If Halloween is a Pagan holiday, why do some churches hold Halloween parties?

Question

I've seen churches allow children to dress up for halloween and go trick or treating. Alot of people believe this ok because it is a chruch function. Also the same with Christmas. I read that it started as a pagan holiday which allowed men to get drunk and peform sex acts with one another, it had nothing to do with Christ. I really would like to some honest feedback on this. I;m doing research on religions and how we practice them.

Answer 1

Ignorance is the big one. Many do not realize it is a pagan holiday any more than Christmas is. In fact Halloween is a day to worship Satan so what does that tell you? Some come to the conclusion that no matter what it is, at least if it will bring some kids in along with their parents, then why not? Regardless of what the excuse is, it is wrong and will be taken into account with the judgement. The cross is another thing that came from paganism but was used as Satan wanted the most debase form of destruction for the Son of God that he could use. Even with that, Jesus won the battle so did Satan no good in the end and yet the cross is used on top of so many churches and is the symbol for Christians around the world. Comes from the god tamuz in paganism. A lot depend on tradition and don't stop to think of where it comes from so in a word, ignorance rules on the practices of a lot of the pagan holidays that were adopted to get more people into the Catholic church. If you look at history, it was the Catholics that brought in the pagans and with them their practices that are still in the churches today. Not to say that Catholics are all bad as they are not. It is the system that is bad, not the members. Many do not know as a lot of other Christians don't know the origins.

Answer 2

Samhain which starts on the eve of October 31st is considered by many Pagans to be the eve of their new year. In ancient Celtic tradition it is said that the veil between the worlds of living and death become thin at this time and allow for ancestors to walk among the living.

The word 'Halloween' has it's origins in the Catholic Church as a corruption of All Hallows Eve (or All Saints Day). Since even the Catholic church knew of the the Celts Samhain and did not want to be 'possessed' by ancestral spirits coming from the other side the Catholic people would on Oct 31st extinguish all the fires in their homes to make them cold and undesirable and thereby would be passed on by the spirits. They would also dress up in garish and ghoulish costumes and march around making a lot of noise so no spirits would want to claim their body.

Since the time for most children Halloween has just become a fun secular holiday in which they can dress up and enjoy themselves and get a little candy in the bargain. With all the troubles in todays world if that makes a few kids happy it's not such a bad thing now is it.

Blessed Be.

Answer 3

I assure you that Halloween has absolutely nothing to do with Sex. Beltane, it's opposite, is a fertility festival, and as such, has nothing to do with gay sex (not much fertility in gay sex, you know). Halloween is a time for celebrating the dead (it's opposite, Beltaine celebrates new life and birth/conception.) Many Christian groups have picked up on this, and celebrate All-Soul's Day and All-Saint's Day at the same time as Halloween, though nowadays most folks do that at Memorial Day.

In modern times, Halloween has been adopted by many gay rights advocacy groups. This has evolved from the fact that Halloween is a time when you can dress however you want, and gay people who were in the closet all the rest of the year felt more comfortable on Halloween being themselves while everyone else was being someone else, this gave them more anonymity and safety. Now it is a time for gay pride parades and such. In Manhattan the gay pride groups put on marvelous Halloween parades and my family makes it a point to drop in to the city for the Holiday each year. Pagans, of course, have no problem with Gay folks borrowing our holiday because our religion does not condemn people based on sexuality. Once upon a time when reproduction was important we might have, but nowadays, when the world is overpopulated anyway, we tend to be far more annoyed by stupid people reproducing all willy nilly.

I believe many churches have Halloween parties because they know folks are going to celebrate Halloween and they want to give them a safe alternative that does not "tempt" them into Pagan practices or "sin". Honestly, is your God so petty though, that He's going to be that picky about the days you choose to worship him in a group? I don't think so. If everyone else is out doing something you think is wrong, isn't it perfectly natural to get together and do things you think are right?

Answer 4

It was a pagan holiday, but you and your kids can enjoy the day having a party for Gods glory. Our church has a fair and people dress up as bible characters. No witches, no wizards or scary costumes etc., and we glorify God that day. Give up the trick or treat and go to church that doesnt celebrate pagan holidays. instead. Same thing with Christmas, take Santa out and put up a Nativity and explain the true meaning of Christmas to your kids. On Easter give up the bunnies and eggs and teach your kids about Passover and the Ressurection.

Answer 5

to your information it is not an EVIL holiday neither is it a grimy Pagan holiday. it rather is a party of the harvest, a time to keep in mind those that have handed and to honor those that got here until now us, and the ceremonial dinner previous to All Saints Day. Many church homes comprehend this and proceed the custom and remind the persons of the Saints that walked the long street to tell the Gospel. it is likewise a thank you to assert attributable to their God for a bountiful spring and summer season with no longer purely candy for the youngsters yet additionally a warm canines or chili supper for each man or woman.

Answer 6

Our major holidays have greatly evolved from where they started off. Most are more "American" traditions instead and everyone likes to join in a party. We should change the legal holiday of Christmas Day to "Celebration Day" instead to encompass more of the beliefs and the fact many non-Christians celebrate it because they've always done so. They are celebrating the holiday much more than a man.

Answer 7

You must realise that since the merging of Paganism with the church, christians have celebrated by way of pagan customs and rituals, they even pray to Jesus instead of God almighty, which Jesus never taught. The trinity is a pagan idea. Blood sacrifice of a human being for atonement is Paganism

Answer 8

you know what else pagans did.. they walked .. i guess Christians cant do that either.

if a Christian workships satan on halloween then yea maybe somethings wrong.. if a Christian bows down and worships the Christmas tree.. then yes somethings up .. but whats the big deal with kids getting candy dressed like a pokemon?

Answer 9

Because they really don't know what they are doing. You'll see that in most cases religious doctrines practiced by churches have nothing whatsoever to do with the Bible (which by the way is supposed to be..well--their BIBLE!).

Easter is one of them... Christmas is another.

Answer 10

i went 2 a halloween party in a church once is was to stop kids trick or treating. and 2 bring light into our lives