A Biblical Critique of Halloween: Why Conservative Christians Should Abstain, By Mrs Vera West

 As Australian Christians committed to biblical truth, we must evaluate cultural traditions through the lens of Scripture, not sentiment or societal pressure. Halloween, increasingly imported from American pop culture and now entrenched in our schools, shops, and suburbs, demands scrutiny. Far from harmless fun, it promotes themes of death, witchcraft, and the occult, directly at odds with God's commands. Here's a conservative, Scripture-based critique.

1. Halloween Glorifies Death and Darkness

The holiday's imagery, skeletons, graves, ghosts, normalises death as entertainment. Yet the Bible declares death an enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26), conquered by Christ's resurrection. Celebrating it mocks God's victory over the grave.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12: God forbids practices that "interpret omens" or consult the dead, labelling them "detestable."

In Australia, where youth suicide rates remain tragically high, trivialising death through "zombie walks" or haunted houses sends a dangerous message to vulnerable children.

2. It Promotes Witchcraft and the Occult

Costumes of witches, wizards, and demons aren't innocent dress-up. They emulate real spiritual forces Scripture condemns.

Exodus 22:18: "You shall not permit a sorceress to live."

Galatians 5:19-21: Lists "sorcery" (Greek: pharmakeia, root of "pharmacy" but here meaning witchcraft) among sins excluding one from God's kingdom.

Even "cute" witch outfits desensitise children to evil. J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter may have softened the image, but occult interest among youth has surged, ouija boards and tarot apps are now commonplace.

3. Pagan Roots Cannot Be "Christianised"

Halloween traces to Samhain, a Celtic festival marking summer's end where druids believed spirits roamed. Early Christians attempted to overlay it with All Saints' Day, but the biblical principle stands:

2 Corinthians 6:14-17: "What fellowship has light with darkness? ... Come out from them and be separate."

Redeeming pagan festivals fails; Scripture commands separation, not sanitisation. Christmas has biblical warrant (celebrating Christ's birth); Halloween celebrates fear and the macabre.

4. It Undermines Parental Authority and Biblical Child-Rearing

"Trick-or-treating" teaches greed and manipulation, demanding treats under threat. This contradicts:

Ephesians 6:4: Parents must raise children "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Australian Christian schools banning Halloween events face backlash, yet Proverbs 22:6 demands we "train up a child in the way he should go."

5. A Slippery Slope to Compromise

Participation signals worldliness. James 4:4 warns: "Friendship with the world is enmity with God." Once we justify Halloween, what's next, accepting "inclusive" school curricula promoting gender ideology?

Biblical Alternatives for Australian Families

Reject Halloween, but don't leave a void. Host "Reformation Day" celebrations on 31 October, commemorating Luther's 1517 stand. Organise:

Bible trivia nights with prizes.

"Light of the World" parties (John 8:12) featuring lanterns symbolising Christ.

Community outreach: distribute gospel tracts with lollies, turning a dark night into evangelistic opportunity.

Conclusion

Halloween isn't culturally neutral, it's spiritual compromise wrapped in lollies and costumes. Australian Christians must heed 1 Thessalonians 5:22: "Abstain from every form of evil." Stand firm, teach your children discernment, and let your light shine undimmed in a darkening culture. The world offers fear; Christ offers life abundant (John 10:10). Choose wisely.