well, gang, it's almost Halloween and time to dust off the ol misconceptions. and here to help us do it is mistah Dicky Hamada.
Ricardo, as you may (prolly not) recall, published an article on halloween a while ago in da Midweek, slamming it, claiming there's a:
"Dark Side of Trick or Treat"
Rick Hamada's piece making public his prejudicial disdain for Halloween smacks of religious intolerance and fanaticism.
Stating that all "Christians" should be wary and fearful of the celebration of Halloween implies the supposed superiority of his religion over all others.
"My god is the only true god. And if you don't believe me, my god will kill you and your god."
This is dangerous, troublesome religious zealotism; particularly in a South Pacific land where polytheism "ruled" for ages, until the fairly recent introduction of "Christianity" in 1820. I believe more respect for the traditions that have antedated the one religion Hamada subscribes to, is in order.
Much of the negative, evil, demonic perspective he gives the original Halloween and the Druidic traditions is the result of "defamation" and propaganda spread by the Christian church to discredit any other "false gods" religion that may threaten the domination and influence of Christianity. After all, any "cult" perceived to be a threat to the more dominant "cult" will be painted over to appear distasteful, wrong, false and downright evil.
Misconceptions, misinformation and falsity becomes gospel truth if it is repeated enough to the "true believers" and through the years, many have been victim of the propaganda of "Christianity," painting a veneer and discrediting anything having to do with "false idols." It is a shame many supposed thinking adults fall into the path of the lemmings.
Reminds one of redneck tendencies wherein you hate and revile anything that one does not understand, and you allow the church or a particular belief system to make up your mind for you.
Students of comparative religions have heard these sentiments against Halloween and the like, often through the years and see it for what it is; the uninformed emotional reaction from someone not conversant with history and not fully confident with their internal spiritual, philosophical or religious leanings, principles, and beliefs. I wish Mr. Hamada "gods' speed" in his search for the truth (which I might remind him, is a perpetual journey).
Ricardo, as you may (prolly not) recall, published an article on halloween a while ago in da Midweek, slamming it, claiming there's a:
"Dark Side of Trick or Treat"
Rick Hamada's piece making public his prejudicial disdain for Halloween smacks of religious intolerance and fanaticism.
Stating that all "Christians" should be wary and fearful of the celebration of Halloween implies the supposed superiority of his religion over all others.
"My god is the only true god. And if you don't believe me, my god will kill you and your god."
This is dangerous, troublesome religious zealotism; particularly in a South Pacific land where polytheism "ruled" for ages, until the fairly recent introduction of "Christianity" in 1820. I believe more respect for the traditions that have antedated the one religion Hamada subscribes to, is in order.
Much of the negative, evil, demonic perspective he gives the original Halloween and the Druidic traditions is the result of "defamation" and propaganda spread by the Christian church to discredit any other "false gods" religion that may threaten the domination and influence of Christianity. After all, any "cult" perceived to be a threat to the more dominant "cult" will be painted over to appear distasteful, wrong, false and downright evil.
Misconceptions, misinformation and falsity becomes gospel truth if it is repeated enough to the "true believers" and through the years, many have been victim of the propaganda of "Christianity," painting a veneer and discrediting anything having to do with "false idols." It is a shame many supposed thinking adults fall into the path of the lemmings.
Reminds one of redneck tendencies wherein you hate and revile anything that one does not understand, and you allow the church or a particular belief system to make up your mind for you.
Students of comparative religions have heard these sentiments against Halloween and the like, often through the years and see it for what it is; the uninformed emotional reaction from someone not conversant with history and not fully confident with their internal spiritual, philosophical or religious leanings, principles, and beliefs. I wish Mr. Hamada "gods' speed" in his search for the truth (which I might remind him, is a perpetual journey).
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