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Sunday Halloween Irks Some in Bible Belt
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Actually, I think that States and communities probably DO have the AUTHORITY (not "right" as you said) to declare when holidays will be officially observed. They cannot change it for religions... for instance, they have no authority to tell Satanists that they can't have a black mass on that day, but they most certainly can decree a public observance.
Why do you people support Halloween anyway since it is based on religion? It is "Hallowed Eve" by Catholic tradition (the evening before All Saints Day) and it's the high holy day to the satanic church. Why would people who don't want religion in public places support something based on religion?
Joe
Moonbeam, I realize that you and I are probably diameterically opposed on this subject, but bear with me. From my point of view, a small percentage (he said "few jerks) want to change how everyone in our society views homosexual sex. They do this not for the greater good of the public, but to meet their own "twisted agenda".
Does a society have no authority to say what it will and will not allow as acceptable? What if twenty years from now we determined that some people are born with a gene that makes them want to have sex with pigs... should society's position be one of acceptance and normalizing that activity into the culture. Some say no because the pig has no say, but it also has no say when we turn it into bacon... which one is actually worse for the pig?
Joe
Another tact:
I can teach my kids that homosexuality is wrong and abhorrent, but my "right" to not have the public schools for which I pay taxes to NOT contradict me in the teaching of my children has been taken away.
I don't see it any different with the Halloween thing. It's not about taking away people's right to have Halloween, it's about not taking away someone's "right" to view Sunday as it has been historically viewed and respected in this country.
I just mentioned on another thread about how Zachary Taylor's inauguration was delayed by one day because it fell on a Sunday. People didn't raise a fuss... they WANTED a man with strong convictions whose loyalty was first to God and second to country. They understood that if a man was truly devoted to The Lord, that he would do what was best for the country by default. The country (or much of it) now has a 180 degree stance where they want NOTHING religious to interfere with politics or revelry and I don't think this is how our Founding Fathers would have envisioned or desired it to be.
Joe
shinerburke:
You have religious fanatics on your property telling you to stop doing the work of the devil and offering to save your soul, a graveyard in the front yard, and a Smith & Wesson in the garage. That?s a perfect setup. Do you have a shovel? 🙂
On a side note: It?s people like you and your wife that make Halloween so enjoyable. After my son overcame his fear factor, houses like yours have become our favorite. I would love to just sit on a front lawn like yours and watch the reactions and expressions on the faces from all the children who enter. Maybe someday, when he feels he?s too big to go trick or treating, we can have some fun decorating in a similar fashion.
jackschmittusa
Diamond Member
I support my grandkids with their Halloween fun and never consider that it has any religious meaning. Pretty much the same with Xmas. Just an excuse to get the family together for a big meal and give some gifts to those I care about. I don't consider it in any religious context whatsoever. They could label it "The Big Winter Wing-Ding" for all I care.
JustAnAverageGuy
Diamond Member
Netopia
Take the threadjack elsewhere or create different thread for it.
Take the threadjack elsewhere or create different thread for it.
bamacre
Lifer
Reading through this thread is quit humorous, and yet I feel like I really must say that as a Christian (Catholic) who has lived in the middle of the Bible Belt for 28 years, these people are a HUGE minority.
There are more churches in Memphis than gas stations. Seriously. And tons of people celebrate Halloween, as I did every year as a kid. I do however remember one particular family that chose to not celebrate it, but they did so quietly and never tried to ruin fun for everyone else.
I find that sometimes news stories tend to stereotype people of faith. Honestly, there are a lot of very bright, nice, and open-minded Christians all over, and of course there are those who are extreme.
Most of the time, those who are extreme are not following what they are taught.
There are more churches in Memphis than gas stations. Seriously. And tons of people celebrate Halloween, as I did every year as a kid. I do however remember one particular family that chose to not celebrate it, but they did so quietly and never tried to ruin fun for everyone else.
I find that sometimes news stories tend to stereotype people of faith. Honestly, there are a lot of very bright, nice, and open-minded Christians all over, and of course there are those who are extreme.
Most of the time, those who are extreme are not following what they are taught.
Two things:
1) You have no right saying that these people's beliefs are distorted... they are what they are.
2) If the communities agree to do whatever, that is the right of the community. If the community at large decides that they will move Halloween to a Saturday, then the voice of the people is being obeyed. If, OTOH, the community at large says that Halloween should remain on Sunday, then so be it. But the people who are raising their concerns and voicing their opinion are quite within their legal rights to do so, so why get pissed at them? If you disagree with something you voice YOUR opinion, don't you?
Joe
1) Yes, they are distorted. In the same way bin Laden distorts Islam for his purposes, these people distort Christianity and the Bible for themselves.
2) Halloween is not a federal holiday. It's a cultural event. How can this minority of people of perverted beliefs force others to abide by their beliefs? They just don't have to participate but to force an entire community to their way of life is arrogance, narrow-mindedness bigotry.
1) Please explain how Christians not wanting a holiday which historically glorified witches, demons, goblins and the like is distorting Christianity.
2) These people, JUST LIKE YOU, have a right to voice their opinion regardless of what the basis is for that opinion... JUST LIKE YOU. If the community doesn't want to do what these people want, that's the community's decision. It sounds as if you don't even want people to have the right to free speech unless they pass your test for acceptability.
Joe
cKGunslinger
Lifer
I agree. We (my wife and I) are taking the kids to our church's Halloween Carnival on Sunday. They will be wearing costumes (daugher is some goth/witch/spider-princess, son is Robin) and will have a blast. Afterwards, we 'grown-ups' are dropping them off with a sitter and going to a Goth club, dressed as all sorts of debaucherous creatures.
It's just a day, like any other. It is whatever you make of it. People who get scared of such a simple idea and feel like their entire way of life is being threatened are simply insecure in their beliefs, IMO.
I'm a christian. I see no problem with doing the trick or treating 1 day early. I don't look at it as though there is a problem with doing anything other than church on Sunday, I look at it as though a lot of kids will miss out that do go to church on Sunday's if it is celebrated then.
I know here they are recognizing Saturday as the night to "Trick or Treat".
I know here they are recognizing Saturday as the night to "Trick or Treat".
cKGunslinger
Lifer
I'm pretty sure that my little home-town in North Louisiana 'moved' Halloween to Saturday the 30th one year (1999?). Some of us thought is was silly, but not really a big deal. Some of the local Baptists thought it was important to do so, so most everybody just shrugged and let it go.
Maybe I'm a bit more of an idealist now, but I would probably protest if the decision to move it solely for religious purposes came up again. I'm pretty religion-tolerant (and a Christian), but those Southern Baptists in my home-town are pretty fanatical. They just recently managed to force the new "pr0n shop" out of business through heavy-handed tactics via the corrupt police force. The official write-up in the local paper even had the police chief admitting that he began the investigation of the Adult Store because of the pressures of the local Baptists counselmen. :|
I understand your point of view. I believe Christians need to do less of the whole forceful thinking stuff that they tend to do and live their life more by example than anything else.
On the other hand, just as you are badmouthing the Christian people in your community, they have the right to bash the opposite end of the spectrum and things they feel are wrong as well.
cKGunslinger
Lifer
Oh, I agree 100%. But do they have the right to influence the government to such an extent as for it to make decisions that affect the entire community based on some religious ideals that not everyone subscribes to? Nah..
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