[Heyworth]

But, I do think it is appropriate for a God fearing church to say to it's parishoners that celebrating a Satanic/Pagan holiday might be unwise and disfavorable.

What about Christmas, which is clearly a reworked winter solstice festival? Or Easter, a spring fertility festival (rabbits, eggs)?

And do you have a source for the jack-o-lantern human sacrifice fat thing? Not doubting you (well, maybe a bit), but I've never heard that one before. Everything I find in a quick search talks about an Irish 18th Century tradition (and I think they'd given up human sacrifice by then), or an older pagan tradition of carrying home an ember of the Samhain bonfire in a hollowed out turnip.

[Dimensio]

And do you have a source for the jack-o-lantern human sacrifice fat thing?

The human fat thing is new to me, but the human sacrifice bit comes straight from the deranged mind of Jack Chick.

[cornfedcowboy]

What about Christmas, which is clearly a reworked winter solstice festival? Or Easter, a spring fertility festival (rabbits, eggs)?


In many ways you are correct about Christmas and Easter.(christmas tree,candy canes, eggs to represent fertility, etc.)But, for these holidays Christians do have an actual reason for celebration. I'm not quite sure if Chrisitans hijacked Paganism or the other way around when it comes to these symbols of holidays.
You will hear sermons on the Christmas tree and think it was divinely provided. Not true at all.
Anyway, I still put up a Christmas tree(real one) and get gifts for the kids and the whole nine yards.
That being said, I do know the true "reason for the season"

[PresbyRev]

The candles made of human fat in the jack-o-lantern is myth passed off as 'historical' by the always amusing Jack T. Chick tracts.