Halloween and Church - Coursework Example

Daniel Rendelman claims that «we can reason excuses for Bible believers to celebrate Halloween but the argument does no good”. (Rendelman)

The Church considers Halloween a satanic holiday – even the “trick and treats” tradition can be compared to the ritual of sacrifice to the dark forces. The Church also is trying to prove that Halloween causes in children anxiety, neuroses, psychical deviations, aggression, etc.

1. Rendelman quotes the Bible when proving that Halloween should not be celebrated by the believers: “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil,” 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22”. (cited from Rendelman)

Because the holiday of Halloween is of Celtic origin, and the Celts believe that the new life was born from the death and worshipped the demon Samhain (Saman) that was the Lord of Death, the Church condemns the holiday and claims it is of evil character. It says that by wearing the costumes of the evil forces (the dead), people abide by Satan who is the embodiment of the dark and the evil.

“Halloween practices, from dressing in costumes to bobbing for apples, were once part of pagan worship. These actions are repeated today by people who are unaware or simply don’t care about their true meaning. Time may have passed but their origins and true purpose remain the same”. (Rendelman)

Other traditions of Halloween, such as various prophecies, magic rituals, fortune-telling, divination, and others, are also, according to the Church, of Anti-Christian nature. Celebrating Halloween, the Church claims, often results in people’s interest in Satanism and occultism.

However, there are opinions that Halloween and the Church holiday of All Saints that is celebrated on November 1 are closely interconnected. Kenneth C. Davis in his article asks a question if Halloween is “a day of innocent merriment or a celebration of sinister forces” and claims that the proof of both positions can be found in the course of history”. (Davis 2005)

Let us see what is the proof of this connection between Halloween and the Christian holiday of All Saints that follows this controversial pagan holiday:

 “Christians, in an effort to counter pagan rituals to death and evil spirits, created an alternative tradition – All Hallow’s Day on Nov. 1”. (Riley 2007) Therefore, there is an opinion that the Catholic Church has transformed an ancient holiday into the one that honors the saints and martyrs for Christianity. (How did a Pagan Holiday become a 'Christian' Celebration, 2005)