Is Halloween controversial in your congregation?
Pastor Maxine Britt, Blessed Hope Mission Church, Bay Shore:
When people know and accept what and how God feels about "Halloween," there is nothing controversial about it. It only becomes a problem when people don't know or know and still refuse to listen and obey God. "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
When you examine the roots and origin of Halloween, all aspects of it are from pagan and evil backgrounds - see your encyclopedias. That is true from its beginning with Celtic Druid priests who were fortune tellers, idol worshipers, animal/human sacrificers and worshipper of dead spirits, merging in 43 AD with the Romans who worshipped false gods, and, finally around 600-800 AD with it being placed on the calendar as a holiday.
Can we use and celebrate the pagan customs and superstitions of ancient people and make them good? How can we deny that virtually all of the symbols of Halloween are evil? Witches, monsters, vampires, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, devils, demons, costumes, "trick or treating," jack-o-lantern lighting, etc., all portray evil. It is not harmless or entertainment. It is what it is, and it is an abomination to God.
Pastor Michael Peynado, Westbury Divine Church of God, Westbury:
It is not a Christian holiday. It is a pagan holiday. We don't believe in Halloween one way or the other. We feel it is cultist and satanic. Others may celebrate it, but we encourage our Christian youth not to celebrate on that day.
My children, who are grown now, did celebrate Halloween growing up. Their friends were all doing it. We tried to discourage them from doing so, but didn't stop them from doing so.
Today, on that day or evening, we try to have activities at the church to get the children involved in different ways.
Pastor Ray Cazis, International Baptist Church, Stony Brook:
We have an activity at the church on a night close to the holiday. We let the children walk around and collect candy, drink apple cider and hot chocolate and play some games. We have them dress up as something that God created. In October, we also have harvest days where we dress in old-fashioned costumes, and I do dress up that day.
Holidays are associated with family and cultural traditions. Traditions vary. Any holiday, when scrutinized, can be associated with pagan rituals. Even some "uncontroversial" holidays such as Christmas are shunned by good people I have known. We must view our involvement in and association with holidays in light of the principles of God's word (Romans 16:19: "I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.")
Responsibility concerning family holiday gatherings is a matter for each individual family. A family can enjoy some special times, even at Halloween. Fall festivals, fall activities and allowing the children to dress in costumes that reflect God's creation are ways some families have allowed children to enjoy fall without participating in demonic influences of Halloween.
Amy Frushour Kelly, coordinator for the Center for Inquiry Long Island, Huntington and Plainview:
The holiday has pagan roots, which are often forgotten. As the leader of a secular humanist group, I don't have a congregation per se, so I conducted an informal poll among our local membership. The general consensus is twofold: because Halloween has been so thoroughly secularized, we have no problem with it on a religious basis.
It's an opportunity for children and adults to dress up, eat candy and be silly. However, many of the people I spoke with feel there's too much emphasis on unhealthy food and rather "adult" costumes for children. Personally, I agree. I'd like to see more homemade costumes, family activities and healthy or nonfood treats. And fewer tricks!
Perhaps there should be a moratorium on sales of eggs and shaving cream to those younger than 18. In any event, this is the extent of the controversy among the local atheists and agnostics.
