you hallow wean is very harmful  kids are
> getting exposed to whichcraft when they get taken out to trick or
> treat because they see all these things like ghosts or goblins  to say
> to a child that stuff is real or whatever is lying as well.
> 
> 
> 
> the other wrong part to hallow wean is we are introducing kids to
> evil and  saying it is okay to  the kids that which craft is fine.
> 
> On 10/6/11, John J. Boyer <john at godtouches.org> wrote:
>> I think Halloween is harmless. After all, nobody believes in that stuff.
>> Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny are much worse. Parents lie to their
>> children, and these two mythical beings obscure the true meaning of
>> Christmas and Easter. No flames, please.
>> 
>> John
>> 
>> On Thu, Oct 06, 2011 at 07:33:43AM -0500, Joshua Lester wrote:
>>> The Catholics started it, with an "All Hallows Eve."
>>> They honored their ancestors, but the druids from the Occult took the
>>> holiday, and turned it into a gory day, with ghost, goblins, and the
>>> like.
>>> John Hagee did a doccumentary on it, but it isn't available anymore.
>>> Sister Jeanette, you may have connections to his ministry, being that
>>> you're originally from Texas.
>>> Blessings, Joshua
>>> 
>>> On 10/5/11, Nikki <daizies304 at comcast.net> wrote:
>>> >         Do you have kids?
>>> > Do you celebrate it?
>>> > Do you allow your kids to dress up and attend any school parties?
>>> > What is your take on this?
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Note the Halloween is a High Holy day amongst the Wiccan (Witchcraft)
>>> > religion.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Death
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Gravestones, skeletons, gruesome undead themes. So much though that it
>>> > seems
>>> > Halloween is a worship of death and the grave. Why the fascination with
>>> > that?
>>> >
>>> > Do we not serve the king of Life, who has over come death, hell and the
>>> > grave? Should the children of life participate in a celebration of
>>> > death?
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > The Philipians 4:8 Test is a doctrinally sound application of scripture
>>> > Lets
>>> > us apply that to Halloween (You Answer Them!):
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
>>> > honest,
>>> > whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
>>> > things
>>> > are
>>> >
>>> > lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue,
>>> > and if
>>> > there be any praise, think on these things.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 1. What is true about Halloween?
>>> >
>>> > 2. What is Just About Halloween and it's trappings and traditions?
>>> >
>>> > 3. Is there any purity in participating in a day of celebration with so
>>> > much
>>> > that is blatantly wicked about it?
>>> >
>>> > 4. What is lovely about costumes portraying axe murderers, or
>>> > gravestones
>>> > with skulls on them?
>>> >
>>> > 5. Is there a good report to be had in overt occult representations?
>>> >
>>> > 6. What virtue is available in taking part in a day of sinful reveling?
>>> >
>>> > 7. What is praiseworthy about these activities?
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > FELLOWSHIP ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE THE FOCUS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.
>>> > ESPECIALLY
>>> > ON HOLIDAYS LIKE HOLLOWEEN.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Thanks for any input.
>>> >
>>> > God bless you.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > _______________________________________________
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>>> 
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>> 
>> --
>> John J. Boyer, Executive Director
>> GodTouches Digital Ministry, Inc.
>> http://www.godtouches.org
>> Madison, Wisconsin, USA
>> Peace, Love, Service
>> 
>> 
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> 
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