Halloween and Paranormal Activity

[BasinOzson]

Halloween and Paranormal Activity

Dear Good News Magazine Subscriber,

In a previous newsletter, Clyde Kilough asked if Jesus would celebrate Halloween, with its dark themes and sordid past. We think not.

But most Americans would say: It’s for the kids. It's all about dressing up in costumes, eating lots of candy and having fun. It's all just make believe.

But is it? Is the horror, gore and ghoulishness just good fun? Or is there a sinister aspect to this holiday that masquerades as innocent fun for children and a not-so-innocent fun for "adult" revelers?

Is it really harmless to dress up as ghosts, witches, wizards, demons and other denizens of the spirit world? If the spirit world were totally make believe, maybe so. But the Bible says what many of us suspect in our heart of hearts: The spirit world is real. Satan is real. Evil exists and should be left alone, not dabbled with. (Our booklet Is There Really a Devil? goes through a thorough biblical study of this subject. Read it online or order a copy to be sent to you.)

I have not seen, and don't plan to see, the low-budget but high-impact film Paranormal Activity. But I've read enough about it to know that it taps into real fears that lie just beneath the surface of our minds. The moviemakers' magic may not be real, but the spirit world it invokes is all too frighteningly realistic.

Of course God is in charge, and if we stay close to Him, we don't need to fear Satan (James 4:7-8). But when we stray from God and take evil lightly, there is reason to fear.

We don't have to blindly follow the customs of our increasingly godless society. Many Christians are choosing not to participate in Halloween's celebration of evil. If you are one of them, let us know. We are happy to encourage you in this positive decision.

Please take a moment to check out some of the links to related articles. We pray they will be interesting and helpful to you in growing in your relationship with our loving Creator.

Warm regards,

Mike Bennett

Editorial content manager

[Feetjie]

Let us just have fun!!! Slegs my mening? Please, lets not go running away with this whole HALLOWEEN thing!! Kom ons geniet dit en wees net deel van die gees! Die kinders geniet dit en ek is MAL daaroor!

[KathyW]

There are many reasons why "Yes" there are reasons..........

I grew up in the late 60's and 70's, and we did the same in the old Johannesburg. It was great fun, knocking on the doors and getting a candy bar, and I am still a good Christian because that is the way I was brought up at home. Fun yes, but I believe you can still instill in your young one's minds that this is just fun.

My 2c piece.

I love to give the kids a candy when they knock on my door. Fun!!

[BasinOzson]

Soos ek gese het net my mening!!!

Ek wou net aan die mense wat sou belangstel n ingeligte mening gee. Dit is jou keuse as jy daaraan wil deelneem net soos dit my keuse is om dit nie te doen nie.

Ek is opreg bly vir jul part as jul dit geniet. Ek en my kinders doen op die dag ander dinge wat ook "fun" is.

Net vir interessantheid. Ons het n praatjie van n ex-satanis bygewoon. Die ou was soos in 2de in bevel hier in SA. Hy se dat hul defnitief Halloween op dra aan die Satan en dat hul teen gelukkige huwelike bid op die dag. Weereens net vir interessantheid...ek mik dit op niemand nie.

Groete

[Enrica]

Sorry BazinOz,

But I think you actually need to read up on the history of Halloween.

Another thing , and this is purely my opinion, if Jesus was asked today if he would celebrate Christmas the way we do it today......what with the comercial aspect of Christmas, with lights, Christmas Trees going over board and getting yourself into debt with Christmas Gifts then eating ourselves silly, I dont think that He - Jesus would celebrate Christmas either as we do today.

As for Halloween this is a very old Celtic Traditional which goes back 2000 years, which was celebrated the day before All Souls Day or The day of the Death, which is celberated on the 1st November- here certain Cristian faith actually honour their dead. On the 2nd of November is All Saints Day, so in the old times this certainly had a religious meaning, which once again has been comercialized.

It is your perogative to beleive that old Christian Rituals are Satanic, but in the true ethos of Christianity , we should be tolerant of others beliefs. It certainly works both ways.

[BasinOzson]

Sjoe ek kan nie sien waar ek enigsins iemand te na gekom het nie. In teendeel word ek "veroordeel" omdat ek nie saam met Halloween stem nie.

Enrica ek het duidelik hierbo gese dat ek net vir ander mense wat dalk dieselfde as ek voel die stuk gepost het. Weereens as jul gemaklik is met die Halloween kan ek jul nie oortuig nie.

Ek ken die geskiedenis van Halloween. Ek weet ook dat die Satan mens gemaakte instellings gebruik om sy saak te bevorder. Ek stem saam jou dat Jesus nie vreeslik gemaklik sal wees met die manier waarop Kersfees gevier word nie, maar ten minste in die meeste Christen huise word Sy Naam verheerlik.

Groete

[Cyberdeth]

BasinOzson, Jy het jou mening gelig, so mense jy sal ook ander mense se menings moet respekteer. En as mense nou nie saamstem met jou nie, is dit nie 'n persoonlike aanval nie, (baie christene dink dit is), en jy sal ook hulle opinies moet hoor en aanvaar. Halloween is NIE satanisties nie, en die "satanis" wat dit vir jou vertel het is 'n idiot en ken GLAD nie die geskiedenis van halloween nie. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween, ek haal aan : It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints.

Ek as 'n atheist, dink net, mense moet minder worry oor klein goedtjies, en maar net die dag enjoy. En dat mense meer ingelig moet wees voordat hulle goed se. Die internet is nie net daar vir porn nie, daar is baie ander sites daar buite wat BAIE inligting het.

Ek se nie hierdie omdat ek enigiemand wil opstook nie. Soos jy lig ek maar net my mening, en mense is meer as welkom om my reg te help as ek verkeerd is oor halloween.

[Feetjie]

Don't post something that you know is going to cause such a reaction. Leave Halloween and the kids ....... let them all be part of the fun! I hope this is the end of this topic.

[KathyW]

Ooh this gets me mad, you started the topic in English, please answer back in English as I have to admit that being an English South African or rather I apologise for being an English South african, I cannot understand what you are saying!..............

[Cyberdeth]

This really is sad that an English south african can't understand afrikaans, yet, and afrikaans south african understand english pretty well. Not quite fait is it ;-)

[Mara]

Oh dear...here we go again...OK kiddies, each to your naughty corner...

We all have differing opinions, which we are completely entitled to have, we just have to remember that other folks are entitled to theirs as well.

I, for one do not have a problem with halloween, do not have young kids so I do not go trick or treating, however, I always ensure that I have sweets for the kids that knock on my front door. To the kids it is just a fun thing, about the same as going to a fancy dress party, I say let them enjoy themselves.

I do, however, respect the opinions of friends that are against it, that is their choice.

Now I see we have moved from to 'trick or treat' all the way to the ability of English SA's that are unable to speak Afrikaans. Trust Cyberdeth to open another hornet's nest!

Any mud slinging that is now going to start will definitely close this post very quickly!

[JimmyC]

Hi Basinozson

I agree with your initial post.

JimmyC

[Cyberdeth]

LOL Mara it's all in good fun ;-) I promise hehehe. My post about language was just and observation, nothing more. I do NOT want to stir, it just happens hahaha

[Tilla]

Hi Basinozson

I agree with your initial post.

JimmyC

I agree with your initial post as well because I believe that Satan will use any way or means to get to people. But my sun did go trick-&-treating with a friend and to him it was just fun and games. He knows nothing about the origin of the "celebration" and did not ask. To be honest I don't think I would have been able to answer him if he did. He is thoroughly grounded in the Christian faith though.

[immi+]

To BazinOzson

Thank you for your post. I wholeheartedly agree with what you say. I honestly believe it is one of our duties as Christian parents to show the way for our kids, and halloween is one area I will not compromise over whether it is "just for fun" for our kids. The same as I do not compromise over Christmas to make it a "holiday celebration" instead of the true meaning and what it means for us as Christians. Our church sermon this morning was all about being persecuted for our faith, I guess this is one example, just remember to rejoice in the fact that you do get rediculed for the sake of Jesus.

Regards, BB

[BasinOzson]

Firstly I did wrote to KathyW to say sorry for my boere-Afrikaans. I am still in Pretoria...so it is still a bad habbit. LOL!!!

Cyberdeft I would have been very disappointed if there was no reaction from you.

Thank you to immi+,Tilla and JimmyC. For a moment I thought I was the only "party-pooper". I've learned my lesson on this forum. My God Bless you and your families!!!

immi+ : I will keep this words of yours close to my hart today "remember to rejoice in the fact that you do get rediculed for the sake of Jesus. "

[KathyW]

This really is sad that an English south african can't understand afrikaans, yet, and afrikaans south african understand english pretty well. Not quite fait is it ;-)

You have a nice day!!!!!!!!!

[KathyW]

Thank you Anmarie, I did get your apology, did not mean to go at you. I think sometimes we are all so confused in life generally that all we want to do is do the best for our kids.

I think once you are in Australia you will see and enjoy the day that the neighbours kids just knock on your door all excited and just collect a sweet or two, I heard our neighbours kids next door last night, counting all their sweets to see who had the most...... this just brought a smile to my face, and then off they went to bed.

[AndreaL]

Why should history be re-written to appease modern Christians?

Halloween is an ancient festival- also practised by Christians- to celebrate the end of Autumn and the coming of winter, " the end of the light and the beginning of the darkness"- why choose to turn it into something it isn't.

Remember the seasons were extremely important to people who lived off the land.

And before anyone gets on their high- horse, no-one is being persecuted for their beliefs- except perhaps those of us who are not Christians!

The worst evil I see in my observations on life is that perpetrated by so called " human beings", not satan or hell or any other unseen scape-goat- it is all a bit too convenient to say " Satan made me do it" in my opinion.

People do bad things because they are mentally ill, socially mal-adapted, whether due to abuse etc, on drugs or just plain bad-

You really should read about the subject of Halloween before you judge- you say that people are entitled to their opinions but make it very clear what yours is-give everyone else the same right.

Have a read and see what you think

Halloween- wikepedia

We have forgotten the true meaning of so many of our ancinet beliefs, celebrations and superstitions-

To view Halloween this way is a very sensible approach

Most[citation needed] Christians hold the view that the tradition is far from being satanic in origin or practice and that it holds no threat to the spiritual lives of children: being taught about death and mortality, and the ways of the Celtic ancestors actually being a valuable life lesson and a part of many of their parishioners' heritage.[40]

As a child in the UK, Halloween and Guy Fawkes was a very special time of year,we would trick or treat in the Scottish way, knocking on a door and then reciting a song or poem and then being rewarded with a treat.

For bonfire night Mum would make treacle toffee, buttered popcorn etc, the whole street would get rid of old furniture etc, by building a huge bonfire on the common field, it would be lit and we would gather round the heat of the fire, eat our sweeties and tell stories etc.

As with most festivals, these type of celebration are mostly about getting rid of the old and preparing for the new, be it a change of season, birth,death...........

I hope that those of you who do not celebrate Halloween don't open the door next year only to disappoint a little child who has spent ages getting dressed up and going excitedly from house to house.........that would not make a very happy childhood memory

Peace to all

[JennyG]

Something on a different note. Does Aus celebrate Halloween like they do in America? I had the privilege of being in America on the 31st of October couple years back and it was great fun doing the trick or treat thing with the kids! So I was just curious if they trick or treat and wear costumes to the school like in the US?

[Cyberdeth]

From what I've read and heard, it depends where in Aus you are. If you are in the cities, chances are that you might, further out though, it would seem that it's not that big. Not 100% sure.

[The Ferreiras]

MY 2 C...

Love your reply Andrea - hats off to you - just what I wanted to say (although you did it with much more grace....)

Jenny - my kids went trick or treating on Saturday - it was a blast. This is how it works - a letter was sent out to the homes in the neighbourhood saying that if you wished to partake in it please to put a balloon at your front gate, so those who wanted to hand out lollies did and those who didnt, didnt. We all dressed up - even dad - and took to the streets at about 5pm, kids came home with bulging bags, exhausted and happy.

Cant wait for next year.

[JennyG]

MY 2 C...

Jenny - my kids went trick or treating on Saturday - it was a blast. This is how it works - a letter was sent out to the homes in the neighbourhood saying that if you wished to partake in it please to put a balloon at your front gate, so those who wanted to hand out lollies did and those who didnt, didnt. We all dressed up - even dad - and took to the streets at about 5pm, kids came home with bulging bags, exhausted and happy.

Sounds exiting!! Do they have costume shops in Aus? Sorry for being off the topic but I'm only curious!

[HouseInOz]

I do not live in Oz yet, but have been out of SA for over 3 years. I have learned MANY lessons. One of them is - each to his own - is a saying I repeat often. I think that in Oz, as a devoted Christian, one should act in such a way that people will want to know more about Jesus. SA is special as Christianity are by far seen as the faith of the majority of the population. Living in Oz and other countries overseas, Christians are few and far between, and do not enjoy the majority "place" As a Christian this is frustrating as you will encounter daily MANY situations that will test your faith and that of your children. BUT I have seen how this has actually GROWN our faith. My children go to a school with more than 50 nationalities, let alone different belief systems! In Oz this could also be the situation if they go to a state school. Teaching ourselves and our children to respect differences and to be Jesus to people, will make a difference in the end.

I think this approach helped me a lot when I encounter "difficult" situations or things that I as a Christian do not agree with. We are in the world and do not have to be of the world.

THIS IS NOT INTENDED as a REPLY TO ANYBODY'S POST - it is just my personal observation of tolerance where different beliefs systems are encountered and what has worked for me....

I did not do anything for halloween (make up the house) but my children had costumes (friendly ones!) and we handed out candy (at a friends house). I did not say Happy Halloween or any other greet to anybody.

My 2c worth

[AndreaL]

Here in Moranbah the kids really went all out on Halloween.

There were all manner of costumes, the children were polite and thankful for the sweeties.

I had prepared 12 bags of sweets which were gone by 7.10pm!

So I had to scratch in the cupboards- the really nice thing was that most of the kids had their parents with them and they all looked like they had a great time.

Even my hubby- who is a bit of a scrooge got right into it.

He said it is another reminder of how great Australia is, that kids can go door to door- no viscious dogs or high fences- no nasty people waiting to grab them.............. the Australians don't know how blessed they are to have such freedom and such carefree childhoods.

I wish I could pick up all you guys waiting for visa's and bring you straight over.

Wait until Christmas- we have Santa coming round the streets dropping off presents- you buy your kids a gift and drop it off at the court house and the volunteer fire-fighters dress up and deliver them and lollies ( sweeties) to all the kids!