Protestant pastors have some advice for Christian families about Halloween: Use it to build relationships with neighbors, invite people to a church-related event or toss a religious leaflet into a trick-or-treaters’ candy bag.
The suggestions come from 1,000 Protestant clerics surveyed by Lifeway Research in September. Results were released Tuesday in advance of the Oct. 31 holiday, seen by many as celebrating pagan themes of ghosts, goblins and witches.
An estimated 78% of Americans told research firm Numerator that they plan to celebrate Halloween this year. And the National Retail Federation forecasts $10.