Catholic Encyclopedia: All Souls Day-Halloween How Does This Honor God? What Does the Bible Really Teach? Hello, how are you today? You may not be a Catholic but what the Catholic online encyclopedia has to say about All Soul’s Day (Halloween) should be of interest to everyone. Have you ever taken the time to look at what the Online Catholic Encyclopedia has to say about All Souls Day? You can click on the following link: newadvent.org/cathen/01315b.htm The Catholic Encyclopedia says: The commemoration of all the faithful departed is celebrated by the Church on 2 November, or, if this be a Sunday or a solemnity, on 3 November. The Office of the Dead must be recited by the clergy and all the Masses are to be of Requiem, except one of the current feast, where this is of obligation. The theological basis for the feast is the doctrine that the souls which, on departing from the body, are not perfectly cleansed from venial sins, or have not fully atoned for past transgressions, are debarred from the Beatific Vision, and that the faithful on earth can help them by prayers, almsdeeds and especially by the sacrifice of the Mass. (See PURGATORY.) Does Halloween mean to you honoring dead saints and commemorating the departed by praying for their souls? Although Halloween and its associated festivals are religious feasts of Christendom in honor and in behalf of the dead, where is the Scriptural precedent for them? None can be found. When Cornelius fell at the feet of the apostle Peter to give honor to him, Peter did not approve, but said, “Rise; I myself am also a man.” Even when the apostle John fell down to worship an angel, he was rebuked: “Be careful! Do not do that! . . . Worship God,” was the angel’s command. (Acts 10:26; Rev. 19:10) The apostle Paul also warned about being deprived of the prize of life by men who would sponsor “a form of worship of the angels.” Wisely true Christians avoid any celebration that is for the purpose of honoring anyone except God.—Col. 2:18. The Bible teaches: “The soul that is sinning—it itself will die.” (Ezek. 18:4) Since the souls of the dead are not alive, it is impossible for them to be helped by the prayers of those on earth; therefore the festival All Souls’ Day is not founded on a Scriptural basis and shows lack of faith in God’s Word. The Bible also teaches: “Train up a boy according to the way for him; even when he grows old he will not turn aside from it.” (Prov. 22:6) How can this scripture be harmonized with the Halloween practice of ‘tricking or treating’? It may appear cute to have youngsters call at homes with the requesting threat, “Trick or treat,” but is it cute when they grow older and threaten people with violence if they do not pay what they ask? Is this Halloween practice bringing up a child in the right way, or is it directing him toward an unchristian course of vandalism and crime? Halloween’s roots, although not found in the Bible, can be traced back to a pagan origin. The pre-Christian Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all celebrated a festival for the dead. These ancients believed that on these occasions the spirits of the dead returned; therefore food was left for them and lamps were kept burning so they would not lose their way. The Celtic order of Druids worshiped Samhain, lord of the dead, as well as a sun-god to whom the horse was sacred. On November 1, which was also their New Year, they held a joint festival in honor of these gods. It was believed that the souls of those who had died the previous year because of their sins were confined to the bodies of lower animals, and at the time of this festival Samhain assembled them together, and they were released to go to the Druid heaven. On the eve of the feast of Samhain the pagan Celts used to keep bonfires burning, believing that this would protect them from evil spirits. The many features of today’s Halloween and Day of the Dead celebrations can be traced directly back to paganism. The ancients associated this time of the year with the supernatural and with the thronging of dead spirits, so it was right in line with Catholic church policy to adopt this date for their All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day. The people were thus able to keep their pagan customs and beliefs and still celebrate what are called Christian festivals of the highest rank. But the varnish applied by Christendom to these pagan feasts is so thin that there is no questioning the fact that Halloween is rooted in paganism. It is interesting to note that the Protestant Reformation was touched off on Halloween night. How so? Martin Luther, knowing it was the custom of the people to flock to the Palace Church in Wittenberg, Germany, on the eve of All Saints, picked that night to nail his ninety-five theses to its door. On reading them, the people’s smoldering resentment against the Catholic church burst into flames. Many pagan practices were cast off by the reformers, the celebration of Allhallows Eve being one of them How about Christians today, how should they view Halloween? Christians will be motivated by Scriptural principle and not by human reasoning that may argue: “What harm can come from letting children attend a costume party? Everyone else participates, and it is hard on the children when they are different.” It is not Scripturally wrong for children to have a costume party or play games such as bobbing for apples. However, doing so as a part of Halloween would be celebrating that pagan religious feast. This would be compromising Christian principles. One can be sure that Christ Jesus, who always stuck close to what the Bible said, would heed the divine commands: “You must not walk in the statutes of the nations.” “Do not learn the way of the nations at all.” (Lev. 20:23; Jer. 10:2) Jesus was never influenced by human reasoning into compromising on Scriptural commands! Therefore, neither will a Christian today compromise, even if it means being different and separate from the world. Early Christians followed Jesus’ steps closely. They heeded the command: “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. . . . ‘Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing.’” (2 Cor. 6:14, 17) Edward Gibbon in the book Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Vol. I, pages 396, 397) says that early Christians took no part in “the games that the prince and people celebrated in honour of their peculiar festivals . . . The Christian, on these interesting occasions, was compelled to desert the persons who were the dearest to him, rather than contract the guilt inherent to those impious ceremonies . . . The dangerous temptations which on every side lurked in ambush to surprise the unguarded believer assailed him with redoubled violence on the days of solemn festivals.” The situation is the same now. On the day of pagan festivals such as Halloween true Christians will want to be particularly on guard ‘to keep themselves without spot from the world.’ Christian parents will show real love for their children by explaining to them why loyal servants of Jehovah do not participate in the Halloween celebration. If as with the early Christians it ‘compels them to part with old-world friends,’ assure them that they are making Jehovah’s heart glad by their uncompromising stand.—Jas. 1:27; Prov. 27:11. It is clear that this festival is very pagan, honoring Satan the Devil not Jehovah God with its practice of dressing up in horrible mask and costumes depicting witches; the Devil; ghost; goblins; and other disgusting things. (It takes no stretch of any thinking person’s imagination to see how pagan this celebration is and its obvious demon ties.) The Catholic Church admits to the pagan origins of this festival. At 1 Corinthians 10:18-22 we read: “LOOK at that which is Israel in a fleshly way: Are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers with the altar? What, then, am I to say? That what is sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No; but I say that the things which the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not want YOU to become sharers with the demons. YOU cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons; YOU cannot be partaking of “the table of Jehovah” and the table of demons. Or “are we inciting Jehovah to jealousy”? We are not stronger than he is, are we?” Do you feel comfortable with mixing your worship with pagan festivals? Your relationship with God is very important but also the way you worship Him is very vital. Would you like to know what God’s Word the Bible teaches about what God requires for acceptable worship? Would you like to know what God’s Word the Bible teaches about trusting in Jehovah? Would you like to know more of what God’s Word the Bible says about our magnificent Creator and the Good News of His Kingdom as taught by Jesus Christ? Please write to me at (r_snook@hotmail); or (maximumtexas@yahoo); and I will answer any questions you may have about the Bible from the Scriptures. Click on this amazing interactive link: jw.org/ where you can find answers to your Bible questions in your own language and you can download a copy of the book: What Does the Bible Really Teach? This publication is not for sale. It is provided as part of a worldwide Bible educational work supported by voluntary donations. Jehovah’s Witnesses are interested in saving your life, NOT your MONEY. You may also ask any of Jehovah’s Witnesses for a free home Bible study at no cost or obligation to you or you may go to any of our Kingdom Halls where you will receive a friendly greeting from the happiest people on earth and listen to a free and informative Bible discussion. (See The Watchtower article What Does Halloween Mean to You? pgs. 669-671, 1960.) Take care. Agape, Roger Snook
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 03:02:58 +0000
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