I read a book on writing horror, and one of the articles examined the reason why people love scary stories. When society becomes “sovereign” over every aspect of our lives, the darkness introduces a time of chaos, where the power of the state is not as absolute as it is during the day. Structures break down, and wild events become possible.

As kids, we approached this wild “chaos” with the same mindset that I imagine African tourists have when crusing through the savannah in the saftey of the jeep. We knew that the wonders that awaited us in the darkness where restrained by the power of God and any experience we had, was a thing to be marveled at.

Bring on the darkness…our God is sovereign! (This was our attitude, and I think it’s why childrens movies like Monster Squad, and Earnest Scared Stupid appealed to us so much.)

Maybe I’m overthinking it, but when I see common themes in these movies…(adults representing “society” who don’t understand or even believe in the danger until it’s too late… among other themes) I remain convinced.

Does anyone know if someone out there has done a study on how different cultures celebrate this particular “thrill?”

That’s what I’m getting at. I don’t see it as a holyday either, but I do enjoy giving gifts and having a “jolly good time” (food, football, food, and food, not necessarily in that order). I’ve read a number of others’ “well thought out comments” and I’d love to hear MRB’s (and yours as they develop any further).

My colleague has thought this one through more profoundly than I so I’ll join you in urging him to weigh in on the subject some time in the next 49 days.

I think Paul’s point about meat being sacrificed to idols is huge. Its actually a reflection of the genetic fallacy… something is not wrong merely due to its origin. Halloween, even if it it had wicked roots, may not be celebrated in a form that is wicked any more. Whether it is wicked these days is what you were arguing in your post, I guess.

Thanks again for your thoughts!

Keith

1 Thes 5:22 (Abstain from all appearance of evil) — The force of eidos is given by Gingrich as “kind” and this is ratified by RSV for example. So it is “appearance” in the sense of manifestation, occurrance — every kind of evil –, not as mirage, “false but plausible interpretation” as many of us were taught.

Of course realizing this doesn’t mean it’s now okay to simulate robbery!

Eph 5:11 (And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them). The question is whether halloween as manifested in a life form is “fellowship with darkness.” If it is, then we should reject it. My thesis is that to the extent that Halloween had any “meaning” beyond giggles and chocolate, it was indeed a reproving of the works of darkness — in our life form.

The Orthodox priests cited by T-fan may be right in their prohibition. It may be that the celebration does have demonic form there. Or, it may be that the priests’ own superstitions or theological problems are causing them confusion. I simply don’t know enough about that situation to say. But in any case, it can’t be transfered to us in a simple way.

re Harry Potter, I’ll confess that I have never been drawn in to read even one page. So I can’t say much. From what I heard about it, my spidey-sense told me from the beginning it was probably perverted; but I also know good and trustworthy people that think it is fine. At this point I’m inclined to think that as the culture becomes debased, the works of fantasy like Potter when produced by mediocre and corrupt minds can’t help but being badly tainted, and the people forming the debased culture cannot help but receive it as a ratification of their evil.

It could be that Halloween will reach that point also, and if it does, we should throw it overboard. I would hang my defense on it that (1) the thing we inherited was clean and (2) there are at least pockets of continuation where it still is.

Do we justify such activities by saying that we understand them in their proper place, as being fake (as opposed to the thing they may have stemmed from, such as true witchcraft and demonic activity), and thus they are of no threat to us?

Looking forward to your thoughts, if you have time. Thanks.