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Comments on your Web site, as posted to our search engine:
The Best Christian LinksDate : Mon Nov 8 05:53:46 1999
Comments...
This is the best site I have ever seen which objectively gives all the FACTS around Halloween. Truth be told, the hate and fear spreading people who call themselves "Christians" or even "Christian Leaders" are the ones who should be avoided - their under-handed half truth scare tactics are simply put -- deplorable. As a mathematician, I have been trained to look for the facts behind the statistics and opinions. The facts behind the allegations of Halloween being some pagan holiday have never been substantiated with any historical evidence. Oh they have been "verified" with a few writings of loose cannon heretics of centuries past. Isn't it funny how a perfectly educated person of seemingly sane disposition writes a paper on a subject he knows NOTHING about - and 200 hundred years later he's an "expert". And gets quoted and even applauded by the people in leadership positions in the Christian Church. I pray to God no idiot moron uncovers a dusty copy of "Mein Kampf" and decides to give it credence a few hundred years from now. This site goes a LONG way to de-bunking all these idiots; it's well researched and documented.
God Bless and happy reading! :)
Ok given number one, I don't think the kiddies will be barbequed on a spit in hell if they go out dressed as Strawberry Shortcake or a Teletubby. I haven't seen any leatherwinged demons of the night circling my jack-o-lantern like some airplane trying to find a runway. But your contention that the early Irish myths were not Romanized is pure bunk, you really should get out more. Albeit there may be some of the earliest strains of the mythic there, most of it was polluted by the Romans either in the conquest of Britain or later through "Christianity". The greatest melding of two religions happened in the Roman Empire when Christianity became the state religion. December 25th is the birthday of the Sun. I recommend Alexander Hislop's the Two Babylons as good bedtime reading.
Marty Bee (folklorist in training)
Thanks for shining the light of fact and truth!!
Susan
Greetings and Bright Blessings!!!
Just wanted to let you know that I thought your web pages on Samhain to be honest and well researched and well written. As a pagan in west Texas, it is refreshing to see a truly unbiased and well supported essay on Halloween or pagans in general.
For me it is a night to honor those who have passed away. What better way to see the souls of the departed off than laughing children and frightful fun? It's a good compromise, I think. After all, all gods are ONE and the way we celebrate our new year changes nothing.
Thanks again for a clear reference point on Halloween. Perhaps the encyclopedia companies will consider updating their accounts. After all, you have already written it for them.
B*B
J B
I was born in 1966 and spent the better part of the seventies in a Southern California suburb cheerfully trick-or-treating with my younger brothers. We were a religious family. Most of the other religious families I knew participated in Halloween. It was seen as a secular, "fun" holiday similar to Valentine's Day (secular because Protestants don't celebrate All Saints Day or any other saint's day). When I was twelve, my junior high church youth group went to a haunted house on Halloween. I dressed up as a witch one year. Witches were seen as purely fantastical; it was like dressing up as a fairy princess, which I also did. My husband, also born in 66, reports similar experiences. He grew up Catholic, celebrating Halloween. A favorite costume was a "devil". His devoutly religious mother seemed to have no problem with this.
Sometime during the 80s I realized this had changed. Halloween had become controversial. My younger brother's youth group had a "harvest carnival" in place of Halloween. He talked about it with my mother as though Halloween being "bad" or "satanic" was simply common knowledge. Since then, my mother has asked me if the following items adorning my living room are satanic: a gargoyle reproduction from the Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, a tombstone rubbing from colonial New England, a Tibetan skull box designed for holding the ashes of a loved one, a Medieval danse macabre woodcut, and a cookie jar showing Jack Skellington from the Disney fantasy The Nightmare Before Christmas.
If you ask me, there's something kind of blasphemous about giving satan that much credit. It seems like backhanded worship to elevate his power and importance so much. Who made the universe? Not satan. And that includes aspects of the universe that frighten us, or that we think are icky.
I have always seen Halloween philosophically as a time to play with your fears, to mock them and explore them and maybe learn something from them. Kind of a memento mori, with candy. At one time, it was considered MORE holy to recognize the transience of mortal life. I wonder what has gone wrong.
Julie McGalliard
Bellingham, WA
Not that the adults in my life weren't misinformed but coming from a Lutheran school where the party had to compete with the life of Martin Luther and the 95 theses we were always told of a Catholic tradition of dressing as your patron saint and going around gathering food. Those who gave were blessed by the act. This has also reminded me of the wassail at Christmas. But for us no mention of Celts or Irish. Of course the anti-Roman Catholic sentiment was not a covert item the whole lesson was why we were not Catholic.
Again thank you for a very interesting evening. And thanks for letting me add my memories.
Meg
I know that in your bio you say that your religious affiliation is a private and personal thing and you will not disclose it and I admire that.
As a Roman Catholic and an apologist, I wanted to say thank you. Your de-bunking articles are a breath of fresh air. Every year I seem to get to go through the same cycle, first Halloween, then Advent and Christmas, then Lent and Easter. It surprises me that even some of the Catholics I deal with are drawn into the false assumptions. I have bookmarked your site and will forward people to it. . . .:-)) that should raise your count another million or so, lol.
As a lover of history as well, I find these arguments from your point thrilling and from the other most frustrating. It disturbs me to no end to see people promoting things without an accurate historical basis and even worse other people taking them as authoritative.
I learned long ago from a teacher of mine, that "if something appears too good to be true, it usually isn't" the same goes for that which sounds too fantastical or damning.
From the bottom of my heart, I wish to thank you for your articles, your bibliographies and your dedication to the truth.
Sincerely,
Lauren Cleeland
I have found myself disappointed many times in the way that Christian faiths neglect "critical inquiry" in favour of blindly following the charismatic leaders of their congregations.My faith encourages asking questions and challenging authority. These characteristics enrich my faith, and it disappoints me that other faithful choose not to experience that fulfillment.
Reading some of the less intelligible negative comments tells me that your influence is needed in the Christian community, now more than ever. Fanaticism, fed with the fuel of hysteria and misinformation, is very dangerous. More dangerous than a seven year old dressing up as Snow White and asking her neighbours for candy.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to this topic. If The 700 Club had guests like you, I might actually send them money. :)
Bright Blessings,
Emma Davis
Kudos to you! I am a student of Celtic history and ancient Celtic religion (Druidism) and I found your page highly accurate. Comments like "paganism is paganism" amaze me. After all, paganism is not a label these people gave themselves! It is a summary label given to them after their religions were in decline (so they could not defend themselves). There are more glaring differences between Druidism and Roman paganism than there are between Christianity and, say, Islam! Obviously these people have never read anything except that which tells them "paganism is devil worship, and it's all wrong". These people didn't believe in the devil, of course, because the devil was not known to them! They were polytheistic, yes, and not Christians. Most Druids (and ancient Romans) predated Christianity! It is interesting to note, however, that the Druids did not react violently against the encroaching influence of Christianity in Ireland and other Celtic areas -- yet those Christians took it upon themselves to demonize and persecute the religion of the Druids.
I notice one of your comments says something about a Druidic-Christian war, between Arthur and Mordred. I'm sure you probably realize that we're not entirely sure that there was a King Arthur at all, let alone confirming any of his campaigns or his personal career. Mordred is a more or less mythological figure. Furthermore, look at Merlin, from the same mythological cycle: he is commonly believed to have been a druid. Obviously, we cannot take history from myths, especially when these myths seem to be Christianized versions of earlier Celtic pagan myth cycles!
Incidentally, if you're still updating this page, you have a number of broken links. I would be glad to help you update them, if you respond to this e-mail. Oh -- and if you do still update your comments page and wish to post this, feel free to include my e-mail address. I'd be happy to have contact with people with historical questions, or to debate with those who are utterly convinced all that predated Christianity, or even that which survives today, but isn't monotheist (or Christianity itself) is devil worship, an summary judgement utterly false and unsupported.
Thanks for the great page!
Roz
I knew Halloween was a total misconception of man, and his myths. With that said, I can now with conviction, and faith in my Christian life feel I am not doing a thing of blastphemy, as some have pointed out with false teachings! I will celebrate the day as I have all my life, and enjoy the children doing as I did,when youth was mixed with the smells of fall in the air.
Fall is, and will always be my favorite season!
One reason.....Halloween !
In Christ,
Jeanette Buckingham
Nevada
You may interrupt scripture any way you want but one thing that as parents we will not let our children do is anything that will harm them. If what you say about Halloween is true and who knows for sure, there is one thing I know for sure is that satan is real and he wants to destroy anyone who will let him. As parents we don't let our children play in the street, climb anything they can fall off of, play with fire, use drugs, smoke, drink, WHY? Because we know that doing those things they can get hurt. Doing anything even remotely connected to satan or something satan is using now is the most dangerous thing a person can do. True satan can't control a Christian unless they allow it, but he can and does control non-Christians. If this might be a tool used by satan why take the chance. Aren't our children worth protecting from anything that might be harmful? As a born again Christian who follows the Southern Baptist faith I say our children are worth the effort to not let them be exposed to any potential danger, whatever it may be. So why take the chance? Safe is better than sorry. Being a Christian or not is not the issue the issue is why mess around with something that might destroy you. The love and safety of Jesus Christ is the most important aspect in any one life. To get this you have to admit that you have sinned and believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He was born of a virgin, lived, bled &died for our sins,(so we don't have to) and that He rose again on the third day so we as well as Him have victory over death & satan. Put this in a prayer and ask God to forgive you. It is so simple and your life will never be the same again. It is a promise from God. Then this Sunday go to church and tell the pastor that you have asked Christ to be your Lord and Savior and ask to be baptized.
In His Service,
Ginger
Dear Mr. Bethancourt;I am sure by now you are absolutely tired of getting emails referring to your "Hallowe'en site". I have only just today found it and wanted to take the time to tell you how marvelous it is. I give this praise not out of any sense of Christian or Anti-Christian views (my religious beliefs are personal)...I applaud you from the stand point that you are being scholarly. Seeking truth through knowledge. We all brag about our technologically advanced society, yet, there are many people who still base facts on myths. I am not attacking people who base their opinions on faith. But before one can be an authority one must first know the facts. Well congratulations! You researched and discovered the facts. As to the people who attack you with their concepts of Christian laws...according to the bible Christ had but one law...Love one another as I have loved you....all these folks "casting stones" at you must have missed that part...Good Luck to you sir....and may Your God Bless you.
Respectfully
Garrett D. Fitz~Simmons
First, let me say I found it interesting. However, there were a number of inaccuracies in it. You let your LACK of faith and worship of Jesus show. NO one who worships him would ever consider calling him "THE DIETY", but would instead call him "GOD". Second witchcraft, cults, voodoo, etc are satanism/demon worship. There are only two spirituals powers-- Jesus and Satan. The Bible makes it clear that these things are NOT of God therefore by prosess of elimination they are of Satan. Who do you think gives a witch his/her power it sure isn't God. The whole theme of your site seems to be that Satan is a nice passive being and NO human would ever do these things to serve and worship him. You are badly deceived. I suggest you pray to Jesus then re-read the Bible and this time listen to what He says not your own preconceived ideas. As for the tracts you talked about. They could very well be garbage as you say, then again they could be the truth and you the deceiver or the deceived. One thing is certain, Jesus, in the New Testament, instructed us to celebrate only ONE thing; that was his death, burial, and ressurection. That is the true purpose of Easter, not the easter bunny. Halloween, Mardi Gras, Christmas etc are not proper holidays because they do NOT glorify God. In fact, God is seldom if ever mentioned during these holiday celebrations. And that fact alone makes them pagan and therefore of Satan. Why because they take your eyes off God and puts them on ungodly practices, many of which are spoken of as sin in the Bible.
William Barnhart
Thank you for a great web site. I encountered it while preparing our church newsletter (St. Gabriel, Chesterfield, VA).
Thanks,
Cara Randall
I have read your site and am very pleased to see that there is someone out there who can present facts without getting personal.
Though I am not a Christian, I respect the wishes of those who are and don't shove my beliefs down their throats. Nor do I believe should they.
To read that you are receiving threats saddens and disgusts me, would Jesus want his believers to threaten others? Surely not. I think the differences between Christianity after Jesus died and Christianity today, make the Grand Canyon look like a crack in the wall. I think Jesus would be quite disappointed in seeing how his "Word" has been manipulated to suit the needs of certain men in the church.
You have a wonderful site and I am glad it's there. People need to learn the truth about Paganism for a change.
Blessed be,
Moonshae
This is a wonderful site. I read and explained it to my kids, and they agree as I do.
I am Roman Catholic, and Halloween is a fun tie for us. Just as you said, "Mock the devil." That is the context I put it in.
Yes, I saw the anti-Catholic sentiment in the views of the tract writers. Is it my imagination, or did I even detect some anti-Semitism from the tract writers?
Have a wonderful Halloween
Ruby Owens
Dayton, Ohio
One of my sons feels that he was in turmoil and now is more at peace since he has found a Bible study group ( for lack of an adequate description ) . Good for him. We do live in a land that allows freedom of thought and religion.
As a result of the influences of this group, last year he announced that he and his wife would not participate in the traditional Christmas holiday & gift giving because it was not the true meaning of Christmas - okay -
This week he announced that He and his wife and now 9 month old son would not participate in the Halloween festivities since the occasion celebrated evil and death.
I first looked up the definition of Halloween in several reference books - dictionaries. None of the definitions offered mentioned celebrating death or evil. The celebration of All Saints Day was mentioned several times - that seems pretty "good" to me.
After reading your work I have chosen to print a copy to offer to my son for his further consideration of his decisions.
It is disturbing to me that a "Bible study group" can influence a person to formulate a protracted and biased opinion to the degree that a person essentially closes their mind and effectively ostrasizes themselves from more or less traditional main stream society and family.
Your publication offers at least some source of information that I can offer to my son without the onerous "generation gap" or "you just don't understand Dad".
Thank you.
Respectfully, STM
I am a teacher at an Elementary School in Michigan and have been shown copies of the articles you refute in your well written article about the History of Halloween. The parent who presented these articles is attempting to use it to eliminate the celebration of Halloween at the school. I have had no other parent come forward with any concerns about the literature we are reading or the recognition of Halloween but would like to be able to use your article to refute and explain the articles currently being circulated. I would greatly appreciate getting permission to print your article about Halloween Myths and Facts.
(Name Withheld)
Perhaps it doesn't make a difference, but your comments on your afterword page struck me as curious. If you don't mind my asking, and you do not have to answer this if you do not desire to, but do you believe that you are saved by the blood of Christ? I mean, are you a believer?
Just one more question, if those things aren't true of Halloween, then where did it come from? Did you find that out yet? :)
Thank you again, for your hard work. My prayers are with you.
Dear Lord, I pray you would guide and bless Mr.Bethancourt and his family. I pray your peace and love would fill him and his household, as he continues to follow you. Dear Lord, continue to give him wisdom and insight, and to know you in a new way everyday. I pray you would protect him from evil, and keep him and his household safe in your hands. I pray you would bless him as he has been a blessing to others. But most of all, Father I pray you would continue to use Him as a light to others, that they would see you and not him, that they in turn would desire a relationship with you. In your Holy, and Precious Son's Name Jesus Christ I pray amen.
1Corinthians1:18 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
lova lotsa ya sista (or sincerely)
Christina.
Your site was one of the few that didn't spew the word of God and what will happen to you if you "mock evil". Last year the principal at the elementary school went as far as to limit costumes to nothing satanic, no devils or pentagrams. Although I do not worship Satan, I do not agree with this policy. I believe children take what they take from a holiday based on what adults tell them. When I was a child and dressed as a devil for Halloween it wasn't with the mind set of "worshipping Satan" as more than just a cute costume, the opposite of an angel. As far as the wearing of pentagrams, although I have no desire to do so myself, I was under the belief that we still do live in the USA (freedom of religion) and those who condone this restriction should beware. If they told you that your child could no longer wear a star of David or a crucifix, would this bother you? I would think so. I want to say thanks and ask your permission to print your web site information, you can bet when they knock on my door this year I would love to have something to hand back!
Thank you so much,
M.
The comments section was also very encouraging -- it's nice, for once, to hear the voices of Christians who are not hateful, ignorant bigots. Although I am not, properly speaking, a Christian, I am sympathetic to the teachings of the New Testament, and also feel that Christianity has had a long and important influence in Western culture. It is a shame that it is increasingly only associated with a loud, hysterical and half-educated minority -- who have become undeservedly influential in American culture. Indeed, in some academic circles, Christianity has become almost synonymous with ignorance and hatred. I agree with the novelist Rick Moody, who (in his forward to Joyful Noise, an anthology of essays on Christianity) notes that if the only voices left to speak about Christianity are extremists, Christianity will soon vanish from the culture altogether. As one who finds the Christian tradition -- and the Bible itself -- a rich treasure of our heritage, I hope for a more intelligent, tolerant Christianity to come.
The negative comments to your site speak for themselves: inarticulate, irrational, angry. One thing I always have trouble understanding about such people (who seem to have taken Jack Chick and his ilk as the only valid interpreters of scripture) is why they are so defensive of their God. A faith that can be threatened by kids walking around dressed up as Power Rangers (or vampires, for that matter) seems to rest on a rather weak foundation.
Hope to see more work from you on the net. Best of luck.
Sincerely,
Tyler Gore
Halloween is derived from Samhain, the old Druidic new year which fell on October 29. It was a day that the Druids believed belonged to neither the old year or the new year, so they believed that it belonged to evil spirits. They would sacrifice two spotless and physically perfect white year old bulls to appease the spirits blood lust. They would then sacrifice a virgin as a seal. They believed that this ritual would bring them prosperity in the coming year. In the dark ages people believed in what was called the Witching Hour, or midnight, that occurred on October 31st. They believed that this was a time that evil spirits and ghost of the dead could freely roam the earth. This was remnants of their old Druidic heritage.
ed. note: no references were given for these claims .......The only theme of Modern Halloween is that of evil. It also breeds ignorance of the reality of Satan's existence and power.
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