Halloween

[KatacrossthePond]

Noone tell me there's nothing spiritual involved in Halloween:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6093634.stm

[AngCath]

Noone tell me there's nothing spiritual involved in Halloween:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6093634.stm
there is... their is a liturgy for All Hallows Eve (at least in the US).

[KatacrossthePond]

Sorry - I should have said 'spiritual' as in negative...the way Halloween is going with all the masks and ghosties and ghoulies. I find it amazing that it has such an impact:

"Donna Bell, spokeswoman for Cheshire police told the paper: "Last year we received 1,519 calls on Halloween, when the normal level would have been about 1,000."

[higgs2]

So, my 5 year old wants to be batwoman or an ice princess. My 9 year old wants to be a secret agent. :D What on earth to do for my 2 year old? This will be the first halloween that she comprehends, I think. We always have friends over for supper and then trick or treating in our neighborhood, so it's a fun night.

[higgs2]

Sorry - I should have said 'spiritual' as in negative...the way Halloween is going with all the masks and ghosties and ghoulies. I find it amazing that it has such an impact:

"Donna Bell, spokeswoman for Cheshire police told the paper: "Last year we received 1,519 calls on Halloween, when the normal level would have been about 1,000."

Hmmm. I would think this is a result of the society rather than the holiday. Bummer.

[TomUK]

Noone tell me there's nothing spiritual involved in Halloween:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6093634.stm

Halloween has been getting more and more intense in recent years. Another American export methinks.

[higgs2]

Halloween has been getting more and more intense in recent years. Another American export methinks.

Maybe it's been inappropriately modified by the
Brits. Did we not send instructions when you ordered it? Or do you have a bootleg copy?

[Fairbairn]

When I grew up, we had a thing called Guising, that we attributed to Hallowe'en, but was more appropriately based on Guy Fawkes. There was a certain class thing, so I wasn't allowed to do it, but basically, kids would make up a Guy and wheel it around the neighbourhood in a wheelbarrow or pram, and get money for it. This money would then go to the firework fun.

Nowadays, the same type of kids go trick or treating. They don't make a guy, nor do they carve out a turnip (or even a pumpkin). They put on a bin bag as their costume. They get highly disappointed if you offer a fun-size Milky Way, because what they really want is permission to egg your house.

They have completely misinterpreted the American T or T tradition, which I gather is quite wholesome and neighbourly (basically what Bonfire Night is like).

We have a couple of things we do for Hallowe'en in our church. First, our diocese gives us posters to display saying that we are not interested in T or T. Secondly, for kids that want to go out, we have cards for them to put through letterboxes along with a treat (fun size Milky Way, etc.). The card says that we are giving a treat rather than demanding it.

[Fairbairn]

Maybe it's been inappropriately modified by the
Brits. Did we not send instructions when you ordered it? Or do you have a bootleg copy?

You are absolutely spot-on. The American culture of Trick or Treat is something that is definitely lost in translation in the non-Celtic parts of the UK.

The main exposure that we have had is via the Halloween horror movies, rather than the warm fuzzy side of it.

[TomUK]

Maybe it's been inappropriately modified by the
Brits. Did we not send instructions when you ordered it? Or do you have a bootleg copy?

:D That's true.

[TomUK]

We have a couple of things we do for Hallowe'en in our church. First, our diocese gives us posters to display saying that we are not interested in T or T. Secondly, for kids that want to go out, we have cards for them to put through letterboxes along with a treat (fun size Milky Way, etc.). The card says that we are giving a treat rather than demanding it.

What a great idea.

[artrx]

My son's birthday is on the 30th, the day before Halloween. When he was born I was supposed to be hosting a playgroup Halloween party for my ,then, 2 yr old daughter and her friends. He was my Treat-2 weeks early! Ever since, Halloween and his B-day have been forever linked, for better or worse. When he was a little boy he thought all the celebrations were for him:)!

[Simon_Templar]

there may be dark spiritual powers at work on halloween. If so it is undoubtedly because people think of Halloween in that way and give place to them.

However, you could take any day of the year, and if you developed a cultural tradition around that day that ti was ok, on that day, to involve yourself in all sorts of pranks and mischief, I guarentee you'd find a similar rise in statistics of mischief on that day.
Humans will take any chance they can get to indulge to their mischievious natures, espceially young people. The fact that mischief on that day is seen as socially acceptable enables people to give vent to bad behavior.

[JoshuaCh1v9]

Maybe it's been inappropriately modified by the
Brits. Did we not send instructions when you ordered it? Or do you have a bootleg copy?

*Ding Ding*

WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!


Post Of The Week


Brilliant - loved it.:thumbsup:

[JoshuaCh1v9]

Halloween is going the same way as Christmas. A victim of the sickness that is marketing and comercialisation.

They saw the potential for making big bucks out of us.

And they did.

Origianally Halloween was a mixture of an ols Pagan festival (Samhein) and the the Christian festival of All Hallows Eve.

There was nothing about Monsters, witches, warlocks etc.

Simply a belief by the old Celts that on Samhein the spirits of their ancestors visited their homes.

The marketing boys did the rest.

[KatacrossthePond]

Halloween is going the same way as Christmas. A victim of the sickness that is marketing and comercialisation.

They saw the potential for making big bucks out of us.

And they did.

Origianally Halloween was a mixture of an ols Pagan festival (Samhein) and the the Christian festival of All Hallows Eve.

There was nothing about Monsters, witches, warlocks etc.

Simply a belief by the old Celts that on Samhein the spirits of their ancestors visited their homes.

The marketing boys did the rest.
That's really interesting - I didn't know that.

Thanks! :)

[higgs2]

*Ding Ding*

WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!


Post Of The Week


Brilliant - loved it.:thumbsup:
:blush: THank you so much. :blush:

[artybloke]

Halloween has been getting more and more intense in recent years. Another American export methinks.
Halloween has been getting more and more intense in recent years. Another American export methinks.

Oh yes, much more appropriate to celebrate the burning to death of someone 500 years ago by burning an effigy of him.... don't you think?

[JoshuaCh1v9]

Oh yes, much more appropriate to celebrate the burning to death of someone 500 years ago by burning an effigy of him.... don't you think?

Absolutley


Spend millions each year celebrating an act of terrorism?

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

[SirTimothy]

Spend millions each year celebrating an act of terrorism?

Well celebrating that the government was effecient enough to stop an act of terrorism. :)

[ImHisServant]

One thing is for sure... Christians are split down the middle on this issue... and whatever side you are on - the issue seems confusing. (Who is the author of confusion?) It is a holiday in which fear is promoted (is fear of God?) Absolutely not... in fact God says we are to fear not! Even if you have your kids dress in nice costumes... they are exposed to evil costumes while they are out... and houses where adults try to scare them for fun. If you consider that everything is either of God or Satan... how can you say that Halloween is of God?

The thing to say when a child knocks at the door is "Trick or Treat" Should we demand a treat at the threat of a trick?... Who is the master of tricking us??

It is celebrated in the dark of night... why?? Who is the prince of darkness? And who says come into the light?

If you want your kids to have fun and get candy... there are more ways of doing this other then doing something that you have to admit is at the very least questionable.

As for me and my house - we will not compromise with the world on this one. I'd rather not give Satan any victories in tricking us that it is harmless fun.

Yet this year I am reaching out to try and reclaim this day for God! Instead of getting defensive - just pray about it and see where God leads you in participating in this worldly event.

[gtsecc]

The only thing Halloween ever did was give me more evidence that some Christians have lost their sanity. The ones preaching negative things about it, actually hurt my faith, because it meant being Christian associated me with these people who honestly seem nutty to me now and seemed nutty then when I was a child going trick or treating. Most of the civilized world, Christians included, think these people are foolish, silly, naive, and just plain not quest grounded. Halloween does not make me turn from Christ, but foolish Christians do.

[ImHisServant]

I'm not sure if you are referring to my post being nutty and foolish... I sure hope not.

I love the Lord with all my heart soul mind and strength. I try to live each day according to His will and purpose for my life.

I am not passing judgement on anyone - only sharing my personal convictions and thoughts. It says in

Romans, Chapter 14

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God' ".
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

This is how I view Halloween as well... we all have different views on it - if we are convicted that it is wrong... then for us it is - and if we participate in it, it will affect our minds just as sinning would. If you are at peace with God on it... then for you it may be ok.

Hope that helps.

[JoshuaCh1v9]

Well celebrating that the government was effecient enough to stop an act of terrorism. :)

Efficient?

He got grassed up to the authorities.

Even then all they got was the fall guy.

The actual people behind the plot got away with it.

Come to think of it, out Intelligence services aint much better now.

[JoshuaCh1v9]

The only thing Halloween ever did was give me more evidence that some Christians have lost their sanity. The ones preaching negative things about it, actually hurt my faith, because it meant being Christian associated me with these people who honestly seem nutty to me now and seemed nutty then when I was a child going trick or treating. Most of the civilized world, Christians included, think these people are foolish, silly, naive, and just plain not quest grounded. Halloween does not make me turn from Christ, but foolish Christians do.


What he said

[SirTimothy]

Come to think of it, out Intelligence services aint much better now.

There is that. My dad has heen known to comment that he has marked sympathies with Guy Fawkes.

[JoshuaCh1v9]

There is that. My dad has heen known to comment that he has marked sympathies with Guy Fawkes.

In fact calling them Intelligence services is what Lel would call an oxymoron

[SirTimothy]

In fact calling them Intelligence services is what Lel would call an oxymoron

I think if you remove the first three letters of that adjective and add an 's' you might describe pretty much every Intelligence service in the world....

[JoshuaCh1v9]

Meanwhile, back with Halloween.....

[ContraMundum]

I liked Halloween as a kid. Once I dressed up as a peeled potato- something I saw on a cartoon. Another time spiderman. Another time a cowboy.

Now, it's just taking off in Australia. Tonight some kids came to my door trick or treating. I loved seeing them, greeted them warmly and gave them lovely health food treats. My bit for Christianity on Halloween is to let the kids in the neighbourhood know that the Anglican guy up the road is all about fun and the sense of commnity that this kind of visiting brings.

I don't for a minute think the Devil gets much progress out of this holiday. The most demonic holiday I can think of is St Patrick's day, ironically, which comes a close second to New Year's Eve. The purpose of both those occasions seems to be about getting blind drunk and fighting, sexual promiscuity and of course anthing else associated with alcohol abuse. Oddly, when a drunk gets wasted on booze any other night of the year, he's just a drunk. On those nights, he's a "reveller". I think Satan gets more use out of those nights than Halloween.

[mrsbates]

^ right on about st. patricks day, bro, although you must have forgot about mardi gras ;)

haloween does have its satanic orgins... but kids dressing up, i personally think thats OK, but i dont do it. better to stay away from that stuff.

[ContraMundum]

^ right on about st. patricks day, bro, although you must have forgot about mardi gras ;)

haloween does have its satanic orgins... but kids dressing up, i personally think thats OK, but i dont do it. better to stay away from that stuff.
Yeah, I did forget about Madri Gras' in various places.

Interesting that the gays want to stage a Gay Pride parade through *Jerusalem* on the 10th- the anniversay of Kristal Nacht. Talk about Satan trying to have a little victory parade when he's lost the war!

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3270788,00.html

There's a thread over at the over-moderated Messianic "Jews" forum about this with a link to a petition against it as well, but mainstream Christians are forbidden to post anything of substance there (oddly enough, Orthodox Rabbinical Jews and non-Trinitarians are allowed to post on that thread! Bizzare). Still, you can look and post something cute and cuddly.

http://www.christianforums.com/t4035704-not-cancelled-only-postponed-jerusalem-gay-pride-parade.html

[Wigglesworth]

In the U.S., Halloween is a celebration of death, fear, and witchcraft. It is apparent from the decorations, costumes, movies, and "Horror Halls" we see set up all around us. Unsuspecting children are yoked with images of evil by adults unaware that Satan is real.

However, my porch light will be on, and I will be handing out candy bags tonight with a Gospel of John tucked inside.

:crossrc:

[gtsecc]

Cool- where did you get a single gospel of John?

[higgs2]

One thing is for sure... Christians are split down the middle on this issue... and whatever side you are on - the issue seems confusing. (Who is the author of confusion?) It is a holiday in which fear is promoted (is fear of God?) Absolutely not... in fact God says we are to fear not! Even if you have your kids dress in nice costumes... they are exposed to evil costumes while they are out... and houses where adults try to scare them for fun. If you consider that everything is either of God or Satan... how can you say that Halloween is of God?

The thing to say when a child knocks at the door is "Trick or Treat" Should we demand a treat at the threat of a trick?... Who is the master of tricking us??

It is celebrated in the dark of night... why?? Who is the prince of darkness? And who says come into the light?

If you want your kids to have fun and get candy... there are more ways of doing this other then doing something that you have to admit is at the very least questionable.

As for me and my house - we will not compromise with the world on this one. I'd rather not give Satan any victories in tricking us that it is harmless fun.

Yet this year I am reaching out to try and reclaim this day for God! Instead of getting defensive - just pray about it and see where God leads you in participating in this worldly event.

I seriously don't think it is "down the middle" as in 50/50. I'm pretty sure that the majority of Christians do not freak out about Halloween.

[ImHisServant]

I don't mean freak out... I mean as in celebrating it as the world does.

[higgs2]

I don't mean freak out... I mean as in celebrating it as the world does.
I think the majority of Christians in the US find Halloween a fun holiday and are not concerned about itbein "of satan". I don't believe that Christians are split down the middle on this. I think it's a small minority who object to it.

[Wigglesworth]

Cool- where did you get a single gospel of John?

I got them at a local Christian bookstore. Since I ordered a bunch, it took about a week for them to come in.

This is the one I give out. (http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=308981&netp_id=386716&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW)

:crossrc:

[IowaLutheran]

I got them at a local Christian bookstore. Since I ordered a bunch, it took about a week for them to come in.

This is the one I give out. (http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=308981&netp_id=386716&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW)

:crossrc:

We average about 120 kids at our house on Halloween so that would get pricey for me!

[karen freeinchristman]

Well, it's 7:30 pm here now, and we haven't had one trick-or-treater.

just as well, because I didn't buy any candy to give out. I did go through our candy tin and we have plenty of old lollypops in there i could give out if anyone comes. I'd even pay them to take all that old candy away!

[ImHisServant]

I think the majority of Christians in the US find Halloween a fun holiday and are not concerned about itbein "of satan". I don't believe that Christians are split down the middle on this. I think it's a small minority who object to it.

I saw a poll on it here on CF and it ended up being evenly divided - that is what I was basing that off of. There are other threads here like this one where almost all the posters are against and only very few for... so I guess it depends on where you go.

God Bless everyone!!!

[RedneckAnglican]

I'm easy...I don't think you should have Halloween unless you plan on having All Saints the next day...can't have one without the other...

[Caesario]

Thought this was an interesting article for the day..

http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=21818

[RedneckAnglican]

good read...i had no idea...but i will say that is kinda agrees with what I said...can't have one without the other...

[Caesario]

Your post inspired me to post the link, Redneck. :)

[higgs2]

Thought this was an interesting article for the day..

http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=21818

:thumbsup: very interesting article, thanks!