I did not need that !!! I am not a Wiccan etc.

[Bare_Truth]

I am rather much a christian fundamentalist and biblical literalist and I reject Non-christian / Paganism / Wicca and eschew the practices of those religion, and even the concepts they practice. Accordingly the serious trappings and the less serious manifestations of them I also avoid. So it should be no surprise that I eschew any related issues. And therefore I do not partake in Halloween, Day of the dead, and several other observances practices or celebrations of these sorts.

Just this evening I heard that one or more county sherifs have issued signs to be posted prominantly out front or on the front door that state that a paedophile lives at that residence and children must stay away and no candy will be provided. and such like warnings. The local news media picked up on it and provided an explanation of why this was done.

The problem is that we have posted signs that say "No Halloween" or No"No Candy" because we do not participate such observances and do not care to be bothered.

So now what is the upshot to be from all this?

As parents often accompany their children on Halloween, surely some have seen our signage and may have wondered, and now I wonder how many parents are going to jump to the conclusion that they have just discovered why We have posted such signs in the past and now start a gossip story sharing with their friends what they have just figured out about us. And nothing could be further from the truth. Given that one or more neighbors know I practice naturism, I can guess how this sort of story can run away.

I actually have to wonder if some sheriff thought this would be a good way to hassle someone who is in the religious or social minority while simply feigning innocence and claiming no intent of evil. But I would not put it past some. And of course if it is known that I am a naturist, that will just be used to impute perversity. I will let you know if I catch any flack from this situation. I wonder if I will need a lawyer. I am afraid that whatever law enforcement officer thought this scheme up was not astute enough to figure out what an undesirable situation he might precipitate. Hopefully nothing ill comes of this but the potential is there. Surely some of us have had the experience of "bad or misleading press, for simple chaste nudity" Also hopefully this sort of action by the authorities will not plague any of us.

For what it is worth some further web searching has shown that the california version of such a law has been thrown out in federal district court. I am just wondering if it has been passed here in missouri or if this was just a few sheriffs taking the law into their own hands and sending out notices that are not law here at all.

[JimShedd112]

Bare_Truth, I certainly hope the situation doesn’t cost you any undue hassles or stress. However, protecting children from true pedophiles is a worthy cause, though I’m not sure how effective it truly is since the signage is only required to be posted on one night per year.

Jim

[naturist]

Have you considered a sign of some sort saying that as a Christian, you do not celebrate Halloween? I know around here, the people who don't want to be bothered Halloween night, just leave the porch light off to discourage visitors.

[Englishman]

That is truly appalling behaviour on the part of the authorities! Being a foreigner I have no idea what legal redress is available but to condemn, & given the strength of feeling this subject arouses, condemnation is what it will be. People will conclude, 'There's no smoke without fire' & many innocent folk will have their standing among their communities tarnished because of this dreadful piece of work.

I'm guessing, Bare_Truth, that the neighbours who know of your naturism also know of your faith? I hope & pray they can see beyond the lies in this untruthful & unhelpful announcement.

I also reject the pagan, heathen celebration of All Hallows Eve. It is one of my gripes that we have been infected with this rubbish over the last 15-20 years. It was never lauded like this in my childhood. Thankfully, many churches, my own included, run events that counter this tide of finance driven dabbling with the occult.

I'll be praying into this on your behalf; let me know how it works out, please.

[Jim]

Around here it's simple. Those who are participating in trick or treat leave a porch light on; others don't. We'll leave ours off.

[jude700]

As Christians we can celebrate Halloween, placing the correct meaning to the day, All Saints Eve, much as we celebrate Christmas and New Year' Eves. Give white candies rather than the dark. Remember GOD does give us choices.

[Maverick]

Can't say much about the signage, but I've never heard of that before.

I'll chime in with the others by saying that we never have our porch light on, hence no trick-or-treaters. My family's not against it, and I'm not either, but it's just not something we did growing up.

Someone we used to know would give out candy and Bible tracts to trick-or-treaters. And around here, a lot of churches do fall festivals or "trunk-or-treat" events.

[baresoul]

Hopefully Bare_Truth, it did not develop into anything so bad as it was imagined that it might. Home nudism should not be an issue causing any problems. Not being involved in traditions or practices of Halloween should not be causing problems either. Some Christians do now involve themselves with it, I have even heard from a Christian that Halloween was originally just a Christian holiday, and it was simply subject to corruption, apparently referring to pagan influences. But in fact the pagan practices connected with this night, originally Samhain, were observed a very long time before the people practicing the original traditions were exposed to the spreading Christianity. In freedom had in Christ those who do practice such things connected to modern Halloween are not to be judged. But like you I will not still involve myself with any of it, and we believers who avoid such according to conscience should not be judged by others either.

[Petros]

Let him who is without sin...

Back in my youth I was not celebrating any thing Christian nor anything pagan. Nor wad anyone of my circle who said Trick or Treat contemplating a trick - it might s well have been penny for the guy.

Note: if it is true as the story says that every day is a holy day not suitable for outlaw raids, it is also true there is NO day that was not important in the calendar of some pagan rite.

If people celebrate Christmas with no sense of honoring Christ, all but a few can do something at or near Samhain without denying Christ.

[natman]

As with most around here, if we do not want to have people/children coming up to the door during Halloween, we simply turn off the porch light.

Actually, our church usually presents a "Fall Festival" as an alternative to "Halloween" and those children who attend are presented with the Gospel of Christ and more candy than they would EVER get going door to door. We have worked the festival for the past several years, so our porch light is usually off. However, this year, we left a bowl of candy on the porch with a sign that said, "The Honor System. Please take two or three pieces and leave some for others.". Unsurprisingly, there were hardly any takers.

As a "Christian", I prefer not to celebrate "Halloween" because of what it has become.

As a "Protestant Christian", I prefer not to celebrate "All Saints Day" because it supposedly celebrates those who have died but not made it to Heaven. However, this appears to be counter to what Paul teaches, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" 2 Corinthians 5. All Saints Day then points to the supposition of "Purgatory", another premise that I do not see extolled in Scripture.

However, on the up side, if your heart is in reaching out to the lost, what better way to reach them than have them come to your own door?

[Jim]

As a "Protestant Christian", I prefer not to celebrate "All Saints Day" because it supposedly celebrates those who have died but not made it to Heaven. However, this appears to be counter to what Paul teaches, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" 2 Corinthians 5. All Saints Day then points to the supposition of "Purgatory", another premise that I do not see extolled in Scripture.

What I read is it celebrates those who have made it to heaven. I think we can honor believers who came before us even if we have different opinions about the afterlife, whether we have a time of purification or sleep or are awake. Personally, I expect we sleep (although surely present with the Lord) until our resurrection.

There are so many witnesses in the past we can learn from. It's inspirational to me to look at their lives.

Note: Preview shows the quote not displaying correctly, but the syntax all looks right. What's happening?

[natman]

What I read is it celebrates those who have made it to heaven.

Jim, I stand corrected. "All Saints Day" is November 1st. According to the Catholic website, it is the celebration for those who have "attained" Heaven.

"All Souls Day" is November 2nd and celebrates those who have died and not YET "reached" Heaven.

See: https://www.catholic.org/saints/allsaints/

I think we can honor believers who came before us even if we have different opinions about the afterlife, whether we have a time of purification or sleep or are awake. Personally, I expect we sleep (although surely present with the Lord) until our resurrection.

I supposed it depends on what definition you assign to the word "sleep".

Note: Preview shows the quote not displaying correctly, but the syntax all looks right. What's happening?

For some reason, every once in a while, a thread's options get switched to disable BBCodes. I have not figured out how that happens. I fixed your post in this case.