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Halloween : the “eerie” truth

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Presentation on theme: "Halloween : the “eerie” truth"— Presentation transcript:

1 Halloween : the “eerie” truth
October 31st

2 Who in this room celebrates Halloween? How do you celebrate it?
A couple of questions… Who in this room celebrates Halloween? How do you celebrate it? Why do you celebrate Halloween?

3 So lets talk a little bit about Halloween

4 Halloween…history Origin: ancient (pre-Christian) Druidic fire festival called "Samhain", celebrated by the Celts in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Samhain is pronounced « sow-in » 2,000 years ago celebrated their new year on November 1 Marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death The boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred on the eve of that feast (ghosts of the dead returned to earth causing damage and destroying crops)

5 Halloween…history Also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each others’ fortunes (by communicating with the spirits) They also dressed up and lit fires to scare away the evil spirits looking for living bodies to inhabit

6 Halloween…history 800s: Christianity. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. Irene Park, a former witch and authority on the history of Halloween says, "The Druids in Ireland would go through the neighborhoods and countryside on the eve of October 31 to collect offerings for Satan. They would carry lanterns, bags for money, and canes with very sharp points on their ends (known as leprechaun staffs, good luck horns, or fairies' wands). At each house they would demand a specified amount. If the household would not, or could not, give the offering (Penance or treat), the druid would use his cane to attack the person at the door or his animals

7 Halloween…history Park says, « The guisers went from house to house, singing and dancing. Their blood-curdling masks and grotesque costumes may have been meant to keep evil at bay, or more likely, were a visible representation of the ghosts and goblins that lurked in the night. (These masks have now been transferred to the children, who in the United States, visit neighbors for the food offering which once belonged to the dead - or play tricks akin to the legendary destructiveness of witches and imps abroad on the night. ) »

8 Halloween is a pagan celebration
Halloween…history Halloween is a pagan celebration Related to devil-worship and druidic traditions Practiced nowadays “just for fun” Commercial occasion to sell candy, decorations and costumes

9 Halloween today October 31st (note it’s the same date as the eve of the pagan feast) Dressing-up (mainly as evil-looking / ghoulish creatures) Involves both children and adults Trick or treating No religious value whatsoever

10 Halloween today Most people and children who participate with modern Halloween festivities, usually do so innocently, without any intention of associating themselves with the occult or other satanic traditions. However, the great tragedy is that it domesticates the occult and the powers of darkness. It creates a "tongue-in-cheek" attitude that the forces of evil are not to be taken seriously — that devils, witches, and goblins are considered merely make-believe, plastic masks, with child-like impotence. It also tends to promote an acceptance and friendliness toward dark traditions and occult beliefs; that Satan is not really so bad, witches are really not evil, demons are not really dangerous. Members of the occult and devotees to the true satanic traditions of Halloween are ecstatic by the widespread acceptance and participation in their sacred festival. They view society's celebration of Halloween as an enormous public relations victory, and believe it's a time when their dark powers are greatly intensified, due to the unity of the masses which magnify and exalt the forces of evil. With thousands focusing their energies upon traditions of Satan, they feel this strengthens his influence in the affairs of the world.

11 Halloween today For these reasons, many churches oppose any participation with Halloween on the basis that its relationship to evil is contrary to our relationship with Christ. The scriptures mention nothing about Halloween, but they do warn that a believer cannot mingle a relationship with God and the Devil (1 Cor. 10:21), and that we should even "Abstain from every form [appearance] of evil" (1 Thes. 5:22). ¹ The World Book Encyclopedia ² Dictionary of the Occult and Paranormal ³ Man, Myth and Magic

12 Halloween…and Christianity
Is any holiday that glorifies death and darkness (even in fun) a proper thing for a Christian to do since we have been called out of darkness into His marvelous Light? 1 Peter 2:9: « But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.  » Most Satanists celebrate this as their high holy day and even offer human sacrifices to the devil

13 Halloween…and Christianity
Ephesians 5:11-12: «And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. » Deuteronomy 18:9-14 « do not learn to imitate detestable ways, including spiritists, sorcerers and witchcraft » 3 John 11 « do not imitate what is evil » Romans 13:12 « put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. » 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 « Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. »

14 So what?…Halloween is now a Christian celebration isn’t it?
(All Saints’ Day)

15 Halloween and the Coptic Church
Do we find "All Saints’ Day" in the Coptic Synaxarium? We celebrate Coptic Saints throughout the ENTIRE year, not on one particular day October 31st coincides with 2 very important feasts in our Church : The commemoration of St Mary and the Feast of Anba Roweiss and the memorial day for Tamav Irini , the jewel of nuns.

16 Halloween…risks Vandalism / criminality Exposure to strangers that are often non-identifiable (disguised) Accepting candy from unknown people Devil worshippers Activities against the nature of our relationship with Christ (occult games)

17 Conclusion The Bible clearly warns us to flee from the practices of the occult. It delineates the consequences and makes it forbidden to mankind. No reference in the Bible to « only doing this for fun » We should set an example to younger children and youth by not participating in this occasion Attend Church, the Vespers, and the Exaltation of the Saints on October 31st. Create plays and skits for the great saints St. Mary and St. Roewis. Spiritually meet together, and then enjoy the social atmosphere of Christian fellowship, Saints' plays and Agape meal. Let's all give thanks to God for a true Christian reason to celebrate this day!

18 Conclusion We as Christians must stand united and strong in the Lord. Halloween has become a multi-million dollar business; we must not allow our right of Religious freedom to be under mined by the anti-Christ. In the Holy Book of Deuteronomy Our Lord says: « When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you must not learn to imitate the abhorrent practices of those nations. No one shall be found among you who makes a son or daughter pass through fire, or who practices divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, or one who casts spells, or who consults ghosts or spirits, or who seeks oracles from the dead. For whoever does these things is abhorrent to the Lord; it is because of such abhorrent practices that the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You must remain completely loyal to the Lord your God. »

19 The End


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