To wonder why some Christians have a problem with Halloween?

[JellyDiamonds]

The first time I encountered this was at Uni when a girl I was friends with refused to partake in any Halloween celebrations whatsoever on the grounds that it was "evil". Her family were evangelical Christian, and even though she was more relaxed in her religious beliefs than them she wouldn't budge on Halloween. It was a shame as she missed out on all of the fun. But she'd never celebrated it, and her family would go out on the 31st to avoid trick or treaters.

I don't understand it? My mum was raised a Christian and has always loved halloween. She sees it for what it is, a bit of fun for kids.

I feel a bit sorry that these people won't allow their children to take part in the same customs that their peers do. Doesn't it leave them feeling a bit left out at school etc?

Should these people just get a grip and stop being intolerant?

As a young child in the 70's I remember everyone gathering on the corner at dusk for Halloween, and yes most of the costumes were just people dressed in white sheets. Still remember it as very spooky though!

I think that for a lot of Christians it's the old 'wolf in sheep's clothing' thing. Something fun and harmless being used to trick people into stepping onto the slippery slope.

For me, it's just scares me to death and always has. I remember as a child being given a turnip to hollow out because we needed to light the lantern to keep evil spirits away. It was all a bit scary but fun until bedtime at which point mum would make me blow out the candle and I'd lie in bed awake in the dark absolutely terrified, waiting for something to come and get me.

As an adult it's the trick or treating which scares me. I have AS and I can't cope with the constant knocking of strangers at my door. I turn all my lights off and sit in the dark in the hope that they'll pass me by, but they never do.

My only moral objection to Halloween is that it's become slightly too commercial, but I guess these are the times we live in. I also slightly regret the passing of Guy Fawkes and penny for the guy traditions (which are clearly very difficult to commercialise), despite the dubious anti-Catholic connotations.

I dont like it as i know alot of my elderly patients find is very scary. The thought of them sitting in their homes with the lights turned off hoping no one knocks upsets me. How i know they all telling me at the moment. If you are going trick and treating please just visit places that have decorations and look like they expecting visitors. X

Hackmum and londonrach - you are so right. Too commercialised and if you don't participate you are branded boring (by some MN members anyhow).

Catsize - it isn't the occult.

Christians don't celebrate it because of it's roots to paganism and other cultures the tried took take over from.

Traditionally it's the am day of the dead. Where cultures remember there dead and celebrate there lives. It used to involve the whole village, and there was music, dancing, bonfires, and an amazing feast.

We were raised Church of England, which lets be honest was founded so the king could get a divorce. So not religious in the slightest. We have always done Halloween, not like the Americans mind, but it's still a good holiday no the less.

it's becuase it is the pagan holiday of Samhain. We were raised catholic and we've always done Hallowe'en. I celebrate both. People think it's to do with the occult when it isn't, people should read things up before the judge others for "worshipping the devil" tbf!

Idontseeanysontarans has explained it nicely

I think maybe the confusion is because Hallowe'en/Samhain isn't only celebrated by Pagans.

Just as the different sects such as JW, Mormon, Christadelphian, Christian Science have roughly similar beliefs to the mainstream Christian Churches, there are other groups that celebrate the Old festivals including Satanists, who most certainly celebrate evil. I used to have two "Hallowe'en" cats - one ginger, the other black - and my US friends once told me to be sure to keep them in on Hallowe'en in case they were taken for sacrifice

Unfortunately, Pagans are sometimes muddled with these groups, rather like Christians are sometimes attributed with Mormon or Christian Science beliefs.

I think that opens doors which should be left firmly shut.

You can buy ouija boards on Amazon, the only warning they carry is that they're not suitable for under 3's as they parts my pose a choking hazard Do you have any statistics on the harm done by ouija boards? A & E admissions and the like?

I think that for a lot of Christians it's the old 'wolf in sheep's clothing' thing. Something fun and harmless being used to trick people into stepping onto the slippery slope.

What slippery slope? Slippery slope to what? Where are the facts to back up the warnings?

Slippery slope?

Halloween is actually a religious festival - all hallow's eve & it is meant to signify the rememberance of the dead. It also traditionally uses humour to poke fun at the power of death, hence trick or treating.
I get slightly annoyed with the holier then thou atttitude when supposed Christians don't know what it is about!

By the way the day the day after -1st Nov - is All Saint's day...now that is the day to be godly.

i think the ouija boards can cause harm if they're used by people susceptible to suggestion in the same way that the Slender man stories ended up influencing the 2 young girls to commit murder. They can be used to cause harm rather than actually doing it themselves by contacting the spirit world IYSWIM. I know many people who are Pagan won't touch them.

"Slippery slope" in this context refers to the celebration of evil.
I'm surprised anyone should demand "facts" when It's well known that some people will progress from almost any introduction you care to name onto full commitment, sometimes in directions that would horrify those who don't make those same commitments.

A quick google of "ouija board murder" will show a number of cases, too.

There used to be a poster on here who identified as a Satanist, can't remember their name so I don't know if they're still around - I learnt a lot from her, she put to rest an awful lot of preconceptions hint, they don't sacrifice animals, virgins or babies

The people were murdered by other humans, spirits. Those people would have certainly had existing MH issues if they thought the board was making them do something. It's the beliefs that people have about such things that are dangerous superstitions hurt people, not spirits, there is not one shred of evidence that there is a spiritual realm let alone an evil one.

We have Street etiquette - if you have Halloween decorations people can knock but if there's nothing in view you walk on by. I love the neighbourhood kids dressing up and Knocking. They have big smiles and it's lovely to see them but I get that some would be intimidated.
I'm Christian but I don't see it as sinister just a bit of fun. I love horror films and pumpkins - but I don't see it as celebrating evil more mocking it. I'm probably a rubbish Christian but heyho, we have fun.

Why do you feel sorry for us OP? Why should we get a grip? We don't celebrate it, because we don't want to celebrate it. We don't believe in it. Whatever the origins are. Children don't miss what they heave never had. We don't just sit in and watch TV and be boring. We either go to a different sort or party, with other christian friends (a light party, although this year we are doing a cowboys and Indians party, and last year was princesses, princes and superheroes, the year before was animals (Noah's ark) the dc are excited to dress up) or we play together, bake cakes or biscuits and do something fun as a family that doesn't involve darkness and scary, ghoulish things. Just because everyone else is doing it, and everyone else is having fun doing it, doesn't mean that we have to as well. It's not the only way to have fun on Halloween.

Don't feel sorry for my dc, they are very happy, and right now are having fun making bits and pieces for the cowboys and Indians party.

If a Jewish poster came on MN and expressed her concern why other people do not celebrate Hanukkah, or if a Muslim OP expressed why other people do not celebrate Eid, and that your children were missing out on fun, you would probably reply, because you are not Jewish or Muslim and that your children were not missing out because you have fun in other ways.

And so it is with us. We don't celebrate it, because we don't agree with what it stands for, or believe in any form of ghosts or whatever, we don't believe that they come back for a day of the year or whatever, we don't like looking at horror, or gory or scary things and we don't like to teach our children to beg for sweets.

We dress up (as non scary things) and have sweets and games in other ways, so please don't sorry for us, we are just fine.

some people will progress from almost any introduction you care to name onto full commitment

Yes that's a reason to be against compulsory worship in schools, but unlike in schools no one is saying "This is Satan, he is wonderful, you should do whatever he says"

Well said

I'm surprised anyone should demand "facts" when It's well known that some people will progress from almost any introduction you care to name onto full commitment, sometimes in directions that would horrify those who don't make those same commitments.

Evidence? Facts? What directions do you mean? What would be a full commitment? It's all very well thinking it's a portal to harm but without any data I have no choice but to reject your warning. It's like me saying 'don't eat carrots, they open your mind to demons' and then to just keep rewording the warning when you ask for clarification 'just don't mess with carrots, don't even look at carrots, I mean it, everyone knows how evil they are ' etc etc etc.