I find no other topic better to discuss than this. I tried to post it in religious, but alas, you guys don't have a religious section. *Hint* I decided to just post it here. Feel free to move it. So anyway, I will discuss with you what I learned.

It's origins:
Halloween originated from Ireland and Scotland. It was celebrated by the celts for the end of summer. Suring this time, it seems a lot of "darkness" was incorporated into this day. The people believed that the dead were wandering around as spirits looking to whom they could possess. The people would dress up in costumes to scare away the spirits. Pretty dumb.

When the Catholic church came into play, they turned Halloween into honoring the saints of the church, called "All Saints Day". I personally consider this somewhat of worshiping the dead, just beacuse the bible says that the dead can't know anything, so why honor them?

Back to the point, two days afterward, people would go out into the street and go from door to door, getting little cakes and in return, would pray for a dead person of the family's choice. Why? Because back then, people thought that the dead weren't either saved or unsaved basically, and that preayers would alter the ultimate destiny of that person. Of course, we know that when the dead die, their fate is sealed, and that they stay in the ground until Jesus comes again. This is most likely where trick or treat came from. Now on to the next part.

Should we, as Christians, take part in this day?:
The answer is quite simple. It consists of two words and sounds something like this: NO. No? That is right. Here is what the bible says:



There you have it, Halloween is a day that had spiritualism ground into it. I believe we are not to take part in this. After all, it says it is:


I would also like to say that pumpkin carving came from people, carving faces into turnips ans making them glow with a candle in order to welcome in their deceased loved ones. It also served to scare away the evil spirits. But to a Christian, this is actually welcoming them!

I would like your opinions on this matter. Halloween is, by the bible's teachings, a "detestable" practice. Why do it? Can anyone reasonably back a claim that says we are to do this as Christians? I would like to hear from you. I look forward to your replies. God bless you all,
-Wild20

and let me guess you want the prayer in school ten commandments out of courts and in god we trust taken off the currency as well?

its a holiday dude its people like you that ruin everyones fun, hell if the catholics didn't want the holiday to exsist then they would had made sure of that back in the day well they didn't, let everyone enjoy being dead and what that passage is referring to which mind you was most likly added during the 1100-1700's was the practice of pagenism and not follow the christan path (the withc burnings and all that stuff).

but it brings to point why people are not trying to erase holidays just cuz it not christian like and its somewhat a govermnet holiday (try to swing that one).

Well. Some people don't know this and just do it to dress up and get the free candy. I think its fun. And I don't care what the Bible says about that. I say I can do that even though I know it now. Its not gonna kill/hurt some one to do this. People have been doing this for a long time. And why should those non-religious people suffer because some idiot takes the Bible too seriously and doesn't like Halloween. It doesn't matter whether you are Christian or not. You should be able to do things like this. If you don't feel it is right, than just ignore the day and don't give out candy. You do what you want. But just because the Bible says that this is bad, doesn't mean we can't do it. This is America and we can have Halloween if we want. But geez man. Chill out and don't take it so seriously. We won't be cast into hell for doing one sin. Everyone sins and people still make it to heaven. So geez. Just chill and let it go. We can do this if we want. But I would also like to hear other peoples opinions. I myself am Christian.

Well even though I'm atheis I'm gonna respond. I think Christians should celebrate Haloween. Even though its about worshipping the dead, people the do not celebrate it like that anymore. It has become a children's holiday to where distinct outfits for that one day, to go trick or treating. So yes, Christians should be allowed to go trick or treating.

I myself am a Christian, a strayed Christian but one who still believes in what the faith stands for. I personally try and prevent myself from getting involved with halloween on any level due to exactly what you said. It does basically involve worshiping the dead and hosts an all round evil theme which does go against everything taught in the Bible.

I don't have anything against anybody who is involved on the occassion but as a Christian I think you can't get involved as it does go against what we are taught and I'm comfortable with not participating.

You know I have a tonne of arguments against some peoples claims...



Err, not really. If it's a holiday you would have a day off from school/work. When was the last time there was a day off on hallowe'en?



Of course losing tens of pounds is a load of fun. What do you think gives people the right to vandalize property and expect goods in return for nothing. It's pretty crappy fun if you ask me. This day also encourages pleasure and greed over material possessions which is evil.



No they didn't as then it had some religious meaning. The fact that they would pray for the dead is religious which is why they gave it the okay.



Maybe they should. It's like Christmas, people forget the meaning of these things because of advertisers who in effect rip the meaning off every holiday. One of the only reasons hallowe'en is so strong is because companies grab the opportunity to sell cheap merchandise about it.

The objection I have against this "holiday" is that it entices the breaking of the law. Believe it or not some people do get scared when they see people banging on their front door demanding sweets/money. I and many other people w/ a religious background will have no objection against hallowe'en, why? It is taught nowadays to be respectful to other religions and in the case of the celebrators of this day their religion is athesim.

I had no idea Halloween originated in Ireland and Scotland. I always just thought it was an American holiday. Oh well. You learn something new every day!

Anyway, being Australian, I don't really celebrate halloween. I don't think anyone here really does....Not that I've seen anyway. And after reading all that (and being a Christian), I'm glad we don't. I can respect if other people do it, but as a Christian, I think that for me to celebrate it would be wrong.

The whole message of celebrating and praying for the dead may have become a bit clouded over the years, but it's still there. That's the whole reason why halloween was started. Without it, there would be no halloween, so that's why I think it's still wrong.

And now celebrating halloween for the purpose of getting candy showing off cool costumes is promoting greed and vanity, probably amongst other things, which both go against the teachings of the Bible. So either way...whichever meaning you celebrate halloween for, it's still wrong.

And no matter what country you're living in, if you are a Christian you should always take the Bible seriously. There is no such thing as taking the Bible too seriously! God does not look more or less favourably apon you and your sins just because of the country you live in! Someone here said something about that but I couldn't find it again to quote...

Anyway, those are just my oppinions. I believe that although the Bible may be hundreds of years old, it is still relevant to our modern life. I feel given the meaning of Halloween, it is wrong for Christians to celebrate it. However if anyone else wants to celebrate it I'm not going to stop them. It's personal choice I guess to some extent.

What is with you and the origins of things? First it's your post about drums, and how they are evil because they were, at one time, used to call out demons. Now this? You're just getting pathetic now.

I'll once again bring up my previous point that you overlooked last time. The Christian church used to wage wars, burn 'witches', and murder people who would not convert. Does this make christianity evil? Of course it doesn't. Halloween is nothing more than a time for children to go out and get a few pieces of candy.