I know some Christians who let thier kids Trick or Treat, and believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny, and some who don't. Is there actually anything in the bible that says not to?
For those that think it's ok, why?
For those who don't think it's ok, why not?
JUST CURIOUS =) not trying to provoke anger or anything
2006-08-09 16:45:02 · 49 answers · asked by Ash 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
*Trick or Treat. It is in scripture to not seek out seers to communicate with the dead such as when King Saul went to the Witch of Endor to communicate with the Prophet Samuel (Samuel was dead now and this was a No-No) Strictly speaking, probably should be passed on.
Santa Claus. No, he's Ok...Santa Claus was actually a real person... A Patron Saint in the Catholic Church of Children from about the 4th to 6th century....trying to remember off the top of my head and can't remember, sorry. Oh yes, Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in Lycia. The legend started when he brought presents to children. Santa was based on an actual person who is also a Church Saint so I guess he's a go.
Easter Bunny...obviously a fertility sign associated with pagan worship, a big No. Easter is for remembering the Crucifixion of Christ, not bunnies.
The above opinions are stated based on a strict interpretation as to what they represent. If you let your kids trick-or-treat or do the Easter bunnie and eggs thing you should take great care in keeping it in proper perspective and when age permits let the kids know what all this stuff really is.
2006-08-09 16:47:20 · answer #1 · answered by Augustine 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can see the issue from either side.
Santa Claus - Some Christians find that it takes away from the meaning of Christmas, and...it is a lie we tell to children.
- People who are okay with it, say that Santa (giver of gifts) is like Jesus in that he gives without receiving.
Trick or Treat - This can be seen as Satanic because of the history of halloween and the night before halloween that Satanists apparently do stuff (kill cats etc).
- Other Christians just see it as a time to dress up.
Easter Bunny - Again it's a lie, and therefore sinning. Takes away from Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Others see it merely as a holiday experience much like Christmas.
If you're looking at something directly from the bible, I'd say it's the Thou Shalt Not Lie, part that covers Santa and the Easter Bunny, and witchcraft like events that surround halloween.
I'm on the fence about all this. I don't know how I would raise my own children b/c I've seen both sides. I've seen my friends kids know that there is no Santa, and been embaressed while out shopping and clerks ask if they have their lists for Santa done yet and the kids are like "There is no Santa", and I've also experienced my niece coming to terms with the fact she's been told a lie all these years. She said to me, "I just don't understand why you lied about it then if he wasn't real". Both are tough. Give kid the magic of Santa and the Easter Bunny, or give them the truth and set them apart.
Biblically I think it's the latter, but it's a hard thing to do in our materially driven society.
2006-08-09 16:55:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
From a practical stanpoint there are problems with those holidays. You would think haloween would be the worst, but Christmas is the worst. It teaches kids to strongly desire, and want material things which are against the Bible. Other than that, these things are relatively harmless, but I don't think Christians should tell kids there is such a thing as Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, because they will not believe you when you tell them about other religious things. Also Haloween is related to occult practices, but also has an innocent side where you visit graves and remember loved ones that have passed away. I guess the candy companies turned it into a money maker, and now it's about candy, which of course is bad for the teeth.
2006-08-09 16:52:21 · answer #3 · answered by The Bible (gives Hope) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can understand why some Christians don't like the Halloween thing. But I have no problem with people who let their kids go trick or treating. Now, if they are Christians, I don't think they should be dressing kids up like witches and devils. But I do understand those who are against it. I just let other believers "walk out" their own salvation...not trying to tell them what to do.
I think it's very important, if you are a believer and have children, they know exactly what Easter and Christmas are about, that is, Jesus. I wouldn't encourage belief in either the Easter bunny or Santa. Once again, if another would....that is their choice.
2006-08-09 16:49:20 · answer #4 · answered by christian_lady_2001 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not I dont think so. When I was a child as did probably most of the children around us all believed in Santa Clause, the easter bunny, ...etc. But at a certain age or stage in time we all come to believe in something else. Now if you are 40 and still believe in Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny you have a bigger problem than you know of. Good Luck
2006-08-09 16:59:44 · answer #5 · answered by lil_frosty93654 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing in the bible, unless you consider this to be the worship of false idols. The whole Santa thing is weird, because Santa is actually based on a man who once known as Saint Nicholas. Easter Bunny does not make since becuase the original Christians had to celebrate the resurection of Christ during the pagan Festival of the Hare so as to avoid persecution. All Hallows Eve was also a pagan holiday. It seems to me that for those two holidays, Christians may have develped some resentment towards the pagans after years celebrating their holidays to avoid persecution.
2006-08-09 16:54:26 · answer #6 · answered by drpedigo_2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible came long before Trick-or-Treating, Easter Bunny, or Santa Claus. Those are all man made traditions, not religion.
2006-08-09 16:49:46 · answer #7 · answered by Lindy357 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes,there is something against to those who searched there pagan...Halloween is trick a person or treat a evil spirit,to appease him.Some people innocently acknowledge these things for kids...but can be harmful to some....One Halloween, my brother was given an apple with a razor in it! Some people are cruel and they work on this evil day,dead day,ect.It doesn't mean it's a bad day in creation just what the devil wants to do with it.Just be strong in faith of God.Peace to You! Santa claus,some belive is a fictional character,but he was really a good saint who gave presents!Easter bunny,I don't know,let's say Matrix is a good movie!Ha,olaola
2006-08-09 17:00:45 · answer #8 · answered by moonsailordoreen 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think the problem is with letting your kids believe, it's just that (for Christmas and Easter) the true meaning tends to get overshadowed. My church doesn't seem to have anything against Hallowe'en trick or treating.
BTW, I never believed is Santa or the Easter bunny as a child, yet I still had a great time.
2006-08-09 16:55:24 · answer #9 · answered by DawnL 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's nothing in the bible aganist trick-or-treating, it actually was started as something religious but soon pageans turned it into something evil and then it became innocent again. Some Christains still dwell on the whole pagean issue and some let it go. It's just all about personal choice, really. Nothing about Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny either.
2006-08-09 16:50:37 · answer #10 · answered by AJ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋