Unmasking Halloween and the Church Introduction: As we have exited the Halloween season, let's ask a question, should we be participating in Halloween as Christians? Are all things pure to those who are pure? Or are there some celebrations that we as Christians shouldn't coopt? Or here's a plot twist many haven't considered: Did Halloween Co-opt a Christian Holiday? Let's explore that as we watch our culture stray Further. Every. Day. Now, if you are a Christian who believes that anyone who lets their children Trick or Treat is going to Hell, maybe reconsider your soteriology, you clearly don't understand Salvation. With that said, there are many Christians who don't seem to mind appearing worldly with their gory antics on Halloween. We'll get to that momentarily. Origins: But first, let's attempt to cover the most common question that arises in Christian circles on this topic: Where did Halloween come from? The sad thing is, we don't really know. Most sources actually cannot pinpoint the origins of the Halloween that we witness every year in America, but instead it appears to have an amorphous origin. Let's look at some of the other holidays that may have had an influence on what we now call Halloween. Samhain (Sawhen) All Saints Day The Day of the Dead Samhain (Sawhen) https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/10/the-origins-of-halloween-traditions/ So where might all of these coincided? Was Samhain the origin of Halloween? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu-5BmAzbrU What is the Day of the Dead? La Catrina was the Goddess of the underworld in Aztec Culture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sSawpU81cI https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2019/10/la-catrina-dark-history-day-deads-immortal-icon What will people who celebrate Samhain or the Day of the Dead think of us as Christians when we participate in Halloween? Chair 1: Theology What does God say about adopting the celebrations of Pagan Gods? Deut What does He say about marginal practices that are not primary Salvation related traditions? Romans How should we navigate Halloween? Chair 2: Philosophy How should we go about the addressing little children playacting as princesses and cowboys? Is this the same as worshiping pagan idols? How has the Church allowed a celebration of the Saints, devolve into the 2nd largest financially grossing holiday in America? Chair 3: Culture As we have watched the Church lose the narrative to the Cultures around her, what has happened to the Culture surrounding Halloween? How has the Church's lack of authority on the matter degraded our Culture? Should Christians participate in the horror movies and gore of Halloween? How does one navigate the verses above with Halloween and the Culture? What does the Culture see when we as Christians partake in the more paganistic practices of Halloween? Chair 4: Politics Multiculturalism has positive and negative effects as any system has, but we see the active support for paganism in the town square, how does this compare to the war on Christmas? Compare this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK9YUE1Qtnw To this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxvzp96qnc8 Should this be legal? (I would say yes but it's not my cup of tea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrkd_aoJNeY ) Chair 5: Economics You may not have heard this before today but:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jihYSTc5KeI Where does this fact and the expenditure on Christmas indicate our Culture has placed its value? Conclusion Final Thoughts: What is your takeaway from each chair? Final Question: What is your favorite candy? Mike Winger has a great piece on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALY9aLKm9YI