Does Halloween Glorify Evil?

It’s October. This means that we’ve moved out of the arguing-about-yoga-pants season and are fully into the arguing about Halloween season. One of the critiques of Halloween is that it glorifies evil. If that is the case, then it should be obvious that Christians should not participate.

In this article I’ll attempt to answer that question. Is Halloween evil and glorify paganism or satanism? In order to answer this, we need to understand what is evil, what it means to glorify evil, and what it would look like to glorify evil. Lastly, we’ll consider whether or not Halloween matches this definition.

What Is Evil?

A little boy steals a candy bar from the store. What words will you use to describe him? I think most of us understand things like this on a scale. While we might be comfortable saying that he has sinned, and even that he is a sinner, we’d likely be a little hesitant to use terms like wicked or evil. Wickedness and evil tend to be reserved for profoundly immoral. I appreciate this definition provided by the Lexham Theological Workbook:

“The concept of evil generally describes behavior or attitudes characterized by extreme wickedness and intent to cause social, physical, psychological, emotional, or spiritual harm. The concept encompasses moral, ethical, behavioral, and spiritual dimensions.”

While there might be some theological truth to saying that evil is anything which goes against God, it might be helpful to reserve some of those words for that which is exceedingly wrong. The words of C.S. Lewis are fitting here: “Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say 'infinitely' when you mean 'very'; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.”

How Do We Glorify Something?

“Glorify” is one of those churchy words that we often say but rarely stop and ponder its meaning. In secular usage we might use a phrase like this to speak of someone “glorifying violence.” In this instance it means that we are bestowing glory, honor, praise, admiration, and significance on a thing. But in this example, we are describing as excellent something which doesn’t deserve it. You can glorify something which isn’t worthy of it. You can make something look bigger and better than it actually is.

When we speak of glorifying God, we might use a different definition. It’s a bit of a wordy definition but I think John Piper’s definition of glorifying is helpful:

“Definition: ‘Glorifying’ means feeling and thinking and acting in ways that reflect his greatness, that make much of God, that give evidence of the supreme greatness of all his attributes and the all-satisfying beauty of his manifold perfections.”

What is common with Piper’s definition and the more secular usage, is that glorifying something is to ascribe worth and honor to it. In the case of God — we’re only acknowledging what is already true. In the case of something like evil, we are ascribing glory and honor to something which isn’t innately worthy of such honor.

What Does It Mean to Glorify Evil?

If we combine what we have learned about evil and glorification, we might say that to glorify evil is to exalt or promote actions, attitudes, or behaviors that are explicitly and profoundly contrary to God's divine standards and principles as outlined in the Scripture. Glorifying evil involves celebrating, encouraging, or endorsing actions and values that are in direct opposition to the righteousness and holiness that God desires for humanity.

The Bible provides a clear foundation for identifying evil and the consequences of glorifying it. In the book of Isaiah, it states, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20, ESV). This passage warns against the distortion of moral values and the danger of reversing the standards of good and evil. To ascribe honor and worth to something which God detests is woeful.

In Romans 1:32, the apostle Paul writes, "Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." This verse highlights the notion that glorifying evil goes beyond personal sin; it extends to endorsing or applauding sinful actions, which can have detrimental spiritual consequences. We shouldn’t celebrate (or glorify) that which is evil.

Where does this leave us with Halloween? Does it glorify evil?

Does Halloween Glorify Evil?

Maybe.

I realize this might not be a satisfactory answer to some, but I believe it is complex and largely subjective. It is clear that we should not be celebrating or ascribing worth to evil. And it is clear that evil is that which is profoundly wicked and intending harm. But does a little girl dressed up in a princess costume, walking through her community, in an attempt to score a Kit-Kat bar profoundly wicked? Does it matter if those around her are dressed up as witches, in houses with cobwebs, and ghosts and ghouls?

Yes, it is clear that some of the origins of Halloween were evil. But there are also some roots in Celtic and Christian traditions. The origin is a bit muddy. Yes, there is a history of dressing up in costumes that is related to a glorification (or even a false view of protection from) evil spirits. But even if it is shown definitively that Halloween had a wicked origin — it doesn’t necessarily mean that we aren’t able to redeem that practice. That would be succumbing to an etymological fallacy. Simply because something has a wicked origin doesn’t mean it is an embodiment of present wickedness.

Let’s think for a moment about a little boy in a devil costume. Is this without a doubt glorifying evil? Well, it depends. What is the intention of the little boy and his parents? Yes, the devil is certainly wicked. But is the devil costume necessarily ascribing worth and honor to the Satanic? It could be. It might be thinking that the devil is cool, that death and destruction are fun things to toy around with, and that wickedness should be celebrated.

Yet, it’s possible to consider a different story. Perhaps, we might be engaging in a mockery of sorts. What Justin Shaun Coyle says on this point should at least be considered. Using Julian of Norwich as his queue, Coyle suggests another way of engaging evil:

“…that they are real means they need to be fought. That is just Julian’s point: fighting them means mocking them. For her, taking the demonic seriously means taking it comically, as the pathetic incursions of an enemy already long vanquished. This is why St. Anthony prescribes the sign of the cross against the devil. Do it, he says, to remind the enemy of when ‘he was dragged with a hook like a dragon by the Savior, haltered around his snout like a beast of burden . . . bound by the Lord as a sparrow for our amusement’”

It's also possible that a little girl wearing a princess costume has within her heart greed, deception, and an intent to harm some of the other little girls she is trick-or-treating with. This might be a bigger display of wickedness than the little boy wearing a devil costume. The heart and intentions are what ultimately matters.

Conclusion

This is why I say it is largely subjective — much of it depends upon the person wearing the costume or “celebrating” the holiday. What is the intention? It very well might be a glorification of evil. And it should be something which we thoughtfully consider. If your conscience condemns you in participating in Halloween, don’t do it. And if your participation will cause serious stumbling by a brother or sister in Christ, this too should be weighed.

Yet, I’m hesitant to say that Halloween absolutely glorifies evil. To me, there is no definitive answer. There are things which could be a glorification of evil. And in these believers absolutely must refuse to participate. But Halloween is now a diverse celebration with a wide range of traditions and interpretations. It might be a day of harmless fun, a time to express creativity, and to engage the community. It might provide opportunities to talk about Christ the Victor and the devil as a defeated enemy. And for others, the association with the supernatural and the macabre may raise these concerns about potentially glorifying evil.