Every year, near the end of January, there seems to be some kind of huge moral dilemma here at BYU about whether to watch the Super Bowl or go to the fireside. And every year, a self-righteous minority seems to rise up and condemn those students who choose the Super Bowl over the fireside for “choosing Mammon over God,” or something to that effect.
Yet every year, these very same people seem to have no problem celebrating another occasion with less-than-Christian origins: Halloween.
Halloween, like most of our holidays, traces its roots back to some form of paganism; however, unlike Christmas, Easter and Valentine’s Day, Halloween was never re-baptized with a sweet message about Jesus or love. Large numbers of BYU students celebrate Halloween every year in spite of the fact that the day is widely regarded by occultist religions as one of their most powerful Sabbaths — and if you don’t believe me, go read up on Anton Lavey. Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) always increases on Halloween, as well as crime in general and nasty, mean-spirited practical jokes. Halloween-themed movies are almost always rated R, involve some form of murder or demonism and are far more offensive than anything you’ll ever see at the Super Bowl — Janet Jackson’s breast included.
Yes, yes, I know that BYU students, for the most part, have nothing to do with any of these activities. I know that you don’t worship Satan or watch rated R movies, and I know that most of your Halloween pranks don’t go beyond putting orange food coloring in your roommate’s milk. And even though Halloween falls on Sunday this year, I know that you’re going to go trick-or-treating on Saturday night instead so that you won’t offend the Lord by celebrating an occultist Sabbath on His Sabbath. You’re just going to have a fun, goofy night with food and harmless activities, and you’re going to enjoy the company and fellowship of your friends, right?
Guess what? That’s exactly what BYU students who watch the Super Bowl do. In spite of the Super Bowl’s secular origins, we just try to make the best of it and have a fun, goofy night of fellowship with our friends. If you want to celebrate Halloween, that’s fine with me. If others want to celebrate the Super Bowl, that should be fine with you. Stop guilt-tripping everyone and lighten up.
Bridget Jack Meyers
Spanaway, Washington
