Quote From: lutzbupsAre you people kidding me? Usually I dislike commenting on religion or politics, but I think one if you do not have kids, back off this topic and to each their own. Second, if you have kids who cares if it has a religious intention or not! Trick or treating is not about any religious concept. We have a homecoming during high school if you want to be technical that is a pagean holiday too, because it is something done annually and at just about every school. Sure we need to be cautious, but lets remember they are KIDS, because you are too damn lazy to worry or buy candy, excuses like its a pagean holiday comes into play. I wonder if you take that into account for everything else too, or is it that you just cannot be bothered taking your kids out and doing the whole costume thing. There are things you do not want to do as parents, but remember as a kids your fond memories of just that, being a kid. I also bet that people who choose not to take part in these activities because of the so-called religion factor also had bad memories of their own from childhood, but as a wake up call, does not mean it will happen to your children, not unless you break the chain. I think that Pagean holiday and Jehavah Witness' take their own beliefs a little too far into a society that does not need or want their negative feelings toward "holidays" that they do not want to take place in.
I think that Pagean holiday and Jehavah Witness' take their own beliefs a little too far into a society that does not need or want their negative feelings toward "holidays" that they do not want to take place in.
How is that? I don't think Pagan beliefs are negative at all. And Jehovah Witnesses don't celebrate any holidays, incuding birthdays, we Pagans surely do celebrate things! What does Jehovah Witnesses have to do with this topic anyway? Why did you bring them in? Do you know what Pagan beliefs even are? I have Jehova Witnesses coming to my house and I can tell you that we do not agree on much. LOL
And Samhain (Halloween) is a holiday started by Pagans. So there is a spiritual connection. Paganism is a nature based religion. Samhain has many meanings, but for the whole it is the third and final harvest of the year, and it is a time to remember the dead and is a celebration of the eternal cycle of reincarnation. Samhain comes from two possibilites, one, the God of death, Samana, and the other from the Irish Gaelic word, "samhraidhreadh" which literally means, "the summer's end". October 31 st marked the end of the year and November 1st was the Celtic New Year.
Trick or treating is not about any religious concept.
I will say that food was left out for ancestors and other spirits and would be left out of the lighted window, which evolved to our modern day trick or treat. Candles were put in the windows to guide the earth bound spirits along their way. Also, Samhain is no more evil than any other holiday, but my ancestors did know that evil exists. So, they would take vegetables and carve faces in them and put them outside because they thought this would protect them. Our modern day jack o lanterns. =) In Ireland, to this day, it is still a custom to put candles in the windows on Samhain night and leave plates of food for visiting spirits.
As you can see, Samhain has a long history, much like lots of Pagan traditions.
Again, I don't see anything negative about our beliefs.
Thanks for reading.
