Episode Details

In this episode of Faith & Clarity, Dr. Mark Turman is joined by Dr. Ryan Denison and Denison Forum contributing writer and PhD student Mark Legg to discuss how Christians should think about Halloween, noting its broad cultural participation and spending and debating whether it qualifies as a “holiday.” They reflect on childhood experiences of trick-or-treating, then explore biblical principles such as “all things are permissible but not all things are beneficial,” along with warnings against dabbling in the demonic and passages like John 8:44 and Acts 19, including the burning of occult books in Ephesus. Together, they connect Halloween’s themes to our modern discomfort with death and grieving, highlighting the gospel opportunities that come with it.

Legg addresses horror films, arguing that the Christian worldview has room for horror while emphasizing conscience and spiritual health. Ryan summarizes Halloween’s historical roots in Samhain and its Christian reshaping around All Saints’ Day. The conversation closes with practical ideas for redeeming the night through intentional neighbor engagement and prayer.

Topics

• (0:00) Introduction
• (1:20) Is Halloween a holiday
• (3:20) Halloween by the numbers
• (12:09) Biblical principles for discernment
• (14:05) Satan and spiritual caution
• (16:35) Death and grief in modern culture
• (22:14) Halloween as gospel opportunity
• (26:12) Acts 19 and the occult
• (28:20) Holy Spirit versus demons
• (30:27) Resist the devil
• (32:49) Horror movie faith story
• (34:24) Why horror works
• (42:30) Horror in the Bible
• (47:00) Modern horror and gospel hope
• (48:43) Redeeming Halloween history
• (51:52) Practical outreach ideas
• (54:35) Conclusion

Resources

• National Retail Federation
• Denison Forum website
• What does the Bible say about horror movies
• Cremation Statistics
• Should Christians Celebrate Halloween
• What does the Bible say about Halloween
• Ask Us Anything: info@denisonforum.org
• Sign-up for a Denison Forum newsletter: DenisonForum.org/subscribe

About Mark Legg

Mark Legg is a philosophy PhD student at the University of Glasgow, as well as a ghostwriter and editor. He was previously the Associate Editor at Denison Forum before leaving to pursue his master's degree in philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, which he completed in 2024. He's published in The Gospel Coalition, Mockingbird, Remarkable Ordinary, and BioLogos; he's also a regular contributor for Denison Forum. He authors a Substack blog called Agape Sophia, writing about philosophy, following Jesus, and culture. Mark loves re