Tag Archives: Hallowe’en
Tricked – and no Treat
I remember in my first Charge (in the mid-70s) being “informed” by the congregation’s know-all as to “what Hallowe’en is actually about”
“Now, Reverend, do you know what Hallowe’en really is?”
“Yes – it is actually ‘Samhain’, an old Celtic festival – it means “Summer’s End” is a celebration of the end of the harvest and the start of the coldest half of the year.”
She looked at me in pity, with a look that implied that Divinity faculties weren’t teaching their students properly these days. A dismissive laugh. “No, no” condescendingly, “It’s a contraction of ‘All Hallows Eve” – the evening before All Saints Day; the word ‘hallow’ (as in the Lord’s Prayer – “hallowed be thy Name”) meaning ‘holy'”
She looked smugly at me, in a manner that shouted “That’s him telt”
“Away and stick your broomstick up yer arse!” I replied …… actually I didn’t; instead I thanked her politely for “putting me right” and complimented her on her knowledge.
Pity the poor young minister whose members often like to flaunt their superior understanding of God, the Universe, and all that stuff.
Happy Samhain!
Fahrenheit 666
Telegraph.co.uk
Tuesday 29 October 2013
North Carolina church plans Halloween Bible burning
Marc Grizzard, the pastor of Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Canton, North Carolina, says that he and his congregation plan to burn Bibles on Halloween
By Tom Chivers12:39PM BST 16 Oct 2009153
Marc Grizzard, of Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Canton, North Carolina, says that the first King James translation of the Bible is the only true declaration of God’s word, and that all others are “satanic”.
Pastor Grizzard and 14 other members of the church plan to burn copies of the other “perversions” of Scripture on Halloween, 31 October
.
The New Revised Version Bible, the American Standard Version Bible, and even the New King James Version are all pronounced to be works of the Devil by Pastor Grizzard and his followers.
Pastor Grizzard said: “I believe the King James version is God’s preserved, inspired, inerrant, infallible word of God… for English-speaking people.
“We are burning books that we believe to be Satanic.
As well as inappropriate translations from the original Hebrew and Aramaic, the pastor and his associates will be burning books by various Christian authors, as well as music of every genre.
“[We will be burning] books by a lot of different authors who we consider heretics, such as Billy Graham, Rick Warren… the list goes on and on,” Pastor Grizzard told reporters.
Mother Teresa is also on the list of Satanic authors. The full list is available at the Amazing Grace Baptist Church’s website.
Not all Canton residents are thrilled with the bonfire of the profanities. Judy Kirby, a local, said: “I think some of the newer versions make it easier for people to understand.”
The book-burning is hoped to be a social event, with a barbecue laid on for attendees. It is not clear whether the meat will be grilled over the heat of burning Gospels.