THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC
Letters to the Editor

Halloween letters filled with misinformation Oct. 22, 2005
Regarding "Taken in by satanic holiday," (Letters, Oct. 8):*

Once again, as Oct. 31 draws near, attacks start. The letter writer's assault on Satanists shows the customary lack of understanding. In particular, it implies the old stereotype of living sacrifices and other horrific deeds.

Satanists consider Halloween as a holiday; however, a principle belief is also that they hold human life sacred. Therefore, ritual killing (of humans or animals) violates satanic principles. And, to a Satanist, the most important holiday is not Halloween. It's the birthday of the individual Satanist.

Many of Halloween's traditions have no roots in Satanism or worship of Satan, a creature of Christianity. Rather, its history is grounded in the Celtic holiday of Samhain, both a harvest/thanksgiving celebration and the day to honor one's ancestors.

Like many neo-pagans today, the ancient Celts believed that the veil thinned between the corporeal and spiritual worlds. Approximately 1,500 years ago, the Roman Catholic Church absorbed the pagan festival, renaming it All Hallow's Eve.

Aside from religious expression, Halloween, as a secular observance, allows children (and adults) to indulge their imaginations by playing dress up and partying. And "trick or treat" evolved from a church custom. To promote Christianity, the church gave beggars "soul cakes" if they would then pray for the dead. Pagans, as part of their observance, left food out for the spirits.

In a world torn by religious fanatics, we should learn the truth about the beliefs of others, and to respect them. - Joan Robinson-Blumit, Phoenix

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* Taken in by satanic holiday Oct. 8, 2005

We have been inundated for the past month which promotions of a satanic holiday that is yet another month away.

And again, we are being bamboozled by the orange-and-black banners of Halloween. What a deceptive travesty we have allowed into our culture.

You may not believe in Satan, but there are thousands of confirmed Satanists in our country, and Halloween is their most important holiday.

Seemingly innocent, we enter the "spirit of Halloween" by mimicking pagan traditions with jack-o'-lanterns, plastic ghosts, witches, demons and blood-curdling horrific images. What a bill of goods we have allowed into our lives as "fun."

Gratefully, the horror of Halloween is closely followed by Thanksgiving, our favorite and most enjoyable holiday. --Rich ZuZero, Surprise