SHOULD CHRISTIANS CELBRATE HALLOWEEN?

[Hammster]

Christians participating in Halloween activities is no more turning to the dark side than non-Christians celebrating Christmas is them celebrating the birth of Christ.

 

[Audacious]

I don't honestly understand why the whole Halloween thing is such an issue. Do people just get bored and decide to find problems with totally harmless things?

 

[Hammster]

I don't honestly understand why the whole Halloween thing is such an issue. Do people just get bored and decide to find problems with totally harmless things?

Just wait until we get closer to Christmas.

 

[tulc]

I am a girl,
(snip)

Sorry, correcting post now.
tulc(bad tulc! no doughnut!)

 

[Hieronymus]

I don't honestly understand why the whole Halloween thing is such an issue. Do people just get bored and decide to find problems with totally harmless things?

Maybe this will provide some perspective (i'm watching it myself now, not seen it before, so i dunno..)

 

[Hieronymus]

This guy knows his stuff too:

 

[Audacious]

Maybe this will provide some perspective (i'm watching it myself now, not seen it before, so i dunno..)

I used to be Wiccan. I'm either a former male witch or a former wizard, depending on which term you like to use.

That woman's video is all bunk. For one thing, she acts like witchcraft and satanism are the same thing, when they aren't; and then acts like there's only one kind of Satanism. (It's not an organized religion, like Christianity -- you've got LaVeyan Satanism, which is an atheistic religion, theistic Satanists who worship Satan as a god, and other, much less popular people.).

And of course, you also have religions like Wicca, which practice witchcraft but are told in the closest thing they have to holy scripture, the Wiccan Rede, "These 8 words the Rede fulfill: and ye harm none, do what ye will."

Some people might be delighted that Christians practice Halloween by throwing parties and dressing up in costumes and drinking a little, or taking their kids out trick-or-treating -- but somehow, I doubt it. (Unless they want to join in on the festivities.). It's like if you care whether a non-Christian practices Christmas -- it's irrelevant unless you want them to join in on your fun.

The thing about witchcraft and Christians is that we're saints. We don't need to worry about witchcraft and Satanism and Satan, because God has given us grace through faith and saved us from all of those influences. It doesn't matter if there's some weirdo Satanist spending their Halloween in their basement with a bunch of black candles and poorly-dawn pentagrams; because no matter what they do, God wins. And when God wins, we win.

Holidays have the power you give them, and it's not like we're all running around celebrating people's deaths or something. We're just dressing up in ghost costumes and having fun.

And if, for some bizarre reason, Halloween is a bad influence for you... I guess you should stay inside and watch Christmas movies. You know, for the positive spirit! : )

 

[salt-n-light]

who knows now, different things to different people, it has its origin, and it is what it is now. i don't think you can accurately answer that question if I'm being honest with you

Yes you can give a straight up answer, because it depends on how you're participating. Just like All Hallows Eve, you addressing connections of origins by how you celebrate it, same as Halloween, dressing up also have its own origins. That's the point of festivals, the participation brings testament to an origin.

It is good to question stuff.And to know why things are what they are.

My argument is that we don't have to participate. Participating doesn't mean fleeing from opportunity. It doesn't mean you can't engage with people. You can do others things, engage with others, take advantage of it to bring others to Christ, use that without participating in it. But Halloween, in the US, if you were to ask anyone what Halloween is off the street, they wouldn't say "oh it means different things to different people", they will most likely say means dressing up, its usually associated with celebration of the dead like zombies, and other stuff, and trick or treating. All have dark origins.

 

[Hieronymus]

BTW, originally it's "Samhain".

 

[Hieronymus]

I used to be Wiccan. I'm either a former male witch or a former wizard, depending on which term you like to use.

Depending on your cosplay role probably..

That woman's video is all bunk.

Wow, you're so predictable..

 

[Audacious]

Wow, you're so predictable..

I used my critical thinking skills, knowledge of religion, knowledge of Christianity, and experience with witchcraft to deduce that it doesn't matter what people do with black candles and five-pointed stars on Halloween.

I've literally only mentioned the Wicca thing twice on this forum, so I don't think that was too predictable.

Side note: for magic to be effective a lot of it is supposed to be done without clothes ("skyclad"), and I think Halloween is a bit too cold for that... ; )

 

[Hieronymus]

I used my critical thinking skills, knowledge of religion, knowledge of Christianity, and experience with witchcraft to deduce that it doesn't matter what people do with black candles and five-pointed stars on Halloween.

I've literally only mentioned the Wicca thing twice on this forum, so I don't think that was too predictable.

You're predictable in consistently defending worldly things, worldly views, seemingly uninformed of the other side.

Side note: for magic to be effective a lot of it is supposed to be done without clothes ("skyclad"), and I think Halloween is a bit too cold for that... ; )

That depends a.f.a.i.k.
it's mainly a matter of intentions and goals, and if the demons are interested in using you.
So it's not necessarily dangerous to celebrate feasts originally derived from wicked pagan customs, but things get easily very nasty when you mess around with things like OUIYA boards.
But where should a Christian draw the line?
Just follow the world, or the Word?

 

[One Of The Elect]

I used to be Wiccan. I'm either a former male witch or a former wizard, depending on which term you like to use.

That woman's video is all bunk. For one thing, she acts like witchcraft and satanism are the same thing, when they aren't; and then acts like there's only one kind of Satanism. (It's not an organized religion, like Christianity -- you've got LaVeyan Satanism, which is an atheistic religion, theistic Satanists who worship Satan as a god, and other, much less popular people.).

And of course, you also have religions like Wicca, which practice witchcraft but are told in the closest thing they have to holy scripture, the Wiccan Rede, "These 8 words the Rede fulfill: and ye harm none, do what ye will."

Some people might be delighted that Christians practice Halloween by throwing parties and dressing up in costumes and drinking a little, or taking their kids out trick-or-treating -- but somehow, I doubt it. (Unless they want to join in on the festivities.). It's like if you care whether a non-Christian practices Christmas -- it's irrelevant unless you want them to join in on your fun.

The thing about witchcraft and Christians is that we're saints. We don't need to worry about witchcraft and Satanism and Satan, because God has given us grace through faith and saved us from all of those influences. It doesn't matter if there's some weirdo Satanist spending their Halloween in their basement with a bunch of black candles and poorly-dawn pentagrams; because no matter what they do, God wins. And when God wins, we win.

Holidays have the power you give them, and it's not like we're all running around celebrating people's deaths or something. We're just dressing up in ghost costumes and having fun.

And if, for some bizarre reason, Halloween is a bad influence for you... I guess you should stay inside and watch Christmas movies. You know, for the positive spirit! : )

Sin is sin it does not matter none of it can enter heaven. I do not know where she was going with Christmas, that is fore another discussion.

I used to be Wiccan. I'm either a former male witch or a former wizard, depending on which term you like to use.

That woman's video is all bunk. For one thing, she acts like witchcraft and satanism are the same thing, when they aren't; and then acts like there's only one kind of Satanism. (It's not an organized religion, like Christianity -- you've got LaVeyan Satanism, which is an atheistic religion, theistic Satanists who worship Satan as a god, and other, much less popular people.).

And of course, you also have religions like Wicca, which practice witchcraft but are told in the closest thing they have to holy scripture, the Wiccan Rede, "These 8 words the Rede fulfill: and ye harm none, do what ye will."

Some people might be delighted that Christians practice Halloween by throwing parties and dressing up in costumes and drinking a little, or taking their kids out trick-or-treating -- but somehow, I doubt it. (Unless they want to join in on the festivities.). It's like if you care whether a non-Christian practices Christmas -- it's irrelevant unless you want them to join in on your fun.

The thing about witchcraft and Christians is that we're saints. We don't need to worry about witchcraft and Satanism and Satan, because God has given us grace through faith and saved us from all of those influences. It doesn't matter if there's some weirdo Satanist spending their Halloween in their basement with a bunch of black candles and poorly-dawn pentagrams; because no matter what they do, God wins. And when God wins, we win.

Holidays have the power you give them, and it's not like we're all running around celebrating people's deaths or something. We're just dressing up in ghost costumes and having fun.

And if, for some bizarre reason, Halloween is a bad influence for you... I guess you should stay inside and watch Christmas movies. You know, for the positive spirit! : )

It is all part of satan's pharmacy people pick their poison, Witchcraft , Satanism , mediums ,psychics, divination , same store different shelf.

 

[Audacious]

You're predictable in consistently defending worldly things, worldly views, seemingly uninformed of the other side.

I'm informed of both sides, usually; it's just that I like to pick the one with the most logic/evidence. (I live in a very conservative area, and even if I didn't always read the creationist/conservative side of things, I'd still get to hear it from people. For example, I've spent a lot of time hearing both proof for creationism, and being told that I'm not a "real Christian" because of my science-based views.).

It's not that I'm worldly. It's that I pay attention to reason and facts. Disagreeing with you isn't the same as being worldly.

That depends a.f.a.i.k.
it's mainly a matter of intentions and goals, and if the demons are interested in using you.

Most witchcraft has very little (or nothing) to do with demonic possession, or any kind of possession of that sort.

So it's not necessarily dangerous to celebrate feasts originally derived from wicked pagan customs, but things get easily very nasty when you mess around with things like OUIYA boards.
But where should a Christian draw the line?
Just follow the world, or the Word?

As far as celebrating things derived from Pagan customs: Halloween isn't all that close to the tradition it originates from, and I don't think it's anything close to worshiping a pagan deity or performing pagan religious rites, so I don't really see the problem. It's kinda like the difference between novacaine and cocaine.

Considering that ouija boards are a Hasbro trademark, I don't think they're exactly occult. Nobody actually believes that stuff works. (Because it doesn't.).

I would say that a Christian should draw the line when they have a solid reason to. I don't see any solid reasons to "draw the line" with the stuff people normally do on Halloween.

Question: do you actually think witchcraft and magic(k) work? Because I don't really see a reason to, personally.

Sin is sin it does not matter none of it can enter heaven. I do not know where she was going with Christmas, that is fore another discussion.

Christmas is a nice, happy holiday. If Halloween makes you tempted to sin or something, watching Christmas movies could remind you of better (and healthier, for you) times.

It is all part of satan's pharmacy people pick their poison, Witchcraft , Satanism , mediums ,psychics, divination , same store different shelf.

The nice thing about all that is that none of it actually does anything.

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

The fact so many Halloween supporters are taking getting aggressive shows the guilt they have when confronted about the holiday. Which is why I usually just sit back and watch these threads. The proof is in the pudding as they say.

 

[salt-n-light]

I'm informed of both sides, usually; it's just that I like to pick the one with the most logic/evidence. (I live in a very conservative area, and even if I didn't always read the creationist/conservative side of things, I'd still get to hear it from people. For example, I've spent a lot of time hearing both proof for creationism, and being told that I'm not a "real Christian" because of my science-based views.).

It's not that I'm worldly. It's that I pay attention to reason and facts. Disagreeing with you isn't the same as being worldly.


Most witchcraft has very little (or nothing) to do with demonic possession, or any kind of possession of that sort.


As far as celebrating things derived from Pagan customs: Halloween isn't all that close to the tradition it originates from, and I don't think it's anything close to worshiping a pagan deity or performing pagan religious rites, so I don't really see the problem. It's kinda like the difference between novacaine and cocaine.

Considering that ouija boards are a Hasbro trademark, I don't think they're exactly occult. Nobody actually believes that stuff works. (Because it doesn't.).

I would say that a Christian should draw the line when they have a solid reason to. I don't see any solid reasons to "draw the line" with the stuff people normally do on Halloween.

Question: do you actually think witchcraft and magic(k) work? Because I don't really see a reason to, personally.

Witchcraft and magic is real, and it is real because of the involvement with the spiritual side,specifically demons. That's why God say to stay away from those practicing it those as part of the commandments. They were held up quite seriously in the OT to the point where Kings were put them as conselman,
( like during the days of 4 Hebrew boys). During the 400 years where God didn't speak, magic was at a all time high, and even along the NT, Simon,a convert, was first a magician. So its real.

LOL i think the fact that people don't take it seriously with the Ouija board and brand it to kids, is how much people don't take the spiritual realm seriously, despite the research and accounts out there. (they work btw).

It would actually be a good bible study to see how magic and medium and astrology practices are presented in the bible, people don't really mention about it.

 

[salt-n-light]

Maybe this will provide some perspective (i'm watching it myself now, not seen it before, so i dunno..)

I've watch her, and many others. She's very insightful.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

so like, if people dressed up as monks and filled up a super soaker with holy water ....

 

[kiwimac]

With Halloween quickly approaching I was wondering if Christians should celebrate it?
Do you know its origin?
Does it glorify darkness as far as what you see in media and television?
Does it break the first commandment?, " Thou shalt not have strange gods before me".
When people say it is just make believe, does this mean that Satan does not have creative entertainment? Is Halloween the imaginative entertainment of the jezebel spirit?
Is it a pagan celebration of darkness?
Are we called to be of the light?​

As Halloween is a Christian feast I fail to see your problem.

 

[Hieronymus]

I'm informed of both sides, usually; it's just that I like to pick the one with the most logic/evidence. (I live in a very conservative area, and even if I didn't always read the creationist/conservative side of things, I'd still get to hear it from people. For example, I've spent a lot of time hearing both proof for creationism, and being told that I'm not a "real Christian" because of my science-based views.).

It's off topic, but you ought to know better than that.
Your views are not purely science based, they are naturalism (i.e. no God) based.
You ought to acquaint yourself with the science behind creationism, not just what people manage to tell you, like i tried to also (but i'm not that good at it).
I think you owe that to your fellow Christians, to God even, who claims He created life and a human from the dust of the earth.
I suspect you're not gonna make use of it, but here's my apologetics playlist on youtube, which contains also a lot of scientific creationism stuff (debunking evolution, making a case for creation):
apologetics - YouTube
Maybe not everything is high quality, and some videos may have disappeared from YT.
And i'm really sorry i'm calling you out on this again, here, but what else am i supposed to do?

It's not that I'm worldly. It's that I pay attention to reason and facts. Disagreeing with you isn't the same as being worldly.

Trust me, you're definitely rather worldly minded.
You don't have to agree with me, i'm also wrong sometimes.
But i can't believe you're aware of the facts, logic and reason from the other side of the story.
You said evolution is probably a more real phenomenon than gravity, or something to that effect.
That tells me you're not acquainted with the many objections to evolution, and the holes in that theory (thesis rather).

Sorry for going off topic, i do mean well though.

Most witchcraft has very little (or nothing) to do with demonic possession, or any kind of possession of that sort.

That depends on how deep into the spiritual stuff you go with it, or how deep the spiritual stuff goes into you.

As far as celebrating things derived from Pagan customs: Halloween isn't all that close to the tradition it originates from, and I don't think it's anything close to worshiping a pagan deity or performing pagan religious rites, so I don't really see the problem. It's kinda like the difference between novacaine and cocaine.

I tend to agree with that.
I don't see too many problems with it either, with how it's celebrated normally by the average folk.

Considering that ouija boards are a Hasbro trademark, I don't think they're exactly occult.

OUIYA boards date from ages before Hasbro, bro.
I can assure you it's occult.
I unfortunately have a little too much experience with it, but that's some 20 years ago now.

Nobody actually believes that stuff works.

Are you kidding??

(Because it doesn't.).

So i'm a liar, or you're ignorant.
How much do you actually know about it?
Have you investigated the subject at all?
If you had you would have said: "I don't believe it is real.", which could be a reasonable opinion, because trying it doesn't guarantee 'it' will work with you.

I would say that a Christian should draw the line when they have a solid reason to. I don't see any solid reasons to "draw the line" with the stuff people normally do on Halloween.

Well, as a Christian, i think i ought not join the masses in celebrating derivatives of things like Samhain, because it's about death and 'ghosts' (demons).

Question: do you actually think witchcraft and magic(k) work? Because I don't really see a reason to, personally.

I have no experience with witchcraft and magic(k), but i do have some experience with occult stuff.
I mentioned conjuring 'ghosts' (believing they would be deceased humans) with OUIYA boards, but i have also witnessed some things that are "impossible", so for me personally it is a proven fact that there is more between heaven and earth than meets the eye.
I've had some telepathic experiences and some spiritual experiences in the time when i also meditated and 'opened myself up' to that realm. (Smoking a gram of weed every day also helped with that).
But then my already quite unsuccessful life totally collapsed on me and everything i believed about reality turned out to be a lie basically, or doubtful at best, so i was forced to seek truth (in stead of nice ideas), because suicide was the only other alternative at the time.
That's when i was a true free thinker for some time, i started with a clean slate.
I can assure you though, being a REAL free thinker is rather scary, because then nothing is certain, everything is a possibility...
Anyway, one of the things i needed to know about is the truth about the unseen.
But also how the world works (the powers that (shouldn't) be, etcetera).
This quest for truth lead me to Jesus Christ by the way, it's where the evidence lead to every time, from every angle of approach.
The Bible is the Truth in writing. This is what i discovered, and i was shocked, appalled even, since i had always loathed Christianity, and i still, after some 7 years, have no motivation to become part of Christianity, as in joining a church with lukewarm traditionalists and subscribing to creeds that seem to be written in stone.

....aaaanyway (sorry for rambling on all off-topic), the unseen and the paranormal, which happens to include what we call UFOs and 'aliens' and also magic(k) is one of the subjects that i have tried to investigate too, by means of documentaries lectures and other videos (including compelling footage) mainly, not by engaging it myself (i have learned from my bad experiences, i've seen people go mad from it too..).
Search for "demon magicians" on youtube if you want to see some apparently real 'impossible' stuff.
I realise for 'normal people' i'm a gullible conspiracy theorist, because we're conditioned to prefer these things are not true, and we're told by the opinion makers that it's all just bovine excrement.
But to answer your actual question finally, i have seen / heard too many testimonies, eye witness accounts and Biblical support to not believe things like witchcraft and magic(k) are real, although they are rare and occult (means 'hidden').

Christmas is a nice, happy holiday. If Halloween makes you tempted to sin or something, watching Christmas movies could remind you of better (and healthier, for you) times.

I'm not afraid it will make me sin.
I will sin without halloween too.
It's a matter of our culture opening up to occultism, popularizing it, influencing the vulnerable, like children and people who should be seeking God in stead of what the world has to offer.
We shouldn't be paranoid or afraid, we should be vigilant, awake, aware, and not partaking .