Friday, 30 October 2009
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All Hallows Eve
Growing up in a Christian home, some might find it surprising that Halloween was one of my favorite holidays. I had never heard it was some evil thing that all Christians must shun. Honestly, many of my church friends were the very ones I went trick or treating with each year. It was fun. You dressed up in silly costumes and you went door to door getting free candy. How could you go wrong?
My parents never made an issue of it. It wasn't the "devil's holiday". It was free candy night and oh did my mother love candy. I can still recall watching her inspect my candy and suddenly discovering an "open" bag of M&Ms. "Oh no Ange, you can't have those. They might be poisoned. Here, let mom try them out." Woman, I was onto you by the time I was four.
It wasn't until I was a married adult that I first learned the supposed horrors of Halloween. Pun intended. My husband and I were attending the church that he had grown up in. This was the same church that wanted to punish a boyfriend of mine for attending my high school prom. Not exactly the most forward thinking churches around. I will admit though that I was shocked when I was told Halloween was a big no no. The church did a big "harvest festival" instead. The children could come dressed up as their favorite biblical character. Seriously.
I, always a bit of a rebel, refused to be stopped and took my kids out trick or treating. They got free candy, had some laughs, and enjoyed the night. I had more than a few church friends look down their nose at me for my choices. Did they honestly believe my children were going to break out in horns for walking up to a neighbors door and saying "trick or treat"? Some did.
Now, I remain a strong Christian woman, but I want to tell some of my fellow Christians; this is where we lose people. Taking the most innocent of traditions and turning them into satanic worship doesn't exactly help the cause. Halloween is a fun, safe, kids holiday. Loosen up and stop making everything such a big deal.
That is all.
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Comments (27)
You're right that the churches loose people when they get too outlandish. For lack of anything better to do when the wifi wasn't working the other night, I watched the Duggars answer questions from random people. The one about dancing slayed me...it amounted to the poor, poor men might be teased, so we don't dance just in case. WTF happened to self control? And, really, all dancing? What dull lives that must lead to. I took a few steps away from that religion idea that I'd been kicking around recently. No more happy nekkid dancing? I'm out!
I don't get the Halloween being a bad thing either. If nothing else, it's something for the kids to look forward to between Summer vacation and Christmas.
I agree Halloween should be about the dressing up and not the horrors it is only as evil as you make it.
AMEN!!!! I hate when people think of Halloween as an evil holiday. What harm is being done by kids dressing up and getting candy? There is none, except for cavities haha!
@filtered_sunlight - My boyfriend from high school attended the private school associated with the church. He actually was threatened with suspension if he attended my senior prom. Thankfully, his parents intervened and they backed down.
I couldn't have dancing at my wedding because it was "sinful". I kid you not.
I agree completely. Perhaps there was once more than just fun attached with All Hallows Eve. But the holiday of 'Halloween' isnt anything more than fun. Besides, how is it different to dress as a Biblical character and go to the 'harvest festival' as opposed to going trick or treating as the same character?
@filtered_sunlight - does that mean if you dance nekkid for your husband that it is a bad thing because it might make them want you? Shouldnt they want you?
@gwacemom - once again, you were married, who cared if you seduced your husband? lol. isnt it a womans duty to make sure all of her husbands needs are met?
@der_lila_Stern@xanga - No, your husband should not want you. That only leads to sex and sex leads to children and children lead to drinking. Oh wait...did I just type that out loud? LOL
@gwacemom - LMAO!
@der_lila_Stern@xanga - Ange has a point there... LOL Frankly, I'd like to know where Michelle Duggar hides her flask...
@filtered_sunlight - in her hoo-ha because there it must be a freaking cave by now!
@der_lila_Stern@xanga - LOLOL, that last baby is just going to walk out.
@filtered_sunlight - I am still pissed that when Matt and I were choosing up sides he picked "drunk" first. I wanted it, damnit.
@gwacemom - you have all day at home sitting on your ass, Im sure you could be better at it than him!
(Besides, he couldnt have it in the last relationship, he wants it now damnit!)
Grandbaby yet?
wow my grammar has sucked lately "because there it must be a freaking cave by now!" really? I typed that? I am going to pretend like it was someone else...
@xo_heather_marie_ox@xanga - Nope, I talked with Garrett a short while ago. They will be starting the C-section around 11:30 CST. Haven will be here by noon. Yea!!
@der_lila_Stern@xanga - LOL, I went and proofread this very post. I has so many mistakes I was horrified.
@gwacemom - Oh how exciting! Cant wait for the update!!!
@gwacemom - I have noticed lately that there have been a lot of stupid mistakes in my typing. Im anal. It bothers me. lol. (But it never bothers me when other people have mistakes, unless the whole post is one big mistake! lol)
@der_lila_Stern@xanga - LOL. That reminds me of the first 'Texas Chainsaw' movie...err...the one with Jessica Biel in it. "Wait...WHERE did she just pull that gun out of?!"
@gwacemom - I do that all the time. I swear I'm not as dumb as I type most of the time! (And, no, we won't touch all that is wrong with that sentence either...)
@filtered_sunlight - LMAO, I just re read my comment about proofreading. I seriously typed, I has so many mistakes....OMG, someone get me a drink. The word is HAVE...I really knew that.
Great post!
@ChainGangSoldier619@xanga - Thanks for stopping by and the rec.
Woman I was onto you by the time I was four
ROFL
I agree its just innocent fun!!!!
I grew up in a conservative church where you couldn't do things like play cards or go dancing, etc., but there was nothing said about Halloween. But that was the 1960s & 1970s. This conservative Christian prohibition on Halloween seems to be a rather new thing, say within the last 20 years, concurrent with the rise of the Christian Right and all things narrow-minded. I mean, I can agree that it's not good to wear costumes that glorify evil and gore, but there are plenty of costumes that are just plain fun. Wear a fun costume and go beg for candy...oh yeah, that's so Satanic!
I also agree with your point about losing people through ridiculous stuff like this. Even people who aren't Christian know that Christ wasn't about all this petty stuff, and when they see Christians making a big deal of such things, they don't want to be a part of it. Well neither do I want to be a part of THAT, but THAT is not what the Church is about. And if I find myself in a church that makes that kind of stuff what it's all about, I go find a church that has more important things on their mind.
Halloween isn't a bad thing at all, it's a great thing. And everyone always enjoys it. Can't churches just be happy that enjoyment and happiness is gained out of Halloween?