I've been wondering about this for a while, what is the Christians' thoughts on Halloween?

I've searched this on Google, etc, and I've never found a straight answer.

When I say Halloween, I mean the Americanized version, not the celtic pagan/neo-pagan ritual, which Christians would obviously hate due to their intolorence.

Anyway,

Any answers apprecieated.

Northern Comfort

Fundies like my pastor dont have anything to do with it. I really dont care much for it. It is fun to go and get free candy and scare the shit out of little kids though.

I love going to halloween facy dress parties. I just love the whole feel of the day. Dunno why, I just love it.

But I aint a xian so it doesn't matter anyway.

Depends on the christian. Some have some huge thing against it and all the "evil" it symbolizes (in other words, intelligent pastors have created a way to pull on the puppet strings of the masses by creating a ficticious enemy they should fight against, while giving the pastor (the real evil) all their money an attention). They often produce a bunch of lies about it.

Others see it as harmless.

I hate it when I see flyers about going to church instead of participating in satanic halloween. American halloween is a fucken christian holiday, dumbasses they should be more worried about their children worship the pagan Gods Santa and the Easter bunny.

quote:Originally posted by ---Beany---:

I love going to halloween facy dress parties. I just love the whole feel of the day. Dunno why, I just love it.

But I aint a xian so it doesn't matter anyway.

Same with me, I love the whole feel of the day, feels good for some reason, can't lay a finger on it though.

Yea, I love Christmas time even though I'm not a Christian. Everyone is so happy and there's snow falling.

Actually they shouldn`t have that much against it. The scandinavian term for it is "allehelgensnatt," that roughly translates as "all saints nights"

When the church took over the ascension of saints there were thousands of them. Before then all that was needed for canonisation was the aproval of the people and the salute of theire name.

When the Vatican put them unto themself to rule this they found out that they should limit the number and give them days.

We now have a saint for everything and the rest of them is put in the same occuring day as halloween. (just by chance i am sure)

So at least they should celebrate for the untold numbers for martyrs (they were automatically canonised before) and saints.

Or be happy that theire kids gets diabetes.

quote:Originally posted by Beta69:

Depends on the christian. Some have some huge thing against it and all the "evil" it symbolizes (in other words, intelligent pastors have created a way to pull on the puppet strings of the masses by creating a ficticious enemy they should fight against, while giving the pastor (the real evil) all their money an attention). They often produce a bunch of lies about it.

Others see it as harmless.

I hate it when I see flyers about going to church instead of participating in satanic halloween. American halloween is a fucken christian holiday, dumbasses they should be more worried about their children worship the pagan Gods Santa and the Easter bunny.



Isn't Santa just Saint Nicholas... remodelled by the Japs?

I'm not Christian and I've never been into holiday. I've never been into any holiday that requires getting scared, seeing relatives, or blowing shit up. Which covers just about all the holidays.

Cheers,

Lost

quote:Originally posted by DonMuttoni:



Isn't Santa just Saint Nicholas... remodelled by the Japs?

I thought the jolly red santa was invented by Coca Cola in a promotion.

Now on the topic...

From what I've seen, most Australians don't really follow Holloween. I don't know anyone who's actually gone trick or treating. (So there would be no conflict with religious groups.)

quote:Originally posted by DonMuttoni:



Isn't Santa just Saint Nicholas... remodelled by the Japs?

Yep, not remodelled by the japs though. Santa clause is based off saint nicholas, but then worshiping a saint like children do with santa clause is the same as worshiping a demon or any other idol. Then you have the changes that have been made to him. He lives in a magic land at the north pole using enchanted reindeer to fly around, placing materialistic items under a pagan symbol of winter and eternal life.

quote:Originally posted by Beta69:

American halloween is a fucken christian holiday, dumbasses

And which part of your ass did you pull that from?

The part that says,

1) It's based off of All saints day and all saints eve, a christian holiday.

2) Pagan aspects of holloween could be considered "christian" because they have been known to steal and incorperate pagan ideas to make converting them easier. Pagan aspects for the purpose of conversion is christian.

3) American culture. Which is supposed to be christian based (and since the majority of america is christian, at least christian supported).

[This message has been edited by Beta69 (edited 08-17-2005).]

quote:Originally posted by Beta69:

The part that says,

1) It's based off of All saints day and all saints eve, a christian holiday.

2) Pagan aspects of holloween could be considered "christian" because they have been known to steal and incorperate pagan ideas to make converting them easier. Pagan aspects for the purpose of conversion is christian.

3) American culture. Which is supposed to be christian based (and since the majority of america is christian, at least christian supported).



Its American culture ill give you that. But then again Microsoft was founded by a computer repairman, does that automatically make Microsoft a computer repair business? No. Along the way things get incorporated in to it that were not perceived in the beginning.

So Halloween was a celebration for saints (or whatever its original purpose was). Now it is universally known for ghosts, boogymen, witches, et al. Lots of things start out for some purpose and ultimately end up with a totally different purpose that was never conceived. Its happens. Does that mean that something now considered a celebration for all things pagan should still be considered the most holy day because of its original foundings?

Point being, it might have started out as Christian, but it is univesally known to be completely different. Therefore it shouldnt necessarilly be considered as such.

Wow, crappy analogy.

What most see as halloween all evolved from basic christian roots. Along with the celebration of all saints day was all souls day, where people, especially kids would walk around collecting soul cakes (early trick or treating), the christians would promise to say prayers for dead relatives and to help them find their way to heaven. Because of this, it appears it was thought that souls had more power on that day, and evil souls and demons might try to take revenge. So they dressed in ghost and demon costumes because evil souls apparently can't tell the difference.

Trick or treating evolved from this and was brought over by christians to america. I would say that modern technology and comercialization are the reasons for complex ghost costumes, etc.

One thing stupid christians have a problem telling the difference between, is kids dressing up in costumes and going out to get candy, and devil worshiping/support. These morons must get really confused when they see an actor play a bad guy in one movie and a good guy in another. The fact their are ghost and demon costumes doesn't turn kids into evil pagan satanicismists.

So, yes, it is a christian based holiday, but can you blame people who are trying to paganize it, since the day was originally stolen from them. So far they aren't doing a good job, as it's universally known as a secular holiday for kids.

Christians dont have halloween they have all souls day. Or is it all saints day im not sure.

quote:Originally posted by ArgonPlasma2000:

Fundies like my pastor dont have anything to do with it. I really dont care much for it. It is fun to go and get free candy and scare the shit out of little kids though.



Hahahaha I get it... so your not a real christian then?

You have to realize that "christian" covers a hugs range of people. Under christianity there are 100's of relgions. Each of those have a different view on halloween. That's why you will never get a straight answer on the issue of Halloween. However, its been my general observation that the more fundimentalist the relegion the less tolerance they have for such things.

Halloween, originally a pagan holiday, was transformed and adopted by the Christian Church sometime in the first millenium. This was only one of many other attempts by the Christian Church to convince the natives that it wouldn't be that big of switch from their own pagan religion to Christianity.

Lots of cider/alcohol/making out with chicks. Fuck all of the xian celebrations are renamed pagan hollidays.

get some candy, egg some housing, shaving cream fight

NorthernComfort, I know many people who are Pennecostal. They arn't allowed to dress up (on halloween or on any occasion) because it is an imitation of demons. They are only allowed to don costumes that symbolize religious symbols and involve prayer. Many Native Americans also go by these rules.

Talk to a Jahovah's Witness and they'll tell you why it's wrong to celebrate any holiday, including Christmas.

Santa Clause's appearance is based off of the pagan Green Man/Oak King/Holly King who is celebrated during the winter solstice.

Or you could go with the dyslexic joke, either way is fun.

Sucralose makes nasty chocolate,

Lynne