Question the Practice of Halloween... Or the Christian Practice of Satanism

The Sir Francis Dashwood Journal | 10-31-02 | Sir Francis Dashwood

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

It never ceases to amaze me that most Christians would criticize me for being an atheist, yet they will "celebrate" a macabre pagan holiday. They inculcate their children into the practice of it and feed them the most unhealthful things you could give a child to eat.

Likewise, many atheists criticize me for being a "right-winger." Most atheists are so caught up in their polemics, they have become nothing more than anti-Christians - or what I call the Religious Left (a collaboration of the Marxist religion, neo-pagan animal/tree/earth worshipper eco-fascists and general technophobes).

Why do you "celebrate" on certain "holidays," what are you celebrating, do you really know? Or have you been so lost in the conformity of it all to really take a look at what you partake in?

As you ponder this, two noted Christian philosophers support my secular argument...

Søren Kierkegaard from The Sickness Unto Death:

The fantastic is, of course, most closely related to the imagination [Phantasien], but the imagination is related in it’s turn to feeling, understanding, and will, so that a person’s feelings, understanding and will may be fantastic. Fantasy is, in general the medium of infinitization… (emphasis mine)

The fantastic is generally speaking what carries a person into the infinite in such a way that it only leads him away from himself and thus prevents him from coming back to himself.

Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan:

Part IV. Of the Kingdom of Darkness

Chap. xlv. Of Demonology and other Relics of the Religion of the Gentiles.

[14] An image, in the most strict signification of the word, is the resemblance of something visible: in which sense the fantastical forms, apparitions, or seemings of visible bodies to the sight, are only images; such as are the show of a man or other thing in the water, by reflection or refraction; or of the sun or stars by direct vision in the air; which are nothing real in the things seen, nor in the place where they seem to be; nor are their magnitudes and figures the same with that of the object, but changeable, by the variation of the organs of sight, or by glasses; and are present oftentimes in our imagination, and in our dreams, when the object is absent; or changed into other colours, and shapes, as things that depend only upon the fancy. And these are the images which are originally and most properly called ideas and idols, and derived from the language of the Grecians, with whom the word eido signifieth to see. They are also called phantasms, which is in the same language, apparitions. And from these images it is that one of the faculties of man's nature is called the imagination. And from hence it is manifest that there neither is, nor can be, any image made of a thing invisible.

[15] It is also evident that there can be no image of a thing infinite: for all the images and phantasms that are made by the impression of things visible are figured. But figure is quantity every way determined, and therefore there can be no image of God, nor of the soul of man, nor of spirits; but only of bodies visible, that is, bodies that have light in themselves, or are by such enlightened.

[16] And whereas a man can fancy shapes he never saw, making up a figure out of the parts of divers creatures, as the poets make their centaurs, chimeras and other monsters never seen, so can he also give matter to those shapes, and make them in wood, clay or metal. And these are also called images, not for the resemblance of any corporeal thing, but for the resemblance of some phantastical inhabitants of the brain of the maker. But in these idols, as they are originally in the brain, and as they are painted, carved moulded or molten in matter, there is a similitude of one to the other, for which the material body made by art may be said to be the image of the fantastical idol made by nature.

As you think further, exactly what is Halloween?

Originally, All Hallows' Eve was one of the great fire festivals of Britain at the time of the Druids. In Scotland it was associated with the time when the spirits of the dead, the demons, witches, and sorcerers were usually active and propitious.

Paradoxically, All Hallows' Eve was also a night when young people performed magical rituals to determine their future marriage partners. The youth of the villages carried on with much merry-making and sensual revelry, but the older people took great care to safeguard their homes from the evil spirits, witches, and demons who had exceptional power that night...

Can you guess my source here???

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

<> I am unable to agree to a pact with one who says all our acts are kotex. On another thread you agreed with Mom's interpretation of Isaias 64:6 that all our acts are bloody rags; "Kotex" as mom defined it. That goes even for those of us Baptised and who are now incorportaed into the Family of God as adopted sons and daughters.

To my way of thinking, that renders your particpation in any pact nugatory<>

So much for his so called apology ...

Catholicguy has few weapons at his disposal and must resort to expletives and gross vulgarities to amplify his rhetorical thrusts. But it is generally ineffective against other Warriors. Combatants know when he has spent the fury of his attack when he suggests that his opponent's mother is a professional sexual services provider (although he will put it in different terms).

BigMack

[Irisshlass]

What Paul is referring to is "boasting" of works...

Romans 3
27 Where then is (1) boasting? It is excluded. By (2) what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Romans 4
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but (1) not before God.

Ephesians 2
9 (1) not as a result of works, so that (2) no one may boast

Romans 2
The Jew Is Condemned by the Law

17 But if you bear the name "Jew" and (1) rely upon the Law and boast in God,
23 You who (2) boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?

1 Corinthians 1
29 so that (1) no man may boast before God

[Catholicguy]

<> I appreciate your p.o.v. I am recalcitrant on this principle though. I can't enter into a pact with one who thinks his works Kotex.

What is ironic is that I think his actions are much better than he does:) Perhaps it is just the case that some men are better than their principles rather than in the case of most men who are worse than their principles

I agree with all you say - except the matter of trustworthiness. Ideas have consequences. I can't agree to a pact with another who says all his works are Kotex anymore than I can agree to accept the testimony of one who says all his words are lies.

That having been said, I expect that prolly there will be a dimunition in the frequency of exchanges twixt me and he:)<>

[Catholicguy]

<> I have decided your screenname ought to be obeyed)<>

[drstevej]

<>I expect that prolly there will be a dimunition in the frequency of exchanges twixt me and he:)<>

We are in agreement here, thankfully.

[Catholicguy]

Didn't do your penance huh? :>))

<> Yes. I did my penance. I always do whenever I go to Confession.<>

[sitetest]

Dear Catholicguy,

"<> I have decided your screenname ought to be obeyed)<>"

It seems that you're a little slow in catching on. ;-)


sitetest

[Polycarp]

You might think your sophomorish posts and jpg's are cute or witty...but only you do.

Leave me off your pinglist when I'm not actively involved in the thread, Mack.

In fact, just don't ping me at all.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

LOL....

Catholicguy sitetest

BigMack

[Irisshlass]

Ephesians 5:4 Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving.

[sitetest]

Dear BM,

I'm pretty sure I'm the fat guy.


sitetest

[Polycarp]

I can't enter into a pact with one who thinks his works Kotex.

I'm all for good intelligent and hard hitting CHRISTIAN polemics.

But this whole Kotex debate has no place in our apologetics vocabulary.

1) Knock it off.

2) If you refuse to abide by number 1, at least leave me out of it. I want no part of such juvenile debating tactics.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

You might think your sophomorish posts and jpg's are cute or witty...but only you do.

Not true, I've had hundreds of people FReep mail me ROFLOL at you guys.

BigMack

[Polycarp]

Ephesians 5:4 Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting

Dittos. This has gone too far.

To my fellow Catholics:

Knock off the gutter talk.

To our separated brethren:

Certain JPG's and other images are just as offensive.

Knock it off, if you expect to be treated as a Christian or seen as one.

I'll have no part of this any further. Don't ping me to it.

[Polycarp]

Not true, I've had hundreds of people FReep mail me ROFLOL at you guys.

That speaks volumes.

Leave me out of it.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I'm pretty sure I'm the fat guy.

LOL...Ok...

sitetest Catholicguy

BigMack

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

That speaks volumes.

It sure does! LOL...

BigMack

[Catholicguy]

<> I'll agree to stop using Kotex. I will continue to use filthy rags in referring to all their works when it is applicable to those that assert Isaias 64:6 aplies to them. That just makes sense. Rnmom0f7 and drstevej says it applies to them and all their works. <>

[Polycarp]

I'll agree to stop using Kotex. I will continue to use filthy rags

Thank you. That is a perfectly acceptable compromise.

[drstevej]

<>drstevej says it applies to them and all their works.<>

Not true. Here's my view.

[1] A believer's work produced by grace is not a filthy rag.

[2] A believer's self effort does get burned in the judgment.

[3] A believer's efforts done to impress men likewise perish.

[4] All efforts of unbelievers are filthy rags.

[5] I believe that a believe is simul justus et pecccator. But this does not preclude a believer from producing good works through grace.

[6] I believe that a believe is simul justus et pecccator. This does mean that believers are no perfect, they sin. Such sin dirupts fellowship but doesn't forfeit eternal life

That's my view. It may be rn's too, but whether it is or not is unrelated to me.