Is banning your kids from trick-or-treating wrong?

I was brought up in a very conservative baptist home, and we always got to go trick-or-treating... but I know many people who feel very strongly that Christians should not celebrate halloween.
I think (just like Christmas has become less about Christ's b-day) that halloween has changed from what it was like a longgggg time ago... it's more about dressing up and getting candy.

There are some Satanists who attach some cult-like observance to Halloween. But I don't think people should allow the beliefs of a few wackos to ruin the Halloween fun and frivolity for everyone else, especially the kids. This is really just an occasion for silliness but I think it's even more silly to be taking it so seriously.

I know that there are some churches who shun Halloween and instead sponsor alternate activities for kids on Halloween night. That way at least if they don't observe Halloween, the kids don't feel like they are being totally left out of the fun.

Well, I once did a report on Samhain which is the Pagan name for Halloween. It is not the devil's birthday, it is simply the celebration of the dead and rebirth. Just a note.

I know a lady who wouldn't even let her kids eat some cookies we made cause they had pumpkins on them. That's a little extreme I think. My feelings are that a holiday is only as evil as you make it. But I am not bound to a church or anything, cause it's against my beliefs. I mean don't get me wrong, I believe in God and I read the bible, I just don't go to church. Just my few cents~Holly

wow... that's absurd. back in the philippines we don't even go trick-or-treating because we don't know what it is. we do it here in nj but i don't think that's anything against my religion (catholic) since my cousin go to a catholic school and they even dress up for halloween dances/parties.

anyways, the only thing related to satan or anything evil (maybe) in the philippines is the day of the dead which is nov 1st. it's a holiday but people don't laugh/celebrate but they go to their loved ones' graves and clean the cemetery and stuff. we also light candles by the steps to keep 'evil' spirits away which supertitious people say lurk during that day.

Hey whao there Lydia, Satanist's aren't wacko's, do you actually know anything about their religion? Or are you basing your harsh judgements on the media reports of some disturbed individual who happened to have an interest in Satanism anf killed a bunch of people.

Satanists are not exactly wacko's, and Samhain is definatly no Satans day...

I was told last night by my friends mum (who is a very VERY devout Christian) that on Halloween witches come together and do spells and sayonces (however you spell it) for the sole purpose to create havoc in the life of Christians!! This is completely ridiculous! It's obvious she knows nothing at all about real witches, or Wiccans, otherwise she would know that they are nature loving, kind people, and the very last thing they would want to do would be to cause mayhem in ANYONE'S life. She also said that witches were followers of Satan, even though they don't believe in Satan, so this is impossible, and she said that anyone who doesn't believe in God is a Satan worshipper and is evil!
I have absolutely nothing against her beliefs but I really hate it when people make judgements about things they obviously know nothing about. She told me one of my teachers was an (and I quote) 'evil witch' because he was a little bit strange and deaf in one ear.
That's the most stupid and ludicrous thing I've ever heard!!! Some people are sooo narrow-minded!!!
Anyways, that really made me angry, just had to share with someone.. lol...
Anyways back to the original topic, I think it's the individual's choice whether they want to allow their kids to trick or treat or not, but I personally don't see anything wrong with celebrating Samhain or Halloween or whatever you like to call it..
Cheers, Tanya :D

I think trick-o-treating is fun...and kids should not be prohibited to do it...Prohibiting to do it reainforses questions and makes the whole matter more serious than it ever deserves to be.

Yeah Bob, some people are so ridiculously narrow-minded.. lol but I guess its their own opinion and they have the right to believe whatever they want to (even if that means they think left-handed people are evil).. lol.. it only shows their own ignorance and stupidity.
Ciao, Tanya :D

I didnt really read through the forum and see if anyone else said this but I feel that people who believe that Halloween is a devil connected Holiday are slightly cracked. For whatever reason they think (as the one poster said earlier) that Halloween and the Pagen name for it are the devil's birthday. If they would actually research it, it isnt. Its "All Hallow's Eve (Hallow Eve = Hallow-een)" and it was a holiday of sorts in many religions including Catholicism. The only way I can actually see that people can connect Halloween with the devil is that it is the first of the three "days of the dead" that celebrated the damned souls in a way to say to their kids HEY DONT DO WHAT THEY DID OR YOULL GO TO HELL AND MEET THE DEVIL! lol you can check out this info at
http://www.kensmen.com/catholic/customstimeafterpentecost12aa.html

I think that Halloween is a great holiday. I mean, to me, it's like 'kids day' i mean, mum and dad get their own special days so, kids day is halloween. it's just an excuse to have fun and dress up, it's not like you're burning crosses or sacrificing animals or whatever. i'm catholic but, I LOVE halloween...cuz, i love to dress up!!

Jackie, I'm catholic too. Halloween has nothing to do with the devil in Catholicism... its All hallows eve.... check my above post.

I'm completely with Ali on this one. As she said, Halloween has many differant meanings, according to religion. By celtic beliefs it is called " Samhain" meaning summer's end. The celts believied in two primary seasons, signifying the "Light" and "Dark" parts of the year. It was also the celts New Year Eve. The reason "Satan" came into the picture is because in celtic belief there was a great feast on "hallow's eve". During the night the dead would rise and join their families for one night. To feast, celebrate, and then return to their graves by sun up. People set spots at the table, and acted as though their loved ones never left. Personally, I like the concept. A tribute to those lost.

P.S. What is so devilish about kids dressing up like spongebob squarepants, and walking around the neighborhood. going to people's houses, (who greet you with a smile) and getting candy. Nothin'

Trick or treating comes fromHallows Eve and this is certainly not the devils birthday. But even this is kinda commercialised now anyway so its kinda like knock on the door and ask for sweets you know. Some people do not feel comfortable asking from these strangers and will not want there children to do it. It may be an excuse. I do not know whether the family are religious but it is not as harmful as they seem to think.

(edited) ok i take back my comment....yeah maybe it should be the parent's choice, but i think kids should have the childhood they deserve, not worrying about their religion. just let em live their lives ya know? nothing against anyone's religion by the way....

If someone doesn't do something because of their beliefs, bully for them. It doesn't affect you so what difference does it make? In fact I take that back... you get more calorietastic sweets to gorge yourselves on.

Im a wiccan (not a very good one if you listen to my life stories...)and I believe Samhain (halloween) is not an "Evil" holiday.
Its simply the gathering of the dead, and some people place candles and food (candy...trick or treating..) for the wandering dead (and little kids!!!)
Get it?
little kids = dead people
(modern) (ancient)
Trick or Treat = Food Passed Out
Try To explain that to whoever has a problem with it. *mutters under breath about how some people are so *sigh* immature sometimes...*

It's a parental choice. In a situation like this, it's neither right, nor is it wrong.

There is probably more behind the parents' reasoning, but just from what has been said, they sound a little off...

However, what harm could come to them from NOT going trick-or-treating? Around where I live, some people do some pretty strange and/or dangerous things, just for laughs. For all we know, the parents could've made this decision because they want to know that their kids are safe.

I don't think the decision is WRONG... Like, a morally WRONG decision. It's a bit off, with the given reasonings, but it is, by no means, wrong.

~Ciao Lipton

I belive that it is the parents choice but I also believe that they should also think about WHY they are baning their children from this event. Personally if I ever have children I am going to let them becaue I belive that halloween is one of the greatest holidays in the world and that they would be missing out on a really great thing. But then agin that is only my personal opinion.

....................................................................i have a sudden craving for a snickers bar..........