Holloween: The children of Atheism and Christians Share the same religious belief

enigma wrote:
BarbL aBarbL@comcastdotnet wrote in
:

I wouldn't mind getting
back to just having fun with it, but the horror aspect has
become more and more prevalent, and that's what I really
don't like. I don't like horror any time of the year, so
all the building up that it's been getting makes me want to
disappear for a month. I can't even watch the Sci-Fi
channel for my regular shows, because they really celebrate
the horror in October.

Bah! that crap isn't horror. they're playing all the stupid
slasher stuff. horror is a very fine balance. it is NOT gory,
it is not gratuitous violence. Hitchcock made horror movies.
Blair Witch Project is horror. most of the stuff pumped out
since the 70s is slasher or gore.

OK, another dividing line, then. I didn't know that. I like
science fiction, fantasy, magic, mystery, and even suspense,
but can't stand gore, horror, or slashers. (I also have a
problem with impalings, from a little mishap playing yard
darts with my brother when I was 6. So, I try to avoid
needles, darts, arrows, other graphic images of the same type.)

I don't even want to see commercials for them.

Hitchcock was the master, but I think he did me in for that,
it's too scary for me. I don't even want to hear the
"Psycho" music.


anyway Halloween shouldn't be about horror. it's the night
where the veil between the living & the dead is the thinnest.
it is the night when spirts walk, but since 99.9% of people
lived ordinary lives, thier spirits are just ordinary spirits.
nothing horrifying there... it's more or less just like
seeing fairies.

I like that idea, and have done some projects about Day of
the Dead, and All Saints Day.

In your area, do you have Devil's Night? I always thought of
it as regional, and more recent in creation, and my sister
thinks it's everywhere, and always been a part of Halloween.
It's the night before Halloween, where punks go around
starting fires, and really destroying property.

When I was a kid, some kids would soap or wax windows,
toilet paper houses, and other pranks, but it wasn't a
separate night, and it wasn't this destructive.

the idea behind the carved turnips (pumpkins in the US. ever
try to carve a turnip?) was to give a place to carry a coal &
to keep any stray unfriendly spirits at bay.

I've thought of trying to carve a turnip, but never got to
that point. Maybe I need better tools. It seems like
changing the vegetable changed the whole dynamics of the
purpose. Carved pumpkins can't be carried around as easily,
and I don't know if they could handle transporting coal!

bizby40 wrote:
"Banty" wrote in message
...
It's the mindspace thing again. When there's soooo much, and there's
no avoiding
it, the whole celebration gets cheapened. Come Halloween, it's a
burned out
thing.

I can see feeling that way about Christmas since it is a important
religious celebration for many. I'm not sure what there is about
Halloween to cheapen.

I think Halloween used to mean more than being freaked out,
with The Day of The Dead and All Hallows Eve for All Saints
Day, but it's not considered a major religious holiday.

What I wonder about Christmas is that there are people who
don't celebrate it, and there is really nowhere to escape
it. I don't lose sleep over that thought, just wonder what
it is like for them with so much Christmas everywhere.

In article , bizby40 says...


"Banty" wrote in message
...
It's the mindspace thing again. When there's soooo much, and there's
no avoiding
it, the whole celebration gets cheapened. Come Halloween, it's a
burned out
thing.

I can see feeling that way about Christmas since it is a important
religious celebration for many. I'm not sure what there is about
Halloween to cheapen.

Christmas is religious? Samhain isn't???!?

You wanna start this discussion and it isnt' even December yet? :-)


After all, decorations are for *others* to see. And a lot of those
others are
groaning.

Ah, you're just a scrooge. I figure that those people are having fun,
and seeing people have fun makes me happy.


Bah humbug. I'm such a pill.

Cheers,
Banty

On 28 Oct 2006 13:53:31 -0700, Banty wrote:


Christmas is religious? Samhain isn't???!?

You wanna start this discussion and it isnt' even December yet? :-)

/runs screaming from thread

Nan

In article , Nan says...

On 28 Oct 2006 13:53:31 -0700, Banty wrote:


Christmas is religious? Samhain isn't???!?

You wanna start this discussion and it isnt' even December yet? :-)

/runs screaming from thread


BOO!!

BarbL aBarbL@comcastdotnet wrote in
:


OK, another dividing line, then. I didn't know that. I like
science fiction, fantasy, magic, mystery, and even
suspense, but can't stand gore, horror, or slashers. (I
also have a problem with impalings, from a little mishap
playing yard darts with my brother when I was 6. So, I try
to avoid needles, darts, arrows, other graphic images of
the same type.)

I don't even want to see commercials for them.

you're the reason they banned yard darts huh?

but i agree with you on gorefest movies. waste of film. it
would be nice to see some good mystery films, something not
formulaic so you know the ending 15 minutes in...

Hitchcock was the master, but I think he did me in for
that, it's too scary for me. I don't even want to hear the
"Psycho" music.

the bit from the shower scene is way overplayed. loses the
impact.
my mom & dad used to load us in the car and go to Hitchcock
films at the drive-in. i think the theory was we'd fall asleep
(being pre-school age at the time), but i didn't. i *loved*
the movies.

In your area, do you have Devil's Night? I always thought
of it as regional, and more recent in creation, and my
sister thinks it's everywhere, and always been a part of
Halloween. It's the night before Halloween, where punks go
around starting fires, and really destroying property.

you're correct & your sister is wrong. it still doesn't happen
in NH, & the earliest i recall hearing of it was in the late
80s. Halloween night was used as an excuse for pranks as far
back as the teens... the tipping outhouses & putting cows on
the roof sort of thing. it was never mean-spirited or for
causing fires or permanant damage (except to the cows on the
roof... there's only one way to get a cow back down)

When I was a kid, some kids would soap or wax windows,
toilet paper houses, and other pranks, but it wasn't a
separate night, and it wasn't this destructive.

exactly.


I've thought of trying to carve a turnip, but never got to
that point. Maybe I need better tools. It seems like
changing the vegetable changed the whole dynamics of the
purpose. Carved pumpkins can't be carried around as easily,
and I don't know if they could handle transporting coal!

i doubt it. pumpkins are a bit too damp & large to carry coal
around in. i'd suggest getting a set of wood carving tools
before tackling a turnip (also be aware that European turnips
are generally larger than ones you'll find in the US, but
still smaller than the average pumpkin)

lee
--
Question with boldness even the existence of god; because if
there be
one, he must more approve the homage of reason than that of
blindfolded
fear. - Thomas Jefferson

Nan wrote:
On 28 Oct 2006 13:53:31 -0700, Banty wrote:


Christmas is religious? Samhain isn't???!?

You wanna start this discussion and it isnt' even December yet? :-)

/runs screaming from thread

Nan

December 23...... a FESTIVUS for the REST OF US!!!

a time for feats of strength, and airing of grievances

In article , Green Acres is the place
to be says...

Nan wrote:
On 28 Oct 2006 13:53:31 -0700, Banty wrote:


Christmas is religious? Samhain isn't???!?

You wanna start this discussion and it isnt' even December yet? :-)

/runs screaming from thread

Nan

December 23...... a FESTIVUS for the REST OF US!!!

a time for feats of strength, and airing of grievances



No no - OBVIOUSLY we should co-opt December 25 and thereby get those benighted
Christians with the rest of us.

Banty