My thoughts on Halloween I used to celebrate Halloween as a child. Later I loved giving candy to the kids in my neighborhood. In 1993 I found out the history behind the holiday we call Halloween. Please read this info, and search for God's will in this matter. I no longer will celebrate it, allow my children to, or attend carnivals or fall fests with evil costumes. A church party is fine with costumes that aren't evil. Ex:bible characters, clowns, dalmations etc... There are customs in this country that people participate in. These people have no idea of the evil past of the beginnings of that particular game/activity. Read the material and see what YOU think.
This is copied from a printable web site page. Look below for the url. I added the part about Wicca, and Harry Potter.
Halloween Facts Here are some very interesting facts about Halloween & it's Pagan
Background...Which may make you think twice about... Trick or
Treat!
In ancient Britain & Ireland, the Celtic festival of Samhain was
observed on October 31, the end of summer. November 1 was the
new year for both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon calendars, and the date
was connected with the return of herds from pasture and laws and
land tenures being renewed. It was one of the most important, yet
sinister calendar festivals of the Celtic Year.
THE CELTS
The first Aryan people who came from Asia to settle in Europe,
were the Celts. Settling in northern France and the British Isles, the
Celtic people engaged in occultic arts, worshipping nature and
giving it supernatural, animistic qualities.
THE DRUIDS
Many of their beliefs and practices were similar to those of
Hinduism, such as reincarnation and the transmigration of the
soul-which teaches that people may be reborn as animals. The
Druids believed that on October 31, the night before their New Year
and the last day of the old year, Samhain, the Lord of Death,
gathered the souls of the evil dead who had been condemned to
enter the bodies of animals. It was believed that he would then
decide what animal form they would take for the next year.
The Druids also believed that the punishment of the evil dead would
be lightened by sacrifices, prayers and gifts to the Lord of Death.
(This begins to reveal the strange link between this holiday and the
'Non-Biblical' concept of purgatory.)
Druid worshipers attempted to appease the Lord of Death because
of his power over the souls of the dead, whether these souls were
good or evil. For those who had died during the preceding 12
months, Samhain allowed their spirits to return to earth to their
former places of habitation for a few hours to associate once again
with their families. It was on these occasions that ancient fire
festivals would take place, with huge bonfires set on hilltops, to
"frighten away evil spirits." The souls of the dead were supposed to
revisit their homes on this day, and the autumnal festival acquired a
sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, black
cats, fairies, and demons of all kinds said to be roaming
about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers
controlling the processes of nature.
ON THIS NIGHT...
...Evil or frustrated ghosts were supposed to play tricks on humans
and to cause supernatural manifestations. As part of the
celebration, people donned grotesque masks and danced around
huge bonfires to scare away the evil spirits. Food was also put out
to allow the good dead that Samhain had released to feel welcome
and at home.
Halloween was also thought to be the most favorable time for
divinations concerning marriage, luck, health, and death. It was the
only day on which the help of the devil could be invoked for such
purposes.
In early American history, Halloween was not practiced. It was not
widely observed until the 20th century when it was introduced by
the Irish Catholic settlements.
THE CATHOLIC TRADITIONS
In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church attempted to oppose the
paganism involved in the Samhain festival by making November 1,
All Saints' Day, a day commemorating all the saints of the church.
November 2, was later designated as All Souls' Day, which
eventually became a special day to pray for the dead.
In the late 1800's, it was customary for English Catholics to
assemble at midnight on Halloween to pray for the souls of their
departed friends. In earlier times, people took special bread called
"souls" to the cemeteries, placing it on the graves. The people ate
these "soul cakes" because they were thought to be a powerful
antidote against any flames of purgatory "that might be invoked by
returning ghosts. At dusk the festival changed from All Saints' Day
to All Souls' Eve. Lighted candles were placed on graves and in
windows to guide the dead back home."
THE REFORMATION
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther drove a stake into the heart of
many of the prevailing non-Biblical concepts by nailing his famous
95 theses to the Castle Church door in Witten-berg, Germany,
starting the movement known today as the
Reformation....Appropriately, he did this on Halloween!
In medieval England, the Halloween festival was known as All
Hallows' Eve. Since it was associated with prayers for those in
purgatory, the feast was abolished in the Church of England after
the Reformation but has since been revived in Anglo-Catholic
churches.
MODERN TRADITIONS
Gradually, Halloween became a secular observance, and many
customs and practices developed. The carved pumpkin may have
originated with the witches' use of a skull with a candle inside to
light the way to coven meetings. Going from door to door seeking
treats may hail back to the Druid practice of begging material for
the great bonfires.
THE TRICK
...custom of Halloween appears to be derived from the idea that
ghosts and witches created mischief on the living if they did not
provide the "treats." (It became obvious to some people that a
sense of humor could be camouflaged by blaming practical jokes
on the ghosts or witches roaming about.)
THE OCCULT
Halloween is, for many, a "crossover" involvement in which
innocent games can lead to serious entanglement with real
witches, neo-pagans, New Agers, and other occultists. A common
pastime is the use of a Ouija board to attempt to contact ghosts or
spirits that are believed to be roaming about. This can lead to
serious consequences, including demon possession. Dungeons
and Dragons apparently also can lead to similar consequences.
These are called "entries."
The English word "occult" comes from the Latin occultus,
meaning "to cover up, hide, or conceal." Its purpose is to
deceive. It is not simply a philosophy or pastime. It is the domain of
extremely powerful, sentient, hostile superbeings who have a
vigorous agenda to destroy you... Personally!!!!
THE GOOD OLD USA
The United States may harbor the fastest growing and most highly
organized body of satanists and occultists in the world. A recent
University of Chicago national poll revealed that 67% of Americans
"now profess a belief in the supernatural," and that 42% "believe
they have been in contact with someone who died."Check any
secular bookstore and, by comparing the allocation of productive
shelf space, it is obvious that the occult and New Age materials are
bigger than any other religious interest.
FORMS OF THE OCCULT MAY INCLUDE:
Mediums, Channelers, Clairvoyants, Psychics, Spiritists, Diviners,
Mystics, Gurus, Shamans, Yogis, Psychic and Holistic Healers,
Astral Travel, Astrology, Mysticism, Ouija boards, Tarot cards,
Contact with the Dead, UFO's, and thousands of other practices.
OCCULTISM INCLUDES:
Satanism,Wicca,Gnosticism,Theosophy,Witchcraft
and many forms of serious magic. It includes activities seeking the
acquisition of "hidden" things-which are EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN BY GOD IN THE BIBLE!
"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son
or daughter to pass through fire, or that useth divination, or an
observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, (vs.11) Or a
charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a
necromancer. (vs 12) For all that do these things are an
abomination unto the Lord..." Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (KJV)
DEMONS
have a vested interest in Halloween because it supports the occult
and also offers novel and unexpected opportunities to control or
influence people. Necromancy is also expressly forbidden in
Scripture modern rationalizations are attempts to discredit the
Biblical view. The enforced paganism in federally supported
schools is frightening.
WITCHCRAFT
Witchcraft is the most common theme of Halloween, You can
hardly keep up with the amount of TV shows & movies lately with
"Witchcraft" as their theme. #Harry Potter books are an introduction to witchcraft. It opens a child up to the occult, and is not harmless entertainment.#
Revisionist history continues to cast the witch and neo-pagan
communities as those who would help both mankind and planet
Earth itself. "White" witchcraft is an attempt to promote an alleged
difference from "black" that is no more than an alluring deception.
BIBLICAL VIEW
Halloween practices open the door to the occult and can introduce
forces into people's lives that they are not equipped to combat.
There is genuine power in the occult, but it is demonic power. Any
serious study of Biblical demonology will reveal Satan as the power
behind false religion, witchcraft, idolatry and the occult. The Word
of God makes it clear that these are all to be shunned as
dangerous. There were many superstitions and false concepts in
ancient Israel about which the Bible is silent. However, occultism,
in any form, was punishable by death! Why? The spiritual power
and reality behind idols involves demons.
The Bible commands us to shun occult
practices.
Mediums and Spiritists are Expressly
Prohibited.
Nowhere are such Practices Acceptable!!!
If you think Halloween is Harmless
Then the Trick is on You!
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His
might.
Put on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians 6:10 - 12 (KJV)
http://www.harpazo.net/Holidays/Halloween.html
the Harpazo Network
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