Halloween

How to handle 31 October and the spooky festivities it prompts across society is a topic which has divided the church in recent years. Some Christians abhor Halloween while others embrace it. What for the wider world is a harmless bit of fun involving dressing up and sweets, to many believers is a sinister and even occultish celebration of evil. Should the church shun Halloween, or that going over the top? How should we distinguish between genuinely dangerous dabbling with the occult, and primary school-age children dressing up as witches? Do church-organised Light Parties redeem the 31st October or simply set the church up in pompous judgement over secular society? And should we actually be trying to reclaim the ancient Christian origin of All Hallows Eve after all?