Are Halloween ‘hell houses’ a good way to save souls?

[Michie]

This October some churches and ministries in the United States are once again hosting Christian versions of haunted houses, and nonbelievers and believers alike are lining up for some rather existential spine-tingling for the first time since the pandemic.

Popular among evangelical Protestant churches in the South, these “judgment houses” typically stage dramatic representations depicting what happens after people die, leaving visitors to ponder whether they themselves are headed for heaven or hell, and presumably, to act accordingly.

Is this a good way to save souls? Some Catholics experts in evangelization who spoke to CNA have reservations.

A different way to evangelize
The late Jerry Falwell, the Baptist televangelist, and founder of Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Virginia, is credited with hosting the first judgment house in 1972, “Scaremare.”

Scaremare is still going strong in Lynchburg, where the university’s campus ministry stages a production every year around Halloween that draws people from all over the region attracted by the lure of “fun-house rooms and scenes of death in order to confront people with the question ‘What happens after I die?’”

The performance does not disappoint those looking for the sort of adrenaline surge a horror movie produces. As many as 4,000 visitors a night witness gruesome death scenes including a massacre at a movie theater and a camper who is mauled by a wild animal.

Continued below.
Are Halloween ‘hell houses’ a good way to save souls?

 

[Bob Crowley]

Off topic a bit, but Halloween is creeping into the Australian cultural scene. I don't like it and as far as I'm concerned it's just a marketing ploy by the big retailers to be able to sell some more junk.

We took the dog for a walk this afternoon as we usually do, and there were a couple of groups of people going "trick or treating". The parents were going with them by the look of it, so I suppose the kids were safe at least.

It's an Americanism we don't need - that's how I feel about it.

 

[DragonFox91]

I've been to one of these. Ask me anything.

 

[Michie]

I've been to one of these. Ask me anything.

What did you think?

 

[DragonFox91]

What did you think?

I don't remember it depicting hell. But yes, it did show a lot of death scenes. I remember car crash & home invasion scenes specifically. Lots of blood, & death, & red. Makes you uncomfortable. Then the room after all the death scenes is 'Jesus!' I don't remember how it was presented, only it was a different tone than the death scenes, made to make you feel hopeful & believe.
I remember at the end there's a big room where you sit down in groups w/ someone who gives their testimony & wants you to convert, what you think about Jesus, etc. That's what I remember the most.

The non-believers in the Group didn't care for it. The believers like me thought it was accurate. So I guess that's what I got out of it: it's not helpful in actually saving souls. Definitely not family friendly

 

[RJ Howard]

I'm reminded of this episode of "King of the Hill"

 

[Michie]

I don't remember it depicting hell. But yes, it did show a lot of death scenes. I remember car crash & home invasion scenes specifically. Lots of blood, & death, & red. Makes you uncomfortable. Then the room after all the death scenes is 'Jesus!' I don't remember how it was presented, only it was a different tone than the death scenes, made to make you feel hopeful & believe.
I remember at the end there's a big room where you sit down in groups w/ someone who gives their testimony & wants you to convert, what you think about Jesus, etc. That's what I remember the most.

The non-believers in the Group didn't care for it. The believers like me thought it was accurate. So I guess that's what I got out of it: it's not helpful in actually saving souls. Definitely not family friendly

I think it is meant to be more self reflective. Scenarios where it makes the viewer wonder if they are ready to meet the Lord. Unfortunately, I think some Churches have taken it to an unhealthy level that’s just as grotesque as any Halloween display and forgetting to emphasize the love and mercy of God as well. I’m not sure if it’s a good evangelical tool or not.

 

[RileyG]

Off topic a bit, but Halloween is creeping into the Australian cultural scene. I don't like it and as far as I'm concerned it's just a marketing ploy by the big retailers to be able to sell some more junk.

We took the dog for a walk this afternoon as we usually do, and there were a couple of groups of people going "trick or treating". The parents were going with them by the look of it, so I suppose the kids were safe at least.

It's an Americanism we don't need - that's how I feel about it.

They don't trick or treat in Australia? Is that strictly an American thing? This is news to me.

 

[WarriorAngel]

They don't trick or treat in Australia? Is that strictly an American thing? This is news to me.

It's actually an old Celtic custom brought to America.
We just loved it and kept it.

Costumes, scary stuff outside homes were equivalent to the Medieval gargoyles
Many considered gargoyles the spiritual protectors of churches as well, scaring off demons and evil spirits.

Because All Souls day praying for the dead, they didn't want unsavories in addition to the souls...

 

[Bob Crowley]

They don't trick or treat in Australia? Is that strictly an American thing? This is news to me.

No, until a few years ago there was no Halloween culture in Australia.

I'm currently wading through "Butler's Saints of the Day", one day at a time (most days). November 1 is All Saints Day, which is a celebration of all the saints who have done God's will down the centuries.

The passage concluded with the words "It's traditional English name, All Hallows, produced the festival of Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, which has acquired a connection with ghosts more appropriate to tomorrow's commemoration of all the faithful departed."

Just a footnote. I think US culture has taken the scheme of things a lot further than it's original intent, and sometimes in grotesque ways.

I remember my father saying that "Father's Day", which has been around for as long as I can remember, was also an American import, once again for commercial reasons so the big stores (and probably the big hardware and tool stores) could sell more stuff most of us don't need. I'd have to defer to his seniority on that one.

It's definitely become a part of the local social scene.

 

[Bob Crowley]

... We took the dog for a walk this afternoon as we usually do, and there were a couple of groups of people going "trick or treating". The parents were going with them by the look of it, so I suppose the kids were safe at least...

I mentioned in my (part) post above that "... I suppose the kids were safe at least..." as adults were with them.

The next night on the news it stated a 13 year old girl who was trick-or-treating had been bashed in a park at Ormeau (which is about 35 kilometres away) by a bunch of teenagers.

So if young people are going to trick or treat, I think it's a good idea if they are accompanied by adults.