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Christianity and the Dark Side: What About Halloween?
Albert Mohler
Author, Speaker, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Over a hundred years ago, the great Dutch theologian Hermann Bavinck predicted that the 20th century would "witness a gigantic conflict of spirits." His prediction turned out to be an understatement, and this great conflict continues into the 21st century.
The issue of Halloween presses itself annually upon the Christian conscience. Acutely aware of dangers new and old, many Christian parents choose to withdraw their children from the holiday altogether. Others choose to follow a strategic battle plan for engagement with the holiday. Still others have gone further, seeking to convert Halloween into an evangelistic opportunity. Is Halloween really that significant?
Well, Halloween is a big deal in the marketplace. Halloween is surpassed only by Christmas in terms of economic activity. According to David J. Skal, "Precise figures are difficult to determine, but the annual economic impact of Halloween is now somewhere between 4 billion and 6 billion dollars depending on the number and kinds of industries one includes in the calculations." Furthermore, historian Nicholas Rogers claims that "Halloween is currently the second most important party night in North America. In terms of its retail potential, it is second only to Christmas. This commercialism fortifies its significance as a time of public license, a custom-designed opportunity to have a blast. Regardless of its spiritual complications, Halloween is big business."
Rogers and Skal have each produced books dealing with the origin and significance of Halloween. Nicholas Rogers is author of Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night. Professor of History at York University in Canada, Rogers has written a celebration of Halloween as a transgressive holiday that allows the bizarre and elements from the dark side to enter the mainstream. Skal, a specialist on the culture of Hollywood, has written Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween. Skal's approach is more dispassionate and focused on entertainment, looking at the cultural impact of Halloween on the rise of horror movies and the nation's fascination with violence.
Most Recent User Comments
kmsimes
11/1/2009 6:17 PM
Truely If we are taking part in this halloween "holiday" It could not be pleasing to our Lord, as It Is the Devils day. we need to show our famies that we take a stand when the focus Is off of God and placed on evil,It Is know longer ok. there will always be candy and fun,but we need to be deliberate and stop making light of seperating ourselves, and dare to be different.and In doing so we then become witnesses for Christ .
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timewhorl
10/27/2009 2:06 PM
If you dig deep enough, most modern holidays have pagan roots. This was done so that locals could still celebrate something on a familiar day, but it would have new implications due to Christianity.
Apart from mentioning that, I will be honest: I grew up in the 90s. Halloween was filled with smiling pumpkins, cheerful cats, and popcorn balls (and rain, because of where I lived). There was never any question of not celebrating Halloween in my family. We carved pumpkins and slogged through rain like everyone else. It is only in the last 4 years I have become annoyed with Halloween. Or rather, annoyed with fellow Christians who are older than myself and could have stopped the rise in popularity of Halloween. But instead, they didn't, and it seems all they do now is complain. Sorry, but I don't really sympathize. You were in the time and place to make a nationwide impact, but nothing happened. So please learn to live with the fact that Halloween is here to stay. Thank you.
Apart from mentioning that, I will be honest: I grew up in the 90s. Halloween was filled with smiling pumpkins, cheerful cats, and popcorn balls (and rain, because of where I lived). There was never any question of not celebrating Halloween in my family. We carved pumpkins and slogged through rain like everyone else. It is only in the last 4 years I have become annoyed with Halloween. Or rather, annoyed with fellow Christians who are older than myself and could have stopped the rise in popularity of Halloween. But instead, they didn't, and it seems all they do now is complain. Sorry, but I don't really sympathize. You were in the time and place to make a nationwide impact, but nothing happened. So please learn to live with the fact that Halloween is here to stay. Thank you.
kristinemac
10/27/2009 12:22 PM
Thank you for a truly excellent article and balanced view of the whole issue. As a former witch/medium/ghost hunter I do believe Halloween can be an opportunity to interact with the community by offering events such as "Trunk or Treat" but make it a point to warn people of the dangers of the occult.
I have written blogs about my own view as a former witch here: http://bigfishministries.com/kristine/?p=1519
I have written blogs about my own view as a former witch here: http://bigfishministries.com/kristine/?p=1519
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