OPINION EDITOR – MARIANA CHAMORRO
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT 25 2023
Halloween is a time to enjoy the thrill of fright and horror. It’s a festival known for whimsical but spinetingling celebrations. Halloween’s variety of spooky activities, which send chills down spines and cause screams of excitement, is one of its most fascinating features. Who doesn’t like a scary tale or a tense game of hide and seek in the dark? Not everyone, as some religious organizations are extremely against the activities and holidays.
The “Ouija Board,” a Halloween game that lets players try to talk with ghosts, is a favorite. It’s frequently viewed as an eerie and intriguing activity, but has had the most resistance from the religious community. The individuals use the Ouija Board as a straight route to the demonic world. They consider contacting or conjuring spirits, whether benign or malicious, to be an insult to the divine. Another popular game is “Bloody Mary.” To play the game, one must recite “Bloody Mary” three times into a mirror, and the supposed ghost of Mary Queen of Scots will appear. Some religions, like the Catholic church truly think that interfering with supernatural powers is a risky activity, whereas other skeptics view it as nothing more than superstition. Engaging in such games is the same as dabbling in paranormal rituals and may have serious spiritual effects according to some faiths like the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Religious resistance to Halloween activities is motivated by their views on the paranormal and the potential risks of summoning ghosts. According to some religious traditions, these behaviors may let evil spirits in, bringing unrest and negativity into the conjurer’s life.
According to Sara Ronis, an Associate Professor in the Department of Theology says that: “Sometimes the resistance is related to associations with dark forces (like the Devil), sometimes it’s a rejection of a religious practice developed more recently, associated with young people, or women, or outside the structure of a specific religion, and sometimes it’s just a belief that they are meaningless and are a waste of time.” Supporters of Halloween games contend that these events are merely for fun and should not be taken seriously, in contrast to their religious opponents. They stress that playing these games is akin to viewing scary movies or reading horror stories, and believe that keeping harmony between enjoyment and respect for different religions is essential to enjoying Halloween. While playing spooky Halloween games may be exciting and entertaining, it’s important to note the safety concerns of certain religions about these activities. Avoiding these practices is not only based on superstition but reflects a strong belief that interfering with the paranormal is dangerous. It is important to have a balance between eerie fun and dangerous activities.
According to Ronis, “Understanding each of these traditions as emerging in a really specific context can help us think about the world in different times and places, and how traditions get invented and then repackaged as things change.” Halloween is a time for fun but serves as a reminder to take care of the mysteries of the unknown.