Our school is holding a halloween themed dance, and my christian friend has said she won't be going becuase her beliefs don't agree with it.. i don't really understand what she means.. and whenever i bring it up she changes the subject..
2007-09-23 10:03:35 · 38 answers · asked by telltheworld 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There is no single "Christian" view of Halloween.
2007-09-23 10:08:35 · answer #1 · answered by delsydebothom 4 · 10⤊ 5⤋
Halloween became easily the Catholic Church repackaging distinctive pagan autumn fairs into an already ordinary, nonetheless much less universal, trip favourite as All Saint's Day (the day after Halloween). They did this so as that the people of Europe could desire to be dutiful Christians while not having to be sure directly to resign their distinctive traditions. The be conscious "Halloween" comes from "All Saint's Day Eve" (the day in the previous All Saint's day) which became shortened to Hallowed Eve and which phonetically grew to grow to be Halloween. The Church additionally made a the day after all Saint's Day a trip, the call of which i can not keep in mind, to cover the unfold of October thirty first, November 1st, and 2d in pagan holidays repackaged as Christian ones. that allows you to respond to your question the traditionally proper Christian view of Halloween is that that's holy.
2016-10-09 17:23:10 · answer #2 · answered by bobbee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no consistent answer to that, just as the many Christian factions disagree on many things.
Though it was originally a harvest festival associated with the ancient Celts, almost every religion and culture (at lest that farms) has some variation on a Autumnal celebration.
In fact the Jews (Jesus was a Jew), like the Celts, celebrate Yom Kippur {mistake, please see ADD] as a New Years celebration.
The early Christians realized that their culture needed a fall festival and so the Pope moved All Saints Day to November 1st to make an officially sanctioned Christian activity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints_Day (technically the Celtic celebration starts at the fall of night on Oct. 31st but continues through the day of November 1st).
Halloween has long since become a Hallmark Holiday filled with candy and parties for people of all religions and cultures. If your friend chooses not to participate it is her choice, but she is also choosing to face the ridicule of refusing an American pass time.
IMPORTANT ADD: I made a mistake, the Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah which is their new years celebration that takes place in the fall. Thank you "A B" for the correction; I only recently learned about the tradition.
2007-09-23 10:16:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I've really not understood why some Christians have focussed on Halloween as a festival to get hot under the collar about. Why not Christmas? Oh, I know it's meant to be the birth of Christ, but I don't think Christmas trees, Father Christmas/Santa Claus, boughs of holly, mistletoe etc are anything but 'pagan' i.e pre-Christian. Halloween is celebrated as a bit of fun and the only people who do anything else with it are followers of proper modern paganism or Wicca - and they certainly don't bother with trick-or-treat, silly costumes and masks, pumpkins etc. If Christians think there is something satanic going on, I think they're paranoid. And if they believe there really is something weird and demonic about 31 October, surely they're just saying they believe in some pagan notion?
NOTE FOR 'THE NEUTRAL CHRIST': Jews do NOT celebrate Yom Kippur as New Year! There are four different 'new years' in the Jewish calendar, but the one you're referring to is Rosh Hashanah, the Head of the Year, which comes 10 days before Yom Kippur.
2007-09-23 10:21:14 · answer #4 · answered by Ambi valent 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I am a Christian and my daughter and I partake in Halloween. Other Christian friends do not, for some reasons posters have mentioned. they do not try to tell me I'm wrong nor do I say that to them. We accept each others choice re: Halloween. Our costumes are silly and not witches, werewolves etc. One year I was the ace of diamonds and she was a die. another year I was a tree and she was a bird. Ironically I like dressing up and being silly more than she. she just likes the candy! My church has a autumn party for the kids and asks that no one wear costumes. but again we're not ostracized for choosing to visit our neighbors(small neighborhood) and getting candy. She goes to a secular school and they have a Halloween party and kids/parents dress up. You don't have to go and it's not done during regular school hours. anyway the noise level and organized chaos is far scarier than any costumes! God Bless
2007-09-23 10:19:44 · answer #5 · answered by inkster7 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
God is very clear that we aren't to take the 'powers of darkness' lightly. People who think it's a bit of fun should think again. Halloween has it's roots in some very evil practices. Have found a great site that exposes this side of the 'fun.'
2007-09-23 22:44:27 · answer #6 · answered by good tree 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am Irish and a Roman Catholic and we do love Halloween! If fanatical evangelicals do not wish to participate, fine - but do not let them destroy it for everyone else.
For instance, in the southern state of FL, USA, they are pushing for ALL to celebrate Harvest Fest, instead of Halloween! Now, how boring is that?
2007-09-23 15:59:11 · answer #7 · answered by gortamor 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Halloween is a grab bag of various cultural beliefs. It's also a time to celebrate the final harvest before winter. And, yes, it has Pagan roots but so do most of the holidays.
Samhain, Lord of the Dead???? You've gotta be kidding me. That myth was debunked YEARS ago but still taught as fact by scared members of the clergy. Samhain means "end of summer". Get a grip.
And, AVZ, Pagans do still celebrate it so it is still a Pagan holiday for those who CHOOSE to celebrate it as a religious holiday.
2007-09-23 10:09:47 · answer #8 · answered by Keltasia 6 · 8⤊ 2⤋
I am Christian and i really don't see how any Christian beliefs would interfere with celebrating the modern Halloween--after all it really has nothing to do with the old pagan holiday anymore--our church even has a Halloween party for the kids.
2007-09-23 10:10:03 · answer #9 · answered by avz 2 · 5⤊ 4⤋
halloween is a pagan celebration and should not be celebrated by christians. It dates back to at least the druids in England and maybe farther. There were human sacrifices called bonefires because of all the bones left behind. Today we call them bonfires. Many of the halloween traditions come from evil pagan worship festivals. Participating in halloween can invite wicked spirits to oppress you. It is one of the 8 occult holidays that witches(wiccan) celebrate. It has nothing to do with biblical living.
2007-09-23 10:14:37 · answer #10 · answered by JesusIsTheAnswer 4 · 2⤊ 5⤋
It is a pagan holliday. So most Christian's won't recognize it. Catholics call it all Saints Day to honor the Saints instead. some Christian's say you can participate as long as you do not have an evil costume.
2007-09-23 10:10:14 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋