Halloween
Playback speed
How to handle 31 October and the spooky festivities it prompts across society is a topic which has divided the church in recent years. Some Christians abhor Halloween while others embrace it. What for the wider world is a harmless bit of fun involving dressing up and sweets, to many believers is a sinister and even occultish celebration of evil. Should the church shun Halloween, or that going over the top? How should we distinguish between genuinely dangerous dabbling with the occult, and primary school-age children dressing up as witches? Do church-organised Light Parties redeem the 31st October or simply set the church up in pompous judgement over secular society? And should we actually be trying to reclaim the ancient Christian origin of All Hallows Eve after all?
Released on 6 Nov 2023
Coming up next
Prayers of Love and Faith
Last week was a momentous one in the long-running civil war over same-sex relationships in the Church of England. Just like in February, a session of the General Synod – the church’s elected parliament – was almost entirely focused on scrutinising th...
The Catholic Synod
It’s not only the Church of England that has been having big synods recently. Throughout October, hundreds of bishops and others from the Catholic Church gathered in Rome for their own synod. But unlike the regular twice-yearly meetings the C of E ha...
The surprising conversion of Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the famous atheist and scourge of Islam, has suddenly announced she has now become a Christian. Many in the church have reacted with excitement that a prominent anti-religious voice has switched sides. But others have been scornful,...