Raising Godly Kids in the Emerging Pagan Culture
Origins & History • The Christian’s Concern & The “Modern” Mood
is just harmless
There is nothing
inherently wicked in:
• Eating candy (in moderation)
• Visiting your neighbors at nighttime
• Dressing up in ordinary costumes
• Fun pranks and fall parties
fun for children, right?
It is doing all of
these things in
association with
the celebration
of a pagan
holiday that
celebrates death
and the dark
spiritual realm.
is just harmless
fun for children, right?
Let’s establish a biblical principle first.
Imagine going to a funeral for someone you don’t know. Now the funeral is taking
place for the express purpose of recognizing the death of someone; it isn’t just
“another day” that has no particular significance. People are gathering together
on that night to honor their dead. How improper and odd you would seem if you
showed up with party hat and noise makers to “just have some fun”?
The point is if you fail to recognize the significance of what a day/event is
designed to memorialize, then you are a fool, naïve, and out of touch with what
is really happening around you.
is just harmless
fun for children, right?
Let’s establish a biblical principle first.
Christians need to be “circumspect” (watchful, discreet, prudent). We must not
just look at the things which are seen (the colorful costumes, candy, and fun), but
at the things which are not seen (occultic association and roots, the pagan
significance of the occasion, the message we send by our participation, etc.).
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as
wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
~ Ephesians 5:15-16 ~
is just harmless
fun for children, right?
Let’s establish a biblical principle first.
Don’t be distracted by what appears to be harmless on the surface. Superficial
Christians do not apply discerning and biblical wisdom. This is the genius of
Satan – he doesn’t win by appearing obviously evil; he works his influences
subtly, attractively, and winsomely. He is clandestine (veiled) and stealthy in
his approach and appears as an “angel of light” (Lucifer) and “minister of
righteousness” (II Cor. 11:13-15). Be sure, his motives are always sinister and is a
master of deception; do not be ignorant of his devices (II Cor. 2:11). Christians
should be cautious of anything that might associate themselves with “unfruitful
works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11).
is just harmless
fun for children, right?
No, your children will likely not become full fledged devil
worshippers because you allowed them to trick or treat
(at least not consciously); but aren’t you concerned that they
might take any compromising steps in that direction? Don’t
you have any concern for how God feels about a celebration
of Satan? Even if you think it is all about pretending, then
don’t you think that God is no less pleased when we
“pretend” to dress up and imitate evil spirits, or the
marauders who used to loot, rape, and extort door to door?
“Most Christians ascribe no negative
significance to Halloween, treating it as a
purely secular holiday devoted to celebrating
“imaginary spooks” and handing out
candy….Most 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: …”
~ Wikipedia Article ~
Raising Godly Kids in the Emerging Pagan Culture
Origins & History • Celtic Samhain Festival • The “Modern” Mood
Samhain Festival
One Night of Fright
Halloween originated from the
pagan Festival of the Dead
called Samhain, celebrated
among the Celts of Ireland and
Great Britain. The Festival of
Samhain is a celebration of the
end of the harvest season in
Gaelic culture. Traditionally, the
festival was a time used by the
ancient pagans to take stock of
supplies and slaughter livestock
for winter stores.
The Ancient Gaels believed that
on October 31, the boundaries
between the worlds of the living
and dead overlapped and the
deceased would come back to life
and cause havoc such as
sickness or damaged crops.
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
Bonfir
es
The Festival of Samhain
The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, where the bones of slaughtered
livestock were thrown. This is why they were called “bonfires” (bone-fires). These
bonfires would be lit to ward off evil spirits. Costumes and masks were also worn
at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them.
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
Bonfir
es
The Festival of Samhain
“At Samhain, held on November 1, the world of the gods was believed to be made
visible to mankind, and the gods played many tricks on their mortal worshipers; it
was a time fraught with danger, charged with fear, and full of supernatural
episodes. Sacrifices and propitiations of every kind were thought to be vital, for
without them the Celts believed they could not prevail over the perils of the season
or counteract the activities of the deities. Samhain was an important precursor to
Halloween.” “Samhain (Celtic festival).” Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/520460/Samhain (accessed October 24, 2013).
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
Samhain Festival
One Night of Fright
Many European cultural
traditions, in particular Celtic
cultures, hold that Halloween is
one of the most strategic
times of the year when spirits
can make contact with the
physical world, and when
magick is most potent.
Halloween was perceived as the
night during which the division
between the world of the living
and otherworld was blurred so
spirits of the dead and
inhabitants from the
underworld were able to walk
free on earth. It was the time
when they invoked the help of
spirits for the coming year, since
the veil between the dead and
the living is believed to be at its
thinnest.
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
Pope Gregory I authorized the
consecration of non-Christian
places of worship, absorbing
pagans and their practices
into the Catholic church.
Halloween is Born
The Christianization of Samhain
Later in the 7th century, Pope
Boniface IV established “All
Saints Day” on November 1st as
a day in which to
commemorate and honor the
dead saints and martyrs of the
Church. The evening before “All
Saints Day” was to be
considered hallowed or holy and
eventually became known as All
Hallows Even – shortening even
further to be known as Hallow
e’en (halloween).
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
The syncretism of pagan beliefs
and traditions became comingled in this “Catholic” revision
of Samhain.
This is what happens when the
church tries to adopt and
adapt to the world. The result
was a catastrophic confusion and
sanction of paganism under the
guise of Christianity.
This is the danger with
providing Christian
“alternatives” to pagan
holidays; they can easily become
a means to aggregate the
confusion.
Now Halloween is considered a
“Christian Holiday”, yet it still retains
its original roots in pagan
superstitions on death, crossover,
blood, gore, darkness, fear, and
malicious and mischievous activity of
evil spirits.
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
On Hallow’s Eve,
Samhain was supposed
to call all of the wicked
dead back from the
prison of hell, and
place them in lower
animal bodies (dogs,
cats, wolves, bats, etc.).
The Celts felt that if they
pleased Samhain with
their worship, then he in
turn would protect
them from these
resurrected demons.
We Christians ought to not be caught up in
this superstition; we ascribe no validity to
this belief – instead we affirm that Satan is
active on this day as much as any other
day of the year and we are not fearful for
“Greater is he that is in us, than he that is
in the world.” (I John 4:4)
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
Halloween in America
The Migration of Pagan Conflation
In the nineteenth century,
thousands of Irish and
Scottish immigrants carried
their Halloween tradition with
them to North America.
Therefore, Halloween did not
become a holiday in the
United States until the 19th
century (1920s)….American
almanacs of the late 18th
and early 19th centuries do
not include Halloween in their
lists of holidays. A pagan
feast to the dead
previously had no
precedent in this Christian
land.
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
The Real Story behind the Practices &
Symbols of Halloween
“On route home after a night’s drinking, Jack encounters the Devil who tricks
him into climbing a tree. A quick-thinking Jack etches the sign of the cross
into the bark, thus trapping the Devil. Jack strikes a bargain that Satan can
never claim his soul. After a life of sin, drink, and mendacity, Jack is refused
entry to heaven when he dies. Keeping his promise, the Devil refuses to let
Jack into hell and throws a live coal straight from the fires of hell at him. It
was a cold night, so Jack places the coal in a hollowed out turnip to
stop it from going out, since which time Jack and his lantern have
been roaming looking for a place to rest.”
~ Encyclopedia of Death and Dying (Glennys Howarth, Oliver Leaman), Taylor & Francis, page 320 ~
The Real Story behind the Practices &
Symbols of Halloween
“The druids demanded human sacrifice in order to show ‘proper respect’ for
Samhain. In order to accomplish this, the druids went from castle to castle and
demanded women so that they could be sacrificed. The women were then taken to
sacrificial altars and killed (one of the most prominent areas we know of today for
human sacrifice was Stonehenge in England). If the sacrifice was willingly given,
the druids left a hollow gourd outside of the castle walls filled with burning
human fat. This burning fat was supposed to protect the castle from demonic
attack. If the druids were refused the sacrifice, they drew a hexagram on the door or
wall of the castle and left. Before dawn someone in the castle would be found dead
from fear….[Americans] encourage their children to go door to door shouting “trick or
treat”, little knowing that they were mimicking ritualized murder of days gone
by….Parents put candles inside of pumpkin gourds (just as the druids put human fat
inside of hollow gourds) to commemorate Halloween.”
The Real Story behind the Practices &
Symbols of Halloween
“It was believed necessary to dress as a spirit or otherworldly
creature when venturing outdoors to blend in, and this is
where dressing in such a manner for Halloween comes from.
This gradually evolved into trick-or-treating because children
would knock on their neighbors’ doors, in order to gather
fruit, nuts, and sweets for the Halloween festival. Salt was
once sprinkled in the hair of the children to protect against
evil spirits.”
The Real Story behind the Practices &
Symbols of Halloween
“This appeasement of the spirits was celebrated in
various ways according to locale and custom, with
minor differences. One way was to set out bowls of
fruit and other treats so they could partake of them
and, once satisfied, they would leave in peace. Your
child, going door to door, is reenacting that
ancient superstition.”
The Real Story behind the Practices &
Symbols of Halloween
“In Scotland and Ireland, young people took part in a tradition called guising,
dressing up in costume and accepting offerings from various households. Rather
than pledging to pray for the dead, they would sing a song, recite a poem, tell a
joke or perform another sort of “trick” before collecting their treat, which typically
consisted of fruit, nuts or coins.”
“In 1000 A.D. the church designated November 2 as All Souls’ Day, a time for
honoring the dead… Poor people would visit the houses of wealthier families
and receive pastries called soul cakes in exchange for a promise to pray for
the souls of the homeowners’ dead relatives. Known as souling, the practice
was later taken up by children, who would go from door to door asking for gifts
such as food, money and ale.”
~ A&E Television Networks. “History of Trick-or-Treating.” History.com. http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-trick-or-treating
(accessed October 24, 2013). ~
Do Wiccans, Pagans, Occultists, or Satanists believe that your children
WORSHIP
SAMHAIN
on Halloween?
While wiccans / neopagans revere Halloween, but they seem to prefer to
celebrate it in seclusion with their coven members. Many find children
ringing their doorbells to be a constant distraction and interruption in their
necromancing rituals.
Most Satanists today are self-professing “Non-theistic” satanists who do not
believe that Satan is a real person; they believe that Satan is a symbol or
figure for one’s individual self which needs to become autonomous and
liberated from oppressive establishments which seek to incarcerate,
manipulate, or shackle their will.
What’s Wrong with Halloween?
Do Wiccans, Pagans, Occultists, or Satanists believe that your children
WORSHIP
SAMHAIN
on Halloween?
To be fair, I could find no confirmed statements made by occult
members that suggest that children trick or treating were in actuality
worshipping the devil or participating in an occult ritual of serious
significance.
Does this mean then that our children aren’t in any danger? Can we
believe that there really is no harm in permitting our children to enjoy
the traditions surrounding this holiday?
What’s Wrong with Halloween?
I’ve heard there is a rise in crime, kidnappings, and animal/human
Sacrifices on
halloween
There are no reports available specifically for halloween kidnappings
neither do they suggest that halloween is any more dangerous a
time than usual. However, for obvious reasons, halloween presents
a special opportunity to those who have criminal intentions and
violent crime is known to escalate during the peak times for trick
or treating.
Bottom line: Trick or Treating can be dangerous not just spiritually,
but actually risky to your children’s safety.
What’s Wrong with Halloween?
Children of the Darkness
The Arguments for Non-participation
“But I say, that the things which the Gentiles
sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God:
and I would not that ye should have fellowship
with devils.”
~ I Corinthians 10:20 ~
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
Children of the Darkness
The Arguments for Non-participation
I am not against genuinely fun events and activities.
However, I question what some parents view as
fun. It may be innocent, but is it fun to mimic
(however unknowingly) devil worship, female
sacrifice, and witchcraft?
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
Children of the Darkness
The Arguments for Non-participation
If you are a Bible-reading, God-fearing Christian, and you are jealous for God’s
glory, you cannot be casual or indifferent about a holiday set up to promote
superstition, idolatrous worship, and fear. Throughout the whole Bible, God
continually must remind and chasten His people because they wandered into
idolatry and false worship of devils. They justified their actions as well. And they
did not heed the prophets that told them what they were doing was wrong, either.
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
Children of the Darkness
The Arguments for Non-participation
“When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou
shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not
be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass
through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an
enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a
wizard, or a necromancer. For ALL THAT DO THESE THINGS ARE AN
ABOMINATION UNTO THE LORD: and because of these abominations the
LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.”
~ Deuteronomy 18:9-12 ~
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
Children of the Darkness
The Arguments for Non-participation
Even if the gods invoked by the ancient Celtic Druids aren’t
being acknowledged by the masquerading fifth grade
elementary school class down the street, the holiday still
must be remembered as one set up to give them their
due. This is a reality that a God-fearing people cannot
compromise with.
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
Children of the Darkness
The Arguments for Non-participation
How can anyone truly loving the true God wish to even pretend that
they are communing with dead spirits, let alone actually and
intentionally seek them out? Why would we indirectly encourage our
impressionable children, over whom God has given us direct charge to
raise in the Christian faith, to engage in ‘fun’ practices that will only
desensitize them to deeper levels of the occult which will beckon to
them as they mature? When God has so clearly commanded us to not
entertain any notion of flirting with the spirit world, why should anyone
want to push the envelope and reckon this to be a pastime than the
rebellion it actually is? What kind of ‘fun’ is this that both saddens
and angers the Lord?
Children of the Darkness
The Arguments for Non-participation
The enlightened Agobard, Archbishop of Lyons in
the ninth century, complained of superstitions that
“[were] things of such absurdity are believed by
Christians as no one ever aforetime could
induce the heathen to believe.”
DON’T BE A GULLIBLE CHRISTIAN!
Children of the Darkness
The Arguments for Non-participation
“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is
Jealous, is a jealous God: Lest thou make a covenant with the
inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do
sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his
sacrifice; And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their
daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a
whoring after their gods.”
~ Exodus 34:14-16 ~
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
Children of the Darkness
The Arguments for Non-participation
“And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar
spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will
even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off
from among his people. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and
be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.”
~ Leviticus 20:6-7 ~
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
Children of the Darkness
The Arguments for Non-participation
“For God hath not given us the spirit
of fear; but of power, and of love, and of
a sound mind.”
~ II Timothy 1:7 ~
Samhain: Celtic Festival of the Dead
Origins & History • Celtic Samhain Festival • The “Modern” Mood
Raising Godly Kids in the Emerging Pagan Culture