A belly full of evil: Satan's candy

[HeyLeroy]

Those silly Fundies are at it again:

http://tinyurl.com/evil-candy

For example, most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.

[Piscivore]

Every time I eat holiday candy now I'm going to imagine it being handled by Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasly.

[Safe-Keeper]

Silly fundie. So mistaken.

Halloween is a tradition meant to scare away demons, not attract them. Someone has never watched the Onion.

0McggLIYmnE

[esquel]

Considering how much candy gets passed out at Halloween, it sounds like there shouldn't be a single unemployed pagan between now and October 31.

[Pure Argent]

Mmm... my candy was prayed over by nymphomaniac vampire/werewolf witches?

Scrumptious.

[HansMustermann]

Man, kids these days have it good and don't even know it. You can just go to the store and buy candy prayed over by real witches, just like that? We had to treck to the next village to find a witch to pray over our candy. Uphill both ways through the snow, I tell ya. That or we had to draw our little pentagrams ourselves and sacrifice bugs to Satan, 'cause bugs was all we had.

And look at what you kids get for halloween these days, according to that site...

* Sex with demons
* Orgies between animals and humans
* Animal and human sacrifices
* Sacrificing babies to shed innocent blood
* Rape and molestation of adults, children and babies
* Revel nights
* Conjuring of demons and casting of spells
* Release of "time-released" curses against the innocent and the ignorant.

Sex with demons? _Orgies_ between humans and animals? Orgies? You know how good you have it? We had to sneak behind the barn at night to cop a shag with dad's sheep, and nowadays you can just go to some satanist's house and go, "trick, treat or bestiality orgy"?

Animal and _human_ sacrifices? Sacrificing babies? Why didn't I get that option when my brother was a baby, bawling at night keeping the whole house up? Do I have to show up in person, or do I drop the little screamer in some witch's candy basket as a treat? You don't know how good you have it, you whinging spoiled brats.

Rape and molestation of adults, children and babies? What, that's what happens for "trick" nowadays? "Yep, son, if you'll bend over and pull down your pants, I have a trick for you you'll never forget." What a lame, easy trick. We had to do a lot better than _that_.

Release of "time-released" curses against the innocent and the ignorant? You mean ridding the neighbourhood of ignorance could have been that easy?

Conjuring demons and casting spells? Where was that option in my time? I could have used a demon to give the school bully the trick of his life. Actually, forget even that, what spells? Do they have love spells too? Around 14, when hormones kicked in, I could have murdered for such a spell.

You kids have all that, and still end up needing anti-depressants? Geeze, what a wimpy generation.

;)

[HeyLeroy]

I'm down with the "sex with demons" part.

You've never met my crazy ex-.

[madurobob]

Dang - I get a "not found" page at CBN when I click the link

[HeyLeroy]

Hmm... Maybe they pulled it down over this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/29/christian-broadcasting-ne_n_338738.html

[Ixion]

That was a quick take-down. :p

[madurobob]

It is still here (http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/prophetic-insight/23723-the-danger-of-celebrating-halloween), apparently.

Interesting comments.

[fuelair]

Every time I eat holiday candy now I'm going to imagine it being handled by Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasly.I'm sure they could handle... Never mind.:jaw-dropp

[HeyLeroy]

It is still here (http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/prophetic-insight/23723-the-danger-of-celebrating-halloween), apparently.

Interesting comments.

Yeah, that's it. Thanks!

[pakeha]

I suppose all points of view have to be considered, especially when written by a lady with these qualifications:


About the author: Kimberly Daniels is a sought-after conference speaker and preacher. She is the founder of Kimberly Daniels Ministries International (kimberlydaniels.com), Spoken Word Ministries—the church she pastors in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband, Ardell—A Child of the King Learning Center and Word Bible College. Kim is a recognized prophetic voice as well as the author of several books, including her most recent, Prayers that Bring Change (Charisma House).


Prophetic Insight is a weekly bulletin offering timely and relevant messages for the body of Christ from recognized prophetic voices. It is prepared by Maureen Eha, features editor for Charisma magazine.....



I couldn't help noticing the lady is located in Florida. Wouldn't it be a good idea to hire her services for the Houdini 'seance' as a Plan 'B'.
After all, we're talking about someone who's made candy 'curse-free' for her household as she says here:

There is no doubt in my heart that God is not calling us to replace fall festivals and Halloween activities; rather, He wants us to utterly destroy the deeds of this season. If you or your family members have opened the door to any curses that are released during the demonic fall festivals, renounce them and repent. I already have. Then declare with me: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" ...


Not to mention this dramatic experience:


...The truth is that these demons that have been presented as scary cartoons actually exist. I have prayed for witches who are addicted to drinking blood and howling at the moon.

I wonder what the lady's reaction would be to a proper Mexican "Dia de los Muertos" (2 November) altar.

Click here to see some examples:
http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:yvEmidgEVrwJ:gomexico.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/ig/Day-of-the-Dead/+Dia+de+los+Muertos+photos&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=es&lr=lang_en

[P.J. Denyer]

It is still here (http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/prophetic-insight/23723-the-danger-of-celebrating-halloween), apparently.

Interesting comments.

Nope that seems to be gone now too. Damn, I miss all the good mockery! And here in the UK we don't even get the Satanic Demon Orgies (or apparently even this year's Treehouse of Horror :( )

[pakeha]

Blog and comments still up.
One of the commenters says the police files are full of cases of baby sacrifice and so on.

[The Fallen Serpent]

I must say this really raises my expectations of Halloween this year.

[bokonon]

Nope that seems to be gone now too. Damn, I miss all the good mockery! And here in the UK we don't even get the Satanic Demon Orgies (or apparently even this year's Treehouse of Horror :( )
Just worked for me.

When I think of the people typing that stuff, absolutely convinced that they're still living in a "demon-haunted world," I honestly don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[P.J. Denyer]

When I think of the people typing that stuff, absolutely convinced that they're still living in a "demon-haunted world," I honestly don't know whether to laugh or cry.

I find myself thinking of Crazy Jesus Camp Lady praying over her Powerpoint presentation because Satan likes to crash computers. (I work in support and can tell you that the correct procedure for PPT is to sacrifice a chicken to a Dilbert statuette)

[Dancing David]

Dang - I get a "not found" page at CBN when I click the link

there is a copy here as well:
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/ , scroll down some.

[cwalner]

I find myself thinking of Crazy Jesus Camp Lady praying over her Powerpoint presentation because Satan likes to crash computers. (I work in support and can tell you that the correct procedure for PPT is to sacrifice a chicken to a Dilbert statuette)

I would think it would be St Dogbert, not Dilbert.

[madurobob]

I would think it would be St Dogbert, not Dilbert.

I believe the Holy St Dogbert is reserved for much more poorly executed SW... such as Lotus Symphony (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Lotus_Symphony)

[Damien Evans]

Every time I eat holiday candy now I'm going to imagine it being handled by Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasly.

I have a sudden craving for holiday candy.

[Dancing David]

Here is the Google cache picture:

Happy New Year!

http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:tpp4ipDgs2IJ:www.cbn.com/spirituallife/onlinediscipleship/halloween/halloween_danger_daniels.aspx+The+Danger+of+Celebr ating+Halloween&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&lr=lang_en&client=firefox-a

[pakeha]

Thanks, Dancing David.
That site you linked us to has, in its turn a link:
http://www.cbn.com/special/halloween/

Absolutely chock-full of stories, testimonies and suggestions about how to cope with Hallowe'en and its Satan inspired miasmas.

[pakeha]

A Puritan's Mind has a much more sombre outook:
http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:z46Cn865waQJ:www.apuritansmind.com/ChristianWalk/McMahonWayOfTheHeathen-Halloween.htm+puritans+Hallowe%27en&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=es&lr=lang_en

And of course, Wikipedia entries for Halloween and the Day of the Dead are essential reading.

While the old Spanish tradition of performances of don Juan Tenorio
is mentioned, I was disappointed to see no mention of the customary sweets associated with the festival: 'bunuelos de viento' and 'huesos de santos'.

Not even Wikipedia is perfect.

[shadron]

A Puritan's Mind has a much more sombre outook:
http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:z46Cn865waQJ:www.apuritansmind.com/ChristianWalk/McMahonWayOfTheHeathen-Halloween.htm+puritans+Hallowe%27en&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=es&lr=lang_en

And of course, Wikipedia entries for Halloween and the Day of the Dead are essential reading.

While the old Spanish tradition of performances of don Juan Tenorio
is mentioned, I was disappointed to see no mention of the customary sweets associated with the festival: 'bunuelos de viento' and 'huesos de santos'.

Not even Wikipedia is perfect.

Yeah, but it is editable. Jump right in.

[Starthinker]

Mmm, demon laced candy, sexy women, orgies...where do I sign up? Around here they just sip cider and dress like hobos and hippies.

[madurobob]

Mmm, demon laced candy, sexy women, orgies...where do I sign up? Around here they just sip cider and dress like hobos and hippies.

But what do they do for Halloween?

[pakeha]

Yeah, but it is editable. Jump right in.

yes.

[Scott Haley]

Martin Luther nailed his theses to the church door on All Hallows'
Eve. Protestantism started on Halloween!

[temporalillusion]

They're worried about the candy, when really the witches pray over the paper before it goes to the printer for bibles.

Silly fundies, their idea of good tactics is "the charge".

[Ladewig]

I have a serious question about the OP. Where does someone get the idea that witches are praying over candy? Surely the speaker has no tangible evidence. How did she come to believe it strongly enough to post it on a website?


ETA: I just saw that the writer claims to have worked ministering those formerly in the occult.


More ETA: The author has her own website. She is holding a conference/revival meeting at the Hyatt in Weston, Florida. I guess she has a bit of a vested interest in getting people to believe demons are lurking around every corner.

[HansMustermann]

Heck, she thinks she's genuinely handled cases of real vampires and real witches. I say they have a damn good LARP club there.

[Maia]

One thing that irritates me about that CBN website is that they replaced the Flat-Out Nuts Crazy-Lady DevilWitchEvilCandy Rant with the Sweet, Nice, Fuzzy, Watered-Down, Let's All Get Along (http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/onlinediscipleship/halloween/freeman_halloween.aspx) pap as the top link on the page, when we all know that's not what they really think. I wish they'd left the insanity up, because that was at least honest. I don't think any of the other links really even come close (well, some do for sheer dumbness. They definitely don't understand the disturbing theology of Harry Potter, and no matter how Christian-y the Twilight series is, it's not enough for them-- well, it IS written by a Mormon, and I guess they don't really count as Christians, so that would explain a lot. :P .)

[pakeha]

You're quite right, it's been taken down. :eek:
The good news is that someone realised it was way over the top.

[HeyLeroy]

One thing that irritates me about that CBN website is that they replaced the Flat-Out Nuts Crazy-Lady DevilWitchEvilCandy Rant with the Sweet, Nice, Fuzzy, Watered-Down, Let's All Get Along (http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/onlinediscipleship/halloween/freeman_halloween.aspx) pap as the top link on the page, when we all know that's not what they really think. I wish they'd left the insanity up, because that was at least honest. I don't think any of the other links really even come close (well, some do for sheer dumbness. They definitely don't understand the disturbing theology of Harry Potter, and no matter how Christian-y the Twilight series is, it's not enough for them-- well, it IS written by a Mormon, and I guess they don't really count as Christians, so that would explain a lot. :P .)

Mormons: one 'm' too many.

[Maia]

Oh, it gets even better at the Charisma site. Take a look at the comments section for this article (http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/blogs/712-in-the-news/23800-why-christians-should-celebrate-halloween-). This is where the CrazyLadyCandyRant (tm) was originally published, and it seems to be another "attempt at being nice and warm and fuzzy" replacement for it, because I don't see it on that website anymore either. However, the comments section gives it all away. My favorite part is where the heated argument breaks out (as it always does) about whether or not Catholics are actually Christians. Here's just a little bit of one lovely exchange:

Second, to consider Catholics Christian is just as wrong as confusing as the writer was about All Saint's Eve/Day.

(reply)
The Catholics are and were the original Christian church. They compiled the book you so often quote from...the Bible. THEY are the ones who decided which books were inspired and which ones would not be included in the Bible. THEY are the ones that developed the Nicean creed which assured that later Christians would believe in Jesus' bodily death and resurrection as well as many other things that not all Christians believed at the time.

In short, if it weren't for the Catholic Christians, Protestantism would have had nowhere to come FROM... and your religion would not exist.


This is literally correct, of course. The Catholic Church did decide exactly how Christianity was going to be organized, because it had both the power and the authority. And I think this may be the answer to the question of why so many evangelical Protestants keep insisting that Catholics (and members of other Orthodox churches) aren't "really Christians". The history of these churches proves that the Bible did not drop fully written from heaven, and neither did the entire structure of Christianity. And I think it also may explain this weird evangelical obsession with Wicca followers and pagans, which is insanely out of proportion to their actual numbers. Again, they are constant reminders that all Christian holidays have pagan roots-- Halloween is just more obvious than the others.

[Polaris]

Every time I eat holiday candy now I'm going to imagine it being handled by Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasly.

As long as the Patel sisters have some hand in the process too, I'll agree with this.

[shawmutt]

The real Satan.

swGBlDn_yiI

[HansMustermann]

This is literally correct, of course. The Catholic Church did decide exactly how Christianity was going to be organized, because it had both the power and the authority. And I think this may be the answer to the question of why so many evangelical Protestants keep insisting that Catholics (and members of other Orthodox churches) aren't "really Christians". The history of these churches proves that the Bible did not drop fully written from heaven, and neither did the entire structure of Christianity. And I think it also may explain this weird evangelical obsession with Wicca followers and pagans, which is insanely out of proportion to their actual numbers. Again, they are constant reminders that all Christian holidays have pagan roots-- Halloween is just more obvious than the others.

Well, the answer is that it's more complicated than that. Any Protestant of even moderate education would know all that, and not assume that the Bible fell out of the sky. They would more like complain that the pappacy had corrupted the faith, through the RCC's liberal approach to adding, subtracting or reinterpretting from the Bible.

Protestantism itself didn't start over an argument about where the Bible came from, and both Luther and Hus before him and Wycliffe before that one, were actually quite well educated in such matters. Luther was a professor of theology. We're not talking a midwest farmer. He wouldn't assume that the bible fell out of the sky.

The whole argument started over, basically, "WTH, the Bible doesn't say _that_." Or, basically, "if it's not in the Bible, it's just Bull" ;)

Protestants don't and didn't attack the early Catholics, or the church fathers who put together the Bible. Constantine or St Augustine Of Hippo are still a major figures for most Protestant denominations too.

Basically if you're talking about 4'th century Catholics, the Protestants are perfectly fine with _those_. Which makes that "but they were here first" objection kinda silly.

But the RCC deviated more and more from what the Bible actually says. The Pope's having the power to pick the official interpretation, was taken by various Popes as a blank check to add or remove whatever they see fit from the doctrine.

Fast forward a bit over a millenium to Hus and then Luther's time, and by now the doctrine only coincidentally has anything more to do with the actual book.

And anyway it's with _those_ later Catholics that the Protestants have a problem with.

Don't get me wrong, I find both to be silly buggers. And the argument between those who write their own fan-fic about that fairy-tale as doctrine, and those who claim to take the fairy tale literally (except for the about 80% they like to pretend it doesn't exist)... strikes me as just about as silly as a fight about whether it's proper to wear underpants on the head or pencils up the nose. Just hopefully clarifying what the fight is actually about.

[Polaris]

Gathering around bonfires is a common practice in pagan worship. As I remember, the bonfires that I attended during homecoming week when I was in high school were always in the fall. I am amazed at how we ignorantly participate in pagan, occult rituals.

You mean like Christmas?

[grayman]

Gathering around bonfires is a common practice in pagan worship. As I remember, the bonfires that I attended during homecoming week when I was in high school were always in the fall. I am amazed at how we ignorantly participate in pagan, occult rituals. You mean like Christmas?

And Easter (http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/blessing.html).

[Doghouse Reilly]

You mean like Christmas?

Probably she does mean like Christmas. My parents belonged to an evangelical type church that didn't celebrate Christmas because it was "pagan."

[Uzzy]

Could be worse. We could be encouraging kids to eat candy that's meant to be/is the body of some 2000 year old guy. Isn't Cannibalism generally frowned upon in most societies?

On the bright side, Halloween has gone really well here. Plenty of kids walking around with family, friends, all dressed up in their home made costumes and having lots of fun. If this is considered a 'bad' thing, then I don't want to be good.

[bethgsd]

If the candy is evil and all that, it would explain why those fun sized Snickers kept calling my name and are now happily sitting on my hips.

[Arcade22]

If you're living in Saudi Arabia and thinking of dressing up as a witch, WATCH OUT!
You could quite possibly be executed for witchcraft (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23162712/)

That sure beats "cursed candy"...http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/188094adb6910535af.gif (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=17922)

[Mira]

Shawmutt - love the video!

Actually most current christian holidays are taken from pagan holidays. Sad really, that christians have no holidays of their own, they've stolen every body else's.

[Longfellow]

Mormons: one 'm' too many.

:big:

[FreshHat]

Originally Posted by Fundie nutjob
For example, most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.

mmmm...dark chocolate!

[pakeha]

[QUOTE=Arcade22;5263361]If you're living in Saudi Arabia and thinking of dressing up as a witch, WATCH OUT!
You could quite possibly be executed for witchcraft (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23162712/)

Any update on that case?
The most recent thing I've seen is this, Fawza Falih

[Maia]

You make some very good points. :) One big problem, of course, is...

Well, the answer is that it's more complicated than that. Any Protestant of even moderate education would know all that, and not assume that the Bible fell out of the sky.

That probably clears up some of the dilemma right there. But a certain sector of the evangelical Protestant community does seem to harbor a conviction that Catholics "aren't really Christians", and I've never really understood why. Look at this fairly new cathedral in Nashville. (http://www.cathedralnashville.com/) This isn't the original Cathedral of the Incarnation. The original one was burned down in 1920 by the Ku Klux Klan, because they really didn't like Catholics. In Nashville, the Buckle of the Bible Belt, home to a dizzying array of Baptist denomination headquarters, I guarantee that lots of folks really do think that Catholics just sort of "aren't really Christians." The redoubtable Jack Chick has an entire page about Catholics (http://www.chick.com/information/religions/catholicism/) and some tracts that everyone really should read (lots of free entertainment! The Death Cookie is a particular favorite of mine,) and the Rapture Ready forums never fail to have some insane thread or other going about how someone tried to convert Catholics so they wouldn't go to hell (usually failing.)

Actually, we had several threads going recently around here where some of our resident preachers (not all, but yes, more than one), said vague and yet dark, dark things about the future fate of all Catholics in the afterlife. The reasons were very unclear (I think the Whore of Babylon may have been mentioned.) So there must be something. I don't think that CBN is much fonder of Catholics, although I'm pretty sure that they'll never headline The Death Cookie on their web page at Easter. (And I haven't seen anyone of the ilk who would think that Catholics "aren't real Christians" actually criticize the church for anything worthwhile, such as oh, pedophile priests, or the hierarchy covering it up for years and continuing to just transfer said priests to different parishes. :mad:) But if CBN could get away with "Catholics are going to hell" silliness, yes, I think they probably would publish it right alongside A Witch Comes to Christ. (http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/amazing/Shalom_Serene060107.aspx)

[HansMustermann]

That doesn't necessarily need lack of education (though it sure helps.) The whole schism started over the idea that the Catholics are doing it all wrong and believing the wrong stuff, and, basically, they'll go to hell. Some Protestant trying to save them is only the continuation of the fine tradition that started with Luther nailing his 95 theses, about as many ways in which the Catholics are all wrong, to the cathedral door in 1517... you guessed, to save them.

Heck, by the time of the third of his major tracts ("On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church") Luther escalated the tone to outright accusing the Pope of being the Antichrist.

You know, not of being the head of just another Christian sect, but outright the Antichrist.

So it seems to me like the basic idea was there all along. It's not something invented in the Bible Belt.

And, as I was saying, one could hardly question Luther's education. Apparently one doesn't have to be stupid or ignorant to arrive at such ideas. Being a zealot seems to be enough :p

[Marduk]

If you're living in Saudi Arabia and thinking of dressing up as a witch, WATCH OUT!
You could quite possibly be executed for witchcraft (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23162712/)

That sure beats "cursed candy"...http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/188094adb6910535af.gif (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=17922)

if dressing up as a witch and being one were in any way similar,
wiccans could ride to work on their broomsticks
:p

[temporalillusion]

I'm getting a bunch of witches to go pray over the water supply for the city, the Christians will be drinking and peeing demons before they know it!

Then we'll randomly switch to electricity and back to water, Christians will have to go live off the land in the mountains!

Little do they know we already prayed over all the trees, their log houses will be made of demon-lumber!

[godless dave]

You're quite right, it's been taken down. :eek:
The good news is that someone realised it was way over the top.

They realized they were being made fun of. Not the same thing.

[godless dave]

Well, the answer is that it's more complicated than that. Any Protestant of even moderate education would know all that, and not assume that the Bible fell out of the sky.

That eliminates a very large segment of American Protestants, including almost all of the ones who don't consider Catholics Christians.


They would more like complain that the pappacy had corrupted the faith, through the RCC's liberal approach to adding, subtracting or reinterpretting from the Bible.

Protestantism itself didn't start over an argument about where the Bible came from, and both Luther and Hus before him and Wycliffe before that one, were actually quite well educated in such matters. Luther was a professor of theology. We're not talking a midwest farmer. He wouldn't assume that the bible fell out of the sky.

The whole argument started over, basically, "WTH, the Bible doesn't say _that_." Or, basically, "if it's not in the Bible, it's just Bull" ;)

Protestants don't and didn't attack the early Catholics, or the church fathers who put together the Bible. Constantine or St Augustine Of Hippo are still a major figures for most Protestant denominations too.

Basically if you're talking about 4'th century Catholics, the Protestants are perfectly fine with _those_. Which makes that "but they were here first" objection kinda silly.

But the RCC deviated more and more from what the Bible actually says. The Pope's having the power to pick the official interpretation, was taken by various Popes as a blank check to add or remove whatever they see fit from the doctrine.

Fast forward a bit over a millenium to Hus and then Luther's time, and by now the doctrine only coincidentally has anything more to do with the actual book.

And anyway it's with _those_ later Catholics that the Protestants have a problem with.

Don't get me wrong, I find both to be silly buggers. And the argument between those who write their own fan-fic about that fairy-tale as doctrine, and those who claim to take the fairy tale literally (except for the about 80% they like to pretend it doesn't exist)... strikes me as just about as silly as a fight about whether it's proper to wear underpants on the head or pencils up the nose. Just hopefully clarifying what the fight is actually about.

You seem to be talking about British or European Protestants. Those are not the people posting comments on the article about witches praying over Halloween candy.

[slingblade]

Gathering around bonfires is a common practice in pagan worship. As I remember, the bonfires that I attended during homecoming week when I was in high school were always in the fall.

On behalf of the intelligent women, I would just like to say that we are actually aware the reason for the above is that football in the U.S. is generally played in the fall.

[Bob from NJ]

Catholics are 'worshipping devils unaware' like all other religions, in the eyes of Fundamentalists. They pray to Saints and idols, and not directly to God or Christ. It's a pagan religion in Christian robes...
Of course, I've come to believe my (former) brand of Funtalism turned out to be a type of idolatry...

(OOPS! That's a genuine Typo, but I didn't fix it cause I happened to leave the letters 'damen' out of 'Fundamentalism'. Hmmmm...)

[pipelineaudio]

the town I live in actually does have a church on every corner (what few corners there are) and they are all different churches opposed to each other.

One "tradition" of a certain church here is to have a haloween candy where you get to jump on trampolines and play games and stuff if you don't wear a costume.

Kids aren't stupid, they stash their costumes, go eat the food and put their costumes back on.

But hey, its the thought that counts.

The Hassayampa River Preserve runs a nice counter to it :)
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/arizona/preserves/

[Ixion]

As if "cursed" candy wasn't enough, haunted houses here in Tucson are used every year to promote fundamental Christian messages.

A link on it:
http://www.newsregister.com/article/42049-potter039s+house+bringing+back+halloween+show

A description and brief history of these 'haunted houses':
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hallo_he.htm

[HansMustermann]

You seem to be talking about British or European Protestants. Those are not the people posting comments on the article about witches praying over Halloween candy.

Yes, well, I'm not talking about the ****** stupid or terminally schizophrenic. E.g., the article's author thinks she's a prophet and God genuinely tells her stuff. Or that she actually knew people who were real vampires or witches. If that doesn't make a case for neuroleptics before it gets even worse, I don't know what does :p

Basically, while I do have a lot of contempt for fundies, I think this is already past what you could blame on Protestantism alone, regardless of whether it's American or European. The article and some of the posts are a toss between plain old stupidity or paranoid schizophrenia.

So what I'm trying to say is: it's not as much that I was talking about European Protestantism as opposed to the American one, as just about Protestantism as opposed to mental illness ;)

[Maia]

So what I'm trying to say is: it's not as much that I was talking about European Protestantism as opposed to the American one, as just about Protestantism as opposed to mental illness ;)

Well, thirty years ago, Maury Davis randomly and viciously killed a Nashville woman (http://www.nashvillescene.com/2009-06-18/news/a-grieving-son-finds-no-justice-on-rev-maury-davis-path-to-redemption/) for no reason whatsoever-- some of the horrible details are in the link. He later found Jesus in prison and was apparently washed in the blood of the lamb and all....


Here's the lovely Cornerstone Church (http://www.cornerstonenashville.org/templates/_cornerstone/default.asp?id=38571) in Nashville, TN. Great big church, mainstream as could be. It's one of our megachurches, although not the biggest one (Two Rivers Baptist has got to be four times the size, at least.) Now, if you visit the website, you'll see the cute pix of the two little kids, the quotes about " believing God can use us in spite of our past".... and that certainly is apropos when it comes to the pastor and founder, good ol' Rev. Maury Davis.

When the Nashville Scene revealed Davis's vicious mad-dog killer past, many of his flock got a tad bit upset. The Scene had never received so many slavering-at-the mouth letters, wild-eyed emails, and death threats over any article they'd ever published in their entire history. And this, remember, was over a factual article about the pastor of a mainstream church.

[Polaris]

Probably she does mean like Christmas. My parents belonged to an evangelical type church that didn't celebrate Christmas because it was "pagan."

Well at least they're consistent. In a way it beats the horrifically intolerant born-again scum who hate gays, secularists, abortion, science, etc., but know less (and practice much less) about what Jesus said than I - an atheist - do. I prefer this loon's version to the mindset that says "as long as I say Jeeezus is my lawrd, I can do whatever the **** I want!"

[Polaris]

As if "cursed" candy wasn't enough, haunted houses here in Tucson are used every year to promote fundamental Christian messages.

A link on it:
http://www.newsregister.com/article/42049-potter039s+house+bringing+back+halloween+show

A description and brief history of these 'haunted houses':
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hallo_he.htm

Wouldn't they be more realistic if they were on fire? I'm just sayin'...

[Ixion]

Wouldn't they be more realistic if they were on fire? I'm just sayin'...

Interesting point.

[pakeha]

...When the Nashville Scene revealed Davis's vicious mad-dog killer past, many of his flock got a tad bit upset. The Scene had never received so many slavering-at-the mouth letters, wild-eyed emails, and death threats over any article they'd ever published in their entire history. And this, remember, was over a factual article about the pastor of a mainstream church.

Thanks for that one, Maia.
Have you seen the 'Jesus Camp' videos?