by anew 36 Replies latest jw friends
Watchtower horror flicks:
It's the neverending saga of the: Watchtower's end of the world mini-series.
Like the;Friday the 13th horror flick.Freddy vs. Jason it just won't die.
Danny sez:
I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER! [Read 1914]
It's the 'Invasion of the body snatchers'. 
The watchtower has 'cocooned' my 'alienated' family in the cult mind-control, psychopath ,"pods".
Celebration of the Eve of all Hallows, or Samhein(sp) is not devil worship.
It originally was a celebration in honour of our deceased ancestors, still practiced as such in Latin American countries as the Dia del Muerto - Day of the Dead. More joyous and less solomn than Memorial Day here.
Catholocism, in it's way of adapting existing holidays into "christian" holidays, named Nov 1 All Saints Day to help with it's conversion of the pagans.
I've played the "role" at parties (witch or vampire or whatever), I've given out candy, I've had a private ancestor dinner where I set places at the tables for each ancestor I wish to honour and make foods they liked. I was the only human there.
As with most of our holidays, the American Corporations have capitalized on them with the ghosties and faeries and costumes and candy and parties.
Party on
Brenda
Princess said: "We have taken the kids trick or treating for years now. I have found the neighbors to be friendlier at Halloween than at Christmas. The kids are astounded that these people give them treats just for knocking on their doors. They make a big deal out of the kids' costumes and one elderly lady makes up special bags of treats for each of my kids. I look forward to it every year. Makes me glad I live here"
I totally agree about the neighborhood get-together feeling. That is what surprized me...how friendly everyone was and the fun I had standing on the street chatting to other parents. I grew up peeking out the window of my bedroom wishing every year that I could go out there and celebrate. For once we can walk up to a door and be WELCOMED! It is my fav holiday bec of the community spirit it encourages. Kids LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
Jez
For me personally, I don't do Halloween for many of the reasons mentioned above, however I did celebrate Halloween when I was a kid before the Witness came a calling at my parents door when I was about 10.
However, I wonder how the idea of Halloween being a "celebration of the Devil" came into your child's mind, and why it appears to haunt you, to some extent.
No I'm not haunted at all. For me, it's a celebration that I cannot find compatible with Christianity. I asked Jackson about why he didn't want to go trick-or-treating again, despite the temptation of candy, and he said he didn't like the holiday and didn't want any part of it.
It's funny because the two children are different. One is borderline agnostic, and has no interest in God. The other is very much into God and Christianity, and I think celebrating Halloween bothered his conscience. So I'm not sure how we want to handle it this year. We need to sit down and work this out.
I had to work a little on getting the JW brainwashing out of my mind, so yea at first it was a little weird. But now, its not. It is soooooo much fun, guess because of the kids. I probably would not even celebrate without them. Its just a fun holiday for the kids, they love getting dressed up, and of course the candy. I agree about the whole community/neighborly feeling you get. That is very cool. I dont even really think about, or care what the meaning is supposed to be about anymore. Just a fun thing to do with the kids.
As a child, I hated Halloween. I was very shy...................really, I was painfully, sobbingly, shy. The thought of going to a neighbors and saying "trigger treat" was appalling to me. I wasn't sad to not go the year I turned 5.
Not shy now.
Chris, maybe that is part of Jackson's issues too.
Oh and one halloween my very active witness brother stopped by my house in his meeting clothes, kids were all in costume, I was giving candy out at the door, and I asked him "what are you dressed up as little boy, A JEHOVAHS WITNESS?"
I've never seen him give me such a dirty look
Last year for the first time since I was 10 years old, I participated in halloween. We bought some candy and turned the lights on outside and inside (lol, you know the old JW trick, not-at-home!). We actually did not get that many kids, but, the smiling innocent, eager faces brought back good memories back when I trick-or-treated as a child. It was good and we'll do it again. Besides...the WT says I can't, they double-dig dared me, so-o...
That being said, I had another experience with Halloween that disturbed me. While visiting my mothers grave-site...I was shocked to see a lot of the trees and headstones decorated with orange and black crepe paper and smiling, be-warted, ugly witches hanging from trees. I guess the most disturbing was the -- skeletons. Can you guess why ?
So-o, I guess I am a little ambivilent...
why not celebrate Halloween?
It is one that the kids REALLY enjoy!
As for teachings from the Devil ; well that belief is a bit old and dated-dont you think? The devil and what is considered evil is all very subjective; and the real world and different viewpoints of beliefs are FAR broader than the Judeo-Christian ethic that JWs are based on . For a different perspective on the Devil and what the Christian religions consider "evil", try reading a work of fiction by Anne Rice called "Memnoch, the Devil" ; it will turn your perspective on Christianities take on Good vs Evil UPSIDE DOWN.
I would think about this one; if the kids are having fun celebrating it; what is so wrong?
