What kind of "real" Christian lets the kids do Halloween?

lovelylil

As you all know we have been out of the tower about 3 years now. I am still a Christian but my hubby thinks of himself more as an agnostic. Anyway, my son who is 12 asked if he could go trick or treating with my nieghbor and her son just to try it as it never has - and I said it was up to him to decide. I feel very strongly that it is a conscience matter and I know many Christians will disagree. But I know full well my son is not a practicing witch, warlock or devil worshiper just because he wants to dress up in a silly costume and collect some candy on a man made holiday.

My honest opinion is that sometimes we christians take things too seriously and I firmly believe that God is concerned not with what we look like outside, nor about what days we choose to observe but what type of people we are on the inside. My son is a great loving child and I am very proud to be his mother. You really could not ask for a better kid.

That being said my agnostic hubby asked me "what kind of real Christian would allow the children to celebrate Halloween?"

My answer to him was "a very balanced, nonsuperstitous one".

Funny thing too, I grew up celebrating Halloween with two parents who never attended church regularly and still did not become a devil worshiper. I became a Christian at 12 and still am one at 37. As a matter of fact I have never in my life heard of anyone becoming a devil worshiper just because they celebrated Halloween as a young child, have you?

How would any of you other christians out there have handled this? If you disagree with my stance by all means let me hear from you too. Lilly

return visitor

I think you are exactly right, God looks at hearts.

RV

daystar

Do you want to know something really funny? Hilarious really... A surprising number of the people I know who have interest in the occult or are practicing witches, magicians, etc. were raised in strict Christian families. FWIW, so-called "devil-worshippers" are dorks and idiots. As are the majority of the self-proclaimed "satanists" I've ever met.

AK - Jeff

Of course Wifey and I are long past raising our own child, being around the half century mark now. LOL

But, as some may recall here, we are the caregivers of three young grandchildren. We have had them for two years now [ ages 2, 5, 7], and we do allow some participation in Halloween customs. Wifey took the kids last weekend to a local zoo that featured 'Halloween night'. This Tuesday she is planning on taking them trick or treating to a few select houses in town.

When the children are grown they might elect to not participate in certain holidays - but we want it to be due to their own decisions, and not based on some latent attachment to a cult's agenda, nor due to fundamentalist over-simplification of ritual or custom.

I am with you. Oftentimes Christians go far beyond common sense in an effort to be 'righteous'. Having come from a legalistic religion, it is easy to fall back into that kind of black/white thinking. We are Christians, but see nothing wrong with the custom at this point. We might change later - who knows? But for now - let the kids have a little innocent fun.

I noticed that holidays of all sorts have little impact on what people really are inside - it is largely just a day or festive time that brings people together in some way.

Jeff

XJW4EVR

Lil,

I just did some research on Halloween for a presentation I gave to my church's youth group. I found this sight on the web, and after checking the guys facts, found the writer to be sound, and factual.

http://www.new-life.net/halowen1.htm

I think your response to your husband was correct. It's always better to err on the side of being too protective than too lenient, especially with our children.

Best to you,

XJW

FlyingHighNow

My honest opinion is that sometimes we christians take things too seriously and I firmly believe that God is concerned not with what we look like outside, nor about what days we choose to observe but what type of people we are on the inside. My son is a great loving child and I am very proud to be his mother. You really could not ask for a better kid.

I agree. I was raised going to church. We celebrated all of the holidays. Watching The Wizard of Oz every year was a big event in our home.

Only certain denominations make a big stink about Halloween: not all Christians do. When I was a child growing up during the 1960's, in Southeast Louisiana, no churches objected to Halloween or The Wizard of Oz. These objections are a product of the fundy movement. I think we have JW's & big mouthed fundy TV preachers with too much time on their hands to thank for trying to take away any semblance of normalcy from childhood.

The religious right and fundy movement have really turned this country on its ear. The sad thing is that they are a very loud, obnoxious minority. I love it when I see a Christians for Kerry bumper sticker still attached to a car. Doesn't matter or not whether you think Kerry was a good option to Georgey boy. What matters is the point it makes: Not all Christians are wacko, extreme right wing republicans.