Celebrating Halloween is a Christian Thing?
Traditionally, it was known as All Hallow’s Eve, when the dead were remembered. Over time, it became cultural. For Americans, it became commercialized. Unfortunately, the emphasis on this commercialized holiday has shifted from the little cowboys and Indians to a much more evil and pointed attraction to all things hideous and pagan. Satan has undoubtedly made this commercialized holiday into something that has subtly focused on dressing kids up as ugly demonic creatures.
Samhain. Many believe the festival of Samhain to have been the beginning of the Celtic year. At Samhain, farmers brought livestock in from summer pastures and people gathered to build shelter for winter. The festival also had religious significance and people burned fruits, vegetables, grain, and possibly animals as offerings to the gods. In ancient Celtic stories, Samhain was a magical time of transition when important battles were fought and fairies cast spells. It was a time when the barriers between the natural world and the supernatural were broken. The Celts believed that the dead could walk among the living at this time. During Samhain, the living could visit with the dead, who they believed held secrets of the future. Scholars believe that Halloween’s association with ghosts, food, and fortunetelling began with these pagan customs more than 2,000 years ago.
All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day. Many of the customs of the pagan Celts survived even after the people became “Christianized.” In the 800′s A.D., the church established All Saints’ Day on November 1. About two hundred years later, it added All Souls’ Day on November 2. This day was set aside for people to pray for friends and family who had died. People made many of the old pagan customs part of this Christian holy day. Some people put out food for their ancestors or they left a lantern burning in the window so that ghosts could find their way home for the night. Through the years, various regions of Europe developed their own Halloween customs. In Wales, for example, each person put a white stone near the Halloween fire at night and then checked in the morning to see whether the stone was still there. If it was, the person would live another year.
Halloween in the United States. Many early American settlers came from England and they brought various beliefs about ghosts and witches with them. In the 1800′s, many immigrants from Ireland and Scotland arrived in the United States and introduced their Halloween traditions. Other groups added their own cultural influences to Halloween customs. German immigrants brought a vivid witchcraft lore, and Haitian and African peoples brought their native voodoo beliefs about black cats, fire, and witchcraft.
We recognize that this can be a very controversial topic. Some Christians view Halloween simply as a day to dress up in a costume and have fun. Other Christians regard Halloween as a satanic holiday designed to worship evil spirits and promote darkness and wickedness. So, who is right? Is it possible for Christians to participate in Halloween without compromising their faith?
Halloween, no matter how commercialized, has almost completely pagan origins. As innocent as it may seem to some, it is not something to be taken lightly. Christians tend to have various ways to celebrate or not to celebrate Halloween. For some, it means having an “alternative” Harvest Party. For others, it is staying away from the ghosts, witches, goblins, etc., and wearing less evil or pagan costumes, e.g., little princesses, clowns, cowboys, super-heroes, etc. Some choose not to do anything, electing to lock themselves in the house with the lights off. With your freedom as a Christian, you are at liberty to decide how you react.
Scripture does not directly speak at all about Halloween, but it does give us some principles on which we can make a decision. In Old Testament Israel, witchcraft was a crime punishable by death (Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27). The New Testament teaching about the occult is clear. Acts 8:9-24, the story of Simon, shows that occultism and Christianity don’t mix. The account of Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13:6-11 reveals that sorcery is violently opposed to Christianity. Paul called him a child of the devil, an enemy of righteousness and perverter of the ways of God. In Acts 16, at Philippi, a fortune-telling girl lost her demon powers when the evil spirit was cast out by Paul. The interesting matter here is that Paul refused to allow even good statements to come from a demon-influenced person. Acts 19 shows new converts who have abruptly broken with their former occultism by confessing, showing their evil deeds, bringing their magic paraphernalia, and burning it before everyone (Acts 19:19).
So, should a Christian celebrate Halloween? Is there anything evil about a Christian dressing up as a princess or cowboy and going around the block asking for candy? No, there is not. Are there things about Halloween that are anti-Christian and should be avoided? Absolutely! Parents, if you are going to allow your children to participate in Halloween, make sure you keep them from getting involved in the darker aspects of the day. If Christians are going to take part in Halloween, their attitude, dress, and most importantly, their behavior, should still reflect a redeemed life (Philippians 1:27). There are many churches who hold “harvest festivals” and incorporate costumes, but in a godly environment. There are many Christians who hand out tracts that share the Gospel along with the Halloween candy. The decision is ultimately yours to make. God’s view on the subject is clear: “Be Holy, as I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5b).
God commands us to have nothing to do with anything that smacks of the occult, devil worship, or involvement with the spirit world through the use of mediums, séances, Ouija boards, horoscopes, tarot cards, channeling, etc. He considers all of these an abomination (Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Isaiah 8:19-20; Galatians 5:20; Revelation 21:8), and those who involve themselves in such things invite disaster (Acts 19:13-16).
From the source.. http://www.gotquestions.org/
It’s been a busy week for the god-fearing. Mormon leader Dallin H. Oaks, said the backlash against Mormons (for their direct involvement in getting the anti-gay Proposition 8 passed in California) is similar to the treatment blacks went through after the civil rights movement. That’s right, he’s refusing rights to a group of people while using those rights himself – AND – claiming he’s being discriminated against in the process. Link: www.google.com The Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Canton, NC will be burning Bibles for Jesus this Halloween! Link: rawstory.com Muslims will be on the March this Halloween in an effort to force sharia law on Britain. Link: www.religionnewsblog.com A pharmacist in Australia says God doesn’t want him to sell condoms, or any other form of birth control. Link: www.dailytelegraph.com.au God’s blood is a good transmitter of Swine Flu Link: www.latimes.com Christian school expels students because parents ask too many questions. Link: www.azcentral.com And final story: Ray Comfort paid me billion! (well, kinda)
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Baby Boomers and Halloween: How to Deal with Ghosts from the Past
joy christian school…. joy my ass! fuckers arizona is getting fucked by religion
as an englishman i hiley dout that the sharia law will be passed its actually laughable tbh there is too many racists for that to happen haha
that is just outrageous that that guy would compare his situation to what black people went through. and religious people wonder why atheists think the way we do?
the NEW ATHEISM movement has been completely crushed…click on my name for the ur l to see how…
Greetings,
AZSuperman01, with regard to the Sharia Law item…
Sharia Law ONLY applies to Muslims – it cannot be applied to any other religious or non-religious group.
That is why the Islamic Society of Britain made that statement regarding the majority of Muslims being against that group’s views.
By the way, I’m not a Muslim or have any connection with the above groups – I’m a Christian from Ireland.
Just thought all should know about Sharia Law.
Kindest regards,
James
To be fair, the homosexual community has been much more vocal about their treatment lately. I have heard numerous accounts of homosexuals comparing their treatment to blacks. Of course we have many former homosexuals (its a choice), but no former blacks, so blacks have a true discrimination case. Homosexuals have every right to marry, but they must follow the law like everyone else. Marriage has always been between one man/one woman. There are age limits as well. We all have limitations/rules.
We only Have the free will to sin.
That’s because theists are basically irrational thinkers.
I find it interesting and funny that they’d burn all other Bibles besides the King James Bible, when the King James Bible is probably the worst translation of the Bible! lol
i used to have a king james bible….my sister threw it out along with my 4 leaf clover
I find it hillarious how I’ve always heard from the Greek Orthodox Xians around me that God doesn’t allow diseases to pass through Holy Communion and now this. I always thought that the wine/alcohol killed germs and so it was pretty safe, but to see the orthodox priests actually come out and say “don’t take communion if you are sick” made me LOL
I love the concept but I have to agree with raby760 regarding your news reporting style. Aside from that the intro graphics are great and the chroma key is pretty decent, although I can see a halo of green around you at times. I would say try this style again only put more OOMF into it. ;P
I liked some of your other videos, that’s why I subscribed, but this religious news bit is not that great. You’re better off making a video without trying to set it up like this. Especially since you cannot deliver the news like a new reporter on TV. But don’t be discouraged!!! You brought up excellent points in your other videos and I love those 2 videos with your trip with “the ghostbusters”. I have to rate this video “2 stars” out of just being honest.
geat video, I wish more people would see it, if only the atheast community tried to convert as much as the religious community, then the evil organizations that are the church, as well as muslim extremist networks, scientology, etc, would soon be wiped of the face of the earth, except maybe in Italy and the middle east.
fun to watch thanks.
Did the school give them their tuition back???
No offense taken.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they’re not extremists… but if you’re going to believe the Koran was dictated by an angle, and is the law sent from God, then the extremist view actually makes more sense.
i dont know but it seems like you prefer the 90% of the mmuslims to be extremists.
And no christians dont have an out either, remeber God (OT) is the same today, tomorrow and forever. If he made the laws int he OT then its still applicable in todays world.
anyway gj
right on, I didnt mean to sound like a dick i was in a bad mood its a good vid otherwise
Sorry, I’ll try to get the volume better next time.
I agree… The funny thing is, I am so used to the annoying bugger that I didn’t even notice he was barking until I was editing the video!
The Pope should have issued condoms to his priests when they molested the alter boys . HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF AIDS!
man that dog in the background is annoying
sounds like one of those tiny, yappy, hyper, “toy”-type, toe-biting motherfuckers that — like Cartman — racks disciprine
didn’t they get nailed for those before though for counterfitting, while it says not legal tendr, they are too close to the real thing and some people have actually handed out them *least the 1$ ones* and were nailed on it.
[update-I just saw this LA Times piece which actually explains why the Dems aren't running on their record of accomplishments...heh] There’s no other conclusion to draw. President Obama, on the heels of so many historic legislative accomplishments, continues instead with his strategy of hoping to inspire the Democrat base with the energy and verve he thinks they’ll derive from the steady drumbeat of hammering on history. Obama’s recent speeches and weekly radio addresses are clear indicators that he has not only conceded 2010 to the Republicans…but that he’s actually begging them to take back Congress before it’s too late. Obama knows he is in over his head, if the numbers of Democrats that are peeling away from him like dead skin from a bad sunburn are any indication, and he understands that November 2 is exactly the sort of life preserver he’ll need if he is to have any chance at a second term in office. Despite the fact that George Bush is 2 years gone, and 4 (technically) from…
cheaters never win.
i love this song omg omg omg
Hey love your videos!!!!
hey i just watched this sweet video about hacking wifi with a iphone watch?v=Eg6Zf9Qd3tI
in this after school thing .. again-_-
roasted pumpkin seeds, peanuts (if no allergies), raisins, beef jerky, other kinds of nuts, dried fruit snacks, granola snack bites, rice cake, licorce.
YES! i only wish my rents felt the same way…
yall doin yall thing, that's wussup.. I fux wit yall
then that is just a bonus to swords
)
I’m working a half-day today, then a 3 day weekend, then a 3 day work week, followed by another 3 day weekend; all I have to do this weekend is get our Sirius radio set up [dip] yay!