A teacher is simply a student with unlimited chalkboard privileges.

• Sep. 23, 2005 - Halloween: How do you feel about it?

This pumpkin was the perfect gif for this post because it shows a great range of emotions. Halloween stirs in people many opinions; some are excited to dress up and trick or treat door to door, some are indifferent, and some are just plain sad that we acknowledge it as a holiday at all.

So, my question is this: Does your family participate in Halloween and why?

You can simply post a vote for one of the following...

I see Halloween as:

a. a harmless holiday for fun, dress up, community interaction and candy collecting.

b. Satan's holiday.

c. an opportunity to pass out tracks and shine a light on what could, otherwise, be perceived as a day of darkness.

d. (fill in the blank regarding your own personal opinion/conviction and practices).

I plan to re-post this inquiry in about two weeks with the current compiled results - the more the better!

• Sep. 23, 2005 - cute pumpkin

Posted by 3FoldChord

how about "All of the above"?
I choose 'E: all of the above.' I see it as a pagan holiday, but most people are having harmless fun, dressing up and Just like easter (which started as a Pagan Holiday) We, as Christian can use it as an oppurtunity for God. I don't hand out tracks, but I tell my kids it is a day we celebrate giving to others (and the story ofBeggar's Night- about people using that night to come together and meet the needs of the poor-which I havenever verified, maybe my mommade that up?). And they have been tiold the real origin of the day as well, and we choose to use this time to be a time we celgrate giving to otherslike God wants us to do.

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• Sep. 23, 2005 - My answer is A

Posted by ClassicalEducation4Me

We celebrate Halloween as a fun night to dress up and get lots of candy! My kids are getting older and probably won't trick-or-treat in a few years. We think it's a fun night and have a great neighborhood to trick-or-treat in, too!
Kris

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• Oct. 10, 2005 - Halloween Poll Response

Posted by Betsyfriend

My thoughts on Halloween have changed drastically over the past decade, and as I've prayed and pondered this delicate subject, I feel that God has confirmed how He wants me to respond to it. I don't think this is supposed to be everyone's personal conviction; nevertheless, here it is:

Halloween, as commonly celebrated today, is undoubtedly one of Satan's favorite days of the year. With evil disguised as harmless fun, it's no wonder. But I believe there's more to it than that. If we profess to be Christian, I think it is unwise to take part in traditional Halloween activities, but I also think it is just plain silly to pretend it doesn't exist at all. My opinion lies somewhere between Satan's holiday and passing out tracks. How many families do you know in your neighborhood? Do you remember the last time you spoke to one of your neighbors? In the last year, how many of your neighbors (or those in adjacent neighborhoods) knocked on your door? Crazy how, in just one day (or more specifically, one evening) of the year, more strangers are likely to come to our house than in any other day, probably all the days of the year combined. Instead of attending a harvest party of some sort to "replace" Halloween while your house lies empty and dark, have you considered staying there to open up your home to non-Christian neighbors you might never meet again? What an opportunity to shine God's light on a corrupt, lost world! So often we spend most of our time in our cozy Christian circles (at church, at Bible studies, etc.). We even search out those other Christians at our workplaces instead of befriending those who don't profess to know Christ. Not all of do this, I know, but it is very easy to get comfortable in our Christian cliques and forget the rest of the world, and understandably so, because it stretches us to go outside our comfort zones.

Stay home this year and pass out Testamints or Scripture Candy. Carve an ichthus (fish) or a favorite Bible verse into a pumpkin and proudly display it on your front porch. Keep in mind 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (NIV), because it might prove to be quite the conversation starter!

I have more thoughts on Halloween, including whether or not to allow your children to dress up, trick-or-treat, etc. but I will save that for another time, or wait until someone asks. I do not deny that Halloween is a tender subject for many Christians, and the last thing I want to do is offend someone or cause a brother- or sister-in-Christ to stumble or doubt my faith. Thankfully, God knows our hearts, and that is perhaps the key thing to remember.

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• Oct. 10, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Harriette

All of the Above

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• Oct. 10, 2005 - BetsyFriend Reply

Posted by MiraclesHappen

My dearest BetsyFriend, I agree wholeheartedly with you and what you have said. If you would like to post more about your specific opinions in regards to the other things you mentioned, I would love to hear those as well, so post away! Ironically, but not surprisingly, at small group last night we were studying a completely unrelated topic and we happened to read the scripture you quoted in 1 Peter. I commented on the power in that scripture because we are called to share the truth in love and not simply stand silently on the sidelines. You have fulfilled this calling well. Love ya bunches dear one!

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• Oct. 11, 2005 - Posted by GabbyTheElf on 2005-10-08 15:13:32

Posted by Anonymous

This post was commented at the actual poll site so I thought I would add it to the comments here so everyone could see her thoughts...

Wish New Zealand celebrated halloween.. It's not very common to see trick or treat'ers since it is more of a US thing, however, it sucks.. cause I'd love the opportunity to have one day to dress up as anything i want without wierd looks... now, question is.. what'd i wear??

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• Oct. 11, 2005 - Oct. 6, 2005 - Your Halloween Poll

Posted by Anonymous

I also wanted to move Harriette's comment here so that everyone can read them all in one place...

Posted by Harriette
I couldn't figure out how to add a comment on your Halloween poll way down on the righthandside of your blog.........so I'll add it here

"All of the Above"

Halloween has become a challenge for many, many Christian families - but I genuinely feel it is all of the top three things you have listed in your poll - though "harmless" is not the term.....don't quite have another - but I'm sure you get the jest of what I'm saying. I have several good books on how to celebrate (no - "participate" - no, enjoy??) - in the Halloween "stuff" but through teaching my children about its history, its dangers and how to keep it "in the light" as well as make it fun.....
:-)
Harriett

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• Oct. 18, 2005 - Posted by Reynard Muldrake on 2005-10-17 13:09:11

Posted by Anonymous

Sure, Christmas gets all the glory. And Christmas is very captivating and enthralling, I admit. But Halloween is so unique and creative and exciting. Halloween is a WONDERFUL holiday. I feel bad for the kids of fundamentalist religious people who don't allow them to enjoy the holiday. It's such a magical time. Yes, it's dark, that's the point. It's a special holiday about something fundamental in humankind - fear. Halloween isn't about evil (well, for some people it is) but about us as human beings dealing with that shadowy, mysterious and creepy side of life. Even the most bright and cheeful life surely gets the occasional nightmare, the occasional chill up their spine in the dark. Halloween is just playing with that sort of thing, and it's awesome fun.

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• Oct. 27, 2005 - Love Halloween

Posted by cudltot

I think that it is a day for the kids to dress up and have fun.

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