Churches against Halloween

[johnholmes]

I've been going to a new church (gasp!) and they don't celebrate Halloween. They are having a party on the night; my assumption is to keep as many members from participating in Halloween as possible.

I'm torn, because I know the kids love dressing up, but I also know going to the party will be a blast and everyone will have fun. However, I get the feeling that Monday the kids are going to be talking to friends and wondering why they didn't get to go trick-or-treating.

So, thoughts on skipping holidays for religious reasons?

[KarrenOliver]

This is a subject that me and dh debate about. Our church does not celebrate it either, but here is my opinion. You cannot stop a national holiday. Christmas is a national holiday and people celebrate it in many ways. We recognize that it is a celebration of the best guessed date for the birth of Jesus. It has never been confirmed Biblically that December 25 is the date of his birth due to all the calendar changes over the years. That being said, I always let my son dress up and go Trick-or-treating when he was a child and my grandchildren do it now. Sure, there are a lot of arguements that it is the devil or Satan's holiday. But I don't believe that for one minute. Every holiday is what you make of it and not the rest of the world. There are always crazies that think they are witches or warlocks or vampires or whatever. Just another excuse for them to act up and confirm they are crazy by showing bad behavior.

As long as it is a national holiday, let them dress up and have fun whether by trick or treating or parties where they can dress up. JMHO

(Congrats on finding and going to church, John)

[Jeanne]

John
Do you have someplace safe you can take the kids to have some fun and trick or treat? Some malls even High schools offer a safe Halloween the day before. You can look around and maybe find a place to take them all dressed up and still go to church. They can tell everyone at school that they went to both!
My issue with Halloween is all year we teach the little ones not to take candy from strangers and then that one day we take them out to do just that.

[Dianasaves]

I think I would just ask the kids what they would rather do.

[Heather]

Maybe you could just take your kids to a few houses of people you know and to grandma's :) and then to the party.

[Delissa]

I'm sure it will be hard since the kids are used to trick or treating already, but they may enjoy the party especially since they are still young. Personal choice, how much does it bother you not to celebrate it?

As for the religious aspect, all I can do is roll my eyes. Generally churches are against Halloween because they don't want to celebrate a "pagan" holiday. I find that hysterical and think they should all do a little research and realize that nearly ALL Christian holidays are built on the ruins of a pagan holiday, that's how they managed to convert the pagans in the first place. They placed their holidays on the pagan holidays and built their churches on pagan ceremonial spots. *sigh*

[johnholmes]

As for the religious aspect, all I can do is roll my eyes. Generally churches are against Halloween because they don't want to celebrate a "pagan" holiday. I find that hysterical and think they should all do a little research and realize that nearly ALL Christian holidays are built on the ruins of a pagan holiday, that's how they managed to convert the pagans in the first place. They placed their holidays on the pagan holidays and built their churches on pagan ceremonial spots. *sigh*

Not news to me :) And, I seriously doubt anyone judges. Also, I seriously doubt the kids care either way - they're going to have fun. I guess I was more interested in the debate between being submissive to the church versus you're children's wants.

[Delissa]

I was sure it was something you knew, just couldn't stop myself. :)

As far as your other thought, if I was really a believer in a church and supported what they did, then I doubt my children's want's would factor into it much. There are a lot of things we make our children to because that is what we think is best for them.