The idea that Halloween is a satanic holiday that leads children towards Hell is usually associated with evangelical Protestants in America - but it is also a belief evidently shared by Russian Orthodox leaders. Because of this, they have managed to get Halloween celebrations cancelled in schools in Moscow.

Ananova reports:

In a letter sent to school heads and governors teachers were warned that: "The very fact that Halloween activities contain elements such as the cult of death, rejecting death, personification of death and evil spirits produces a destructive effect upon the psychological, moral and spiritual health of students."

Doesn't traditional Christianity contain elements such as rejecting death, evil spirits, and so on? I guess that means that Christianity "produces a destructive effect upon the psychological, moral and spiritual health" of children, right? And you heard it form the Moscow Education Department.

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• Religious Right
• Christian Extremism