The controversy surrounding Halloween arises largely from how cultural and commercial forces have distorted its original meaning. Once a simple vigil (All Hallows Eve) connected to the twin holy days of All Saints and All Souls, Halloween has evolved into an oversized commercial season—now the third most celebrated American holiday after Christmas and Thanksgiving. In the process, troubling cultural trends have emphasized darkness, fear, and the macabre, often at the expense of faith and virtue. Understandably, many Christians worry about exposing children and families to themes that glorify evil or trivialize the reality of death and the afterlife. This distortion...