The debate

over Halloween in the Christian community continues to

raise varied opinions from pastors to parents questioning

how, if at all, the day should be observed.

Are families that allow

their youngsters to trick-or-treat flirting with the

devil? Should pumpkins be carved into jack-o-lanterns, a

custom that harks back to the tale of an Irishman named

Jack and his unfortunate encounter with the devil? Or is

it all innocent fun?

The Rev. John Avant, pastor

of New Hope Baptist Church, explains, "We don't

celebrate Halloween as such. It originally goes back

2,000 years before Christ to the ancient Druids... it's

clearly a pagan celebration. A lot of changes have

occurred since then. But for the religion of witchcraft

and other Satanic groups, it is a high unholy day. We

believe every day is God's day. We choose not to give any

day over to the devil."

Like many churches in

Fayette County, New Hope Baptist replaces Halloween with

a fall festival. Carriage Lane Presbyterian Church in

Peachtree City has a long tradition of festivals, dating

back at least 10 years. Interim pastor the Rev. Michael

Bailey explained that the church offers the community a

"safe alternative" with a "spiritual

emphasis" in place of Halloween. Children who wish

to attend in costume are encouraged to wear something

that reflects a positive role model.

Bailey said his church has

never taken a stand on the ritual of trick-or-treating,

but recalls how it was perceived in his seminary days.

"It was seriously frowned upon," he said.

"Trick or treating, the idea of it, in fact, goes

back to All Hallow's Eve. There is a dark side to

it," he noted.

Oct. 31 is actually

Reformation Sunday in the Protestant church, which has

historical significance, according to Dailey. "We

think of it as a religious observance," he said.

The early Church, trying to

supplant the various pagan practices, declared Nov. 1 All

Saint's Day, with All Hallow's Eve, or all souls day,

Oct. 31. This observance has remained a fixture on the

Catholic calendar since 834.

According to historical

references to Halloween, the practice of dressing up in

costume and asking for food actually dates back to

Christian times. During the Middle Ages, people donned

horrible-looking masks to frighten off the demons.

Beggars, and later children, went house to house asking

for "soul cakes" or performing and asking for

something in return. It wasn't until the 1930s that the

phrase "trick-or-treat" was coined.

The modern practice of

observing Halloween is actually an American phenomenon,

coming about after the great Irish migration of 1840,

according to some historians. While it comes around every

year with a wave of of commercially produced

jack-o-lanterns, ghoulish rubber masks and vampire teeth,

some Christians respond by taking advantage of the day to

further spread the good word.

Bible tracts accompany

wrapped candy; children learn about saints, God's special

people.