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Tell Us What You Think
name: Ed Selby
email: eds@akorn.net
Friday, 30-Oct-1998 12:45 PST
Last year, I presented a sermon at my church (Unitarian) about the origins of
Halloween:
http://www.uuman.org/ed_hallow.htm
Halloween is *fun* -- for kids and adults. To try to make it more than it is
is missing the point. It is a time for release -- for frivolity -- for fun.
At one time in our human history, this day was indeed sacred to some people.
To others, it was day just like any other. Over the centuries, it has been
become as imbedded in our culture as Christmas (I did that one, too --
http://www.uuman.org/ed_christmyth.htm) and the Fourth of July.
Culture evolves. It is not static. Mythology is dynamic. If some
fundamentalist Christians or Wiccans want to make Halloween into a religious
celebration, then more power to them. But as a culture, we are not obligate
to accept their decision.
name: David Devejian
email: withheld
Friday, 30-Oct-1998 13:19 PST
This is absurd. Halloween no more encourages a belief
in the supernatural than watching horror movies does.
As far as the wiccan's adopting the holiday, so what?
We celebrate it and have celebrated it as part of our
culture for years, it was religiously based at the
beginning, but at this point, the religious aspect
has diminished, and simply beacuse some other silly group
choses to take the day as significant to themselves, I
see not harm. It is not only absurd, but quite detrimental
to our interests in legitimacy to react with horror to
anything that might have had a religious taint at some
point. To react in such a manner reminds me of the
fundamental christians who refuse to celebrate because
Halloween is a devil's holiday. Sheesh, grow up.
name: Robert Gilmer
email: rsgilmer@unity.ncsu.edu
Friday, 30-Oct-1998 13:36 PST
When I was 10, I enjoyed dressing up on Halloween,
mostly for the candy, but also to indulge my overactive
imagination.
Now that I am grown, Halloween has joined the list of
certain religious holidays, such as Christmas and Easter,
that I no longer celebrate. This does not mean that Halloween
is a religious holiday.
I believe that Halloween has become fully secularized by most
of the population of the USA, believer or not. If members of the
Wiccan religion wish to celebrate Halloween as a religious holiday,
then that is their prerogrative. I have no objections. Does this
make it a religious holiday? No. Similarly, if some bizarre cult
wishes to make paper airplanes to send their
"souls" to "heaven" on
February 11, then that's OK with me too. Does it make the paper
airplane a religious symbol that should not be shown in schools? Of
course not.
Since Halloween has been mostly secularized, the claims by funda-
mentalists seem to me as overexaggerated. But consider this: a fund-
amtentalist child might not want to participate in a required costume
party in a school, as much as we (atheists) would not like to participate in
school sponsored prayer. Think about that for a while!
name: David Bowden
email: ilych@advancenet.net
Friday, 30-Oct-1998 13:52 PST
Halloween's mostly a secular holiday, and a rather dumb one, since it
doesn't do anything for society. I'm not opposed to costuming in itself -
but I am concerned about the safety of food products given out when 'Evil'
is supposed to be the word of the day.
No religious group should be acknowledged as 'special' by any branch of
government. Wiccans, like believers of all faiths, are going to perform
their rituals whether or not a government endorses or 'celebrates' their
holidays. So why burden government with acknowledging any religious group
or its activities? Idea: remove all licensing of all religious groups and
let the believers figure out the error of their ways, when they find that all
such groups are ultimately predatory.
name: Kyle Richards
email: mookie@mich.com
Friday, 30-Oct-1998 15:03 PST
I'd be more open to wiccan chants being taught in school before my son is
taught that if he doesn't worship a particular god, he will be tortured in a
lake of fire for all eternity. No contest. So, why prohibit wiccans the same
back-asswards rights as other religions. The only benefit they
"might" recieve is to get the day off work on halloween, anyway.
name: Cameron Whaley
email: cetacean@pacbell.net
Friday, 30-Oct-1998 16:19 PST
While Halloween's origins may be religous I believe
that the holiday today is primarily secular. In
answer to the question of this poll regarding if
you as an atheist parent would allow your children
to dress up as a goblin or an angel I answered that
I would becuase these are mythical creatures and have
no relevance to reality.
name: MSL
email: msl_3@yahoo.com
Friday, 30-Oct-1998 16:29 PST
Right-wing wackos like Pat Robertson want us
to believe that Halloween is a religious holiday.
Yes, it used to be,
but it's not anymore.
Halloween is simply an excuse to knock on
people's doors and ask for candy --
at least today it is.
Under the iron rule of the KKKorrupt KKKhristian
KKKoalition, it might be a day to fear
once again.
name: Carletta Sims
email: csims@atheists.org
Friday, 30-Oct-1998 21:17 PST
For the most part I've always considered Halloween a secular holiday, where
small children went with parents or a group of kids a little older to care for
them, to houses in their neighborhood to get candy. This seems to be innocent
enough; I took my 2 kids this way, sometimes with a sister-in-law. Then it
was back home to revel in the excitement and mystery of the event, and the
goodies brought back. I believe we all usually follow like blind sheep into
rituals of this sort without really asking why. Nowadays, if my small
grandson comes over I will give him a small gift, such as a book, or other
fun game, and perhaps some candy; old habits die hard.
But for the most part I don't have a desire to ritualize the occasion. I
like the fall leaf colors, but I don't get any trick or treaters (I'm up in
the woods and its hard to see my house even in daylight), and I like not
being challenged to partake in Hallow's Eve. Perhaps it's the strict
committment I have to not "straddle the fence" that commands my
decision to refuse to have a hand in anything that could possibly be deemed
"other world". I look to the Darwinist mind; and perhaps could see
the problem that would arise if enough persuasion over a period of time
allowed the commonplace practice of Halloween as a religion, especially if the
practice from a pagan or satanist standpoint allowed rituals such as
sacrifices, etc. For sure, if that was a reality, I'd cringe to think that
there would be no control over this. I believe that our laws would punish,
but then we have some existing laws that allow parents to do things without
prosecution, to their children, as pointed out by Dr. Rita Swan.
It looks that instead of Pagans making Halloween more of a religion that it
is the mainstream Christian religion that would do it, and give it perhaps
more power to kill, horrify, etc., etc. Isn't is true that the christians
stole the pagan holiday, Christmas as their own? So maybe they're doing a
good job of it already with Halloween, with all the Judgment Houses, etc.
going on in the country.
With the commercial appeal, there seems to be no turning back on the
popularity of Halloween. There may come a time that even Christmas will be
second to it. But it will then have taken on a whole new meaning, as I said;
I believe it will then belong to the christians, and the pagans and others
will be shoved "out of the nest"; big christianity gets what it wants.
The masses of human 'worms' feed it to the point of busting at the seams,
so unless Atheists get a stronghold, everything else will just sit on the
sidelines, and wait for a chance at the picking.
Definitely, though, it's something to think about; I had told a newspaper
reporter that I think the churches should inform children of the true origin
of Halloween, instead of terrifying them with it. Education is the key to
making sure that any particular religion doesn't reign over another. If it
was to become that popular, we'd have to see that it didn't overstep the
protections of the First Amendment.
name: Fredrick Curry
email: Fc012072@student.fullerton.edu
Saturday, 31-Oct-1998 16:59 PST
I tend to agree that Halloween is a secular holliday, but, at the same time,
a ban on halloween items in public schools etc might strengthen precident for
the ban of truly religious items on gov property---who could defend a nativity
scene as secular if a witch on a broomstick is not?
There is another sticky issue on the flipside too however. If halloween icons
are declared secular then were would that leave practitioners of "new
age" religions such as "wicca" and so forth as far as freedom
of religion is concerned? I mean, if a pentagram is considered secular, it
might be easier to ban practitioners of this small religion from wearing it in
certain locations.
[I want to make it clear: I am an atheist---and as far as I am concerned
"wicca" is as loopy as any other supernatural set of beliefs (though
maybe less harmful?) but they shouldn't be ground into the asphalt by
conservative Christians any more than atheists or Jews or Buddhists should...]
Either way things go, it may have serious implications in the long run.
Fredrick Curry
name: Terry Tremaine
email: trem@dlcwest.com
Saturday, 31-Oct-1998 18:24 PST
I know very little about the origins of Halloween but in contemporary society
it seems to be little more than an occasion to dress up and have fun. The
dressing up might suggest a desire to explore an alter ego if just for one
night. So be it!
Perhaps the Wiccans will claim Halloween as their religious festival. If so,
this may have legal implications. We will see.
I just hope we never have advertisements on TV admonishing us to
"remember the true meaning of Halloween" like we do at Christmas.
For me, when I was a child, the true meaning of Christmas was gifts, fun,
food, and family. Let's try to keep the fun in Halloween and the relgion out.
name: Marc Forrester
email: Mharr7@hotmail.com
Saturday, 31-Oct-1998 20:59 PST
I'm a fairly Strong Atheist, (tm) but that's
just as regards universal creators and powerful
organised religions demanding to run the world.
I keep a much more open mind on other 'super-natural' questions..
I don't think we understand
the whole universe, I'm just not -scared- of the
bits we don't. I treat Hallowe'en as kind of a
celebration of the fact that our world is still
really weird and intriguing.
name: Randall G
email: randallg@telemark.net
Saturday, 31-Oct-1998 22:03 PST
Halloween is pretty much completely secular and I
have no problem with my children participating.
It is our responsibility as parents to make sure
our children can distinguish reality from fantasy.
And besides, anything that gets the fundies
into a frothing lather is probably a good thing!
name: Max Robert
email: misrael@earthlink.net
Saturday, 31-Oct-1998 22:32 PST
I have no problem with Halloween celebrations, the same reason having
Christmas. Even though they may have religious roots and significance,
they are mostly observed as a social thing, a way for people to share fun
times.
name: Frank Cole
email: lunatic55@hotmail.com
Sunday, 01-Nov-1998 09:06 PST
As I do not even consider this a holiday, I have
no objections to kids or anyone dressing up stupid
and going out to mooch candy. I wouldn't let my
kids go to any "hell house".
name: Gary Parker
email: gparker@cybergate.net
Sunday, 01-Nov-1998 13:29 PST
I am concerned of the effect on very young, gullible
children. The impression given is that everyone,
including adults, accepts all things supernatural
as real. This ingrains a belief in witches, devils,
souls, spirits, and thus god-belief as well. It can
only reinforce the brainwashing/indoctrination of
young children by organized religion. Thus another
new generation is sucked into god-belief.
name: dsg
email: dsg5@flash.net
Sunday, 01-Nov-1998 13:42 PST
I dunno about y'all, but I had a great time at the Oak Lawn (Dallas) Halloween
street party. Went as a vampire this year. Other costumes included military
uniforms, old ladies, men in drag, pregnant nuns, a penis, ghouls, monsters of
various types, and a priest advertising for choir boys. Half the crowd was
gay, half was other (of about 10,000 to 20,000 participants). The only
pamphlet I saw was about the efficacy of aspirin as a treatment for HIV (no
bible-thumpers this year).
The folks I associate with view Halloween as a time to party, with the theme
(of costumes, anyway) being monsters and/or humor. Some nuts regard it as
the time that anti-christian demons venture forth to terrorize the 'saved,'
but JHC! that's a bunch of hogwarsh . . . it is, ain't it?
As far as legal standing for Wiccans to conduct marriages, I see no problem
with that. Actually, I'm all for Atheists getting legal authority to conduct
marriages as well, with the proceedings functioning as a declaration to the
community that X and Y were legally bonded, accompanied with appropriate
expressions of affection & etc.
My vampire outfit looked pretty good . . . am thinking about putting it on
around Christmas time and getting into a manger scene with the baby Jesus
and "sucking the lifeblood" out of the little bastard . . . a photo
of the event sent to the local paper ought to spark some Christmas fun, don't
you think?
name: Margie Wait
email: mdwait@mindspring.com
Sunday, 01-Nov-1998 13:45 PST
For the most part, Halloween is celebrated with all the innocence and frivolity
of child's play. It's a holiday that marks the end of the harvest season, and
the beginning of Winter-like weather in the Northern Hemisphere. Astronomically
speaking, it falls exactly between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice,
which is significant to the agricultural industries. Some people may celebrate
Halloween as a true "holy-day," as the Wiccans and pagans do. Some
Christians celebrate it, along with All Saints' Day on November 1. But
Halloween, to this Atheist, is just a time to dress up in a costume, gather
with friends, drink some hot apple cider, and enjoy the "fruits" of
our labor and the changing seasons.
name: Chris Peterson
email: chrisp@flash.net
Sunday, 01-Nov-1998 13:48 PST
I think your #3 question answered the first one
so to speak, implying that halloween is secular.
I don't celebrate any holidays if they are either
pagan or religious in any way. I don't celebrate
halloween or christmas or easter. They all involve
fairytales which I don't believe in.
name: Andrew Lancashire
email: llysfaen@bellatlantic.net
Sunday, 01-Nov-1998 15:25 PST
Halloween is just another retailer's "heaven" along with some of the
other big ones: Valentines Day, Easter, Mothers Day, Fathers day and the
granddaddy of them all, Xmas.
name: Aremis Asling
email: Trc681@aol.com
Sunday, 01-Nov-1998 15:38 PST
I, as a Wiccan/Pagan am upset over the dealings with this Halloween hysteria.
No matter what the history, and I assure you the history given in
"Witch's" as given by the Atheists radio commision is flawed in
true content, who we are has only some parts to do with who witch's were.
We are a peaceful people now, and probably were peaceful in the times the
radio report spoke of. Though I do see that, yes, Halloween can influence
opinions in children, it will not bring them to be Wiccans, and if it did,
there would be little wrong with that any way you look at it. The idea of
witch's flying on broomstics and being old green wart-faced hags is what
Halloween portrays us as. I, for one, am male, caucasion, and though I do
suffer from a wart on my index finger, I am far from wart-faced. If you would
like more information on today's witchcraft, go to www.witchvox.com, they
would be glad to dispel any myths. Thank you for your time,
Aremis Asling(Yeah, it's a pseudonym)
name: Mark Sulkowski
email: marks@apollo3.com
Sunday, 01-Nov-1998 17:35 PST
The poll asks: "Despite being considered "secular"
does Halloween encourage in youngers a belief or
interest in the supernatural?"
No more than anything else. Most of all,
children are encouraged to believe in the
supernatural by parents. Halloween does not
merit even a tiny blip on the radar screen
compared to this influence.
name: Linda G.
email: ravenette35@yahoo.com
Sunday, 01-Nov-1998 17:43 PST
Most of our holidays have pagan roots, but we celebrate with non-religious
symbols, i.e. Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, etc. Celebrations are important for
family time as well as for fun and a break from "routine". Since
Halloween is particularly a non-christian holiday, I like it. Wiccans are not
particularly abundant (at least in my area) and I am not concerned with them
since they have not proselytized with me. I would rather my child sing a
pagan wiccan song for christmas, than Jesus and Bethlehem, which he is singing
at school this year. Although this bothers me, I will show tolerance since
that is what I want from christians.
Go to Poll/Results.
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