Halloween at church

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Saint_Michael said:
People saying it’s a pagan holiday need to get over themselves seriously. If you’re that against pagan holidays, you can get rid of Easter eggs, yule logs, Christmas trees too. Christmas is ~ the Winter Solstice, St. John the Baptists feast day is on the Summer solstice, nearly every pagan holiday coincides with a Christian holiday.

Don’t be selective get rid of it all, it all has pagan influences. If you’re that weak spiritually that’s your problem. I admit it can go overboard,a nd I wish my sons school would focus on all Saints Day and all Souls Day a little more. But since I don’t believe in witches or ghosts it’s not that big a deal. Early Christians had no problem moving Christian feast days and adopting harmless pagan customs as long as it brought converts, and Christians could center a once pagan holiday around a Christian theme.
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You don’t believe in witches??? Check CCC 2115-17.

God and His Church reclaimed, regenerated, many of the pagan festivals of old. However, pagans still celebrate Samhain (October 31) and the Summer and Winter Solstices. We don’t participate in the old rites with them.
 
dalcent said:
You don’t believe in witches??? Check CCC 2115-17.

God and His Church reclaimed, regenerated, many of the pagan festivals of old. However, pagans still celebrate Samhain (October 31) and the Summer and Winter Solstices. We don’t participate in the old rites with them.
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No I don’t believe in witches, it’s superstitious nonsense. I don’t believe in space aliens, warlocks, or magic elves either.
 
I think a nice compromise would be to dress up as one of the martyrs. All the gore but still in Heaven.
 
nydas said:
I wonder if you are aware that most of todays holidas came from the pagans, including Christmas. Im also betting you think Satanists worship satan. This is not the case.Satanism of the sort where believers consciously worship Satan as an evil entity or an enemy of the Christian God appears to be confined to rumor, disturbed teenagers, and bad Heavy metal music.
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There is such a thing, unfortunately, where Satan is worshipped.
It is not a rumor.
 
dalcent said:
I am absolutely staggered. I went to Mass yesterday and as I left a women at the the door was selling tickets for a Halloween Children’s Party:eek: Again she was selling tickets at the adjacent Catholic school this morning. And yesterday’s parish newsletter even advertised this Halloween Fancy Dress Party!!!

I am nonplussed. I’m a convert from evangelicalism and my family are yet to follow. Most are quite anti-Catholic and if they knew about this I think my proselytising attempts would be killed off. Some would say that this says all they need to know about the Catholic Church.

But what is my parish priest and the school thinking of? Supposedly it’s all ‘a bit of harmless fun’ and they don’t want the children to miss out. Am I supposedly meant to send my kids dressed as the Devils, his demonic cohorts from hell, maybe Beelzebul, a witch perhaps, maybe as Freddie Kruger or some chainsaw killer dripping in fake blood.

Sorry, but I’m with Jack Chick on this one! And I think Pope Benedict too; after all, he soundly condemned the Harry Potter demonic garbage. Should I post the newsletter to the Bishop?
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When my children were young my parish had a Halloween party and asked the children to dress up as saints. The children paraded around the hall and told about their costumes. There were treats shared and a good time was had by all. A lady gave a talk about “All Hallows Eve”.

I don’t know about the party at your parish, but if it has some elements in it that you are disturbed by, then, by all means discuss it with your pastor.

My daughter-in-law became disturbed when her children, that she had in Catholic school, were learning some songs that had a bit about witches in them, instead of being about the saints, which is what we are celebrating on the Eve of All Saints day. She calmed herself, and went and explained her feelings to the principal of the school. Happily, she got her point across and the song was stopped.

We must remember that we are the Church, and if things that are holy get sidetracked then it is up to us to help put it back on track.
 
I am staggered that anybody with a degree would even say such things…I expect such from fundamentalists and evangelicals who see demons under every bed, but certainly not Catholics.
Putting on costumes and getting candy is a far cry from satan-worship. If you can’t handle it fine, but don’t insult the catholicity of those who enjoy going boo, and also enjoy going to Mass the next day to celebrate the Saints, AND the next day to pray for All Souls.
 
By the line of the anti-Halloween mob here taking a Christmas tree into your home must also be a Satanic practice as it comes from the Pagan Mid-Winter Feast.

Sometimes I wonder who’s worse, the Witch or the Witchfinder. I guess some people aren’t happy unless they’re leading a mob of peasants with torches to conduct their inquisition? Old habits die hard I suppose.

When I was a child we used to “Dook” for apples in a basin of water and eat treacle pancakes dangling from strings before going out “Guising” (aka trick or treating in the US). These are all old Scottish Halloween traditions which are metaphors for Witches on the ducking stool, hanging Witches and the Witchfinder banging on your door. I come from an old school Catholic family and rest assured there were no sacrificed chickens to Satan (unless you count KFC), no chalk stars on the floor and a jolly good time was had by all.
 
BillP said:
Well, I’m ceretainly glad you’re not to one who decides who is “Catholic” and isn’t “Catholic” then.
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Yep, be really greatful I’m NOT your judge! Just a Catholic scholar with advanced degrees in Theology and the sense not to dress my kids up tomorrow as witches and devils.

On second thoughts maybe one of them could copy South Park’s Cartman and go as Hitler to the Halloween Party. Why not make light of 6,000,000 dead Jews.
re3.mm-a6.yimg.com/image/2375429841
 
cmom said:
I am staggered that anybody with a degree would even say such things…I expect such from fundamentalists and evangelicals who see demons under every bed, but certainly not Catholics.
Putting on costumes and getting candy is a far cry from satan-worship. If you can’t handle it fine, but don’t insult the catholicity of those who enjoy going boo, and also enjoy going to Mass the next day to celebrate the Saints, AND the next day to pray for All Souls.
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Most Eastern Christians generally stray away from Halloween due to it’s origins, not necessarily actions as a secular holiday. It is based on the slipper slope concept, sensitivity. My family always lit candles under our icons and have a nice, fun evening as a family, graciously answering the door and giving the young ones candy. We personally and spiritually don’t care for the holiday, but I am not going to impose my inclinations on another. God Bless, everyone!
 
cmom said:
I am staggered that anybody with a degree would even say such things…I expect such from fundamentalists and evangelicals who see demons under every bed, but certainly not Catholics.
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Cmom, you wrote the following in the post Haunted houses , teens and church:-
I currently run a haunted house…
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Christians do not run haunted houses. You are very confused. Seek help**. Discontinue running your haunted house***.* It’s sound advice.
 
dalcent said:
Cmom, you wrote the following in the post Haunted houses , teens and church:-

Christians do not run haunted houses. You are very confused. Seek help**. Discontinue running your haunted house***.* It’s sound advice.
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Wow. Your really starting to remind me of this lady:

youtube.com/watch?v=HoPW5RsMftQ

Haunted houses are harmless fun. People go to them to get a little scared and have a good time. No one goes to a haunted house to try and raise the dead, or to worship satan.
 
dalcent said:
You are very confused. Seek help**. Discontinue running your haunted house***.* It’s sound advice.
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Are you an ex-Fundamentalist? You need to complete your conversion, I think.

We can laugh at the Devil, because Christ has conquered him.
 
1.) Where’s the charity here? When the mods see some of this…well…

2.) dalcent…instead of making an assumption that this Halloween party is based on devil worship or glorification and the like, why don’t you ask your pastor about the whole thing? Surely he is qualified to tell you what’s what in regards to this party.

Along the lines of this topic, I’d like to take the time to bring up “The Day of the Dead” or as its known in other parts, Dia De Los Muertos. It’s got skulls and all sorts of gruesome stuff. It also has good food, and brings up the fact that Catholic Christians have so little fear of death, and so much trust in the Lord, they can laugh at Death, at demons, and know their family members are in a better place. It takes place on November 1 & 2. Get your sugar skulls now, folks, while you can!😃 mexconnect.com/mex_/feature/daydeadindex.html
dayofthedead.com/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead
http://www.elpasotimes.com/living/ci_4564867
gosw.about.com/od/nativeamericanculture/a/diadelosmuertos.html
Maybe that will give you some ideas for something different.
 
Saint_Michael said:
No I don’t believe in witches, it’s superstitious nonsense. I don’t believe in space aliens, warlocks, or magic elves either.
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Monty Python says it best:

How do you know she’s a witch?

She looks like one! Look at her nose!

I’m not a witch and this isn’t my nose!

Burn her anyways!!!

…so let’s all let the kids have a little fun, eh? When I was 12, my staunch republican preacher-dad let me go trick-or-treating as an assassin. I had a blast 🙂
 
McKevin said:
Monty Python says it best:

How do you know she’s a witch?

She looks like one! Look at her nose!

I’m not a witch and this isn’t my nose!

Burn her anyways!!!
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XD. I love Monty Python.

“What else floats?”

“Little tiny rocks?”

“A duck!”

“Correct! So if she weighs the same as a duck, then SHES A WITCH!”
 
dalcent said:
Cmom, you wrote the following in the post Haunted houses , teens and church:-

Christians do not run haunted houses. You are very confused. Seek help**. Discontinue running your haunted house***.* It’s sound advice.
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I understand that you are very passionate in your beliefs but calling someone an idiot is not called for. We can disagree and still be polite to one another.
 
deb1 said:
My oldest son dresses up as Death every year, complete with fake blood and a plastic scythe. Am I a cafeteria Catholic?

Instead of being a cafeteria Catholic, I simply have a different take on this issue then you. Halloween is a time to celebrate the fact that we as Christians have power over death through Christ. We don’t have to fear it. In fact the whole issue of dressing up in what one fears is a very empowering experience.

As far as dressing up as demons and witches…I would guess that most people who do so, have no respect or admiration for Satanists or Witchcraft and are certainly not doing so to emulate any dark forces but are instead simply having fun. Or perhaps they are making fun of such things.

Sometimes I think that we Christians are actually giving Satan power by seeing him in the most innocent type of fun.
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I wish what was stated in bold was true. While I won’t say that this holiday belongs to Satanists or Witches, I will say that in my four years at a Catholic school I don’t remember having heard this opinion. Lets face it; most people (I’ll speculate) celebrate Holloween b/c they get candy and they have parties with cake, cookies, etc. (Which most certainly is not bad, it is just that, unlike you, not many people are aware of this reason.) Of course, when I was a grade school student my primary interest was in the candy and goodies…not even the costumes. But now, I can get these things for myself w/o having to walk to everybody’s homes or attend costume parties.😉 (Oh, I attend parties, just not the costume type.)
 
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