Ep 1257 | Demonic or Christian? How Believers Should Approach Halloween

Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey | October 22, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Allie Beth Stuckey tackles one of the most controversial questions Christians face each fall: Should believers participate in Halloween? With a characteristically upbeat yet thoughtful tone, Allie explores Halloween’s origins, its links to paganism, its evolution in Western culture, its current spiritual implications, and how Christians might faithfully engage (or disengage) with the holiday. Drawing on Biblical principles, cultural commentary, and her own upbringing, Allie offers nuanced guidance on navigating "the spookiest day of the year" with wisdom, conviction, and gospel-centered intentionality.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Competing Christian Views on Halloween

[02:50–06:33]

• Allie introduces the annual debate: Is Halloween too “demonic” or pagan for Christian participation?
• She plays TikTok clips reflecting strong anti-Halloween stances among some Christians, who cite witchcraft and “demonic origins” as incompatible with the faith.
  • Quote:
    • B: “I challenge you guys to get in your word and ask the Lord to reveal to you what Halloween truly is and how it’s demonic. ... That’s not fall. It’s witchcraft.” (03:16)
  • Another parent voices worries about confusing messages—and expresses discomfort with letting kids trick-or-treat.
    • C: “Why are you dressing your little children up as demons and devils and thinking that’s okay? ... Nothing about it is holy and nothing about it is meant for children.” (05:13)
• Allie acknowledges these concerns are rooted in Biblical prohibitions of witchcraft, but points to ongoing debate about whether participation is always a partnership with darkness.

2. The History and Evolution of Halloween

[06:33–13:02]

• Citing an article from Desiring God, Allie traces Halloween’s roots:
  • Originated in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “sah-win”), marking the end of harvest and believed to be a time when spirits visited the living.
  • Catholic Church, under Pope Gregory, moved All Saints Day to November 1st, possibly to counteract pagan influences.
  • “Guising” (costumes) and “souling” (asking for treats in return for prayers) merged with other traditions, especially among Irish and Scottish immigrants in the U.S., eventually evolving into modern American trick-or-treating.
• Halloween in the U.S. became “Norman Rockwell style” (10:45), a wholesome kid-centered holiday by mid-20th century, but its commercialization and cultural amplification have fueled darker or more subversive themes in recent decades.

3. Societal Shifts: Commercialization, Sexualization, and Subversion

[13:02–16:45]

• Recent decades have seen Halloween’s increasing association with:
  • Horror, evil, and “trying to be as scary and haunting as possible.”
  • Sexualization (especially since the 1960s and 1970s).
  • Gender-bending and subversion of norms, often tied to LGBTQ+ “pride.”
• Allie observes Halloween tends to reflect and amplify “the spiritual state of the day” (16:45).

4. The Reality of Satanism, Witchcraft, and Abuse

[16:45–22:00]

• Distinguishes between different forms of “Satanism” and pagan practice; notes true “satanic rituals” and ritual abuse exist and can be intensified during Halloween.

• Cites psychiatric case studies (from a 1991 Washington Post article) documenting trauma among survivors of ritual abuse around Halloween.

  • Some psychiatric patients become agitated or relive trauma during Halloween due to past abuse (19:50), whether or not it was directly linked to genuine satanic rituals.

• Allie emphasizes caution about traumatizing children with fear, horror, or morbid imagery, underscoring the impact such exposure can have on malleable young minds.

  • Quote:
    • A: “I simply don’t think it’s funny and I don’t think it’s lighthearted to scare children and to present them with things that celebrate death and darkness and fear. ... I think we do need to take that seriously.” (22:06)

5. Spiritual Protection for Christians—Superstition vs. Assurance

[24:29–29:50]

• Plays a clip from a former satanic priest claiming Halloween is the “highest day on the satanic calendar” with global human sacrifice.
  • Quote:
    • E: “Halloween is the highest day on the satanic calendar. ... That whole perimeter [of decorated houses] becomes one big satanic ritual for that whole neighborhood.” (23:51)
• Allie affirms the reality of spiritual evil but pushes back on the idea that Christians are spiritually “at risk” merely by living near or passing by Halloween festivities.
  • Points to extensive Biblical teaching:
    • “You cannot be possessed by a demon, that demons are not going to come into your home, that you don’t have to sprinkle holy water ... because ... you have the Holy Spirit living in you.” (25:13)
  • Reads Galatians 3:13-14, Colossians 1:13-14, 1 John 1:7, and James 5 to highlight believers’ deliverance and protection in Christ.
  • Warns against superstition and “witchcraft-esque” mentalities even among well-meaning Christians regarding spiritual safety rituals.

6. Biblical Principles: No Part in Darkness, Walk as Children of Light

[29:50–35:53]

• Draws on Ephesians 5:7-11 and Philippians 4, emphasizing:
  • Christians should not partner with unfruitful works of darkness but expose them, walking as “children of light.”
  • Children should be taught: “We don’t celebrate death, we don’t celebrate darkness. We want love and we want light and we want goodness.” (31:51)
  • Points to Deuteronomy 18:10-12 for Old Testament prohibitions on witchcraft, but includes New Testament admonitions as well (1 Thessalonians 5:22, etc.).

7. Can Christians Redeem Halloween?

[35:53–44:15]

• Outlines common views among Christians:

  • Catholics often focus on All Saints Day.
  • Some (both Protestant and Catholic) reject Halloween outright.
  • Others see room for redemptive participation.

• Allie’s Stance: “You can totally not celebrate Halloween, ... but I do think there is a way for Christians to do parts of Halloween in a way that glorifies God and does not celebrate darkness.” (36:57)

• Debunks internet myths (e.g., the unsubstantiated Anton LaVey “thank you” quote about Christian Halloween participation).

• “There is no day that’s off limits. ... For the Christian every day is the Lord’s ... There’s no superstition or more demonic authority on one day over another.” (39:00)

• Shares her family practices:

  • No scary/evil costumes or decorations.
  • View Halloween as an opportunity to share the gospel: distribute candy with gospel tracts, display Scripture-based decorations.
  • Use trick-or-treating as a means to “bring the light of the Lord into it.”
  • Encourage kids to stand out for Christ: “It is okay and expected for Christians to be weird in the secular world for us to be different for the right reasons, but also to not be scared.” (42:23)
  • Advocates a posture of both clarity about evil and confidence in Christ’s victory.

8. Celebrating the Reformation Instead/As Well

[44:15–58:59]

• Suggests using October 31st as an occasion to teach children about the Protestant Reformation—traditionally marking Martin Luther nailing the 95 Theses to the door in 1517.
• Explains the importance of the Reformation:
  • Recovery of the gospel: Sola fide (justification by faith alone), sola scriptura, etc.
  • Condemned the selling of indulgences and other corruptions.
  • Quote (Luther):
    • “God receives none but those who are forsaken, restores health to none but those who are sick, gives sight to none but the blind and life to none but the dead ... In short, he has mercy on none but the wretched and gives grace to none but those who are in disgrace.” (57:00)
  • Emphasizes division “for the sake of truth is not necessarily bad”—liberty to study Scripture is a great good.
• Encourages families to use resources like children’s books about the Reformation, implement Scripture memory, and value church history.

9. Final Guidance & Encouragement for Christian Families

[59:00–​end]

• Christians are called to “create more holy days” and reclaim the calendar for Christ.
  • “We don’t want to fall into fearful avoidance and therefore refuse to push back against darkness.” (59:21)
• Emphasizes:
  • Family discipleship and regular conversations about why Christians live differently.
  • Choosing wholesome, non-occult costumes if participating.
  • Trusting the Holy Spirit, not acting merely out of fear, peer pressure, or superstition.
  • Exercise humility and charity amid legitimate differences among believers (Romans 14:5-6).
• Memorable closing:
  • “We should unite that we do not fear Satan, we only fear God, and that we walk in holiness with him, in uprightness with him, and seek to evangelize and to glorify God in everything we do, both inside our homes and how we teach our kids, and also how we engage our neighbors.” (1:01:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Witchcraft’s Incompatibility:

  • A: “That’s like saying you can be a Christian atheist.… Practicing witchcraft and sorcery was punishable by death in the Old Testament.… The severity of trying to channel power through demonic forces and through the dead ... God still prohibits that.” (03:48)

• On Spiritual Authority and Assurance:

  • A: “As a Christian, you are protected ... you cannot be possessed by a demon ... you have the Holy Spirit living in you.” (25:13)
  • A: “For the Christian every day is the Lord’s. ... There’s no superstition or more demonic authority on one day over another.” (39:00)

• Family Gospel Engagement:

  • A: “It is such a rare opportunity that we have to get all of these people, many of them not Christians, showing up to our front door ... So it is an opportunity ... to redeem what could be a day that celebrates darkness ... and bring the light of the Lord into it, bring the gospel message into it.” (40:10)

• Reformation Gospel Clarity:

  • A: “By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, for God’s glory alone.” (55:45)

• Final Encouragement:

  • A: “We should unite that we do not fear Satan, we only fear God, and that we walk in holiness with him ... and seek to evangelize and to glorify God in everything we do, both inside our homes ... and how we engage our neighbors.” (1:01:28)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [02:50–06:33] – TikTok debate & Christian opposition to Halloween
• [06:33–13:02] – History and roots of Halloween
• [13:02–16:45] – Commercialization and cultural shifts
• [16:45–22:00] – Satanic ritual abuse and trauma
• [23:51–24:29] – Former satanic priest perspective
• [24:29–29:50] – Assurance for Christians/Addressing superstitions
• [29:50–35:53] – Biblical principles: “Take no part in darkness”
• [35:53–44:15] – Can Halloween be redeemed?/Allie’s practice
• [44:15–58:59] – Teaching the Reformation/Church history
• [59:00–end] – Final advice; reclaiming days for Christ; unity & wisdom

Takeaways for Christian Listeners

• Engage with Scripture, not just opinions: Test every cultural practice against God’s word.
• Operate from gospel assurance, not superstition or paranoia: Spiritual safety is in Christ, not in rituals or avoidance.
• View every day as belonging to the Lord—and seek opportunities to witness and disciple, even on Halloween.
• Respect Christian liberty: Don’t judge fellow believers harshly where Scripture is not explicit—walk in love, light, and wisdom.