In the midst of Halloween’s bevy of scares and thrills, University Christian groups find the holiday is a great way to display their own values.

Some Christian denominations celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day, and Halloween is also known as All Hallows Eve, similar to Christmas Eve.

Rob Hohler, director of development at St. Thomas More University Parish, said the reason some people would oppose the holiday is because it originated from a pagan celebration called Samhain.

In Ireland, the Celtics believed the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest on that day, and celebrations would be held in gravesites in order to communicate with the dead. When Christianity reached Ireland, the celebration of All Saints Day was moved right after this in “a redemption of a pagan holiday,” Hohler said.

“The idea of Christianity, originally, is not to come in and destroy culture, but to come in and embrace that culture into what Christianity is,” Hohler said. “[It’s] kind of a redemption of the culture.”

Other churches that do not celebrate All Saints Day also find plenty to celebrate in the modern Halloween traditions.

Bryan Wiles, pastor of the interdenominational H20 Church, said there are misconceptions that Halloween and Christianity are at odds with each other.

“I don’t believe that you’re a better, stronger Christian if you abstain from celebrating Halloween,” Wiles said. “In fact, I think you may be missing some opportunities to build relationships with people, which is an important part of our faith.”

Wiles said Halloween is a major part of culture and society, but also emphasized good moral judgment.

“As Christians, we’re called to engage in and be part of the world that we live in,” Wiles said. “At the same time, I believe evil is a real thing, and I think that [Halloween is] certainly something that needs to be done in a way that’s honoring to God and not celebrating evil.”

Hohler said he enjoys the modern Halloween traditions of trick-or-treating and dressing up as well, but said some aspects of the college celebration, particularly alcohol consumption and the sexual nature of some costumes, can go too far.

“I really like and enjoy the culture of Halloween in America,” Hohler said. “I think it’s something to be embraced, but not to forsake in light of what our faith tells us.”

Mitch Kaiser, president of the Catholic campus organization Veritas, said he does not have a problem with people dressing up for Halloween, particularly scary things like monsters, because it is important to remind society of the evil in the world.

“If we do believe that Christ is our Savior who is going to be redeeming us through His sacrifice on the Cross at Calvary, we really don’t have anything to fear because He can take care of it, He’s the judge, His Will will be done … .”

Sophomore Elaina Thompson, who attends a Bible study, enjoys Halloween because of the theme it can set for get-togethers, particularly with the fall season.

“If you want to dress up as something a little gruesome, as long as it’s in good fun for you, that’s your decision,” Thompson said. “I personally dress up as those things, but at the same time I don’t think a lot of students are dressing in costumes like that with the intent of glorifying evil.”

Wiles said the secularization of the holiday allowed certain Christian groups to change their nature.

“There’s many Americans who don’t believe in Christ, and yet still celebrate Christmas,” Wiles said. “I think there’s certainly a lot of Americans that are not pagans or don’t worship pagan gods, but they celebrate Halloween.”

Both H20 and Veritas have held Halloween parties in the past, and they continue to hold get-togethers and costume parties within their organizations.

Wiles also enjoys another aspect of the Halloween tradition.

“I mean, how can you go wrong with the candy, of course,” he said.