Halloween

We don't celebrate Halloween. I never did as a kid. Some of you thinking, poor kid, no, not really. I honestly don't remember being mad that we didn't get dressed up and going door to door asking for candy. I do remember one Halloween sitting in the family room, the blinds to the screen door were open and I could see TONS of kids out walking with their costumes going door to door asking for candy. Then I remember asking mom, "Hey mom. Why don't we get dressed up for Halloween?" She answered me. I don't remember everything she said, but in "kid terms" she said it was holiday of the devil and we don't want to celebrate it because of that. Like I said, that's how I remember her telling me, not her exact words.
We don't dress up our kids either. We went into Micheal's (No Hobby Lobbys out here! :o( ) and Gavin saw some Halloween stuff. He asked why we don't buy those things. I said well, it's not nice stuff. He was like how come? So I TRIED to explain the devil and how he is mean and God doesn't like it when we do things to make the Devil happy. I am sure I said more stuff, but don't remember! I do remember trying to explain it to him as best as I could, I mean, he's 4 years old! :o)
After reading this post from Randy, makes me want to get that book off my shelf and read it again! If you haven't read this book, do so! A SUPER GREAT read!!!
I am not posting this to piss people off either, just what I believe. I know some of you do celebrate, and if that's what you do, fine, I am not here to judge, just what's on my mind!
Here's the post from Randy Alcorns blog!

The following letter, written from the perspective of the demon Ishbane, is from my novel The Ishbane Conspiracy, which I wrote with my daughters, Karina and Angela. In the book's context, one of the characters, Ian, is dabbling in the occult.

Yes, I am well aware this is a controversial issue. In my opinion, it is often either overstated or understated. And yes, on Halloween we do give out candy generously, and we enjoy the kids' costumes. For some Halloween is harmless. But there is another side to be aware of, which sucks in others. If you participate, I suggest choosing costumes carefully, and having appropriate conversations with your kids when they see the "dark side" depicted. I hope the following will be thought provoking, especially for parents of young children.

Dear Foulgrin,

I’m pleased our favorite holiday’s coming up in a few weeks. Halloween! It’s official, Foulgrin—these vermin now spend more money on this holiday than any other except Christmas. For Ian and Daniel it served as a doorway to the occult. Dressing up as little devils. Bloodsucking vampires. The walking dead. Looking and acting as evil as possible. It may be cute to their parents, but in some cases, it’s just the foothold we need. Whether we’re celebrated or mythologized makes no difference...either way furthers our purposes. And since Halloween’s all about children and their impressionable minds, it couldn’t be more strategic.

I was a key figure in the early celebration of Samhain, from which their modern Halloween developed. Pagans believed the spirits couldn’t rest peacefully until given food and drink. This was a payment to the god who ruled the spirit world. Spirits were thought to roam the vicinities of their earthly lives seeking such treasures. On Samhain, the veil between the living and the dead was drawn back. On that night these wandering souls, in search of needed treasures, could visit and harass the living. Spirits would go to houses seeking the goods (“treats”) needed to find final rest. If a spirit wasn’t given a treat, it would “trick” or haunt the residents who refused to appease it. Pagans believed these harassing spirits could be deterred by carving fearful faces into pumpkins or squashes.

Of course, most of the vermin don’t understand this occult origin. And just enough innocence and fun have been infused to make it seem harmless. (And unfortunately to many it doesn't do the harm we wish it did.) But for many Halloween either glo­rifies death or makes light of it. The Enemy neither glorifies death nor makes light of it. Halloween eclipses His portrayal of death and the afterlife.

We’ve mutated this holiday into an effective introduction to the dark side. Razor blades hidden in apples or poison hidden in candy pale in comparison to what we’ve hidden, for many, inside the holiday itself.

Happy Halloween,


Prince Ishbane