Bishop of Bolton Concerned About Halloween 'Climate Fear'
The Bishop of Bolton claimed that those who sell traditional Halloween merchandise, such as scary masks, are creating a ‘climate of fear’.
by Anne Thomas
Posted: Tuesday, September 19, 2006, 7:47 (BST)
The Bishop of Bolton Retailers claimed that those who sell traditional Halloween merchandise, such as scary masks, are creating a ‘climate of fear’.
The Rt Rev David Gillett has written to the UK’s five biggest supermarkets urging them to rethink the way they market the pagan festival, celebrated on 31 October.
He said they are focussing on the darker side of Halloween.
Mr Gillett suggested shops stock hair braids, bright balloons and colourful costumes alongside traditional items.
"I share the view of many Christians that large retailers are increasingly keen to commercialise Halloween celebrations in a way that pressurises parents to purchase goods that promote the dark, negative side of Halloween and could encourage anti-social behaviour," he said.
"I am worried that Halloween has the potential to trivialise the realities of evil in the world and that occult practices should not be condoned, even if they are only being presented in a caricatured, light-hearted form."
He added: "Those in the church supporting this move towards a more positive approach to the event are not being killjoys, but are simply reflecting the concerns of many parents and teachers across the land.
"We want supermarkets to take a responsible position in relation to the products they promote for celebrating the event."
Halloween originated in Ireland as a pagan Celtic harvest festival.
The name Halloween derives from Hallow's Eve - the night before Hallow's Day or All Saints Day on November 1.
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 21:50 (BST)
Hallow'een is called in my religion (the first and oldest one there is) Samhain and this literally means 'Summers End'. To say that the church has reclaimed Hallow'een for its own is therefore a bit farcical unless of course the church celebrates this festival too. As a life long Pagan I get sick to the back teeth of having the church ram its idea and doctrines down my throat.
Do you ever read of Pagan fighting back (not literally)? No. So for once leave us alone and no, Bishop we do not practise the occult nor indeed call back the dead. It is against our beliefs to do such a thing to an ancestor. If they should appear to you then you are very lucky indeed.
I think it is about time the church joined the 21st century regarding Pagans because lets's us face it, if the church had made a derogatory remark about Diwahli or another faith's celebration then it would be considered 'racist'. I therefore feel badly for the ignorance that permeates the C of E and no wonder congregations are falling away now. The one thing I do agree with in rural areas is children walking around poorly lit villages without adult supervision.
Marysia Pudlo-Debef, Colchester, Essex
Added: Saturday, October 21, 2006, 9:43 (BST)
Yes folks it will soon be Halloween again and the fundamentalists are already starting to flock.
mb , Oldham
