Why I'm making this page called: "Should we celebrate Halloween ?"
I'm making this page called "Should we celebrate Halloween?" because, like it or not the holiday we call Halloween seems to be here to stay. The only question is "Should we celebrate it?" and there seems to be a lot of confusion on the subjcet today, both in Christian and non-Christian circles. I'll tell you right from the start, I don't plan to clarify the issue, but rather share some varying view on the subject and to give you a chance to voice your oppinion on the matter. Thus, I'm trusting that you will get involved and share in the duel and poll modules. I'll tell you what I think, but don't let that stop you from sharing what you think. I could be wrong. In fact I'm not entirely certain in my own mind. Thus, PLEASE DO VOTE AND SHARE YOUR OPINION and let's get this duel going! I meant this to be a duel lense so don't just read and move on--get into the action!!!
In the meantime, check out the origins of Halloween and please visit some of the product links I have added.
Thanks.
James M. Becher
The orinins of Halloween celebration
As the lense listed below states, Halloween "marked the transition from summer to winter, which was also regarded as the Celtic New Year. It was also something of a festival of the dead, as Celts believed that spirits roamed the earth on that night."
Read more by clicking the link.
- The Origin of Halloween
- Squidoo lense with more detail on the origin of Halloween
- The history of Halloween from the History Channel
- A more detailed accounting of the pagan origins of Halloween and the roots of our present Halloween customs as well as how the holiday was adapted by the Catholic church and "converted" to all saints day eve (all hallow's eve) and how the pagan customs were adapeted.
Read more on the origin and history of Halloween celebration
Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night
Amazon Price: $25.80 (as of 11/23/2009)
List Price: $29.99
"The best work so far on this increasingly important holiday."--Publishers Weekly
"Performs the heroic service of taking all the stuff in stores seriously, as instruments in the creation of a new unreligious holiday of some significance, if the retailers are to be believed.... They say that the devil is in the details, and Rogers is a connoisseur of delicious tidbits of macabre."--New York Times Book Review
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating: 
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So should we celebrate Halloween?
various views
This is a stickly question in our day and time and their are various views espoused on the subject from both Christian and non-Christian quarters. Looking at it from a Christian perspective, or perhaps I should better say from a faith based perspective, when we consider the origin of Halloween, we may very well tend to say no, that we would want to have nothing to do with it. Yet, on the other hand, Halloween has evolved into a seemingly innocent and harmless night of fun for the kids. You may want to check out the blog posts in the next module or some of the books listed in the following one before voting and giving your opinion in the poll and duel modules to follow. But please do vote and leave your comments. That's why I made this lense. Faith based views of Halloween celebration
Blog posts on the subject from all faiths
- Opposing Views: OPINION:Spencer's Gifts Markets Vulgar Catholic ...
- Spirit Halloween, owned by Spencer Gifts, is carrying the objectionable costumes, as are the websites of Amazon, Halloween Costume World, Annie's Costumes, Halloween Store and Halloween Express. We urge Catholics to patronize stores like Target, Walgreen's, ... Most faith based beleif systems are so absurd that you could not make the stuff up....ie scientology, moronism....sorry mormonism. ;o). - dogon CA October 31, 2009 3:57PM. Reply to this Recommend (0) Icon flag ...
- Halloween Hare Krishnas, take two - Om Sweet Om
- Or how about a non-Hare Krishna reader (Hindu or otherwise) who has a point of view? Share your thoughts below. (As for me, I'm going to have to go do something to get that "Hare Krishna, Hare Ram" Bollywood jingle out of my head...) ... Hinduism is based on faith not on fear. When properly practised it gives permanent peace and happiness. Some people are seeking the latter on the material level and not on spiritual level. Elizabeth. November 15, 2009 11:38 AM ...
- Mayor refuses to judge 'evil' Halloween pumpkin contest - Just me
- Its ignorance like this that gives our faith a bad name http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6473760/Mayor-refuses-to-judge-evil-Halloween-pumpkin-contest.html Mayor refuses to judge 'evil' Halloween pumpkin contest. ... and will be doing a post on it... of couse it is based on what I feel was his message as a prophet and not as what the Bible portays.... as it is from an gnostic point of view... oops sorry Morvenna I have gone off topic .... :)) ...
- Good Trick & Bad Treats for Halloween: Praying or Preying on ...
- Her warped views hold little similarity to what most people think of as conventional religious faith or spirituality, and holds more in common with Grimm's Fairy Tales, seances by adolescents at slumber parties, and ghost stories told at camp in the dark in .... They want to create paranoia about people who might find their spirituality in pagan nature worship, or ethnicity based practices, or alternative traditions by equating it to the the most hateful ideas possible. ...
One Christian view of Halloween
- What does the Bible say about Halloween?
- Read what one Christian says
Differing Christian views of Halloween celebration
Books on the subject
A Christian Perspective on Halloween: New Expanded Program
Tom Dooley hosts a panel of knowledgeable guests who provide a creative, practical and Biblical discussion on this controversial issue."
Amazon Price: (as of 11/23/2009)
Redeeming Halloween: Celebrating without Selling Out (Holiday Series)
Redeeming Halloween answers all the questions Christians have about the origins and meaning of the holiday, and it provides fun, guilt-free ideas that will help you enjoy it. From costumes and decorating hints to original party suggestions, the authors offer a Godly approach that will help Christian parents balance love with conviction and create treasured memories for their children.
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Amazon Price: $11.04 (as of 11/23/2009)
Halloween: Counterfeit Holy Day
This book is the result of a quest to uncover what the holidays of Halloween and Thanksgiving really are, where they come from, and why they are celebrated. In this book you will discover the truth about Satan, the link between Halloween and God's Biblical Holy Days, the truth about Hell, the truth about Witches and Neo-Pagans, the origin of the Occult, the origin of Jack O'Lanterns and Trick-or-Treating, the connection between Halloween and the ancient idol Baal, the truth about Ghosts, Werewolves, and Vampires, and more.
Amazon Price: $20.00 (as of 11/23/2009)
Halloween: What's a Christian to Do?
This practical book by internationally known evangelist Steve Russo explains the traditions of Halloween, offers alternative activities, and reveals how a Christian should respond.
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 11/23/2009)
The Magic Eightball Test: A Christian Defense of Halloween and All Things Spooky
What happens when a pumpkin carving, trick or treating, late night monster movie watching monster fan becomes a Christian? Is Halloween now off-limits? Is the whole thing pagan, occult, satanic? Is a love for spooky things and Gothic detail just plain sick? Lint Hatcher, past editor of Wonder magazine and all-purpose pop culture maven, doesn't take such questions lightly. In The Magic Eightball Test, Hatcher grits his teeth and runs full tilt through the anti-Halloween gauntlet -- putting his mania for the monsteriffic to the test. The result? A spirited and thoroughly Christian defense of Halloween and All Things Spooky.
Amazon Price: $11.65 (as of 11/23/2009)
How one church is celebrating Halloween
Check out this uniqe outreach approach:
A Ft.Lauderdale church offers a Halloween experience.More alternatives to Halloween
Now it's YOUR TURN: Cast your vote for or against Halloween celebration. Then give your reason in the next module
SHOULD WE CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN: YES OR NO?
SOUND OFF! GIVE A REASON FOR YOUR ANSWER!
TELL WHY YOU THINK WE SHOULD OR NOT CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN.
Fetching blurbs now... please stand by
ideadesigns says:
I can see a person taking what was meant for evil and making something good out of it. Lots of churches celebrate christian fellowship, some make drama plays and some just let the kids pretend to be their heros. If your careful you can help your child dream big with what characters they dress as... I took a break from halloween this year, just to get my thoughts together about it... thanks Jim for this great lens.
Posted November 03, 2009
faithfuljim says:
I'll start this off by saying that I tend to think that we (and when I say we, I mean primarily we Christians) should not celebrate Halloween becuause of its pagan origins and associations. I used to call it the Devil's holiday. But in re-thinking it, I wonder what is the harm in kids dressing up as their favorite Disney characters or something like that. As long as we leave the withces and ghosts out of it, might it be o.k.? Please elnighten me on this. Please do add you oppinion. Thank.
Posted October 08, 2009
In case you voted "Yes," to Halloween celebration, check out these Halloween costumes and other ideas from Amazon.
(CLICK ON THE BLUE LINKS)
- THE HALLOWEEN STORE (costumes and more)
- Explore kids' costumes. For a limited time, when you spend $50 or more on qualifying costume items with one of the sellers indicated on the site you will get $10 off the total cost of your order at checkout.
- SAVE ON HALLOWEEN CANDY
- Scare up savings on Halloween Candy. $15 off when you spend $39 or more on Hershey's, Mars, Nestle, or Wonka chocolate and candy products shipped and sold by Amazon.com Offer valid through Oct. 31, 2009.
Reader Feedback
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Reply
- StephenC StephenC Nov 8, 2009 @ 11:03 am
- I hear you! Howeverm I think as Christians, we must put things in perspective. When I was a kid, Halloween was an enjoyable thing. The thought of demons, dead, ghosts, etc. as being real never even came into the mix. Now, it seems as if we have actually turned a mundane day into something bigger than life by focusing on these things. We cannot have it both ways. The Bible is full of supernatural things. We even support CS Lewis and his brand of fantasy. Fantasy has its place, in a proper perspective, for sure!
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Reply
- ideadesigns ideadesigns Nov 3, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
- I made a "safe" fun pumpkin carving site. I like this lens. 5 stars.
by faithfuljim
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