Sunday, October 28, 2007

Trick or Treat Morality


Christians, including me, make the easy mistake of majoring on minors and minoring on majors. Halloween and other holidays with ancient pagan histories seem to be a favorite.


Here are attitudes I've encountered on moral issues over the past decade at a variety of Christian groups (Evangelical, Catholic, Presbyterian, You Name It, etc.) :

Abortion? [ie: the intentional murder of a pre-born child]:
shhhhh.


Contraception? [ie: the artificial interference with the creation of human life]:

Moot point. Personal choice. No problem. (FYI: prior to the 1930's, this was not just a Catholic issue but all Christian groups were opposed to the practice. Fear not, I'm not advocating unbridled fertility at any cost. But that's another point and blog post. If I ever dare. Don't worry, I probably won't.)


Sterilization? [or as my articulate husband would call it "castration"]:
Moot point. Personal choice. No problem.

Disrespect & Dismissal of Motherhood? [ie: Abandonment of children to minimum wage daycare workers so mothers can pursue extra cash and career status]:

female equality, liberation, personal fulfillment


Absolute Abandonment of Morality in the Name of Entertainment? [You don't have to be a TV nazi to recognize Nero thought live humans eaten by bears was a good time too. Desperate Housewives?? Sex in the City?? I'm more liberated bare foot and pregnant than those skanks are any day.]

Uh huhh; Lets watch it together after home group.


Complete Reliance on the liberal state to educate one's child? [ no, homeschooling's not for everyone but can't the "birds and the bees" and birth control pills be lessons saved for mom & pop?]

Uh huh. Can't they take them sooner? I mean a full day at 5 years old isn't soon enough; I need them out of my hair at least by 2.5; save us, Hillary!! Save us Head Start!!


Halloween? [kids dressing up and asking neighbors for candy while mom pushes junior in the stroller]

HOLY HELL FIRE!! Would somebody please call the Donut Man, bring in some hay and have an alterna-harvest party before we're drowning in sin and mini snickers bars. Quick. Quick. Call the homeschooling moms so they can raise a stink cause don't you know all the neighbors are holding seances and shoving razors in apples then drowning all the bobbers!!!!!


My Point: If you have a moral stance against trick or treating but skirt the bigger issues, you're a putz. Get with the program; let the kids wear face paint and gather free candy (cause if you don't they'll have a really great reason to hate religion); save moral opposition for worthy issues such as ... hmm ... killing babies would be a good start.

And if you've made it to the bottom of this post too long for a blog, here's your bonus apple bobbing shots (there were too many good ones to choose from):



See how lame the harvest party was in 1982 ... No wonder I stink at bobbing; Joey's mom never gave us kids a turn ...




Sad, small children dreaming of candy but soaking with apples.





That's what my father-in-law is doing with all his retirement time. No wonder the basement's not cleaned out ...




And yes, this is me and my overly excited homeschooled child in 7 years. He talks really fast about things other people aren't interested in like fuel and driveway gradients. But he trick or treats. Darn it. He trick or treats.

9 comments:

tiffani said...

Well said, Sarah. I think my kids would completely revolt if I stopped letting them dress up and eat loads of candy every October...and read Goosebumps and Harry Potter, too.

This year, while they march in the Halloween parade at school, they can practice for my family's annual trip to DC for the March for Life. We got our priorities straight:)

tiffani said...

By the way..."putz" is actually a really bad Yiddish swear word. You are tough and brave for using it on your Catholic blog.

Unknown said...

These pictures are amazing. Where did you find them?

Sarah said...

Hi Jimmah-

I found them on Google images. Such fun!

Sarah

Sarah said...

Tiffani --

Yikes; I looked up "putz" (not that I doubted you; I just wanted to know which vulgar word it meant); and yes, like a few other Yiddish words I heard growing up in LA; it has naughty origins.

When I use it would be synonomous with "clown" or "nin-kum-poop." Now those better not be Yiddish for something naughty or I'm out of luck.

Hanley Family said...

We sort of do the Halloween thing, but do not really go trick or treating. I don't like when people get too much into, "Christians cannot..." I understand the sentiments, but these things need to come from personal conviction, not because someone said it is how a Christian is supposed to behave.

tiffani said...

We saw you guys on the candy hunt on Halloween. We waved and waved wildly through the window, but you and Pete kept staring straight ahead - like zombies.

True story.

tiffani said...

We waved from the car window.

Abigail said...

Dad's looking good.