Trick or treaters side with the devil, according to church group

[Lace Neil Singer]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1220630/Church-claims-Halloween-trick-treaters-Devil.html#ixzz0U29YpwPf

At first, I wondered if this was a joke, but apparently these nutjobs are serious. O.o

[fireheart17]

Apparaently they don't want kids celebrating pagan festivals.....

(from what I know, I think Halloween had its roots as Samhain, the pagan/Wicca festival)

[BroomJockey]

Not exactly. Christianity pulled its standard "We're going to put our festival on the same day as this other one, so it's easier for converting people" shtick. All Hallow's Eve and All Saint's Day (Nov. 1) have really nothing to do with Samhain.

[joe hx]

If God created everything, then God created the devil. If we are to celebrate God's creation, we must celebrate the devil as well. Despite all the evil he has done, he is still one of God's creations. "Love thy enemy," no?

Of course, assuming there is a God and devil and stuff...

[Bloodsoul]

I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.

Plus I'm not turning down free candy.

[Arcade Man D]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1220630/Church-claims-Halloween-trick-treaters-Devil.html#ixzz0U29YpwPf

At first, I wondered if this was a joke, but apparently these nutjobs are serious. O.o

I love these people, because then you can go to town on Christmas on them, and they'll have no defense. Granted, it's more out of personal amusement in watching hypocrites twist in the wind.

a) Jesus was *not* born in December, because shepherds would not have their flocks out during the chill Palestinian winter nights.

b) Christmas was actually created out of Saturnalia, a Roman festival celebrated by massive orgies.

[Nyoibo]

God bless the Romans and their orgies.

[tabbyblack13]

The masks that are worn today are from the traditional masks that protected people from the dead that came back. If the dead recognized a person that person would be taken to the land of the dead.

It was probably a harvest festival back then too.

Of course, why doesn't this surprise me that people are so scared of a holiday that is not truly "christian" (term used loosely)

[Rapscallion]

Of course, why doesn't this surprise me that people are so scared of a holiday that is not truly "christian" (term used loosely)

Fear is a fundamental part of many religions. "If you don't do what we say our divinity wants, the results will be pretty bad."

Feel like offending against the Roman gods and goddesses? Their buddy Pluto would sort you out in the Underworld. Don't be nice? The reincarnationists will have you going through the pain of life again. Christian religions have hell and the like.

None of these punishments can be proven - it's fear of what may happen.

Rapscallion

[Flyndaran]

...
None of these punishments can be proven - it's fear of what may happen.

Rapscallion

It's so hard to not let fear run your life even when atheist.

[MergedLoki]

I love these people, because then you can go to town on Christmas on them, and they'll have no defense. Granted, it's more out of personal amusement in watching hypocrites twist in the wind.

a) Jesus was *not* born in December, because shepherds would not have their flocks out during the chill Palestinian winter nights.

b) Christmas was actually created out of Saturnalia, a Roman festival celebrated by massive orgies.

correct. as stated before. the christians made 'christmas' on the day it's on in order to convert others (winter solstice, dec 21 a hugely important day in many pagan religions).

and the whole 'jesus wasn't born on xmas' thing is totally true. the thign i don't get is religious people arguing against it because they've (i dont know who 'they' are i read an article few years back. god help me finding it now lol) basically looked at star patterns etc. etc. from way back then and found he was born sometime in june or july.

this SHOULD make christians happy as it shows that YES some dude named JESUS was most likely born. huzzah!

but no they argue 'bday, xmas. waaaaah ur all going to hell!' (ok not ALL argue i'm not trying to offend any cool christians here i'm talking about the small, yet vocal minority (is there any other kind?) that bitch about anything not 'right' in their eyes))

[Flyndaran]

correct. as stated before. the christians made 'christmas' on the day it's on in order to convert others (winter solstice, dec 21 a hugely important day in many pagan religions).

and the whole 'jesus wasn't born on xmas' thing is totally true. the thign i don't get is religious people arguing against it because they've (i dont know who 'they' are i read an article few years back. god help me finding it now lol) basically looked at star patterns etc. etc. from way back then and found he was born sometime in june or july.

this SHOULD make christians happy as it shows that YES some dude named JESUS was most likely born. huzzah!

but no they argue 'bday, xmas. waaaaah ur all going to hell!' (ok not ALL argue i'm not trying to offend any cool christians here i'm talking about the small, yet vocal minority (is there any other kind?) that bitch about anything not 'right' in their eyes))

I've never heard any indisputable claims of Jesus every existing let alone when he was born. I've read wild claims about nightsky oddities that may have been mistranslated as a star. But no one agrees, exept to state that there wasn't any in year one when the calendar likes to state it.

Though surviving in a manger in the middle of a winter night would have been a whole other miricle.

[gremcint]

I thought year one was about when he was thirty because he didn't start becoming heavily noticed till around then, why would they start the new calendar right as he's born when most people wouldn't know who he was.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Feh. We get these humorless nutjobs year after year.

Whatev. They bore me. They can think what they want.

As for me, I will quote my hero Hank Hill:

"Trick..... Or...... Treat."

[blas87]

I was raised by a very religious mother, and she taught me that the devil cannot get to you and neither can any of Satan's minions if you believe in the power and protection of Christ.

She's one of the most religious people I know, and she has never had an issue with Halloween or trick or treating....well, except that I had to stop when I reached about 12.

[Arcade Man D]

I've never heard any indisputable claims of Jesus every existing let alone when he was born. I've read wild claims about nightsky oddities that may have been mistranslated as a star. But no one agrees, exept to state that there wasn't any in year one when the calendar likes to state it.

Though surviving in a manger in the middle of a winter night would have been a whole other miricle.

Discovery Channel ran a special about Jesus, and using a combination of contemporary accounts, public information from the Romans, and human remains, were able to confirm that there was a man named Yeshua, born to Joseph and Mary, descended from the line of David, who became a religious leader and was crucified. Remember, the Romans were meticulous record-keepers, especially for crucifixions.

No, whether or not this Yeshua was the divinely begotten son of YHWH, or simply a religious leader with some very good ideas, whose teachings later got written down by disciples who decided to embellish.

[Pedersen]

I thought year one was about when he was thirty because he didn't start becoming heavily noticed till around then, why would they start the new calendar right as he's born when most people wouldn't know who he was.

That's easy: BC = Before Christ, AD = Anno Domini, or "Year of Lord".

Written thusly: 5 BC = 5 years before Christ, AD 1582 = Year of our Lord 1582.

Plus, with your method, there's a good 30+ year gap in the calendar.

[AdminAssistant]

That's easy: BC = Before Christ, AD = Anno Domini, or "Year of Lord".

Eh, nobody uses those initials anymore...or at least, no historians that I've read lately do. BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) are the more acceptable alternatives.

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

Eh, nobody uses those initials anymore...or at least, no historians that I've read lately do. BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) are the more acceptable alternatives.

I still use BC and AD. *shrug*

My issue with these church folks is this: Is a 5 year old who dresses up as Handy Manny really going to care about the history of Halloween or be worried about spooks and demons? No they are just going to go out, score some candy and come home. That's all Halloween was to me as a kid, I didn't learn all the history until I was in my teens to early adulthood.

[Pedersen]

Eh, nobody uses those initials anymore...or at least, no historians that I've read lately do. BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) are the more acceptable alternatives.

Which also neatly ignores why I posted it: I was answering the question of why the calendar didn't start when Jesus was 30.

[Flyndaran]

I would prefer holidays that have no religious baggage. But darn it, who really celebrates Wintereenmas?

[BroomJockey]

Eh, nobody uses those initials anymore...or at least, no historians that I've read lately do. BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) are the more acceptable alternatives.

Besides Pedersen's point, there's the reason they changed, which you didn't mention. They fucked up the conversion from one calendar type to another (Julian to Gregorian, I think, but don't quote me), and lost 30 years, thus what they said was year 1 was actually year 27 or so. So while they tried to put the calendar start to co-inside with Jesus's birth, they missed, so scholars decided to change the initials, since 26BC and less weren't actually BC.

[Mytical]

When I was young the local church did a similar thing. Halloween is harmless fun, and has lost any signifigence a long long time ago (as did Christmas but that is another story). It is something for the children, and meant to be fun. A good scare can be rather enjoyable. Of course Halloween is my favorite holiday, so I may be a bit biased.

[joe hx]

quick thought: maybe dress up as Jesus to go trick or treating? with a crown of thorns, bloody hands and feet, and a stab wound on your side?

[gremcint]

Just make sure to look both ways if you do:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVseBfMq_Dc

[protege]

I would prefer holidays that have no religious baggage. But darn it, who really celebrates Wintereenmas?

Hehe we do celebrate Wintereenmas, usually by several nights of drunken GTA playing :p

[AdminAssistant]

Which also neatly ignores why I posted it: I was answering the question of why the calendar didn't start when Jesus was 30.

So while they tried to put the calendar start to co-inside with Jesus's birth, they missed, so scholars decided to change the initials, since 26BC and less weren't actually BC.

Didn't know that, all I was doing was pointing out that the terms BC and AD are no longer used by the majority of academia.

Hehe we do celebrate Wintereenmas, usually by several nights of drunken GTA playing :p

I first read that as Graduate Teaching Assistant, until I realized you were talking about Grand Theft Auto. :o I'd personally be up for many drunken nights of Grad. Teaching Asst. playing!!! Wheeeee!!!!!!!

[IDrinkaRum]

I was raised by a very religious mother, and she taught me that the devil cannot get to you and neither can any of Satan's minions if you believe in the power and protection of Christ.

She's one of the most religious people I know, and she has never had an issue with Halloween or trick or treating....well, except that I had to stop when I reached about 12.


Why did you have to stop at 12? Did you mom think you "too old" to go trick or treating?

Your mom sounds level-headed where religion goes.

I have no problem with my daughter going trick-or-treating. As long as she says "please", "thank you", and she trick-or-treats people we know.

But then again, she's 6.

She hasn't grasped the idea of the devil/god/good/evil. *shrugs*