Day of the Dead decorations
(Tomascastelazo)
Many Greco-Roman Catholics, Protestants, Satanists, and others celebrate Halloween. What does Halloween mean? Was it an original Christian holiday? Did it, and many of its customs, come from ancient pagans like the Druids? What about 'All Saints Day,' 'All Souls Day,' and the 'Day of the Dead'? Do Roman Catholic scholars and priests admit to the pagan origins of at least some of these days? Was Nehemiah opposed to paganism? Did the Apostle Paul teach about combining pagan demonic practices with Christian ones? When did these days become accepted by the Church of Rome? Are Christians supposed to embrace or separate from pagan practices? Are dressing up as witches or harlots something Christians should do? Did early pagans use candles as part of their worship practices? What about the dead? Can you actually commune with them on these or other days? Were many pagan gods and goddesses renamed to supposed to be Christian saints and then worshiped/venerated in ways like the pagans originally did? Do the dead know anything? Are people supposed to intercede for the dead who reportedly are in a place called Purgatory? Did some of the Cathars and Waldenses object to Purgatory once it began to be taught? Do souls die? Does God have plans for the dead? Are the dead conscious or more like sleeping now? Could we consider that the first and second resurrections are more like the days of the dead as that is when humans will be resurrected from the dead? Does Ezekiel 37 show that long dead bones can live? Are Christians to walk in the light and not combine pagan elements in their worship?
Two articles of related interest are available:
'Is Halloween Holy Time for Christians?' URL: Halloween for Christians?
'All Saints' Day, the Day of the Dead, and All Souls' Day' URL: Day of the Dead; All Saints Day; All Soul's Day
SERMONS
