|
Halloween, A christian view
|
|
Irish Stepper  |
Posted: 26-Oct-2004, 11:51 PM
|


Celtic Guardian
       
Group: Celtic Nation
Posts: 938
Joined: 15-Dec-2003
Zodiac: Oak
Realm: Maryland



|
I allow my kids to go trick-or-treating on Halloween. They wear costumes of super-heros, race-car drivers, or M&M's. I do not allow anything of evil backrounds or your typical "ghosts 'n' goblins". Being Catholic, though, we follow up Halloween, with going to church on Nov 1st, which is All Saints Day.
Technically, most Christian holidays can be traced back to pagan roots. Christmas was scheduled to coincide closely with the Winter Solstice (sp?). There are so many Pagan holidays, anyway, that we'd be hard pressed to schedule Christain holidays on a day that isn't Pagan.
--------------------
|
|
|
maryellen  |
Posted: 27-Oct-2004, 07:54 AM
|


Celtic Guardian

Group: England
Posts: 344
Joined: 20-Sep-2003
Zodiac: Hazel
Realm: Saint Louis, Missouri, USA



|
I think this dilemma comes up every year on this forum and others. My friend who is a reverend at a church lets her daughter go trick-or-treating, however, she cannot dress up as something evil (like a witch, goblin, etc.) I really don't like the holiday because each year teenagers and adults (who have the maturity of a teenager) destroy tombstones and toss 40-50 pumpkins in main street every year. Halloween seems to imply that it is the one day that it is okay to do these things, or that it is "cool".
I understand Christian holidays have some pagan roots, but the fact of the matter is what is being celebrated. Jesus is celebrated at Christmas and Easter. At Halloween, darkness is celebrated. If every family just had fun with it, then I would not mind. But the small percent who ruin it for everyone else don't make it seem worth it.
--------------------
Seize the time,. . .live now, make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again- Star Trek TNG
"The report of my death was an exaggeration." -Mark Twain, After reading his own obituary, June 2, 1897
If you ever have a world, plan ahead, don't eat it! - Star Trek TNG
|
|
|
susieq76  |
Posted: 27-Oct-2004, 08:37 AM
|


Queen of the Stars

Group: Ireland
Posts: 1,259
Joined: 13-Aug-2003
Zodiac: Vine
Realm: Middle o' North Carolina



|
You know, honestly? Noone really knows what Jesus would do. That's the beauty of it. Sorry, but I just can't stand that saying Hope I am not upsetting anyone, but my very humble opinion is that God is God and as such we cannot know His mind. He can share things with us, but when Jesus walked the earth, no one knew what He was going to do next. It was almost always a surprise. As we are still in the same state of sin and fallenness, I feel that we, too (with the exception of what is outlined in the Bible) do not know what Jesus would have done in this situation.
Like I said - no offense, hope I haven't caused any. That isn't my intention. That statement is just massively over-commercialized here in the U.S.
|
|
|
Tassiecelt  |
Posted: 27-Oct-2004, 08:44 AM
|


Celtic Guardian
       
Group: Celtic Nation
Posts: 377
Joined: 02-Sep-2004
Zodiac: Oak
Realm: Tasmania, Australia



|
QUOTE (susieq76 @ 28-Oct-2004, 12:37 AM) | You know, honestly? Noone really knows what Jesus would do. That's the beauty of it. Sorry, but I just can't stand that saying Hope I am not upsetting anyone, but my very humble opinion is that God is God and as such we cannot know His mind. He can share things with us, but when Jesus walked the earth, no one knew what He was going to do next. It was almost always a surprise. As we are still in the same state of sin and fallenness, I feel that we, too (with the exception of what is outlined in the Bible) do not know what Jesus would have done in this situation.
Like I said - no offense, hope I haven't caused any. That isn't my intention. That statement is just massively over-commercialized here in the U.S. |
yes you've offended me and upset me.....  "they that love the Lord...nothing shall offend them... somewhere is Psalms. All we know of Jesus is revealed in His Word, so I guess the more we know His Word, the more we know "WWJD".
|
|
|
Ceciliastar1  |
Posted: 27-Oct-2004, 10:26 AM
|


Celtic Guardian
       
Group: Celtic Nation
Posts: 828
Joined: 09-Jun-2004
Zodiac: Alder
Realm: Ohio.



|
My family has always gone trick-or-treating on Halloween. We do it cause A. It's fun, and B. It is the night before the feast of all saints (which is a hole day of obligation). We don't dress up as anything demon like or anything like that, we dress up as fairies or our favorite movie character. I don't think that there is any problem in dressing up and walking around the town getting free candy. My family is very big into tradition and Halloween is a really nice tradition that we have. I don't think that there are any moral obligations to Christains to avoid the holiday, I believe that if you can celebrate the feast of all saints without worrying about it's pagan origins than I'd say go for it! I'm not a very stron christain though so....uh...yeah. That's what I think.
I think Jesus would not have a problem with it cause most people do not practice any pagan rituals when celebrating halloween (at least my family doesn't) it's all just candy, apples, pumpkins, movies, and costumes. There I have spoken for Jesus, haha! I could get into so much trouble for saying that!!!
--------------------
There's a dear little plant that grows in our Isle Twas St . Patrick himself, sure, that set it; And the sun of his labour with pleasure did smile, And with dew from his eye often wet it. It grows through the bog, through the brake, through the Mireland, and they call it the dear little shamrock of Ireland.
|
|
|
urian  |
Posted: 27-Oct-2004, 02:31 PM
|


heretic. lurker in the shadows

Group: Scotland
Posts: 1,546
Joined: 08-May-2004
Zodiac: Hazel
Realm: Texas



|
Firstly, I would like to address lumping witches in with "evil" things as much as many do not agree with, or think that, the practice may be wrong. The truth is(as in all religions) there are good people and bad. So a broad generalization of said subculture is defamitory to those good ones(and there are many on these boards). I would not assume to call my blood brother any names that would damage our relationship an so it is with my virtual family. Put yourself in the shoes of a pagan ..if , in a conversation, your beliefs were called evil, the root of all the troubles in the world, etc. Do not condem them or call them evil. Judge actions, not people.
I have had the honor of participating in a few soween rituals. My old roomates were a wiccan, an assatru, a druid, and a healer. I can say I saw no graven images, no blood sacrifices no hex or curse material. We woke up that day and they wished me a happy new year(was a little confused until I researched it), we had a place set up in the backyard( you can call it an altr if you wish, though it wasnt) where we placed pictures and items from loved ones we had lost. A place for remembering and contemplating. That night some freinds of ours came over. So, there were 20 or so there, and we gathered in the back yard and the Assatru(nordic religion) said the prayer to begin(yes..it was a prayer..albeit to his personl diety). What happened next was simple...fellowship, remembering those that had loved us and those that had been lost. We all sat around for hours and talked about friends, loved ones, even pets that we had lost and how they impacted our lives. I will say that it was one of the most powerful nights I have ever experienced. And yes, at one point, I swore I could feel my brother with me stronger than he had been. I cry ,even now, remembering the fellowship, the memories and the feelings. There was no malevolence involved. No darkness, nothing that many people have been force fed and perceive soween to be. Soween originated because the celts were afraid of the spirits. It is very akin to Dios De Morte in Mexico(over 90% catholic) where many dress up in bones and masks to chase away the spirits and leave things out in remembrance of their lost ones.
Most people today couldnt even tell you the proper name for the day. All most know(especially the kids) is that its a neat night to dress up and get candy.
In todays society,its a day for rememberance. A day for stepping back and adjusting your life and lifestyle in such a way that your loved ones that are no longer here would be proud. A day to mourn(yes) but also to laugh, love, and thank god,gods,the great spirit(whomever) for the blessing of having those who have passed and their life and light upon this world.
In regards to the similarites to the holidays, The catholic church aligned its holidays with those of various pagan religions in order to convert. Christmas-soltice Halloween-all saints, dios de morte easter-the vernal equinox and spring festivals more recent times- St. Valentines days coincides with Lupercallia.. A fertility festival. Unlike a statement made above, you would not be hard pressed to find a day that isnt a pagan holiday. They are very specific days and coincide with things that happen in nature.(soltice, equinox, seasonal change)
Halloween is (in any country) what you choose to make of it. Most choose to follow the commercialised route and so be it. I have never read anything about anyone wanting to change the day christmas was celebrated even though it falls near a pagan holiday(as a pointed out above so do many others)celebration. Its what you make of it. I will not get into the unfortunate commercialization of christmas but, I will say that the holidays we have now(all of them) are a far cry what what any of them were meant to be.
What would Jesus do? A bold question to say the least. The better question would be: What did jesus do? Jesus went forth amung the "unclean", the thieves, whores and beggars and lead by example. He showed those around him what the embodiment of Love, acceptance, caring, devotion and forgiveness and service to your fellow man was.
John 14:6"Thomas, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man goes to the Father except through me. All who find the Father, first find me. If you know me, you know the way to the Father. And you do know me, for you have lived with me and you now see me."...Many find chirst on their own..but many more find christ through the actions of his followers. If we sit in judgement of those around us, condeming and casting (by proxy) people into hell, what does that show someone who may be faltering and waivering in their own faith(be it pagan ,jewish, etc)? Most come unto the Lord because of great kindness shown to them and personal revelations not browbeating about how evil they are now...but..I digress and I am sorry
*sits back an awaits the flamings*
--------------------
'Dying for being different is still better than living as a Sheep'-anon
|
|
|
0 User(s) are reading this topic (0 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
Pages: (4) [1] 2 3 ... Last »
Track this topic
Receive email notification when a reply has been made to this topic and you are not active on the board.
Subscribe to this forum
Receive email notification when a new topic is posted in this forum and you are not active on the board.
Download / Print this Topic
Download this topic in different formats or view a printer friendly version.
|
|
|
|
Celtic Radio is a TorontoCast radio station that is based in Canada. TorontoCast provides music license coverage through SOCAN. © Celtic Radio Network, Highlander Radio, Celtic Moon, Celtic Dance Tavern, Ye O' Celtic Pub, Celt-Rock-Radio. All rights and trademarks reserved. Read our Privacy Policy.
Celtic Graphics ©, Cari Buziak
Link to CelticRadio.net
Best Viewed With Chrome (1680 x 1050 Resolution), Javascript & Cookies Enabled.
|
|
Celtic Hearts Gallery | Celtic Mates Dating | My Celtic Friends | Celtic Music Radio | Family Heraldry | Medieval Kingdom | Top Celtic Sites | Web Celt Blog | Video Celt
|