# Up Yers Chick Don't Tell Them To Ruin Halloween For The Kids **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 25, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848 "2002-10-25T16:26:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/61 "2002-10-28T22:02:15Z")
Vanilla, I hate to say this, but if I have kids and I take them trick-or-treating and someone in the neighborhood tries to hand them a tract, I’d kindly ask them to NOT prosletyze to my children, and ask them how they’d feel if I gave their kids pamphlets about other religions when they came to my door. I believe that going out of your way to change someone else’s beliefs is wrong, no matter who does it. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/62 "2002-10-28T22:02:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\*I will be wearing all white and being AUnt Arctica, since its supposed to snow anyway. \*\* You get the prize for Best Costume. Early. All for that lovely pun. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/63 "2002-10-28T23:32:10Z")
Oh you may have misunderstood. I never gave tracts to trick or treaters, my son (who wanted to do it) gave tracts (not Chick ones) to the people who gave US candy. A different thing. Yes, I know they were being polite. ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/64 "2002-10-28T23:55:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gex gex \* > \*\ ***Vanilla** , we’re meant to be fighting ignorance, not playing around calling myth truth. \*\* Keep up the good work. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/65 "2002-10-29T00:25:01Z")
You should give out Catholic tracts. They’re neat-or prayer cards. Pretty paintings of Saints with prayers on the back-usually for funerals. My dad has a bunch. When I was little, I had one with Our Lady of Lourdes. ---
**Author:** ![lynn73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@lynn73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynn73)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/66 "2002-10-29T00:45:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cjhoworth \* > \*\*Aaargh! **Vanilla** , you realize you’re not helping the nausea I’ve been battling recently!😉 > > **His4Ever** , just a few questions for you. > Why are you doing this? > What do you hope to accomplish by handing out these pamphets? > How do you think you would have reacted to being given one when you were a kid? > How do you know these kids don’t already go to a church? > > I’m all for spreading the Gospel, but I prefer to do so as efficiently as possible – maybe it’s the engineer in me. This strikes me as the telemarketing approach to evangelizing: while you may get a few buyers, you’ll also annoy at least as many other people. Then again, I’m sick, cranky, and tired for about the 5th day in a row. ☹ > > CJ \*\* I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been sick, **CJ**. Hope it’s nothing serious. As to the tracts, I don’t do that now because we don’t turn our light on for trick or treaters. But I see nothing wrong with it. It’s just a way to share the gospel, that’s all. It doesn’t have to be trick or treaters, you could give them to anyone who comes to your door to sell you something or whatever. If I was given one as a child (maybe I was given one, I just don’t remember), I don’t know how I would’ve reacted. Probably would have got me to thinking about the Lord and being right with Him. Some of the kids may already go to a church, true, but do they know Christ as their Savior? You can go to church without being saved. But it depends on the age of the child if they can understand the tract or not. If they can’t, perhaps the parents will read it and be reached or at least have something to think about. IMHO anyway. I just don’t see what’s wrong with using tracts to try to reach people with the gospel, that’s all. Well, I’ll stop my 2 cents worth now. Hope you get to feeling better soon, **CJ**. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/67 "2002-10-29T00:53:15Z")
**His4ever** , if you do hand out Chick tracts, and if I were a parent, I’d do what I said previously in this thread. Those things are evil and UnChristian. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/68 "2002-10-29T01:17:29Z")
**His4Ever** , it’s not a way to share the Gospel. It is, in my opinion, a way to share cruelty, hatred, and fear. Also, please tell me I read this wrong: > [@](#): > > Some of the kids may already go to a church, true, but do they know Christ as their Savior? You can go to church without being saved. Why do you have the _temerity_ to assume that not all those who go to church are not Christian or have not accepted Christ as their Saviour? Are you God? Can you see their inmost hearts? Then how can you make this statement? Sorry, lass, I’m with **Guinastasia** on this one. I would not be happy if my child came home with a tract by Jack Chick. At best, I’d probably condemn it to the pyres of a backyard bonfire (or trash can as the case may be). At worst, I would speak with the person who handed my child the pamphlet, explain my religious views, and suggest to my child that he or she never go to that house again. CJ ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/69 "2002-10-29T01:30:43Z")
Either that, or if my child was old enough, I’d use it to illustrate what the Bible talks about when it mentions “false witnessing”, and that some people who claim to be Christian are merely wolves in sheeps’ clothing. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/70 "2002-10-29T01:36:51Z")
Actually, **His4Ever** , if you, your husband, or your church are determined to hand out some kind of Christian literature and/or spread the Gospel at Halloween, why not use actual scripture? I still have a small book containing the New Testament and Psalms (King James Version, no less) which was given to me at some point in my childhood, along with a book which contains only the psalms. There’s also a company which makes [“Testamints”](http://www.testamints.com), which are a verse from Scripture wrapped around a mint. Their website says they do fundraising. This way, instead of spreading one man’s controversial interpretation of the Word, you’d be spreading the Word itself. Also, I think this approach would be a lot less likely to annoy people. End result: kids get candy, gospel gets spread, and I use yesterday’s newspaper to light the bonfire instead.😉 CJ ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/71 "2002-10-29T01:45:12Z")
_Originally posted by His4ever:_ > [@](#): > > Freedom of speech. You don’t want the pamphlet, say no thank you or simply throw it away. Tell you kids if you don’t want them to accept any literature. I myself used to give out tracts at Halloween but don’t take part anymore. My husband doesn’t want trick or treaters coming to the door, but if they did I"d most certainly give them a tract with their candy. Excellent point; I agree with it, but I wonder if you really mean it. Do you mind if I give your children little comic books depicting how loving, caring atheists win out over evil, hate-filled, sadistic, wart-faced, leering Christians? (In case you’re not familiar with Jack Chick tracts, they’re at least that ridiculous in their propaganda and stereotyping, only they’re pro-Christian; that’s the level of crap children are being subjected to.) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/72 "2002-10-29T02:11:01Z")
Not only is she familiar with Chick tracts, but she regards Chick in high esteem. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/73 "2002-10-29T03:46:10Z")
My kids brought home (after trick-or-treating), a Chick tract wrapped around a Hershey Bar. I asked where they got it at, and when they told me, I almost fell over!! The woman who gave it to them sits on her porch all day, smoking her cigarettes, using foul language, talking to her boyfriend with whom she lives (unmarried) and has a child. Her daughter (8 years old) told my 11-year old daughter that she (my daughter) is going to hell, because we are not Christian!!! I didn’t seek out the little girl, but the next time I saw her I told her we may not be Christian but we pray to the same God she does. She looked shocked. Clearly this was never covered in the course of whatever misguided propaganda her loud-mouth mom is teaching her! ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/74 "2002-10-29T04:57:07Z")
Chick tracts? I find them rather entertaining, to echo a common sentiment in this thread. It’s kinda dramatized by now, much like a soap opera; we have the cast of recurring characters as follows: -The aforementioned faceless caricature of God on the throne -The asexual Angel of Death (he–er, she, um…They remind me of John Dye’s interpretation of the Angel of Death, moreso in the first few seasons, when they had a hairstyle in common…perhaps the casting director drew inspiration from that “ever-popular” This Was Your Life tract?) -The ever-present Satan, who seems well groomed in contrast to his demons, despite sharing the workload…I guess Jack Chick doesn’t like facial hair… -Add the usual cast of innocent or evil children (your choice), the “good” ones lacking any sense of humor whatsoever. There are a host of extras and background players that are too numerous to mention; however, it is better that way in that they could fit into any of the roles listed above. I think it’s damned devious to put a damper on kids spirits by handing out this crap. Another thing: I’m white myself, but do you ever see other nationalities portrayed other than white Anglo-Saxon? Gives me a clue about Mr.Chick. And, here I am reading “The Little Princess” by J.T.C. when what do I see but an advertisement for his own tracts? In the 13th or 14th panel, close examination reveals a booklet with a black cover with an illustration being dropped in the trick-or-treat bag. A Chick tract design! Self-serving bastard. Were sales flagging THAT bad? Well, at least it’s one of his lesser depressing stories…We find out that the Angel of Death has muscles in their face… I wish ol’ J.T.C. would draw St. Peter so I would know what he looked like…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/75 "2002-10-29T05:20:46Z")
So people send their kids to other people’s houses to beg for candy, and then complain that they were given a religious comic book? Amazing. Yes, I’ve read plenty of Chick tracts, I have the same opinion of them that most here have. But if you’re going to go around begging for gifts all night, you take the gifts as offered from those kindly enough to give them, or you decline. Every responsible parent looks through his son or daughter’s treat bag before they are allowed to eat the candy, that’s the only safe thing to do. If you spot a tract in there, you can take it and throw it away. Next year, you can tell your kid to decline such offerings. But don’t get all pissy about the person who put it in there, nobody force-marched your kid up to their doorstep begging. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/76 "2002-10-29T06:26:16Z")
Of course, if you do plan on ruining Halloween for the kids, but sure to check out [these tips](http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news1002/halloween.html) first. ---
**Author:** ![lynn73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@lynn73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynn73)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/77 "2002-10-29T13:41:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Baldwin \* > \*\*_Originally posted by His4ever:_ > > Excellent point; I agree with it, but I wonder if you really mean it. Do you mind if I give your children little comic books depicting how loving, caring atheists win out over evil, hate-filled, sadistic, wart-faced, leering Christians? (In case you’re not familiar with Jack Chick tracts, they’re at least that ridiculous in their propaganda and stereotyping, only they’re pro-Christian; that’s the level of crap children are being subjected to.) \*\* Of course, it doesn’t have to be Chick tracts. **CJ** listed some good examples. Just something to share the gospel along with the candy. **Baldwin** , If I had children and they brought home literature, I’d look at it and if it didn’t agree with what I believed to be true, I would throw it away and tell my children why. I happen to like Chick tracts but that’s just me. Also, I don’t consider Christians, at least true Christians to be evil, hate-filled, sadistic, wart faced, etc. I just see nothing wrong with taking the opportunity to use Halloween to share the gospel with kids, whatever type of tract you use. As I said doesn’t have to be Chick. ---
**Author:** ![lynn73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@lynn73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynn73)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/78 "2002-10-29T13:46:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cjhoworth \* > \*\ ***His4Ever** , it’s not a way to share the Gospel. It is, in my opinion, a way to share cruelty, hatred, and fear. > Also, please tell me I read this wrong: > > Why do you have the _temerity_ to assume that not all those who go to church are not Christian or have not accepted Christ as their Saviour? Are you God? Can you see their inmost hearts? Then how can you make this statement? > > Sorry, lass, I’m with **Guinastasia** on this one. I would not be happy if my child came home with a tract by Jack Chick. At best, I’d probably condemn it to the pyres of a backyard bonfire (or trash can as the case may be). At worst, I would speak with the person who handed my child the pamphlet, explain my religious views, and suggest to my child that he or she never go to that house again. > > CJ \*\* I am not assuming anything about anybody, \*\*CJ[/b}. I simple said that a person can go to church and not be saved. You’re right that only God knows a person’s heart. But being a churchgoer doesn’t save anyone. That’s simply all I’m saying. The Bible doesn’t say “go to church and you will be saved.” That’s simply all I’m pointing out. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/79 "2002-10-29T15:47:24Z")
My own opinion (other than the one I’ve already stated above) is that there’s more to life than religion. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848/80 "2002-10-29T16:00:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\*Thanks, **Guin** , my son will be an M&M this year (I know, some folk think theyre evil…;)) > > I will be wearing all white and being AUnt Arctica, since its supposed to snow anyway. \*\* If your kids are going as M&Ms, why don’t you go as a bag. Like a big brown plastic bag (with M&Ms on the side). …Well, that’s what I would do anyway… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-yers-chick-dont-tell-them-to-ruin-halloween-for-the-kids/133848.md?page=5)