Halloween-Offensive To Your Religion?
By bennystc88
@bennystc88 (178)
October 31, 2008 7:35am CST
Hi. I was wondering is the festive celebration off Halloween offensive to your Religion? Or perhaps some people consider it an offensive celebration in a Religion but some people of the same Religion consider it not to be.
Im a Christian and do not think that Halloween is offensive to celebrate and an insult to Christianity. As I personaly think that the celebration of Halloween can be used as a way to get dressed up spooky, go Trick or Treating, watch some horror movies. Have some spooky, but good hearted fun, maybe dress up as a monster or spooky character from the films.
However I have heard in Church for example how some people are against the celebration of Halloween as if it is perhaps a way of worshiping or celebrating evil like the Devil. I certaintly don't mean to celebrate Halloween for reasons of trying to take part in Devil worship. I mean to take part in Halloween as a event for maybe me and the family to dress up spooky, watch spooky tv, maybe play some spooky games, maybe have and decorate a pumpkin.
So I wonder if you wish to share what your thoughts on this is?
7 people like this
12 responses
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
31 Oct 08
as a follower of Jesus Christ, i find that some things about Halloween are offensive but we still hand out candy but with a twist, we add a religious tract with the candy. why hide from it? use it to your advantage?
other years, our church has held a holloween alternative, this year, our church's youth are trick or treating for kids that cant (we have a very large kids hospital in our city) but neither of my daughters want to go, so we will go to the mall. (which is scary enough!)
2 people like this
@vijigopi (991)
• United States
31 Oct 08
I am not offended with Halloween and most people in my country do not even know about it. Since I live in the U.S. I have come to know of it. yes, it can be full of fun especially for children, for they all get to dress up in some costumes that they would like to wear and go trick-or-treating. But sometimes, when you are in a tight budget and when you have no interest in buying costumes or even making one yourself, it becomes something that is being forced on you and that you dislike. We have our own way of remembering our ancestors and so, it is normal for us to feel being pushed into something that we are really not into. Please don't get me wrong here. Why I am saying this is because, people just assume that everybody celebrates the same festivals and it sort of induces the children not be an odd man out. And since it is included as a party at school, we have no other option but to blend in. I have learnt what Halloween is all about, so I see nothing wrong with people celebrating it.
2 people like this
@angelface23 (2494)
• United States
31 Oct 08
my grandma is really religious. I was reading one of her Godly magazines in the bathroom one day and it had an article on not celebrating Halloween at all. Period. It said not to even hand out candy or you are celebrating the devil. She hands out candy on Halloween and decorates her house. She doesn't dress up but even she knows that she isn't going to hell cause she gives some kids candy. I think those religious people take the whole devil/halloween thing too far. Just because you hand out candy or go trick or treating doesn't make you a devil worshiper. That stuff pisses me off.
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
31 Oct 08
However I have heard in Church for example how some people are against the celebration of Halloween as if it is perhaps a way of worshiping or celebrating evil like the Devil
UGH that sort of nonsense just drives me batty!!! Halloween/Samhain is NOT about any devil or devil worshipping....Its the night to remember those who've passed before us that little bit extra first and foremost (in my house)..its to celebrate their former lives, cherish the memories, give them blessings/well wishes for their journeys in the upcoming yr (in our house Samhain is also New Yrs which I beleive is actually a Celtic tradition but dont quote me on that)...thats just the start of it..There is nothing evil or bad about Samhain/Halloween at all...
1 person likes this
@bennystc88 (178)
•
31 Oct 08
I remember when I was at Church both as a kid and adult I was suprised and shocked that some people were saying to us it was wrong to celebrate Halloween.
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
31 Oct 08
I'm a religious person, my kids gets dressed up and goes out to get candy each Halloween. I don't dress up, only because why waste money on a costume for myself when it's meant for the kids. I wasn't much into the Halloween holiday, not because I was religious. I grew up on a farm that my closest neighbor was a much older couple, and to get to my other neighbors, my dad would have to drive us to each one. So my parents never spent money on a costume, it would have been a waste. I only got to go trick a treating once in my life, my mom was in the hospital, and my dad dumped us on my grandmother and uncle so he could go see her. My uncle was a hoot, he knew where to take us for the best candy. We didn't have a costume then either, since it was spur of the moment.
Who doesn't love a scarey movie, or programs that talks about ghosts and haunted houses. A preacher can talk all he wants, but I know that ghosts are real. I don't see trick a treating as devil worship. I mean what time of the year, do you know of that as a child you can go door to door and ask for candy and get some for free.
From a religious person to you,
Happy Halloween!!!
1 person likes this
@chris_h360 (108)
• Canada
31 Oct 08
I used to be a roman Catholic. And yes its anti-religious and growing up in that faith was offensive however only very strict roman Catholics didnt let there kids go trick or treating. I myself think about monsters and candy and i see it as nothing but free candy for your kids and yourselves when your kids get sick.
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
1 Nov 08
That's news to me, I am still a Catholic and our parish has Halloween Parties. Halloween is All Souls day, followed by All saints day. I know because I was born NOV 1.
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
1 Nov 08
Well, personally as a Christian, I do not Celebrate Halloween, and have not done so in over 20 yrs. We actually have a Harvest party most yrs. which replaces Halloween, and we have Candy and games and Fun for the kids. For me, anymore Halloween is too Satanic, but I would never judge against anyone who chooses to Celebrate it, as I feel it is up to them to decide.
@asselg1984 (375)
• Philippines
1 Nov 08
even though i am a christian, we do not honor Halloween because of some biblical reasons. we show our love, care, and respect to everybody while they are still living, and though it is not bad to visit their grave, we do not do it during Halloween. but i do respect others' religion, it is a good day for a family to be together.
@bennystc88 (178)
•
1 Nov 08
My brother was saying yesterday I think about how he thought that Haloween may of been something that Christian take part in as a way of getin rid of evil spirits. He said that in America (it may be other countries as well) people ut a pumpkin outside there door as a way of geting rid of evil spirits. Has anyone heard this?
That person you said did not celebrate Halloween 1hopefulman suggested they did not celebrate it because of its orgins. Many people celebrate Halloween in a way that is not meant to be harmful. I looked at the orgins of Halloween online and Wikipidia had a bit on the orgins and said about what has been mentioned here about Halloween being an a Celtic tradition and the idea it was where people tried to ward of evil spirits. How Halloween has its orgins in the ancient Celtic festival Samhain. The festival of Samhain is considered to be the end of the Harvest season and is sometimes regarded as the ''Celtic New Year''.
Surely, somepeople may use Halloween perhaps as a way of celebrating fictional 'spooky and scary' characters ie. Frankenstein's Monster and other fictional characters from media like books,film,tv and other media. Is it offensive to go around dressed as Harry Potter as perhaps you are a fan of Harry Potter- it doesn't mean your a practising Wizard and if your perhaps a fan of Sabrina The Teenage Witch and decide to dress as her then that doesn't mean your a practising Witch does it- do you see my point? You could choose to dress up as these characters as you are a fan of the fictional characters and media they may be from.
@fgaloma (163)
• Philippines
1 Nov 08
for a catholic, we celebrate holloween to visit our love ones who passed away, we to do this every year. here in the philippines dated November 1, is for the day for all the souls. we offered candles for our love ones and a prayer. that's how we celebrate holloween in the philippines.
@kokacola10 (63)
• United States
1 Nov 08
Well im from india. And i do celebrate halloween anyways. And no it is not offensive to my religion. Pk bye bye
@roses4u (7)
• United States
10 Nov 08
I was born and raised a Catholic (and still am). Not only did we celebrate Halloween, our priest encouraged the parents to allow the kids to wear their costumes to church on Halloween night which was one of the Masses for All Saints Day.
I think Halloween is only evil if you allow it to be. I can understand in large cities where it could be scary to trick or trick. I guess I don't understand how one could be accused of devil worship if the intent is not there. That'd be like saying celebrating Thanksgiving is turkey worshiping or sacrificing!
