I
InquestofaWoman
Guest
Personally, I do not think Halloween activities are a sin, in and of themselves; rather, I believe Halloween has been severely hijacked, and that Christians should not lose sight of that. Occultism is spreading, not in obviously sinister ways, but by means which appear, on the surface, quite innocent. More and more, children, including those from Christians homes, are becoming desensitized to evil, through board games (ie.,ouija boards), horror video games, and stories centering on witchcraft, to name a few. These things can so instil an aura of complacency, that the unsuspecting child and parent, alike, may lack the foresight to perceive more subtle forms of wickedness and unbelief.
Keep in mind that Satan has long walked this earth and is an expert in deception. He employs time-honoured trickery to which, without God, we would inevitably fall prey. That is why the Bible warns us again and again to be vigilant. This is not to make us paranoid, but simply to inform us of pervasive spiritual dangers. As in the words of St. Peter and St. Paul: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom He may devour” (1 Peter 5:8); "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)
All that said, I love to dress up in vintage or regal costumes (I’m an adult but…you know, still a kid at heart
), and I do not mind harvest parties and the like, held at parishes. What I will not do is erect skulls, bloodied body parts, and cemeteries on the front lawn. Such a thing is out of the question for me! Jesus would have us celebrate life in Him; not death, which entered the world as a direct result of disobedience. There is nothing appealing or amusing about sin, or its dreadful consequence.
Ultimately, participation in Halloween is a personal choice, and I think it can be done responsibly within the Christian context. Indeed, the children’s feelings should be respected. There are ways to keep traditions without making them, and consequently ourselves, miserable! We needn’t be a kill-joy within our respective societies. We simply must apply reason and wisdom. As Catholics, we are called to vigilantly guard our spirituality, and the spirituality of our little ones. At Halloween, this means uplifting All Saints Day as it was, and is, meant to be. Let the world have its goblins and ghouls and spirits of darkness; we have the inspiring legacy of our Saints, past and present, and most importantly, our utmost belief in our Lord Jesus Christ. Do let’s keep Him as our Centre of Joy, whatever the festivity may be.
Keep in mind that Satan has long walked this earth and is an expert in deception. He employs time-honoured trickery to which, without God, we would inevitably fall prey. That is why the Bible warns us again and again to be vigilant. This is not to make us paranoid, but simply to inform us of pervasive spiritual dangers. As in the words of St. Peter and St. Paul: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom He may devour” (1 Peter 5:8); "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)
All that said, I love to dress up in vintage or regal costumes (I’m an adult but…you know, still a kid at heart
), and I do not mind harvest parties and the like, held at parishes. What I will not do is erect skulls, bloodied body parts, and cemeteries on the front lawn. Such a thing is out of the question for me! Jesus would have us celebrate life in Him; not death, which entered the world as a direct result of disobedience. There is nothing appealing or amusing about sin, or its dreadful consequence.Ultimately, participation in Halloween is a personal choice, and I think it can be done responsibly within the Christian context. Indeed, the children’s feelings should be respected. There are ways to keep traditions without making them, and consequently ourselves, miserable! We needn’t be a kill-joy within our respective societies. We simply must apply reason and wisdom. As Catholics, we are called to vigilantly guard our spirituality, and the spirituality of our little ones. At Halloween, this means uplifting All Saints Day as it was, and is, meant to be. Let the world have its goblins and ghouls and spirits of darkness; we have the inspiring legacy of our Saints, past and present, and most importantly, our utmost belief in our Lord Jesus Christ. Do let’s keep Him as our Centre of Joy, whatever the festivity may be.