I don't quite under stand
2007-09-28 08:31:24 · 23 answers · asked by JMS 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I love Jesus and Halloween. I just love Jesus more. That doesn't keep me from scaring the trick or treaters so bad they have to buy new underpants.
2007-09-28 08:34:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
First of all, I don't agree that it's necessarily bad to celebrate Halloween. It depends on how you celebrate it. For example, it's bad to play harmful pranks that could hurt or seriously inconvenience others.
Some Christians believe that because Halloween images often involve the Devil, witches, skeletons, and other expressions of the occult or of death, this makes Halloween itself evil. Others trace Halloween to its pagan roots in the Celtic holiday Samhain, and say that anything with pagan roots is evil and irredeemable.
However, from what I've read, it's the Christians who brought a positive light to the Samhain/Halloween celebration. Halloween gained its name when the Church moved All Saints Day from May to November 1. All Saints Day is also called All Hallows Day; October 31 became All Hallows Eve, or Halloween for short. As an example, the Samhaim celebrants put scary faces on their jack-o'-lanterns, which in old Europe were made of turnips. (Pumpkins are native to North America.) Christians put a smile on the jack-o'-lantern's face!
As for pagan roots, quite a few of our holidays, including Christmas and Easter, have similar roots. Our circular birthday cake with the glowing candles comes from an ancient cake to honor the goddess Juno! I believe we have the right to adapt and redeem customs. Even some Jewish holidays, such as Passover, might have some root in pagan or pre-biblical rituals! (I've read that an ancient Middle-Eastern rite involved sacrificing a firstborn spring lamb, similar to the Passover lamb.)
I see Halloween as an occasion to look death square in the eye with humor, to expose the occult, to celebrate autumn and the harvest, or to dress up and have candy and have fun!
Colossians 2:16-17, 20-21 (NIV)
16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
20Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"?
2007-09-28 08:45:58 · answer #2 · answered by MNL_1221 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not all Christians think it's bad only some Christians.
Actually, originally people dressed up like demons and goblins to scare off the evil spirits. The day following Halloween is All Saints Day which is a holy day of obligation (if you are Catholic) and a day in which these holy people (Saints) are remembered.
2007-09-28 08:39:01 · answer #3 · answered by Misty 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I personally do not think it is bad per se. I think a lot has to do with the idea of kids making themselves look like devils, witches and other ungodly creatures. There is an old pagan holiday associated with it, but I can't think of it right now. I use Halloween as a way to pass out gospel tract as well as candy and be a witness for Christ. I think if a Christian really had a problem with kids dressing up but was to allow them to go out Trick-or-Treatin-then dress them as Bible characters.
2007-09-28 08:41:08 · answer #4 · answered by fairgirlbluezap 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most Satanists celebrate this as their high holy day and even offer human sacrifices to the devil. Until recently, most Christians have not questioned this traditional celebration, but rather have gone along with it by even bringing Halloween parties into the church. The earliest Halloween celebrations were not held by the early church, but the Druids in honor of Samhain, the "lord of the dead", and his demons, whose festival fell on November 1. Halloween actually means "holy or hallowed evening."
According to the Roman calendar in which days began at midnight, the evening of October 31 was the eve before the hallowed day; hence Halloween or All Soul's Eve was kept throughout the ancient pagan world. All Hallows Eve, because it is the day before All Hallows' or All Saints' day, was a holy day in the Roman Catholic Church, Episcopal Church, the Church of England and the Greek Orthodox Church. This festival honors all martyrs, known and unknown, who have died for the church. During the time of Constantine, these two holidays were merged in an attempt to Christianize the heathen. The church could not prevent these heathen practices, so they thought "taming'" them would be the answer. They were, of course, not to worship their gods on the church's "All Saint's day." However, as it is with all compromises, soon the evil overrode the good, and hence we still honor these heathen practices by celebrating Halloween.
2007-09-28 08:37:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
Who said it was wrong? I dont see people celebrating Halloween as much as I see people getting dressed up and their kids dressed up for a traditional ride around the neighborhood for free candy. It was fun when I was little, and I even did it thru my teen years.
Nothin wrong with it at all.
2007-09-28 08:35:52 · answer #6 · answered by goinupru 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was originally a pagan holiday. But no more. I think the JW's are the main ones who don't celebrate it; nor Christmas either, and for the same reason. Christians adapted several pagan traditions to their own purpose, and this is a fact.
2007-09-28 08:38:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't know the exact answer but i will say that at the church my pre-schooler attends they do not celebrate it at all. No costumes or candy. I guess it is because of the association with the devil and evil spirits. They celebrate "Harvest Day" instead.
2007-09-28 08:40:08 · answer #8 · answered by rustymoch 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what you mean by celebrate. As a Christian, I certainly wouldn't be decorating my house up as a torture chamber or make it look like satan's lair, but that does not prevent me from dressing up as a non-controversial character, and still have fun! Besides, halloween is the one excuse and one time of the year I can indulge in lots of chocolate!
2007-09-28 08:38:00 · answer #9 · answered by b g 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I wasn't aware it was bad for Christians to celebrate Halloween......my church holds little parties for Halloween...so,uh...yeah.
2007-09-28 08:42:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋