Haunted House attractions

[All4one]

I consider "haunted houses" and things of the such silly. First of all fear is not of God so what is the purpose of trying to scare people? Fear in such a way only shows a lack of assurance in God, why manipulate that? Next, the things portrayed are... dead people, ghosts, goblins, witches, or things alike. There are potions and zombees many times included. These things are not of God. Yes it may be all fun and games but I don't want to have to explain t God what "fun and games" are... I want Him to show me.

In Christs Love,
All4one

 

[wiseguide]

All4one, I respect your opinion. Part of my reason for asking this question is to examine why I am interested in scary things.

 

[CrownCaster]

Halloween's roots are in Christianity, not paganism or satanism. It is part of the celebration of All Saints Day, (though it's date did borrow from an existing pagan holiday). The roots of "trick or treat" come from Ireland, where treats were offered to avoid a particular night of mischief a few centuries back.

There is nothing inherently "evil" about halloween. Jesus would love Halloween. Remember, he made more wine at a wedding reception when they ran out. If he would supply the booze at a party, certainly he'd hand out candy to kids dressed up as Barney.

You really need some study on this issue. Halloween is celebrated now in place of samhain. All Saints Day is actually Nov. 1st and was placed there in combat of the evil pagan holiday.

 

[SimplyMe]

You really need some study on this issue. Halloween is celebrated now in place of samhain. All Saints Day is actually Nov. 1st and was placed there in combat of the evil pagan holiday.

I'm not sure what it matters that Halloween used to be an "evil pagan holiday." So was Christmas, so should we stop celebrating the birth of Christ?

Beyond that, I don't see what it matters that we satirized a pagan holiday. Unless you feel the pagan god is real and has power or that it's not actually a Christian response to samhain, making light of it, how does it effect us as Christians?

 

[k]

I consider "haunted houses" and things of the such silly. First of all fear is not of God so what is the purpose of trying to scare people? Fear in such a way only shows a lack of assurance in God, why manipulate that? Next, the things portrayed are... dead people, ghosts, goblins, witches, or things alike. There are potions and zombees many times included. These things are not of God. Yes it may be all fun and games but I don't want to have to explain t God what "fun and games" are... I want Him to show me.

In Christs Love,
All4one

There are some excellent points here, and you did a great job of explaining yourself. I think there is a difference between real fear and fake fear. Having a gun in the house is "real" fear. Going to a haunted house is "fake" fear, not much different from riding a roller coaster.

Have you been led to witness to those wholly involved in halloween celebrations? If so, what transpired?

Peace

 

[wiseguide]

There is also "fear" in things like organized sports.

 

[Drifster]

Halloween's roots are in Christianity, not paganism or satanism. It is part of the celebration of All Saints Day, (though it's date did borrow from an existing pagan holiday). The roots of "trick or treat" come from Ireland, where treats were offered to avoid a particular night of mischief a few centuries back.

There is nothing inherently "evil" about halloween. Jesus would love Halloween. Remember, he made more wine at a wedding reception when they ran out. If he would supply the booze at a party, certainly he'd hand out candy to kids dressed up as Barney.

Many Christian Holidays were actually pagan celebrations revised to fit the Christian faith...Easter was actually a time for celebrating the Pagan mother of Spring named Esther (i believe the spelling is correct), the church found it easier for Pagan converts to adapt better if certain celebration dates aligned with earlier Pagan rituals or festivals. Dec.25 was another example of a Pagan date adopted by Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Even the fact that we acknowledge that "Sunday" as the Sabbath was (instead of adhering to the Jewish sabbath) was put in place because the Roman Emperor "Constantine" was converted over to Christianity after believing he saw a vision of the cross illuminated over the sun before a great battle ( he had believed in some Pagan Sun God previous to this). In fact it was "Emperor Constantine who abolished the persecution of Christians in 313 A.D., he was baptized a Christian some 25 years after that.
Sorry, I'm rambling off again...

 

[k]

Halloween comes from the Celtic tradition of celebrating the new year. Had nothing to do w/ Christianity, but we are all trained to think it does.

It is scarier to question what we have been taught versus not asking anything at all.

Peace

 

[All4one]

Halloweens origins came from the druids and I hate when people use it as "the harvest day" is that not thanksgiving?

 

[Lifesaver]

I don't get scared at them, but there is nothing wrong with it.

Just don't support this kind of secular diversion being done inside a church. It is definately not the proper place.

 

[Lifesaver]

Even the fact that we acknowledge that "Sunday" as the Sabbath was (instead of adhering to the Jewish sabbath) was put in place because the Roman Emperor "Constantine" was converted over to Christianity after believing he saw a vision of the cross illuminated over the sun before a great battle ( he had believed in some Pagan Sun God previous to this). In fact it was "Emperor Constantine who abolished the persecution of Christians in 313 A.D., he was baptized a Christian some 25 years after that.

This is taken from the Epistle of St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, to the Magnesians:

We have seen how former adherents of the ancient customs have since attained to a new hope; so that they have given up keeping the sabbath, and now order their lives by the Lord's day instead (the Day when life first dawned for us, thanks to Him and His death...

Bishop Ignatius died (he was martyrized) during the reign of emperor Trajan, which went from AD 98-117. A long time before Constantine. A reign during which Christians were persecuted (hence St. Ignatius's being killed for his faith).

 

[romanseight2004]

What do you think about (secular) Haunted House funhouse attractions that take place around Halloween?

I've never been to one but I'm tempted to try one this year. The closest I've ever been was when I was a kid. It was a Halloween celebration at a nearby Catholic church. It was like a walk-through tunnel with people dressed up and acting scary. Amateur but very scary.

I would say that if you are asking this question then maybe you are being convicted by the Holy Spirit.
1 Thess 5:22

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
KJV
Spend some time praying about it.

 

[k]

Halloweens origins came from the druids and I hate when people use it as "the harvest day" is that not thanksgiving?

True, its origins come from the Druids, but what is the nature of those origins? It certainly wasn't what we have made it into today. It is rather strange so many people have a problem with halloween, but have no trouble with thanksgiving (we actually celebrate the genocide of Native Americans?--that is sick), and definitely no problem with celebrating Christmas on what we know for sure was a pagan holiday. (Actually, as Christians, we are to celebrate Christmas every single day)

The question is this: Just as we Celebrate Christ's b-day on what used to be a pagan holiday, can't God use us to find a Christian way to celebrate Halloween? If this question has never been asked, it is because we have not looked outside of our own limitations and opened up to God's infinite wisdom.

Btw, in case anyone reading this is unaware of the word "pagan," it originally meant "country dweller." As in what we today call 'rednecks' or 'hicks.' It had nothing to do with religion. Don't care for stereotypical names but had to use them to give a contemporary version for 'pagan.' Just as many people today think that someone from the country is intellectually challenged (this is soooo not true), so too thought the Pharisees and other Temple employees of people who did not live in a city during Jesus' earthly time.

Peace

 

[Drifster]

This is taken from the Epistle of St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, to the Magnesians:

We have seen how former adherents of the ancient customs have since attained to a new hope; so that they have given up keeping the sabbath, and now order their lives by the Lord's day instead (the Day when life first dawned for us, thanks to Him and His death...

Bishop Ignatius died (he was martyrized) during the reign of emperor Trajan, which went from AD 98-117. A long time before Constantine. A reign during which Christians were persecuted (hence St. Ignatius's being killed for his faith).

ok, so you are saying that "ALL" Christians were celebrating the Sabbath on Sunday long before Constantine? I was under the impression that many Christian churches had differing views and practises until Constantine kinda put conformity to it all?

 

[GMRELIC]

I view them as harmless fun, just like horror movies

 

[Caylin]

It's not a sin. It just doesn't edify the chuch.

Neither does sleeping or eating.

 

[tcampen]

You really need some study on this issue. Halloween is celebrated now in place of samhain. All Saints Day is actually Nov. 1st and was placed there in combat of the evil pagan holiday.

Sorry, but it you read my post carefully, you will notice I recognized All saints day was placed over the existing pagan holiday (whether it was "evil" is a subjective interpretation). The eve before All Saints Day was also considered part of the holy celebration, by the way.

 

[fluffy_rainbow]

I'm trying to figure out why something that is meant to be fun is being taken so seriously by some people. Roller coasters are supposed to be fun because they're thrilling and scary. I wonder how many of you feel that rollercoasters are sinful.

 

[Monica02]

You really need some study on this issue. Halloween is celebrated now in place of samhain. All Saints Day is actually Nov. 1st and was placed there in combat of the evil pagan holiday.

All Saints Day was first set as the first Sunday after Pentacost by St. Chryostom of Constantinople. The western church observed it on May 13th after Boniface 4th consecrated the Pantheon in Rome in 609 or 610. Gregory 3rd changed the date to Nov. 1st in the 8th century when he consecrated a chapel in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome . I think the Orthodox might still have the feast day in May. The evening before a holy day is considered part of the holy day. That is why we can have Vigil Masses and why we celebrate Christmas Eve. This might have something to do with the Jewish custom of starting their holy days at sundown.

 

[jesusfreak3786]

Neither does sleeping or eating.

I am surprized that you would take offence to this. Sleeping and eating insures the continuation of the health and life(purely carnial of course) of the body needed to edify the church. I was not opposing haunted house attractions. You probably won't find me in one though.